Multiphase Desander – Application and Mechanical Requirements
Dr. Hank Rawlins - eProcess Technologies
? Technical Authority - Facilities Sand Management · Produced Water Treatment · Compact Separation Systems
The following guidelines provide the application and mechanical requirements for the multiphase desander.
Application and Operations
Installation Location
- Pre choke (API)
- Post choke (ASME)
- Subsea – in development
Applications
- Well testing, well cleanout, underbalanced drilling, produced solids, proppant flow back
Utilities
- Flush/fill accumulator (clean water any source at 50 psi)
Consumables
- Insert replacement and o-rings
Process Connections
- Five standard: inlet, clean fluid outlet, solids discharge, accumulator-vent, and accumulator-flush/fill
Mechanical Requirements
Footprint
- Generally, 1 m2 bare equipment and 1.5-2.0 m2 for skid with basic valves/piping/instruments
Height
- 3-5 meters pending accumulator size
Orientation
- Vertical standard, but WHD vessel can be operated horizontal
Weight
- 2,000-4,000 kg bare equipment, 10,000-25,000 kg full skid
Pressure Rating
- ANSI: 150#-2500#
- API: 5K, 10K, 15K
Materials of Construction
- Vessel: 4130 CS standard, Available: F22, UNS31803, UNS32760
- Insert: Standard is UNS 31803 w/ HVOF-WC internal, alternate is thick RB-SiC with duplex sheath
Operation
- Instrumentation: Inlet-Overflow DPI, Inlet PI
- Valves: Accumulator isolation, discharge, vent, and fill
- Normally operated manual (valves) but can be automated
Multiphase desander application and mechanical requirements will be covered in the next article.
References
- Rawlins, C.H. 2017. “Separating Solids First – Design and Operation of the Multiphase Desander”, paper 185658-MS presented at the SPE Western Regional Meeting, Bakersfield, CA, 23-27 April.
Post: B-FSM-095
Date: 22-Oct-19
Dr. Hank Rawlins is the Technical Director of eProcess Technologies with 27 years’ experience in the upstream oil & gas industry. Hank is responsible for development programs in Facilities Sand Management, Produced Water Treatment, and Compact Separations Systems. He blogs weekly and teaches courses in these areas and traveled as an SPE Distinguished Lecturer during the 2018-2019 season. Connect with Hank on LinkedIn, Twitter, website, or at [email protected].