Portable modular apparatus for retaining, diagnosing and measuring of proppant and formation solids in hydrocarbon producing wells

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to equipment, procedures, and materials for the diagnosis and control of formation and/or fracture granular solids from hydrocarbon-producing zones, produced during the operation of wells in the oil industry. This surface technology does not require the use of repair equipment and relies on filtering elements and sieves installed in a high-efficiency equipment that takes advantage of the cyclonic effect of phase separation, designed, and built to safeguard the integrity of the equipment and surface conduction lines.

1 . A system for efficient separation of granular solid materials embedded in a fluid liquid matrix from hydrocarbon wells under conditions of high pressure up to 2,000.0 psi and temperatures up to 150° C., comprising: (a) a subsystem for receiving a fluid liquid matrix mixed with solids; (b) a subsystem for the controlled separation of solids embedded in a fluid liquid matrix by means of a solids separation module; (c) a subsystem comprising both the solids outlet conduit and the fluid matrix outlet conduit; (d) a solids capture and monitoring (FIC) subsystem for analysis of the granular solids and measurement and diagnosis of their production in the target well. 
     
     
         2 - 5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the separation of the fluid liquid matrix and the solids embedded therein is carried out with one or a plurality of solids separation modules, each of which includes a main body and a plurality of embodiments. 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the solids separation module subsystem comprises a main body comprising: a) cylindrical section (SC); b) inlet tube (TE); c) fixing ring (AF); d) top cap-plug (TC S ); and e) bottom cap-plug (TC I ). 
     
     
         9 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the solids separation module subsystem comprises the following embodiments: f) slotted tube (TUR); g) wear sleeves (CD); h) cylinder-cover (TAC); i) outlet pipe (TSA); j) strainer (CED); and k) impact plate (PIM). 
     
     
         10 - 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . The system according to  claim 8 , wherein the inlet tube (TE) is longitudinally hollow and conveys the fluid matrix containing the solids towards the main body (CP), preferably tangentially connected, wherein its longitudinal axis forms a right or inclined angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the main body, preferably forming a right angle, wherein its cross-section is of straight or conical section, preferably kept straight until rigidly and hermetically joined to the cylindrical section of the main body. 
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . The system according to  claim 8 , wherein the fixing ring (AF) is in the form of a ring having an inner diameter, an outer diameter and a thickness, and is fixed to the main body (CP) without any possibility of displacement, concentric to it, in its cylindrical section, wherein its outer diameter fits tightly within the cylindrical section and is nominally equal to the inner diameter of the cylindrical section of the main body and coaxial to it, functioning as a simultaneous support for the grooved tube, the wear sleeves and the wear tube. 
     
     
         19 - 23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . The system according to  claim 8 , wherein the upper cap-plug (TC S ) has a hollow hemispherical geometry, with a concave side and a convex side, and an axial symmetry axis, coaxial to the symmetry axis of the main body, having an access, in its central area to house and hermetically fix an outlet pipe (TSA), wherein the access follows the shape and dimensions of the cross section of the outlet pipe, with a flange at the lower end of the upper cap-plug connecting to the upper end of the cylindrical section for disassembly and maintenance and/or inspection of the solids separation module, and wherein the height of the upper cap-plug (TC S ) is in the range of 5.31 inches to 9.54 inches and the ratio of its height to its outer diameter (L TCS /D TCS ) is in the range of 0.18 to 0.81, wherein its outer diameter and wall thickness are selected equal to the outer diameter and wall thickness of the cylindrical section. 
     
     
         25 - 27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . The system according to  claim 9 , wherein the slotted tube (TUR) is a hollow cylindrical element of straight section, whose perimeter shape follows the shape of the cylindrical section of the main body and is concentric to it. 
     
     
         29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . The system according to  claim 9 , wherein the side wall of the slotted tube (TUR) has a plurality of accesses whose number and distribution are specific patterns or randomly distributed therein, preferably rhombic or polygonal patterns, and more preferably rectangular patterns on the curved surface of the slotted tube. 
     
     
         31 . The system according to  claim 9 , wherein the slotted tube accesses have any shape, preferably cylindrical with an angle of inclination of its longitudinal symmetry axis above a horizontal plane in the range of 13.5 degrees to 17.0 degrees. 
     
     
         32 . The system according to  claim 31 , wherein the distribution of the accesses on the circumference of the slotted tube is every 360/n degrees, these angles measured from the center of symmetry in a cross section, wherein n is an integer lying in the interval from 5 to 12, preferably in the interval from 6 to 10. 
     
     
         33 . The system according to  claim 31 , wherein the angle of inclination of the accesses with respect to lines perpendicular to radial lines drawn at every 360/n degrees is in the interval from 13.5 degrees to 17.0 degrees. 
     
     
         34 . The system according to  claim 9 , wherein the space between the outer face of the slotted tube (TUR) and the inner face of the cylindrical section (SC) receives the fluid matrix with solids coming from the inlet tube (TE) and initiates the separation of the solids from the fluid matrix by confining the fluid, increasing its velocity and forcing the separation through the existing accesses in the slotted tube. 
     
     
         35 . (canceled) 
     
     
         36 . (canceled) 
     
     
         37 . The system according to  claim 9 , wherein the height of the cylindrical wall of the slotted tube is in the range of 7.20 inches to 9.67 inches without exceeding, the upper end of the cylindrical section of the main body, once it is supported on the fixing ring. 
     
     
         38 . (canceled) 
     
     
         39 . The system according to  claim 9 , wherein the vertical distance between centers of every two adjacent accesses on the slotted tube is equal to H TUR /t, taken from the horizontal plane (PH), wherein t is in the range of 8.00 to 10.27. 
     
     
         40 . The system according to  claim 9 , wherein the wear sleeves (CD) are a plurality of plates mechanically fixed to the inner wall of the cylindrical section, and are supported on the fixing ring. 
     
     
         41 . The system according to  claim 9 , wherein the wear sleeves are installed adjacent to each other until they cover the entire inner wall of the cylindrical section in the height range of the slotted tube, likewise, they cover the perimeter area of the cylindrical section at the same height of the slotted tube. 
     
     
         42 - 44 . (canceled) 
     
     
         45 . The system according to  claim 9 , wherein the radius of the circular section of the wear sleeves (R CD ) is equal to DI SC /2, and the angle γ, which is measured at the perimeter of the of the of the wear sleeves is 360°/m, wherein m is an integer, such that the plurality of wear sleeves completely covers the inner wall of the cylindrical section in the height range of the slotted tube. 
     
     
         46 . (canceled) 
     
     
         47 . The system according to  claim 9 , wherein the cover-cylinder (TAC) is a flat plate-shaped element, whose geometry follows the perimeter shape of the cylindrical section of the main body and covers the entire upper area of the slotted tube, except in its central region. 
     
     
         48 . The system according to  claim 9 , wherein the cover-cylinder (TAC) is installed mechanically fixed on the slotted tube and includes in its central region, an access through which the outlet pipe (TSA) passes. 
     
     
         49 - 54 . (canceled) 
     
     
         55 . The system according to  claim 9 , wherein the length of the outlet pipe starts from the lower space of the main body, passes through the slotted tube, the cylinder-cover, the damping chamber and exits through the upper Cap-plug. 
     
     
         56 - 59 . (canceled) 
     
     
         60 . The system according to  claim 9 , wherein the strainer (CED) is a tubular element, preferably cylindrical of straight circular cross-section with a multiplicity of holes in its longitudinal area, which is rigidly and mechanically connected to the outlet pipe at its lowermost end. 
     
     
         61 - 67 . (canceled) 
     
     
         68 . The system, of  claim 1 , wherein conveying the fluid matrix and solids to the outlet of the solids separation module is carried out via two separated outlet piping lines: the solids outlet conduit (SS) and the fluid matrix outlet conduit (SMF). 
     
     
         69 - 76 . (canceled) 
     
     
         77 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the solids collection and monitoring system (FIC) receives and monitors the already separated solids coming from the main body of the solids separation module and is channeled through the solids outlet conduit, and includes a main body, an inlet tube, an outlet pipe and a strainer incorporated therein. 
     
     
         78 . (canceled) 
     
     
         79 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the solids collection and monitoring system receives granular solids in a wet condition through the upper inlet tube to be deposited within the solids collection and monitoring system strainer, which has multiple perforations, such that the remaining fluids are channeled through the lower outlet pipe. 
     
     
         80 . The system according to  claim 77 , wherein the main body of the solids collection and monitoring system (CP FIC ) has cylindrical, spherical, conical, conical, polyhedral or combination thereof geometry, preferably cylindrical-spherical, with a longitudinal symmetry axis. 
     
     
         81 . The system according to  claim 77 , wherein the main body of the solids collection and monitoring system includes an inlet tube (TE FIC ), an outlet pipe (TS FIC ) and a cylindrical section with two terminations, one hemispherical and the other threaded cylindrical. 
     
     
         82 - 86 . (canceled) 
     
     
         87 . The system according to  claim 81 , wherein the inlet pipe of the solids collection and monitoring system (TEFIC) is conduit for conveying the granular solids in wet condition to the main body of the solids collection and monitoring system, and is mechanically rigidly connected thereto. 
     
     
         88 . (canceled) 
     
     
         89 . (canceled) 
     
     
         90 . The system according to  claim 81 , wherein the outlet pipe of the solids collection and monitoring system is a hollow tubular element with an axis of longitudinal symmetry; it may form a right angle or may be inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of the main body, preferably forming a right angle, and whose cross section may have any geometrical shape, preferably circular, hermetically connected to the cylindrical section of the main body at its lower part. 
     
     
         91 - 93 . (canceled) 
     
     
         94 . The system according to  claim 77 , wherein the strainer of the solid capture and monitoring system (CED FIC ) is a hollow tubular element with a multiplicity of holes in its longitudinal area, with a fixing ring in the form of a hoop at its upper end, and a plate that closes its lower end. 
     
     
         95 - 98 . (canceled) 
     
     
         99 . The system according to  claim 94 , wherein the fixing ring of the strainer of the solid capture and monitoring system (AF CPFIC ), is rigidly and mechanically attached to the upper end of the strainer of the solid capture and monitoring system, and its outer diameter is nominally equal to the inner diameter of the main body of the solid capture and monitoring system. 
     
     
         100 . The system according to  claim 94 , wherein the fixing ring of the strainer of the solid capture and monitoring system allows the insertion and extraction of the strainer, and includes frames made of the same material, which function as reacting elements when the strainer is installed inside the main body and a composite cap is placed on it. 
     
     
         101 . (canceled) 
     
     
         102 . The system according to  claim 77 , wherein the composite cap is formed by a cylindrical coupling element that starts with an inner thread at one end, and ends with a drag stop at the other, such that it makes contact with the drag stop of the coupling element, forming a safety mechanism by reaction, so that the contact pressure between the latter and the frames of the fixing ring of the sieve causes rigid fixation to the main body, as the threaded coupling element advances. 
     
     
         103 . (canceled) 
     
     
         104 . (canceled) 
     
     
         105 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the separation of fluids and solids embedded in them, when carried out with a plurality of solid separation modules connected in parallel, wherein the system operates each module independently to increase or reduce the flowrate of solids and fluid separation, and they operation and maintenance is accomplished independently, and when connected in series, the system allows all modules to operate at the same time to increase the volume of solid separation and reduce, with each added module, the size range of the separated granular solids. 
     
     
         106 . (canceled)