Low cut water sampling device

Abstract

An apparatus for sampling well production fluids comprises a vessel having an inner chamber. In addition, the apparatus comprises a hydrocarbon fluids outlet conduit in fluid communication with the inner chamber. Further, the apparatus comprises a well fluids inlet conduit coaxially disposed within the hydrocarbon fluids outlet conduit and in fluid communication with the inner chamber. The well fluids inlet conduit has a first portion extending from the vessel and a second portion extending into the inner chamber. The second portion of the well fluids inlet conduit includes a plurality of openings configured to direct the well production fluids radially outward from the well fluids inlet conduit. Still further, the apparatus comprises a sample fluids outlet in fluid communication with the inner chamber.

1 . An apparatus for sampling well production fluids, comprising:
 a vessel having an inner chamber;   a hydrocarbon fluids outlet conduit in fluid communication with the inner chamber;   a well fluids inlet conduit coaxially disposed within the hydrocarbon fluids outlet conduit and in fluid communication with the inner chamber, wherein the well fluids inlet conduit has a first portion extending from the vessel and a second portion extending into the inner chamber;   wherein the second portion of the well fluids inlet conduit includes a plurality of openings configured to direct the well production fluids radially outward from the well fluids inlet conduit; and   a sample fluids outlet in fluid communication with the inner chamber.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the vessel has an upper end, a lower end, and a first port extending through the lower end of the vessel to the inner chamber;
 wherein the sample fluids outlet is in fluid communication with the first port.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the vessel has a second port extending through the upper end of the vessel to the inner chamber;
 wherein the hydrocarbon fluids outlet conduit and the well fluids inlet conduit extend through the second port.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of openings in the well fluids inlet conduit are arranged in a plurality of axially spaced rows, wherein a plurality of the openings are circumferentially spaced in each row. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the openings in each row are circumferentially staggered relative to the openings in each axially adjacent row. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the vessel has a pressure rating of at least about 20,000 psi and the inner chamber has a volume between 1 liter and 4 liters. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a hydrocarbon fluids outlet fitting including a main bore and a first lateral bore extending from the main bore;
 wherein the main bore is in fluid communication with the hydrocarbon fluids outlet conduit;   wherein the well fluids inlet conduit extends coaxially through the main bore.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein an annulus is radially disposed between the well fluids inlet conduit and the hydrocarbon fluids outlet conduit, and radially disposed between the well fluids inlet conduit and the hydrocarbon fluids outlet fitting;
 wherein the annulus extends from an inlet end in fluid communication with the inner chamber and a sealed end opposite the inlet end; and   wherein the annulus is in fluid communication with the first lateral bore.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the first lateral bore has an inlet end in fluid communication with the annulus and a hydrocarbon fluids outlet end opposite the inlet end of the first lateral bore. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the hydrocarbon fluids outlet fitting includes a second lateral bore extending from the main bore;
 Wherein the second lateral bore is in fluid communication with the annulus and a sensor.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the sensor comprises a pressure sensor, a temperature sensors, a flow rate sensor, or a pH sensor. 
     
     
         12 . A method of sampling produced well fluids, comprising:
 (a) continuously flowing produced well fluids to a sampling device, wherein the sampling device comprises:
 a vessel having an inner chamber; 
 a hydrocarbon fluids outlet conduit in fluid communication with the inner chamber; 
 a well fluids inlet conduit coaxially disposed within the hydrocarbon fluids outlet conduit and in fluid communication with the inner chamber 
 a sample fluids outlet in fluid communication with the inner chamber 
   (b) flowing the produced well fluids through the well fluids inlet conduit into the inner chamber of the vessel;   (c) allowing a sample fluid in the produced well fluids to separate from one or more hydrocarbon fluids in the produced well fluids to a lower portion of the inner chamber under the force of gravity; and   (d) withdrawing a sample of the sample fluid from the vessel through the sample fluids outlet.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the sample fluids outlet includes a valve, and wherein (d) comprises opening the valve to withdraw the sample of the first fluid. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 (e) flowing the one or more hydrocarbon fluids from the inner chamber through an annulus radially positioned between the well fluids inlet conduit and the hydrocarbon fluids outlet conduit.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein (e) further comprises allowing the one of more hydrocarbons to flow out of an upper end of the inner chamber of the vessel. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the sample fluid is water. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein (b) comprises flowing the produced well fluids radially outward from the well fluids inlet conduit through a plurality of openings in the well fluids inlet conduit, wherein the plurality of openings are positioned along a portion of the well fluids inlet conduit extending into the inner chamber of the vessel. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising testing the sample fluid for pH, composition, resistivity, conductivity, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         19 . An apparatus for sampling well production fluids, comprising:
 a vessel having an inner chamber;   a hydrocarbon fluids outlet conduit coupled to the vessel;   a well fluids inlet conduit extending coaxially through the hydrocarbon fluids outlet conduit into the inner chamber;   a sample fluids outlet positioned at a lower end of the vessel and in fluid communication with the inner chamber;   an annulus radially disposed between the hydrocarbon fluids outlet conduit and the well fluids inlet conduit, wherein the annulus has an inlet end in fluid communication with the inner chamber.   
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein a portion of the well fluids inlet conduit extending into the inner chamber includes a plurality of openings configured to direct the flow of well production fluids radially outward from the well fluids inlet conduit into the inner chamber. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , further comprising a fitting coupled to the hydrocarbon fluids outlet conduit, wherein the fitting includes a first bore;
 wherein the well fluids inlet conduit extends coaxially through the first bore of the fitting;   wherein the annulus extends into the fitting and is radially disposed between the well fluids inlet conduit and the fitting.   
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the fitting further comprises a second bore extending from the first bore and a third bore extending from the first bore;
 wherein the second bore and the third bore are each in fluid communication with the annulus.