Drain element comprising a liner consisting of hollow rods for collecting in particular hydrocarbons

• US 6,851,560 B2
• Filed: 09/26/2001
• Issued: 02/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bilfinger Water Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Johnson Filtration Systems (Weatherford International PLC)
• Inventors: Reig, Raphaël, Bruxelle, David, Lavernhe, Philippe
• Primary Examiner(s): Savage, Matthew O.
• Application Number:
  US10/380,519
• Publication Number:
  US 20040031607A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,231 Days
• Field of Search: 210/418, 210/457, 210/458, 210/459, 210/488, 210/489, 210/490, 210/497, 166231-233, 166/316, 166/373
• US Class Current: 210/418
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 29/15 arranged for inward flow filtration
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/088 Wire screens comprising porous materials E21B43/082; comprising woven materials E21B43/084
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/12 Methods or apparatus for controlling the flow of the obtained fluid to or in wells E21B43/25 takes precedence; valve arrangements E21B34/00

Abstract

The drain element for collecting hydrocarbons comprises a screen (TM) surrounding a suction cylinder (CA) extending in a longitudinal direction (AL). The screen is made up of rods (TT, TC) which extend along said longitudinal direction (AL) and which are regularly spaced apart around the suction cylinder. At least one of said rods is hollow in order to form a collector rod (TC), said collector rod (TC) having a lateral orifice and communicating with the inside of the suction cylinder via one of its ends.

Claims

1. A strainer having a filter screen constituted by a metal wire (FI) wound around and fixed to a tubular structure formed by rods which extend in a longitudinal direction (AL) between two rings, the rods being inserted at their two ends into the two rings and being regularly distributed around the periphery of the rings, the strainer being characterized in that one of the rings includes an internal cavity (CT), and in that one or more of the rods is or are hollow rods (TC) which include a lateral orifice (OC) and communicate at one end thereof with the internal cavity of the ring in such a manner that a fluid can penetrate from outside the strainer into the internal cavity of the ring, or vice versa.

2. A drain element for collecting hydrocarbons in particular, the element comprising a strainer according to claim 1, in which the filter screen of the strainer surrounds a suction cylinder (CA) on which the two rings (CL) are mounted to constitute a system for adjusting the head loss introduced by the drain element, the suction cylinder (CA) communicating with said internal cavity (CT) of the ring in such a manner that hydrocarbon can be taken thereto at a controlled rate from outside the strainer towards the inside of the suction cylinder via the hollow rods of the filter screen.

3. A drain element according to claim 2, in which channels (CN) are formed inside the rings (CL) for connecting together the hollow rods with the option of modifying the head loss introduced by the drain element by means of screws which are mounted in the rings from the outside thereof in order to close off the channels (CN).

4. A drain element according to claim 3, in which the rods include other hollow rods without lateral orifices forming transport rods (TT), and in which the screws are mounted in such a manner as to connect the lateral orifice (OC) of a collector hollow rod (TC) to said internal cavity (CT) of the ring via one or more hollow transport rods (TT).

5. A drain element according to any one of claim 2, in which said internal cavity (CT) of the ring communicates with the inside of the suction cylinder (CA) via slots (FE) formed in the suction cylinder.

6. A drain element according to any one of claim 2, in which the rings (CL) are interference fitted on the suction tube (CA).

7. A drain element according to any one of claim 1, in which the lateral orifice (OC) of each hollow rod is made by drilling or sawing away part of the hollow rod.