Disclosed is a system and method to separate solid particle components from a fluid. It can be used in close association with a hydrocarbon producing well and uses a novel combination of mechanical filtration, solids decantation, and real and apparent forces. Disclosed is a spherical vessel with a tangential inlet to introduce the fluid and a fluid exhaust and filter arranged on the center line of the interior of the vessel. A combination of pressurized fluid and solid particles enter at the tangential inlet and move primarily in a circular path around the interior of the vessel. The circular path results in the larger mass particles settling at the vessels lower region. Less massive particles may be entrained in the exiting fluid flow toward a filter element where they are removed from the exiting fluid. The vessel has an opening to remove the trapped separated particles.

A separation apparatus for separating hydrocarbons and water, comprising a vessel (1) and an insert (5, 6) within said vessel (1). The has a bottom (7), a conical wall (8) and a quiecer (10) at the top of the wall (8), which enclose a separation chamber (11). The insert (5, 6) has an inlet pipe (12) for a mixture of water and hydrocarbons and a spreader arrangement (13, 14) arranged inside the separation chamber (11), which directs an inflow of fluids in a tangential direction, setting the fluids into a tangential laminar swirl. The vessel (1) has at least one manhole (3, 4), and said insert bottom (7), wall (8) and quiecer (10) are assembled by a plurality of generally wedge shaped segments (7a-l, 8a-l, 10a-l) having a size that allows the segments (7a-l, 8a-l, 10a-l) to be brought through the manhole (3, 4).

A separation apparatus for separating hydrocarbons and water, comprising a vessel (1) and an insert (5, 6) within said vessel (1). The has a bottom (7), a conical wall (8) and a quiecer (10) at the top of the wall (8), which enclose a separation chamber (11). The insert (5, 6) has an inlet pipe (12) for a mixture of water and hydrocarbons and a spreader arrangement (13, 14) arranged inside the separation chamber (11), which directs an inflow of fluids in a tangential direction, setting the fluids into a tangential laminar swirl. The vessel (1) has at least one manhole (3, 4), and said insert bottom (7), wall (8) and quiecer (10) are assembled by a plurality of generally wedge shaped segments (7a-l, 8a-l, 10a-l) having a size that allows the segments (7a-l, 8a-l, 10a-l) to be brought through the manhole (3, 4).

A system for plug milling/flowback/descaling operations utilizes a data management component to receive and analyze data. A fluid management physical interconnection component has a debris separation device, a pressure control device and at least one mechanism connected for gas management and flow measurements of solids and liquids. The analysis by the data management component is used to provide control signals for use in or for the pressure control device. A vacuum/flush solid management system utilizes a combination of flush and vacuum pumps to convey solids in a slurry to a low pressure tank for disposal. The system directs frac sands through the debris separation device, through the pressure control device, and through the at least one mechanism for gas management and flow measurements to the low pressure tank.

A sample of a first aqueous liquid phase is drawn from a first one of a plurality of separation vessels in response to determining that a first separation operation in the first separation vessel has completed. First aqueous liquid phase sample data is obtained by analyzing the first aqueous liquid phase sample with at least one sensor. The first aqueous liquid phase sample data is transmitted to an external multiphase flow meter (MPFM) to calibrate, control, or optimize an operation of the MPFM. A sample of a second aqueous liquid phase is drawn from a second one of the plurality of separation vessels in response to determining that a second separation operation in the second separation vessel has completed. Second aqueous liquid phase sample data is obtained by analyzing the second aqueous liquid phase sample with the at least one sensor. The second aqueous liquid phase sample data is transmitted to the external multiphase flow meter. The first separation operation in the first separation vessel and the second separation operation in the second separation vessel are concurrent.

A sample of a first aqueous liquid phase is drawn from a first one of a plurality of separation vessels in response to determining that a first separation operation in the first separation vessel has completed. First aqueous liquid phase sample data is obtained by analyzing the first aqueous liquid phase sample with at least one sensor. The first aqueous liquid phase sample data is transmitted to an external multiphase flow meter (MPFM) to calibrate, control, or optimize an operation of the MPFM. A sample of a second aqueous liquid phase is drawn from a second one of the plurality of separation vessels in response to determining that a second separation operation in the second separation vessel has completed. Second aqueous liquid phase sample data is obtained by analyzing the second aqueous liquid phase sample with the at least one sensor. The second aqueous liquid phase sample data is transmitted to the external multiphase flow meter. The first separation operation in the first separation vessel and the second separation operation in the second separation vessel are concurrent.

A process of dewatering oil sands/coal tailings includes generating nanobubble water, mixing a chemical dispersant into the nanobubble water to form a nanobubble-dispersant mixture, adding tailings to the nanobubble-dispersant mixture to form a nanobubble-dispersant-tailings mixture, and agitating the nanobubble-dispersant-tailings mixture to form an agitated nanobubble-dispersant-tailings mixture having a solid portion and a liquid portion. The solid portion is thereafter separated from the liquid portion. The agitation may be a centrifugal motion or shaking motion to agitate the nanobubble-dispersant-tailings mixture The chemical dispersant may be sodium hydroxide dispersant for asphaltenes and the volume of the tailings added may be substantially equal to the volume of the nanobubble water generated. An oil layer may further be skimmed off the liquid portion a polymer clarifier may also be added to the liquid portion. The process may be applied to achieve accelerated tailings processing for rapid and economic environmental remediation.

A sand separating apparatus for use with a production tubing string includes (i) a housing assembly forming an outer tubular and (ii) an inner tubular within the housing assembly to define an annular passage between the inner tubular and the housing assembly. A helical member occupies part of the annular passage below production openings in the housing assembly whereby a flow of production fluids entering from the wellbore is directed downwardly along a helical path within the annular passage as dictated by the helical member and subsequently upwardly through the inner tubular. The helical member extends radially outwardly from the inner tubular beyond a boundary surface at an outer perimeter of the annular passage to prevent formation of a gap at the tip of the helical member as it wears. A fluid passage in alignment with the helical member extends radially from inside the inner tubular to the annular passage.

Systems and methods using: a membrane unit to treat fluids recovered from an oil and gas well are provided. The membrane unit may include a membrane having a porous substrate at. least partially coated with graphene oxide, making the membrane hydrophilic. The membrane separates water from other components within a fluid stream. The membrane unit may include an inlet to receive a fluid stream into the membrane unit. The fluid stream may be pretreated prior to reaching the membrane unit The membrane unit may also include a first outlet in fluid communication with one side of the membrane and a second outlet in fluid communication with the opposite side of the membrane.

A sand handling system having, for example, one to three sand separators are configured to be operatively connected to a well and an inlet of a common dumping vessel. Advantageously, the dumping vessel has a sensor to measure an amount of sand in the dumping vessel and provide a signal to a programmable controller which is arranged to dump the dumping vessel when a specified amount of sand is in the dumping vessel. The system automates the sand handling process and also measures and records data associated with a number of flowback parameters. The data can then be used in well design to improve oil and/or gas production, lessen sand production, reduce well damage and/or equipment corrosion due to, for example, sand.