IP Library Granted Patent US 9,005,339
Granted Patent B2
US 9,005,339 · App. 13/762,688 · Granted Apr 14, 2015

Method of treating flowback fluid

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,005,339
App. No.
13/762,688
Granted
Apr 14, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method of treating flowback fluid comprising: introducing the flowback fluid into a first stage vertical separator to produce a first gas stream, a liquid stream, and a solids stream; passing the first gas stream from the first stage vertical separator to a sales line; passing the liquid stream from the first stage vertical separator to a second stage horizontal separator with the pressure in the second stage horizontal separator being less than the pressure in the first stage vertical separator but greater than atmospheric pressure to produce a second gas stream, a water stream; and a liquid hydrocarbon stream; passing the second gas stream from the second stage horizontal separator to a combustor or flare nozzle; passing the water stream from the second stage horizontal separator to a water storage tank; and passing the liquid hydrocarbon stream from the second stage horizontal separator to a liquid hydrocarbon storage tank.

Claims (12)

1. A method of treating a flowback fluid during a flowback stage of a well operation, comprising:

introducing the flowback fluid into a first stage vertical separator to produce a first gas stream, a liquid stream, and a solids stream;

passing the first gas stream from the first stage vertical separator to a sales gas line;

passing the liquid stream from the first stage vertical separator to a second stage horizontal separator with the pressure in the second stage horizontal separator being less than the pressure in the first stage vertical separator but greater than atmospheric pressure to produce a second gas stream, a water stream; and a liquid hydrocarbon stream;

passing the second gas stream from the second stage horizontal separator to a combustor or flare nozzle;

passing the water stream from the second stage horizontal separator to a water storage tank; and

passing the liquid hydrocarbon stream from the second stage horizontal separator to a liquid hydrocarbon storage tank.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of passing the solids stream from the first stage vertical separator to the second stage horizontal separator.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second stage separator has a liquid handling capability of about 4,500 barrels per day with a retention time of about 60 minutes.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second stage separator has a liquid handling capability of about 9,000 barrels per day with a retention time of about 30 minutes.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first stage separator has a liquid capacity of about 900 barrels per day with a retention time of between about 3 minutes and about 5 minutes.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the first stage separator has a gas capacity of about 5 million standard cubic feet per day.

Assignments (5)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 6, 2023
From: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: CIMARRON ENERGY INC.
Reel/Frame 065476/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 17, 2015
From: CIMARRON ENERGY INC.
To: AMERGY BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 035179/0060 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 18, 2014
From: CIMARRON ENERGY, INC.
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 034546/0454 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 1, 2014
From: WHITELEY, JAMES D.
To: J&A SERVICES, LLC
Reel/Frame 034290/0576 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 1, 2014
From: J&A SERVICES, LLC
To: CIMARRON ENERGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 034290/0808 →