Title:
SAND DECANTER
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2010/080780
Kind Code:
A3
Abstract:
A method for processing hydrocarbons recovered from a subterranean formation is disclosed. The method includes: feeding a stream including water, sand, and heavy hydrocarbons produced from a subterranean formation to a separation vessel; concurrently in the separation vessel: heating the stream components to an elevated temperature to reduce a viscosity of the heavy hydrocarbons; and separating the sand, the heavy hydrocarbon, and the water to form a water fraction, a hydrocarbon fraction, and a sand fraction comprising sand and at least one of water and heavy hydrocarbons; and recovering the water fraction from the separation vessel; recovering the hydrocarbon fraction from the separation vessel; and withdrawing the sand fraction from the separation vessel. Also disclosed are apparatus suitable for performing the above described method.
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Inventors:
WILLIAMS STEVE (CH)
ALDUS DAVID (CA)
FOUT GARY E (US)
ALDUS DAVID (CA)
FOUT GARY E (US)
Application Number:
PCT/US2010/020182
Publication Date:
October 28, 2010
Filing Date:
January 06, 2010
Export Citation:
Assignee:
MI LLC (US)
M I DRILLING FLUIDS UK LTD (GB)
M I DRILLING FLUIDS CANADA INC (CA)
WILLIAMS STEVE (CH)
ALDUS DAVID (CA)
FOUT GARY E (US)
M I DRILLING FLUIDS UK LTD (GB)
M I DRILLING FLUIDS CANADA INC (CA)
WILLIAMS STEVE (CH)
ALDUS DAVID (CA)
FOUT GARY E (US)
International Classes:
E21B43/16; E21B43/24; E21B43/243
Foreign References:
| US4362610A | 1982-12-07 | |||
| US20070075024A1 | 2007-04-05 | |||
| EP0891799A1 | 1999-01-20 | |||
| US4204923A | 1980-05-27 |
Other References:
See also references of EP 2386012A4
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
BERGMAN, Jeffrey, S. et al. (909 Fannin Street Suite 350, Houston TX, US)
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