SAND SEPARATOR
First Claim
1. A separator for separating solid and liquid components from gas components in a hydrocarbon production stream, the separator comprising:
- a cylindrical body having an upper end, a lower end, a body wall and an inner cavity;
an inlet pipe having a first and second end and extending through the body wall, wherein the first end is on the outside of the body and the second end extends to within the inner cavity;
a gas outlet port on the upper end of the body;
a drain near the lower end of the body; and
an inner vessel fastened in the inner cavity of the body, the inner vessel having a vessel wall, a vessel cavity, and a plurality of openings in the vessel wallwherein solid and liquid components of a hydrocarbon production stream entering the cylindrical body are preferentially directed to the drain and gas components are preferentially directed to the gas outlet port.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method for separating a natural gas production stream from hydrocarbon well operations into a gas component and a sand and liquid component is described. More specifically, a sand separator comprising a cylindrical body, a production stream inlet port, a gas outlet port and a solid and liquid drain port is described. The cylindrical body has an inner cavity with an inner cone having one-way gas vents and a stationary auger wrapped around the inner cone. The production stream inlet port includes a pipe having a curved tip that directs the production stream into the body and around the inner cone and stationary auger, causing the production stream to slow down and the components to separate.
25 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A separator for separating solid and liquid components from gas components in a hydrocarbon production stream, the separator comprising:
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a cylindrical body having an upper end, a lower end, a body wall and an inner cavity; an inlet pipe having a first and second end and extending through the body wall, wherein the first end is on the outside of the body and the second end extends to within the inner cavity; a gas outlet port on the upper end of the body; a drain near the lower end of the body; and an inner vessel fastened in the inner cavity of the body, the inner vessel having a vessel wall, a vessel cavity, and a plurality of openings in the vessel wall wherein solid and liquid components of a hydrocarbon production stream entering the cylindrical body are preferentially directed to the drain and gas components are preferentially directed to the gas outlet port. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for separating solid and liquid components from gas components in a hydrocarbon production stream comprising the steps:
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a) transporting the production stream into a cylindrical vessel; b) creating an initial drop in velocity of the production stream; c) directing the production stream flow around an inner cavity of the cylindrical vessel; d) collecting the gas components from the production stream at a top end of the vessel; e) collecting the sand and liquid components at a bottom end of the vessel.
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Specification