Vertically Arranged Well Test Burner System

Abstract

A well test burner system has a plurality of burner nozzles. Each burner nozzle has an air inlet, a well product inlet and an air/well product mixture outlet. At least three of the plurality of burner nozzles are arranged in a vertical column.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A well test burner system, comprising:
 a plurality of burner nozzles, each comprising:
 an air inlet; 
 a well product inlet; and 
 an air/well product mixture outlet, 
   at least three of the plurality of burner nozzles arranged in a vertical column.   
     
     
         2 . The well test burner system of  claim 1 , where the at least three burner nozzles are oriented principally towards a common direction. 
     
     
         3 . The well test burner system of  claim 2 , where at least one of the burner nozzles angles vertically away from another of the burner nozzles in an acute angle. 
     
     
         4 . The well test burner system of  claim 1 , where the air/well product mixture outlets of the at least three burner nozzles are on a common vertical axis. 
     
     
         5 . The well test burner system of  claim 1 , where the air/well product mixture outlets of the at least three burner nozzles are arranged to expel a planar fan of air/well product mixture. 
     
     
         6 . The well test burner system of  claim 5 , where the air/well product mixture outlets of the at least three burner nozzles are arranged to expel air/well product mixture in an overlapping pattern. 
     
     
         7 . The well test burner system of  claim 1 , where the at least three burner nozzles are affixed to a common, straight, vertical carrier. 
     
     
         8 . The well test burner system of  claim 7 , where the carrier comprises an air supply tubing or a well product supply tubing. 
     
     
         9 . The well test burner system of  claim 1 , where the at least three of the plurality of burner nozzles comprises a first set of burner nozzles; and
 where the well test burner system comprises a second set of at least three of the plurality of burner nozzles arranged substantially a second vertical column.   
     
     
         10 . The well test burner system of  claim 9 , where the first and second set of burner nozzles are affixed to a common, straight, vertical carrier. 
     
     
         11 . The well test burner system of  claim 9 , where the first and second set of burner nozzles comprises all of the burner nozzles of the well test burner system. 
     
     
         12 . The well test burner system of  claim 1 , comprising a pilot burner comprising a pilot gas inlet and a pilot flame outlet, the pilot burner residing adjacent a vertically lowest burner nozzle. 
     
     
         13 . The well test burner system of  claim 12 , where the pilot burner is vertically between the vertically lowest burner nozzle and an adjacent burner nozzle. 
     
     
         14 . The well test burner system of  claim 12 , where the pilot flame outlet is oriented to direct a pilot flame transversely across the vertical column of burner nozzles. 
     
     
         15 . The well test burner system of  claim 9 , comprising a plurality of pilot burners, each comprising a pilot gas inlet and a pilot flame outlet,
 at least one of the pilot burners residing adjacent the vertically lowest burner nozzle in the first set of burner nozzles, flanking the burner nozzles, and oriented to direct a pilot flame transversely across the vertical column of the first set of burner nozzles toward the second set of burner nozzles.   
     
     
         16 . A method, comprising:
 receiving air and a well product in at least three burner nozzles of a well test burner system arranged in a vertical column;   expelling an air/well product mixture from the burner nozzles; and   burning the air/well product mixture.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , where burning the air/well product mixture comprises:
 igniting air/well product mixture expelled from a vertically lowest burner nozzle with a pilot flame adjacent the vertically lowest burner nozzle; and   igniting air/well product mixture expelled from a burner nozzle above the vertically lowest burner nozzle using burning air/well product mixture from the vertically lowest burner nozzle.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , where burning the air/well product mixture comprises igniting air/well product mixture expelled from one of the burner nozzles using burning air/well product mixture from a lower burner nozzle. 
     
     
         19 . A well product burning system, comprising:
 a first air/well product mixture outlet;   a second air/well product mixture outlet above and aligned on a common vertical axis with the first air/well product mixture outlet; and   a third air/well product outlet above and aligned on a common vertical axis with the first and second air/well product mixture outlets.   
     
     
         20 . The well product burning system of  claim 19 , where the first air/well product mixture outlet expels air/well product mixture that overlaps with air/well product mixture expelled by the second air/well product mixture outlet; and
 where the second air/well product mixture outlet expels air/well product mixture that overlaps with air/well product mixture expelled by the third air/well product mixture outlet.