A system and method are disclosed for separating solids from a slurry recovered from a hydrocarbon well. The system includes inverted pyramidal shaped compartments for settling solids downwardly within the liquid stream. Further, each compartment includes a desander pump and a desilter pump that draws solids from the partially cleaned slurry into a desander and desilter, respectively, for removal of solids from the stream. The system includes a network of Weir plates for directing cleaned slurry streams downstream through successive compartments.

Apparatus and method disclosed herein related to first stage gravity separation of liquid and sand from a gaseous fluid stream in an upper portion of a desanding vessel, sand separating from gas along an annular path about a shell, the sand-free gas directed back down into the shell to a fluid outlet for removal as a product stream. A second stage gravity separation of sand from accumulated liquid occurs in a lower section of the vessel. An optional final or polishing stage of the liquid is conduct using a filter. A stacked-plate filter can extend an intake opening of the fluid outlet into the accumulated liquid. Further, the filter plates can be configured with parallel filtering of gas/liquid separation for gas intake above, and with liquid/sand separation below including pressure management of the filter operation.

A multistage membrane system and a process for treating a gas stream is provided in which the multistage membrane system comprises at least two membrane units wherein a first stage membrane unit comprises a polymeric membrane and a second membrane unit comprises a microporous zeolitic inorganic membrane or a combination of a microporous zeolitic inorganic membrane and a polymeric membrane.

A flow back system for separating solids from a slurry recovered from a hydrocarbon well. The system includes a V-shaped tank with a first series of baffles configured to cause the settling of solids that are moved by a shaftless auger to a conduit fluidly connected to a dispersing device mounted over or adjacent to a shaker such as a linear shaker. The shaker receives and processes the output of the dispersing device and dewaters solids. The underflow of the shaker is recirculated through the tank.

A fluid separation system for separating fluids within a container includes an inlet pipe arranged within the container to receive an incoming fluid stream including first, second, and third fluids. The fluid separation system further includes a fluid distribution device coupled to the inlet pipe and including first and second distribution components for respectively separating the incoming fluid stream into first internal fluid streams and second internal fluid streams within the container. The first and second internal fluid streams each include the first, second, and third fluids. The fluid separation system further includes one or more walls arranged to guide the first and second internal fluid streams towards an outlet of the container. The fluid distribution device and the one or more walls together cause the first, second, and third fluids of the first and second internal fluid streams to separate from one another other upstream of the outlet.

A shaker assembly and method, of which the shaker assembly includes a shaker tank, a mixing tank in fluid communication with the shaker tank and positioned adjacent thereto, an overflow weir positioned between and separating the shaker tank and the mixing tank, a first shaker positioned over the shaker tank, and a second shaker. The first and second shakers are configured to operate in parallel to partially separate a solid from a liquid of a drilling waste fluid. During normal operation, at least some of the liquid flows from the first and second shakers to the shaker tank, and from the shaker tank over the overflow weir and into the mixing tank.

A separation apparatus for separating constituents from effluent. The separation apparatus includes a gas diffuser, a hopper, and a tank. The gas diffuser includes an inlet inner tube for receiving effluent from a well. The hopper is disposed at least partially below the gas diffuser, and the tank is connected to the hopper. The gas diffuser is configured so that gas in the effluent is released from the effluent and into the atmosphere before the effluent enters the hopper. The hopper is configured so that liquid effluent in the hopper spills over a top portion of the hopper and into the tank.

A separator for separating solid matter and gas from a fluid flow includes a vessel having an inlet, a fluid outlet, and a gas outlet. The fluid outlet is spaced below the inlet. The separator further includes an enclosure disposed between the inlet and the fluid outlet that redirects the fluid stream passing from the inlet to the fluid outlet. The enclosure defines an inner cavity above a lower edge of the enclosure, and the lower edge defines a fluid flow area. The fluid outlet is disposed within the inner cavity at a height that is above the lower edge of the enclosure and the gas outlet is disposed with a gas space defined by the enclosure.

Separators for separating a multi-phase composition include a separator casing defining a chamber and a permeate outlet, at least one hydrocyclone within the separator casing, and at least one ceramic membrane. Each hydrocyclone includes a hydrocyclone inlet, a tapered section downstream of the hydrocyclone inlet, an accepted outlet, and a reject outlet. The ceramic membrane may be disposed within the separator casing and downstream of the accepted outlet of the hydrocyclone or may be disposed within at least a portion of the tapered section of the hydrocyclone. The ceramic membrane includes a retentate side and a permeate side, where the permeate side is in fluid communication with the chamber. Systems and methods for separating a multi-phase composition into a lesser-density fluid, a greater-density fluid, and a medium-density fluid using the separators are also disclosed.

Separators for separating a multi-phase composition include a separator casing defining a chamber and a permeate outlet, at least one hydrocyclone within the separator casing, and at least one ceramic membrane. Each hydrocyclone includes a hydrocyclone inlet, a tapered section downstream of the hydrocyclone inlet, an accepted outlet, and a reject outlet. The ceramic membrane may be disposed within the separator casing and downstream of the accepted outlet of the hydrocyclone or may be disposed within at least a portion of the tapered section of the hydrocyclone. The ceramic membrane includes a retentate side and a permeate side, where the permeate side is in fluid communication with the chamber. Systems and methods for separating a multi-phase composition into a lesser-density fluid, a greater-density fluid, and a medium-density fluid using the separators are also disclosed.