A solids trap module for an electrical submersible pump (ESP) of a wellbore is provided. The module includes a solids buffer and a fluid passage, the fluid passage having a first segment configured to redirect a fluid in a first angular direction relative to an axial axis, and a second segment configured to redirect at least a portion of the redirected fluid flow in a second angular direction different than the first angular direction. The first segment, the second segment, and the solids buffer are configured to cooperate to cause settling of solids entrained by the fluid flowing through the solids trap module during a period when the ESP does not operate and to re-entrain settled solids into the fluid flowing through the solids trap module when the ESP is operating.

A downhole apparatus for collecting solids fallback in the tubing of an oil producing borehole comprises two or more baskets to collect the solids fall back, each basket partially occupying a portion of the inner cross section of the tubing, leaving a portion of the inner cross section of the tubing having an unrestricted flow path. The baskets when considered in plan view along longitudinal axis of the tubing are distributed such that together they cover substantially the whole area of the tubing while leaving an unobstructed non-straight flowpath around the baskets.

An adapter for coupling between a rod and a plunger in a downhole pump has a shaft with an axial through bore, and a cup spanning around a neck portion of the shaft to create an open-topped sand trap annulus between the shaft and cup. Sand trap ports in the shaft wall fluidly communicate the axial through bore and sand trap annulus. A sand trap shoulder on the shaft above the sand trap annulus is flushed clean during the pump downstroke by angled cleanout ports in the shaft wall. The sand trap shoulder is of lesser outer diameter than the cup, whereby the sand trap shoulder denotes a partial sand trap that captures a first fractional portion of sand found in fluid above it, while permitting a second fractional portion of sand to pass downwardly by the sand trap shoulder for capture by the sand trap annulus.

An adapter for coupling between a rod and a plunger in a downhole pump has a shaft with an axial through bore, and a cup spanning around a neck portion of the shaft to create an open-topped sand trap annulus between the shaft and cup. Sand trap ports in the shaft wall fluidly communicate the axial through bore and sand trap annulus. A sand trap shoulder on the shaft above the sand trap annulus is flushed clean during the pump downstroke by angled cleanout ports in the shaft wall. The sand trap shoulder is of lesser outer diameter than the cup, whereby the sand trap shoulder denotes a partial sand trap that captures a first fractional portion of sand found in fluid above it, while permitting a second fractional portion of sand to pass downwardly by the sand trap shoulder for capture by the sand trap annulus.

A downhole apparatus for collecting solids fallback in the tubing of an oil producing borehole comprises two or more baskets to collect the solids fall back, each basket partially occupying a portion of the inner cross section of the tubing, leaving a portion of the inner cross section of the tubing having an unrestricted flow path. The baskets when considered in plan view along longitudinal axis of the tubing are distributed such that together they cover substantially the whole area of the tubing while leaving an unobstructed non-straight flowpath around the baskets.