Embodiments disclosed herein relate to an apparatus for refining a liquid stream which includes a liquid carrier with a heavier waste and a lighter waste. The apparatus includes a first flow chamber, a second flow chamber, and plates. The first flow chamber is a cone structure and directs the liquid stream downwards in a first direction at a first velocity. The first velocity is greater than a settling velocity of a heavier waste in the liquid carrier. The second flow chamber directs the liquid carrier upwards in a second direction at a second velocity less than the settling velocity. The plates are in the second flow chamber and at a transition between the first and second flow chambers. The plates have an inclined geometry to cause laminar flow in the liquid stream to separate the heavier waste to a lower collection chamber and lighter waste to an upper collection reservoir.

Embodiments disclosed herein relate to an apparatus for refining a liquid stream. The apparatus includes a first flow chamber, an inclined plate region, and a second flow chamber. The first flow chamber forms a first portion of an hourglass double cone structure and directs the liquid stream in a first direction at a first velocity. The inclined plate region includes inclined plates radiating outward from the hourglass double cone structure in a helical pattern. The inclined plate region directs the liquid carrier in a second direction opposite the first direction at a second velocity less than the first velocity forming a laminar flow condition in the liquid stream to separate heavy waste and light waste from the liquid stream. The second flow chamber forms a second portion of the hourglass double cone structure and directs the liquid stream to a liquid stream outlet.

A hydrocarbon production apparatus that removes debris from a hydrocarbon fluid is described. The apparatus includes a first conduit, a second conduit, a valve, and at least one baffle. The first conduit includes an inlet, an outlet, and a flow path that extends between the inlet and the outlet. The flow path can receive a flow of a hydrocarbon fluid, which includes debris, from the inlet and direct the hydrocarbon fluid from the inlet to the outlet. The second conduit includes a debris receptacle. The valve is fluidly coupled to the second conduit and can isolate the debris receptacle from the flow path of the first conduit and at least a portion of the second conduit. The at least one baffle is oriented to direct at least a portion of the debris from the flow path of the first conduit to the second conduit.

A sedimentation plate, a sedimentation assembly, and a sedimentation module are provided. The sedimentation plate includes a flat plate; a plurality of first rib plates arranged at intervals, parallel to each other, and perpendicular to a first surface of the flat plate; and a plurality of second rib plates arranged at intervals, parallel to each other, and perpendicular to a second surface of the flat plate. The first rib plates are perpendicular to the second rib plates. A water channel is formed between each two adjacent first rib plates. A mud channel is formed between each two adjacent second rib plates. The sedimentation assembly includes a plurality of sedimentation plates. The sedimentation module includes the sedimentation assembly.

Embodiments disclosed herein relate to an apparatus for refining a liquid stream which includes a liquid carrier with a heavier waste and a lighter waste. The apparatus includes a first flow chamber, a second flow chamber, and plates. The first flow chamber is a cone structure and directs the liquid stream downwards in a first direction at a first velocity. The first velocity is greater than a settling velocity of a heavier waste in the liquid carrier. The second flow chamber directs the liquid carrier upwards in a second direction at a second velocity less than the settling velocity. The plates are in the second flow chamber and at a transition between the first and second flow chambers. The plates have an inclined geometry to cause laminar flow in the liquid stream to separate the heavier waste to a lower collection chamber and lighter waste to an upper collection reservoir.

Embodiments disclosed herein relate to an apparatus for refining a liquid stream. The apparatus includes a first flow chamber, an inclined plate region, and a second flow chamber. The first flow chamber forms a first portion of an hourglass double cone structure and directs the liquid stream in a first direction at a first velocity. The inclined plate region includes inclined plates radiating outward from the hourglass double cone structure in a helical pattern. The inclined plate region directs the liquid carrier in a second direction opposite the first direction at a second velocity less than the first velocity forming a laminar flow condition in the liquid stream to separate heavy waste and light waste from the liquid stream. The second flow chamber forms a second portion of the hourglass double cone structure and directs the liquid stream to a liquid stream outlet.

The system and method for processing flowback fluid include a plurality of wellheads producing flowback fluid flows, a plurality of first stage separators corresponding to at least one wellhead of an installation with multiple wellheads and multiple flowback fluid flows, a plurality of metering devices corresponding to each first stage separator, and a second stage separator in fluid connection with the metering devices and the first stage separators. Flowback fluid flows pass from the wellhead to the first stage separators for initial separation of a gas phase, through the metering devices for determination of production levels for each wellhead, and into the second stage separator for an additional gas phase separation. The storage volumes of the first and second stage separators control the retention time in the second stage separator for safe and efficient operation.

A sedimentation plate, a sedimentation assembly, and a sedimentation module are provided. The sedimentation plate includes a flat plate; a plurality of first rib plates arranged at intervals, parallel to each other, and perpendicular to a first surface of the flat plate; and a plurality of second rib plates arranged at intervals, parallel to each other, and perpendicular to a second surface of the flat plate. The first rib plates are perpendicular to the second rib plates. A water channel is formed between each two adjacent first rib plates. A mud channel is formed between each two adjacent second rib plates. The sedimentation assembly includes a plurality of sedimentation plates. The sedimentation module includes the sedimentation assembly.

A system to separate solids from liquids is disclosed. In a particular embodiment, the system includes a series of alternating baffles disposed along a length of a tank, where the series of alternating baffles define a vertical tortuous flow path of the fluid from a first end of the tank to a second end of the tank to cause solids to settle out of the fluid. The alternating baffles each have a sloped planar surface disposed between a lower horizontal planar surface and an upper horizontal planar surface to cause at least one eddy in a vertical plane as the fluid flows through the tank. The system may also include a series of tanks in fluid communication with the at least one tank and secured side by side, where the solids progressively settle out from the fluid in stages as the fluid passes from one tank to another in series.