Air release assembly for use with providing heated water for well related activities

Abstract

A system is provided that allows relatively low temperature water to be withdrawn from a pipeline for heating and then returning the heated water to the pipeline, wherein the assembly includes a device for limiting or preventing excess air within the pipeline to also be drawn into the one or more water heaters being used. At least one embodiment further includes a device for adjusting the rate of flow through a primary pipe so that desired temperatures are maintained during the heating process.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An assembly adapted for use with an oil/gas well treatment system that includes a water source and upstream piping carrying a primary flow of water from the water source, the oil/gas well treatment system further including one or more water heaters for heating a partial flow from the primary flow of water, the oil/gas well treatment system further including downstream piping, the assembly comprising:
 a primary pipe for coupling to the upstream piping and the downstream piping;   a lateral outlet pipe connected to the primary pipe for conveying the partial flow from the primary flow of water from the primary pipe;   an air release structure connected to the lateral outlet pipe, the air release structure adapted to release at least some air within the partial flow from the primary flow of water;   a transfer pipe located between the air release structure and the one or more water heaters, the transfer pipe adapted for conveying water between the air release structure and the one or more water heaters; and   a lateral inlet pipe connected to the primary pipe, the lateral inlet pipe interconnected to the air release structure via the one or more water heaters and the transfer pipe.   
     
     
         2 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein an inlet for the lateral outlet pipe entering the air release structure is located at a higher elevation than an outlet for the transfer pipe exiting the air release structure. 
     
     
         3 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a valve situated within the primary pipe and located between the lateral outlet pipe and the lateral inlet pipe. 
     
     
         4 . The assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the valve comprises a butterfly valve. 
     
     
         5 . The assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the valve is manually actuated. 
     
     
         6 . The assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the valve is electronically actuated. 
     
     
         7 . The assembly of  claim 6 , further comprising a temperature gauge operatively associated with the primary pipe for sensing a temperature within the primary pipe. 
     
     
         8 . The assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the valve is electronically actuated. 
     
     
         9 . The assembly of  claim 8 , wherein a computer monitors readings from the temperature gauge and adjusts the valve. 
     
     
         10 . The assembly of  claim 3 , further comprising at least one secondary valve operatively associated with at least one of the lateral outlet pipe and the lateral inlet pipe. 
     
     
         11 . The assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one secondary valve comprises a butterfly valve. 
     
     
         12 . The assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one secondary valve is manually actuated. 
     
     
         13 . The assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one secondary valve is electronically actuated. 
     
     
         14 . The assembly of  claim 13 , further comprising a temperature gauge operatively associated with the primary pipe for sensing a temperature within the primary pipe. 
     
     
         15 . The assembly of  claim 14 , wherein a computer monitors readings from the temperature gauge and adjusts the at least one secondary valve. 
     
     
         16 . The assembly of  claim 3 , further comprising a temperature gauge downstream of the primary pipe, wherein the temperature gauge is operatively associated with a liquid storage member. 
     
     
         17 . The assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the liquid storage member comprises one or more of a tank, container, pond, and liquid holding apparatus.