Method of use of a high pressure solid removal system

Abstract

A method for removing particlesParticles are removed from a high pressure flow stream entailsby flowing the high pressure flow stream into an inlet of a high pressure trap and flowing the flow stream from the inlet into a tube in the high pressure trap. The tube is adapted to accelerate the flow stream. The flow stream leaves the tube and de-accelerates as the stream flows into a chamber. The method continues by contacting theThe flow stream withcontacts a plate wound helically around an outside surface of the tube. The plate creates a cyclonic effect within the flow stream to remove particles from the flow stream. The particles are collected in a reservoir. The remainingRemaining particles are removed by flowing the flow stream towards a side outlet over the plate. The methods end by collecting theThe remaining particles are collected in athe reservoir forming collected particles and dumping the. The collected particles are periodically dumped from the reservoir.

1. A method for removing particles from a high pressure flow stream from a hydrocarbon well, comprising the steps of:
 a. flowing the high pressure flow stream into an inlet of a high pressure trap;    b. flowing the flow stream from the inlet into a tube in the high pressure trap, wherein the tube is adapted to accelerate the flow stream;    c. ejecting the flow stream from the tube into a chamber in the high pressure trap adjacent a second end of the tube, wherein the chamber is adapted to de-accelerate and redirect the flow stream along an outside surface of the tube to flow upwardly in a direction opposite the first direction;    d. contacting the flow stream with a plate wound helically around the outside surface of the tube, wherein the plate is adapted to create a cyclonic effect with the flow stream;    e. collecting a portion of the particles from the flow stream in a bottom reservoir forming a cleaner flow stream;    f. removing the remaining particles from the cleaner flow stream while flowing the cleaner flow stream over the plate and toward a side outlet adjacent a first end of the tube;    g. collecting the remaining particles in the bottom reservoir forming collected particles; and    h. dumping the collected particles from the bottom reservoir.    
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the high pressure trap comprises:
 a. the inlet;    b. the chamber comprising the reservoir; 
 i. a top flange connected to the inlet;  
 ii. a bottom flange connected to the bottom reservoir; and  
 iii. a side wall connecting the top flange and the bottom flange, wherein the side wall comprises a side outlet in fluid communication with a choke manifold;  
   c. a dump outlet in communication with the reservoir;    d. a dump outlet controller adapted to open and close the dump outlet;    e. a tube disposed in the chamber, wherein the tube comprises the plate disposed on the outside surface of the tube, wherein the plate is oriented in a helical arrangement around the outside surface, and wherein the tube is mounted within the chamber to change the velocity of the flow stream the flow stream is passed from the tube into the chamber.    
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the inlet is connected to a Christmas tree. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the chamber further comprises a top flange connected to the inlet; a bottom flange connected to the reservoir; and a side wall connecting the top flange and the bottom flange, wherein the side wall comprises a side outlet in fluid communication with a choke manifold. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of flowing the high pressure flow stream into the inlet of the high pressure trap is performed at pressures ranging from about 8,000 psi to about 20,000 psi. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5 , wherein the step of flowing the high pressure flow stream into the inlet of the high pressure trap is performed at pressures ranging from about 10,000 psi to about 15,000 psi. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 6 , wherein the step of flowing the high pressure flow stream into the inlet of the high pressure trap is performed at a flow rate between 1 million cubic feet per day and 400 million cubic feet per day. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of contacting the flow stream with the plate wound helically around the tube plate creates a cyclonic effect in the chamber producing interference with the flow of the particles. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of dumping the collected particles from the reservoir utilizes a dump outlet controller adapted to open and close a dump valve connected to the reservoir. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the dump valve is a mechanical valve or a hydraulic mechanism. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of contacting the flow stream with a deflector secured to the tube. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the deflector consists of a rounded downward shape. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the particles are a member of the group consisting of rock, sand, cement, drillable plug particles, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
       14. A method of removing particulate matter from a flow stream produced by a well, comprising:
   connecting the flow stream to an inlet at a top of a particle trap so that the flow stream enters a top of a tube having only one inside surface and being connected to the top of the particle trap, so that the fluid flows downwardly through the tube and contacts only the one inside surface of the tube before being expelled from the tube;        providing a chamber at a bottom of the tube where the flow stream decelerates and a portion of the particulate matter falls out of the flow stream and collects at a bottom of the chamber as the flow stream is redirected upwardly around an outside of the tube;        providing a plate wound helically around an outside surface of the tube to create a cyclonic effect in the flow stream as the flow stream flows upwardly around the tube so that more of the particulate matter drops to the bottom of the chamber;        providing a side outlet for the flow stream near the top of the particle trap; and        providing a dump outlet at a bottom of the chamber to permit the particulate matter to be removed from the bottom of the chamber.     
     
     
       15. The method as claimed in  claim 14  further comprising providing a deflector below a bottom end of the tube to increase dispersion of the flow stream as the flow stream enters the chamber. 
     
     
       16. The method as claimed in  claim 15  wherein providing the deflector comprises connecting the deflector to the bottom of the tube. 
     
     
       17. The method as claimed in  claim 14  wherein providing the plate wound helically around the tube comprises welding a plurality of plates to an outside surface of the tube to form the plate. 
     
     
       18. The method as claimed in  claim 14  further comprising connecting the side outlet to a choke manifold. 
     
     
       19. The method as claimed in  claim 14  further comprising connecting a dump outlet controller to the dump outlet to open and close the dump outlet. 
     
     
       20. The method as claimed in  claim 19  wherein connecting the dump outlet controller comprises connecting a manual dump outlet controller to open and close the dump outlet. 
     
     
       21. The method as claimed in  claim 19  wherein connecting the dump outlet controller comprises connecting a hydraulic dump outlet controller to open and close the dump outlet. 
     
     
       22. The method as claimed in  claim 14  further comprising coating an inner wall of the chamber to reduce wear. 
     
     
       23. The method as claimed in  claim 22  wherein coating the inner wall of the chamber comprises coating the inner wall of the chamber with a ceramic material. 
     
     
       24. The method as claimed in  claim 22  wherein coating the inner wall of the chamber comprises coating the inner wall of the chamber with a graphite composite material. 
     
     
       25. The method as claimed in  claim 14  further comprising coating an inner wall of the tube to reduce wear. 
     
     
       26. The method as claimed in  claim 25  wherein coating the inner wall of the tube comprises coating the inner wall of the tube with a ceramic material. 
     
     
       27. The method as claimed in  claim 25  wherein coating the inner wall of the tube comprises coating the inner wall of the tube with a graphite composite material. 
     
     
       28. A method of removing particulate matter from a high pressure flow stream produced by a well, comprising:
   connecting the high pressure flow stream to an inlet at a top of a high pressure particle trap so that the high pressure flow stream enters a top end of a tube having only one inside surface and being connected to the top of the high pressure particle trap so that the fluid flows downwardly through the tube and contacts only the one inside surface of the tube before being expelled from the tube;        providing a chamber below a bottom of the tube where the high pressure flow stream decelerates and a portion of the particulate matter falls out of the high pressure flow stream and collects at a bottom of the chamber as the high pressure flow steam is redirected upwardly around an outside of the tube;        providing a helical plate around an outside surface of the tube to create a cyclonic effect in the high pressure flow stream as the high pressure flow stream flows upwardly around the tube and the plate so that more of the particulate matter falls out of the flow stream and drops to the bottom of the chamber;        providing a side outlet for the high pressure flow stream near a top end of the high pressure particle trap; and        providing a dump outlet at a bottom of the chamber to permit accumulated particulate matter to be removed from the bottom of the chamber.     
     
     
       29. The method as claimed in  claim 28  further comprising connecting a deflector to a bottom end of the tube against which the flow stream is propelled to increase dispersion of the flow stream into the chamber. 
     
     
       30. The method as claimed in  claim 28  further comprising connecting a manual dump outlet controller to the dump outlet. 
     
     
       31. The method as claimed in  claim 28  further comprising connecting a hydraulic dump outlet controller to the dump outlet. 
     
     
       32. A method of removing particulate matter from a high pressure flow stream produced by a hydrocarbon well, comprising:
   connecting the high pressure flow stream to an inlet at a top of a high pressure particle trap so that the high pressure flow stream enters a top of a tube having only one inside surface and being connected to the inlet so that the fluid flows downwardly through the tube and contacts only the one inside surface of the tube before being expelled from the tube and dispersed by a deflector suspended from a bottom of the tube;        providing a particle trap chamber below the bottom of the tube where the high pressure flow stream decelerates and a portion of the particulate matter falls out of the high pressure flow stream and collects at a bottom of the particle trap chamber as the high pressure flow steam is redirected upwardly around an outside of the tube;        providing a helical plate connected to an outside surface of the tube to create a cyclonic effect in the high pressure flow stream as the high pressure flow stream flows upwardly around the tube following the helical plate, so that more of the particulate matter falls out of the high pressure flow stream and drops to the bottom of the particle trap chamber;        providing a side outlet for the high pressure flow stream near a top of the high pressure particle trap; and        providing a dump outlet at a bottom of the chamber with a dump outlet controller to permit accumulated particulate matter to be removed from the chamber.     
     
     
       33. The method as claimed in  claim 32  further comprising connecting the side outlet to a choke manifold. 
     
     
       34. The method as claimed in  claim 32  wherein providing the helical plate comprises welding a plurality of plates to the outside surface of the tube to form the helical plate connected to the outside of the tube. 
     
     
       35. A method of removing particulate matter from a flow stream produced by a well, comprising:
   connecting the flow stream to an inlet at a top of a particle trap so that the flow stream enters a top end of a tube having only one inside surface and being connected to the top of the particle trap so that the fluid flows downwardly through the tube toward a bottom end of the tube and contacts only the one inside surface of the tube before being expelled from the tube;        deflecting the flow stream into a chamber after the flow stream exits the bottom end of the tube, wherein the flow stream decelerates and a portion of the particulate matter falls out of the flow stream and collects at a bottom of the chamber;        redirecting the flow stream to flow cyclonically around an outside of the tube toward the top of the particle trap so that more of the particulate matter drops to the bottom of the chamber;        providing a side outlet for the flow stream near a top of the chamber; and        providing a dump outlet at a bottom of the chamber to permit the particulate matter to be removed from the bottom of the chamber.     
     
     
       36. The method of  claim 35 , wherein redirecting the flow stream to flow cyclonically around an outside of the tube toward the top of the particle trap comprises directing the flow stream past a plate wound helically around an outside surface of the tube.