Removable trap stations for hydrocarbon flowlines

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10905975-B2
Application number	US-201816192355-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 15, 2018
Priority date	Nov 15, 2018
Publication date	Feb 2, 2021
Grant date	Feb 2, 2021

Abstract

Removable trap stations for hydrocarbon flowlines can be implemented as an apparatus. The apparatus includes a multi-phase fluid receiver body and a tank defining an interior volume. The fluid receiver body is configured to couple to a flowline carrying a multi-phase fluid including solids and liquids. The fluid receiver body includes an inlet portion configured to receive a portion of the multi-phase fluid including a portion of the solids flowing through the flowline into the receiver body. The fluid receiver body includes an outlet portion fluidically coupled to the inlet portion. The portion of the multi-phase fluid is configured to flow from the inlet portion to the outlet portion. The tank is fluidically and detachably coupled to the outlet and is configured to receive and retain the portion of the multi-phase fluid received through the inlet portion.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
from a flowline carrying a multi-phase fluid comprising solids and liquids, receiving a portion of the multi-phase fluid comprising a portion of the solids into a multi-phase fluid receiver body fluidically coupled to the flowline;
flowing the portion of the multi-phase fluid into a tank fluidically and detachably coupled to the fluid receiver body;
after flowing the portion of the multi-phase fluid into the tank, determining that the tank is substantially filled with the solids; and
in response to determining that the tank is substantially filled with the solids, detaching the tank from the fluid receiver body, wherein the fluid receiver body remains coupled to the flowline after the tank is detached.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining that the tank is substantially filled with the solids comprises determining a magnitude of an electromagnetic wave transmitted by a wave source coupled to the tank and sensed by a wave sensor coupled to the tank.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein determining that the tank is substantially filled with the solids comprises determining, by a weigh scale coupled to the tank, a weight of the solids in the tank.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:
emptying the solids in the tank; and
re-coupling the tank to the fluids receiver body.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising preventing, by a valve assembly coupled to an outlet portion of the fluid receiver body, flow of the portion of the multi-phase fluid out of the fluid receiver body before detaching the tank from the fluid receiver body.

Assignees

• Saudi Arabian Oil Co

Inventors

• Al-Gouhi Alwaleed Abdullah
• Alhashem Mayadah M
• Al Dossari Ibrahim Shaia
• Cai Xiaolong Dennis

Classifications

• F16L55/24

  Preventing accumulation of dirt or other matter in pipes, e.g. by traps, by strainers · CPC title

• B01D21/302

  Active control mechanisms with external energy, e.g. with solenoid valve · CPC title

• B01D21/0024

  Inlets or outlets provided with regulating devices, e.g. valves, flaps (B01D21/24 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B01D21/2405

  Feed mechanisms for settling tanks · CPC title

• B01D2221/04

  Separation devices for treating liquids from earth drilling, mining · CPC title