Not applicable.
The field of this application and any resulting patent is methods and systems for processing gas, liquids, and solids removed from a wellbore after various downhole operations, such as fracking.
Various methods and systems have been proposed and utilized for processing gas, liquids, and solids removed from a wellbore after various downhole operations, including some of the methods and systems disclosed in the references appearing on the face of this patent. However, those methods and systems lack all the steps or features of the methods and systems covered by any patent claims below. As will be apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art, any methods and systems covered by claims of the issued patent solve many of the problems that prior art methods and systems have failed to solve. Also, the methods and systems covered by at least some of the claims of this patent have benefits that could be surprising and unexpected to a person of ordinary skill in the art based on the prior art existing at the time of invention.
One or more specific embodiments disclosed herein includes a gas buster tank system, comprising a self-cleaning tank, wherein the self-cleaning tank comprises a gas buster attachment port, one or more silos, wherein each of the one or more silos comprises a valve, one or more skimmers, an excess water port, excess water piping, a clean water exit port, a circulation inlet port, a circulation piping loop, one or more baffles, an exit line, wherein the exit line comprises one or more pipe arms and a discharge port, and a control system; a gas buster attachment, wherein the gas buster attachment is attached to the gas buster attachment port; a trailer; and a pump trailer, wherein the pump trailer comprises a first pump attached to the circulation inlet port and a second pump attached to the discharge port.
One or more specific embodiments disclosed herein includes a method of processing gas, liquids, and solids removed from a wellbore, comprising providing a gas buster tank system comprising a self-cleaning tank, wherein the self-cleaning tank comprises a gas buster attachment port, one or more silos, wherein each of the one or more silos comprises a valve, one or more skimmers, an excess water port, excess water piping, a clean water exit port, a circulation inlet port, a circulation piping loop, one or more baffles, an exit line, wherein the exit line comprises one or more pipe arms and a discharge port, and a control system, a gas buster attachment, wherein the gas buster attachment is attached to the gas buster attachment port, a trailer, and a pump trailer, wherein the pump trailer comprises a first pump attached to the circulation inlet port and a second pump attached to the discharge port; pumping materials from a wellbore, wherein the materials comprise sand, debris, water, and liquid chemicals; directing the materials to the gas buster attachment, wherein the gas buster attachment separates gas from the materials; directing the remaining materials to the self-cleaning tank, wherein the materials are deposited in the one or more silos; holding the chemicals in the materials back by employing the one or more skimmers while allowing the water in the materials to proceed through the excess water port, wherein the water exits the self-cleaning tank via the clean water exit port; attaching the first pump to the circulation inlet port, wherein water is pumped into the circulation piping loop, wherein it is sent through the perimeter jets and valve jets to mix with the sand in the one or more silos; actuating the one or more silo valves allowing the sand mixture to move into the one or more pipe arms and into the exit line; and attaching the second pump to the discharge port to pump the sand mixture out of the self-cleaning tank.
A detailed description will now be provided. The purpose of this detailed description, which includes the drawings, is to satisfy the statutory requirements of 35 U.S.C. § 112. For example, the detailed description includes a description of the inventions defined by the claims and sufficient information that would enable a person having ordinary skill in the art to make and use the inventions. In the figures, like elements are generally indicated by like reference numerals regardless of the view or figure in which the elements appear. The figures are intended to assist the description and to provide a visual representation of certain aspects of the subject matter described herein. The figures are not all necessarily drawn to scale, nor do they show all the structural details of the systems, nor do they limit the scope of the claims.
Each of the appended claims defines a separate invention which, for infringement purposes, is recognized as including equivalents of the various elements or limitations specified in the claims. Depending on the context, all references below to the “invention” may in some cases refer to certain specific embodiments only. In other cases, it will be recognized that references to the “invention” will refer to the subject matter recited in one or more, but not necessarily all, of the claims. Each of the inventions will now be described in greater detail below, including specific embodiments, versions, and examples, but the inventions are not limited to these specific embodiments, versions, or examples, which are included to enable a person having ordinary skill in the art to make and use the inventions when the information in this patent is combined with available information and technology. Various terms as used herein are defined below, and the definitions should be adopted when construing the claims that include those terms, except to the extent a different meaning is given within the specification or in express representations to the Patent and Trademark Office (PTO). To the extent a term used in a claim is not defined below or in representations to the PTO, it should be given the broadest definition persons having skill in the art have given that term as reflected in any printed publication, dictionary, or issued patent.
Now, certain specific embodiments are described, which are by no means an exclusive description of the inventions. Other specific embodiments, including those referenced in the drawings, are encompassed by this application and any patent that issues therefrom.
One or more specific embodiments disclosed herein includes a gas buster tank system, comprising a self-cleaning tank, wherein the self-cleaning tank comprises a gas buster attachment port, one or more silos, wherein each of the one or more silos comprises a valve, one or more skimmers, an excess water port, excess water piping, a clean water exit port, a circulation inlet port, a circulation piping loop, one or more baffles, an exit line, wherein the exit line comprises one or more pipe arms and a discharge port, and a control system; a gas buster attachment, wherein the gas buster attachment is attached to the gas buster attachment port; a trailer; and a pump trailer, wherein the pump trailer comprises a first pump attached to the circulation inlet port and a second pump attached to the discharge port.
A method of processing gas, liquids, and solids removed from a wellbore, comprising providing a gas buster tank system comprising a self-cleaning tank, wherein the self-cleaning tank comprises a gas buster attachment port, one or more silos, wherein each of the one or more silos comprises a valve, one or more skimmers, an excess water port, excess water piping, a clean water exit port, a circulation inlet port, a circulation piping loop, one or more baffles, an exit line, wherein the exit line comprises one or more pipe arms and a discharge port, and a control system, a gas buster attachment, wherein the gas buster attachment is attached to the gas buster attachment port, a trailer, and a pump trailer, wherein the pump trailer comprises a first pump attached to the circulation inlet port and a second pump attached to the discharge port; pumping materials from a wellbore, wherein the materials comprise sand, debris, water, and liquid chemicals; directing the materials to the gas buster attachment, wherein the gas buster attachment separates gas from the materials; directing the remaining materials to the self-cleaning tank, wherein the materials are deposited in the one or more silos; holding the chemicals in the materials back by employing the one or more skimmers while allowing the water in the materials to proceed through the excess water port, wherein the water exits the self-cleaning tank via the clean water exit port; attaching the first pump to the circulation inlet port, wherein water is pumped into the circulation piping loop, wherein it is sent through the perimeter jets and valve jets to mix with the sand in the one or more silos; actuating the one or more silo valves allowing the sand mixture to move into the one or more pipe arms and into the exit line; and attaching the second pump to the discharge port to pump the sand mixture out of the self-cleaning tank.
One or more specific embodiments disclosed herein includes one or more silos wherein each of the one or more silos comprises a rectangular section and a V-shaped section.
One or more specific embodiments disclosed herein includes a clean water exit port comprising one or more butterfly valves.
One or more specific embodiments disclosed herein includes a circulation piping loop comprising a plurality of circulation valves, a plurality of perimeter jets, and a plurality of valve jets.
One or more specific embodiments disclosed herein includes a system comprising a flow meter system, wherein the flow meter system comprises an inlet pipe, a flow meter, Victaulic clamps, one or more flow valves, a flow meter display, and a return pipe.
One or more specific embodiments disclosed herein includes a method wherein the water exits the clean water exit port and proceeds to a plant to be treated and reused.
One or more specific embodiments disclosed herein includes a method wherein the circulation valves control the flow of water into the one or more silos.
One or more specific embodiments disclosed herein includes a method wherein the sand mixture is sent to a pit.
One or more specific embodiments disclosed herein includes a method wherein the sand mixture is sent to a dewatering roll off gas buster.
One or more specific embodiments disclosed herein includes a system comprising a plurality of silos.
One or more specific embodiments disclosed herein includes baffles that permit clean water to move between the plurality of silos.
The drawings presented herein are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the claims. Rather, the drawings are intended to help enable one having ordinary skill in the art to make and use the claimed inventions.
Referring to
As also shown in
In embodiments, each of the one or more silos 145 may comprise a rectangular section 200, a V-shaped section 205, and a silo valve 210. As shown in
In embodiments, each of the one or more skimmers 150 may comprise a rectangular shape as shown in
In embodiments, each of the one or more excess water ports 155 may comprise a screen to prevent and/or discourage debris from entering the excess water piping 160 as shown in FIG. 4B. In embodiments, one excess water port 155 may be located in each of the one or more silos 145. In embodiments, each of the one or more excess water ports 155 may be located at an appropriate height so that mainly clean water may enter the one or more excess water ports 155. In embodiments, each of the one or more excess water ports 155 may lead to the excess water piping 160. In embodiments, the excess water piping 160 may lead to the clean water exit port 165. In embodiments, the clean water exit port 165 may allow the clean excess water to be removed from the self-cleaning tank 110. In embodiments, the clean water exit port 165 may comprise one or more valves 215 as shown in
In embodiments, the circulation inlet port 170 may lead to the circulation piping loop 175. In embodiments, the circulation piping loop 175 may lead to a plurality of perimeter jets 225 and a plurality of valve jets 230 as shown in
Returning to
In embodiments, the flow meter system 185 may comprise an inlet pipe 235 (see
Returning to
As shown in
Referring to
Wellbores accumulate a great deal of debris and sand from various downhole operations including fracking. Thus, there are times when there is a need to clean out the debris and sand from the wellbore in order to continue operations and/or production. In embodiments, the debris and sand may be pumped out of the wellbore to the gas buster attachment 105, which is located on the top of the self-cleaning tank 110. In embodiments, there are various types of attachments that may be used depending on the needs and regulations in the area where the wellbore is located. In addition to debris and sand, the downhole materials may also include water and liquid chemicals. Further, the downhole materials may also include gas. In some instances, this gas may be vented to the atmosphere, or the gas may be captured depending on the applicable regulations. Different types of attachments may be employed depending, in part, on the applicable regulations. Thus, in embodiments the goal is to deal with the gas, liquids, and solids, such as sand and debris, being removed from the wellbore.
In embodiments, the gas buster attachment 105 may act as a separator to remove the gas from the fluids. As stated above, in embodiments, the gas may be vented to the atmosphere or captured depending on the applicable regulations. In embodiments, the remaining materials, including the sand and debris, may proceed to the self-cleaning tank 110.
In embodiments, the sand, debris, water, and liquid chemicals may be deposited into the one or more silos 145 of the self-cleaning tank 110. In embodiments, even in situations where the one or more silos 145 appear to be full of merely sand, there may in fact be a liquid component as well. In embodiments, the liquid component may comprise water and chemicals.
In embodiments, the one or more skimmers 150 may be employed to hold the chemicals back while the water may exit the one or more silos 145 through the excess water port 155. In embodiments, this water may proceed into the excess water piping 160 and exit the self-cleaning tank 110 through the clean water exit port 165. In embodiments, the water may be sent to a plant located near the self-cleaning tank 110 so that the water may be treated and reused in the gas buster tank system 100.
In embodiments, once the one or more silos 145 are filled with sand to a sufficient level, the first pump 350 of the pump trailer 120 may be attached to the circulation inlet port 170. In embodiments, the first pump 350 may send water into the gas buster tank system 100. More specifically, the water may be sent through the circulation inlet port 170 into the circulation piping loop 175, where it may then be sent into the one or more perimeter jets 225 and the valve jets 230 in order to mix with the sand in the one or more silos 145. In embodiments, the addition of the water into the one or more silos 145 may create a suspension of sand and water (“the sand mixture”), which may be movable. In embodiments, any excess water may be removed from the one or more silos 145 through the excess water port 155. In embodiments, the circulation valves 235 may be employed to control the flow of water into the one or more silos 145.
In embodiments, once the sand mixture is created, the silo valves 210 may be actuated to open in order to allow the sand mixture to move into the one or more pipe arms 275 and then into the exit line 190. In embodiments, the sand mixture may move through the exit line 190 toward the discharge port 280. In embodiments, the second pump 355 of the pump trailer 120 may be attached to the discharge port 280. In embodiments, the sand mixture may be pumped by the second pump 355 to a pit 370 or to the dewatering roll off gas buster 400. In embodiments, the dewatering roll off gas buster 400 may comprise a filter to hold the sand and allow clean water to be pumped back to the circulation inlet port 170 to be reused.
In embodiments, the one or more silos 145 may be positioned in series with the one or more baffles 180, which may allow clean water to be moved between and among the one or more silos 145 to account for nonuniformity in the water distribution between and among the one or more silos 145.
Additionally, in embodiments there may be a need to measure and monitor the amount of pressure of sand, debris, and other downhole materials entering the one or more silos 145. In embodiments, the flow meter system 185 may be employed to perform these measurements and allow for monitoring of the pressure. In embodiments, this measuring and monitoring may be needed in order to ensure that the maximum amount of materials allowed into the gas buster tank system 100 is not being exceeded. Otherwise, too much material may overburden the gas buster tank system 100 or even result in the production of oil and/or gas that may corrupt the gas buster tank system 100 such that the gas buster tank system 100 is inoperable. In embodiments, a certain amount of the sand mixture contained in the one or more silos 145 may be routed into the flow meter port 265 of the inlet pipe 235. In embodiments, the sand mixture may proceed past the flow meter 240 before returning to the one or more silos 145 via the return pipe 260. In embodiments, the flow meter 240 may be wired to the flow meter display 255, which may provide the operator with information on the amount of flow, and therefore the pressure, being introduced into the gas buster tank system 100 from the wellbore.
In embodiments, the gas buster tank system 100 may be controlled hydraulically. For example, in embodiments the silo valves 210, the circulation valves 235, and the flow valves 250 may all be controlled hydraulically. Further, in embodiments the one or more silos 145 may hold between 200,000 to 250,000 pounds of sand. In embodiments, the gas buster tank system 100 may comprise a central command post for the operator where the operator may also control the first pump 350, the second pump 355, and any other pumps associated with the gas buster tank system 100.
Generally, the above describes an improved process and system for processing gas, liquids, and solids removed from a wellbore after various downhole operations, such as fracking.
Additionally, alternative embodiments may further comprise a dewatering roll off gas buster 400. In embodiments, the dewatering roll off gas buster 400 may filter sand from oil and gas production fluid. In embodiments, the dewatering roll off gas buster 400 may be used to capture and separate large volumes of gas within drilling fluid. In embodiments, the dewatering roll off gas buster 400 may also eliminate sand from oil and production fluid. In embodiments, the dewatering roll off gas buster 400 may be connected in series to easily and efficiently filter oil and production fluid. In embodiments, the dewatering roll off gas buster 400 may comprise a main body 405, a filter 410, a plurality of ports 415, a plurality of gas busters 420, and a flange 425. In embodiments, the filter 410 may prevent solids from mixing into the production fluid or oil. In embodiments, the production fluid may circulate through the dewatering roll off gas buster 400 until the production fluid is clean.
In embodiments, the dewatering roll off gas buster 400 may be capable of hooking up high pressure lines (not shown) in series. In embodiments, the dewatering roll off gas buster 400 may filter out sand from oil and gas production fluid. In order to accomplish this, in embodiments the dewatering roll off gas buster 400 may comprise the main body 405, wherein the main body 405 may allow fluids to drip to the bottom of the dewatering roll off gas buster 400. Further, in embodiments the filter 410 may screen out any solids within the production fluid. Additionally, in embodiments the plurality of ports 415 may allow the dewatering roll off gas buster 400 to be connected in series with additional dewatering roll off gas busters 400. Further, in embodiments the plurality of gas busters 420 may create connections for the high-pressure lines (not shown). In embodiments, the flange 425 may create a section wherein the filtered solids can be removed from the dewatering roll off gas buster 400.
As shown in
In embodiments, the dewatering roll off gas buster 400 may hold the production fluid with the main body 405. In embodiments, the main body 405 may comprise a metal material with a rectangular shape and a V-shape at the bottom. In embodiments, this design may allow for the fluid to easily drip to the bottom of the dewatering roll off gas buster 400. In embodiments, the main body 405 may comprise a screen chamber 430 and a clean water section 435. In embodiments, the screen chamber 430 may be located along the rear side of the main body 405 as shown in
In embodiments, the filter 410 may connect with the main body 405 in a central section offset where the V-shape begins as seen in
In embodiments, the plurality of ports 415 may be flanged and may be positioned on the front side of the main body 405 as seen in
In embodiments, the plurality of gas busters 420 may be positioned above the main body 405 and perpendicular to the sides of the main body 405 as seen in
In embodiments, the flange 425 may be positioned on the rear bottom of the main body 405 as seen in
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/481,546 filed on Jan. 25, 2023, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/484,687 filed on Feb. 13, 2023, the disclosures of which are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety.
Number | Date | Country | |
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63481546 | Jan 2023 | US | |
63484687 | Feb 2023 | US |