Design and Installation of a Sand Separation and Handling System for a Gulf of Mexico Oil Production Facility

Rawlins, C. Hank; Staten, S.E.; Wang, I.I.

doi:10.2118/63041-ms

Cited by 10 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 2 publications

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“…Solids-handling methodology incorporates five steps for full facilities sand-management design: separate, collect, clean, dewater, and disposal (Rawlins et al 2000). The sand-jetting ( jet and pan or cyclonic-type) and slurry-piping components comprise the first two steps; however, the collected slurry must be brought through to the final disposal location to complete the process.…”

Section: System Integrationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Design of a Cyclonic-Jetting and Slurry-Transport System for Separators

Rawlins¹

2016

Oil and Gas Facilities

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eProcess Technologies are removed from production separators either off line (shut down for physical removal) or on line by use of a jetting system. Static, settled solids within a production separator become harder to remove as time increases because of consolidation and binding. Consolidation is a mechanical effect whereby the sand rearranges to a more-compact state by removal of liquid between the grains. Gravity, time, fluid lubrication, and vibrations from platform and equipment all work together to consolidate the sand. Binding occurs when foreign materials bridge between or cement together the sand grains. Wax, asphaltene, precipitates, bitumen, corrosion products, bacteria, scale, iron sulfide, and production chemicals can all lead to binding. The decrease in pressure and temperature in the production separator, compared with tubular and wellhead conditions, may accelerate the binding effect. Consolidated or bound sand requires chemical, thermal, or mechanical action to return to a free-flowing state. An efficient jetting-sand-removal system must therefore move or remove the solids while they are still capable of being fluidized. Traditional Sand Jetting Several approaches exist for removal of accumulated sand from production separators. The most basic requires isolation of the vessel and manual removal of the sand (McKay et al. 2008; Rawlins 2013). This method has low capital expenditure but results in loss of production. Alternatively, various separator internal devices can provide online sand removal, which negate the need for equipment isolation and vessel entrance. These devices include spray jets and pans (Chin 2007), conveyance sprays (Fantoft et al. 2004), vortex desanders (Jasmani et al. 2006), and eductors (Coffee 2008). These devices typically fall under the general moniker of "sand jetting," even though they may not use specific jet-spray devices. Each of these devices should be designed to remove sand accumulated from the water zone with minimal interference at the oil/water interface. The most-common approach for on line separator sand removal is the traditional jet and pan system. A schematic of this type of system is shown in Fig. 1. Spray water is introduced through an internal piping header aligned axially along the separating vessel. Spray nozzles are spaced along the header to introduce a jet of water that fluidizes and pushes the sand toward the bottom middle of the vessel. A sand pan (inverted V-trough with triangular slots) or sand cap (flat circular plate) direct the sand toward the outlet nozzle and prevent vortex formation. While this equipment is widely used by operators, engineering companies, and equipment fabricators, no sizing guidelines are given in the most commonly referenced production-separator-design procedures, such as

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Section: System Integrationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Design of a Cyclonic-Jetting and Slurry-Transport System for Separators

Rawlins¹

2016

Oil and Gas Facilities

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“…28 As the wells increased in watercut the amount of solids also increased leading to interference with the water treating equipment (flotation cell and CPI), oil-water separation (by stabilizing emulsion pads in the oil treater), and erosion of the LACT meter. These problems led to monthly facilities shutdown for maintenance.…”

Section: Application Examplesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Surface facilities sand handling can be delineated into five unit process areas: separate, collect, clean, dewater, and haulage. 28 • Separation is the unit process of diverting the solids and liquids contained in a mixed slurry stream to different locations. Solids can be removed from well fluids with a gravity vessel (i.e.…”

Section: Surface Facilities Sand Handling System Designmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Surface facility designs incorporating solids handling unit processes for both onshore and offshore fields has been documented increasingly in the past 5-10 years as approaches are taken to increase equipment robustness and minimize downtime. [19][20][21][28][29][30] This work has led to the recognition of facilities sand handling as its own interest area in the SPE Production Systems and Facilities TIG.…”

Section: Surface Facilities Sand Handling System Designmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A Comparison of Methodologies for Handling Produced Sand and Solids to Achieve Sustainable Hydrocarbon Production

Rawlins

Hewett²

2007

All Days

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fax 01-972-952-9435. AbstractAll oil and gas wells produce sand or solids in varying types and amounts. The size and concentration of natural solids (i.e. formation sand) and artificial solids (i.e. workover debris) determine their net effect on production equipment and the resulting management of hydrocarbon production. Conventional exclusion methodology prevents solids from entering the wellbore but may adversely affect inflow production due to skin buildup. Inclusion methodology allows the solids to be produced with well fluids for surface separation and handling. A comparison of the performance, operability, cost impact, and effect on production rate is made for both methods through application examples. The goal is to show that the increased production resulting from allowing solids to be produced in some high sand rate wells allows more sustainable hydrocarbon production with a cost benefit compared to downhole exclusion for certain producing regions.

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“…The volume of solids flowing downward, entering the accumulation chamber, displaces an equal volume of water flowing upward through the apex, which has been termed "volume swapping" (Rawlins 2002). Volume swapping occurs because of the density differential between the solids and water.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Particle-Transfer Between the Cyclone and Accumulator Sections of a Desander

Rawlins¹

2018

SPE Production &Amp; Operations

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The flooded-core solid/liquid hydrocyclone, also called a desander, is often used in the upstream oil and gas industry to separate particulate solids from produced water. A desander incorporates a solid/liquid cyclone with an accumulation chamber connected to the apex. Solids collect in the accumulator for intermittent removal while the overflow is discharged continuously. With a flooded-core and static-liquid volume in the accumulator, the trajectory of a sand particle from the cyclone inlet to the apex is changed, compared with that in an open underflow hydrocyclone classifier. In this project, the transfer of solids from the cyclone to the accumulator section is studied, with emphasis on the limiting flux. The settling of solids from the cyclone to the accumulator follows a turbulent, hinderedsettling relationship that can be approximated by models used for sedimentation hoppers. Measurement of the apex-flux rate shows a maximum choke point, beyond which solids will back up into the cyclone section. The limiting inlet solids concentration to reach this choke point is %2 g/L for small-diameter desanders. An apex-flux balancing system is proposed to overcome this flux-rate limitation.

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Design and Installation of a Sand Separation and Handling System for a Gulf of Mexico Oil Production Facility

Cited by 10 publications

References 2 publications

Design of a Cyclonic-Jetting and Slurry-Transport System for Separators

Design of a Cyclonic-Jetting and Slurry-Transport System for Separators

A Comparison of Methodologies for Handling Produced Sand and Solids to Achieve Sustainable Hydrocarbon Production

Particle-Transfer Between the Cyclone and Accumulator Sections of a Desander

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