US1373664A - Gas, oil, and sand separator - Google Patents

Description

u. G. 'LURHAINL. GAS. OIL, AND SAND SEPARATOR. y? APPLICA'HON FILED FEB' 3, 1920- 1,3 I 6,664, Patented Apr. 5, 1921.

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\ INVEN'T'QR UGLorr-dine D. G. LORRAINE.

GAS, 9M, AND SAND SEPARATOR.

APPucATmN HLED FEB. 5. 1920.

Patented Apr. 5, 1921.

2 SHEETS--SHEET 2.

I/V VEN'I'OF? Z2 6. Lorraine N NIMNW PATENT OFFICE.

DAV HJ G. LORRAINE, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

ens, 011., AND SAND snrnnn'roa.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 5, 1921.

Application filed February 5, 1920. Serial No. 358,438.

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, Davin G. LORRAINE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angelcs and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Gas, Oil, and

Sand Separators, of which the following is a. s'ecifi'cation.

his invention relates to apparatus for the e'flicient separation of gas and oil and especially for the separation of these substances when same are recovered from oil wells, and an object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for the eii'ectual recovery ofthe aseous content of emulsified oils as well as ar the separation of oils and gas when the same is not in the form of an emulsion. The invention has also for an object to provide an a paratus in which as few parts as praeticab e are arranged with in a separating chamber and to provide for ready access to the said parts; and another object is to provide for the arrangement and organization of other elements wholly exterior to the separating chamber so that necessary adjustments,'attention, and replacements may be given and had without. the

necessity ofdismantling or materially interrupting the o eration of a plant.

A further 0 ject of the invention is to pro:

vide means for maintaining a pressure continuously on the oil or emulsion as it is continuousl admitted to the separating chamber so t at the emulsion may be subjected to sufficient pressure to express the gaseous constituent of the emulsion from the mixture.

Another object of the invention is to provide 'efi'ectual meanstfor automatically controllingthe discharge, separately, of the oil and gases from the apparatus and especially to provide a'pneumatic device adapted to stand the pressures that may obtain within the separating chamber;

Another ob ect of the invention is to provide hydrostatic means for controlling the discharge of oil and for veventing theloss of gas with the outward y passing oil and to provide such a hydrostati means readily variable to afiord diiferent heads' of Oil pressure to overcome the jnterionpressure during the o eration of the apparatus.

Another o ject of the invention is to provide for the minute adjustment of the oildischarge mechanism.

Another oba'ect is to provide an organization in Whic the several parts are simple in construction, rcadil removable and renewable, and to provide coiirdinnte valve means operative by a single connection with the said pneumatic control means.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel method for treatin oil emulsions to facih to the recovery 0 the useous content of t, emulsion.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists of the method, the combination and in details and arrangements of the parts, an embodiment of the invention being illustrated in the accompanying drawing s and describcd and claimed herein.

igure 1 is a side elevation of the improved apparatus.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the apparatus.

Fig. 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Fig. 2-.

Fig. 4 is a section on line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a section on line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a detailsectional view of the upper portion of the pneumatic float.

he apparatus inc udes, preferably, an upright c lindrical tank or receptacle 2 of any suitaale dimensions having a head 3 that has a manhole 4-which is shown in Fig. 2 as closablc by a manhole plate .5. The lower end of the tank is provided with a bottom 6 having a central outlet pipe 7 in which is provided a cut0ii' valve 8 which, when opened, will provide for the washing out of such material as sand or other substance collecting in the bottom of the rece tacle 2 and which discharge may be feel ituted by the introduction of water or other downwardly extending tube 14 having.

around its lower end a sleeve or hood 15 provided at its upper portion with a gas outlet 16; the lower end of the sleeve 15 haw-.-

ing an inclined botto'I'm. 17 below the open mouth 18 formed in'the side of the sleeve and which mouth is disposed toward the adwent surface of the wall of the receptacle 2. Ihe inlet sleeve 15 is arranged, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, as in close juxtaposition to one side of the cylindrical receptacle; and extending vertically and transversely across this race tacle there is provided a partition wall 19 t e flanges 20 of which may be riveted or otherwise secured as at 21 to the interior surface of the receptacle 2.

The lower end of this partition 19 terminates well above the bottom of therecepta cle and the partition forms a confined vertical passageway down which the oil issuing from the mouth 18 of the inlet sleeve 15 isdirected and is caused to pass beneath the lower edge of the partition 20 before the lighter materials, such as gas and oils, can rise to a predetermined variable height in the receptacle. This enables the sand that may be obtained in the oil or emulsion, coming from the ,suppl pipe 12, to settle toward the bottom while the oil passes around the lower edge of the partition and ascends in the larger compartment formed onthe" op site side of the partition.

he accumulatin gases ascending to the topbfthe receptac e pass into an outlet 22 and into a gas pipe 23 in which may be provided a gage 24. The outwardly passing gasflcws down a pipe 25 in the lower end of 'Xvhich'is' mounted a valve 26 controlling the flow from the receptacle 2. From the valve zs-j continued a deliver gas pi 27 in which there is mounted a va ve 23, I ig. 3, designed tohold a predetermined back pressure in the saline and receptacle 2; the valve' in this case, being provided with a weight lever arm 29 connected to the stem- 30 of. the valve.

"Oil is discharged from the receptacle through an adjustable outlet consisting, in this case, of an elbow 31 turnable about an axis in the connection 32 whichis extended to the outside of the receptacle 2 and has a downturned branch 33 leading into an oil regulating valve 34 from which the 'oil passes into a delivery pi 35.

One of the features 0 the present invention resides in means for very carefully adjusting the level of the outlet member 31 as by swinging it about its axis in the mem-' ber 32; an to secure this refinement of adjustmentthe outlet member has attached to it a link or rod 36 extending up through a guy 37 and thence through a bearing 38,

ig. 2 to winch is attache: a yoke or other suitable member-39 to which is rotatively secured a-diandwheel 40 that enga es the upper thrcaded'end 41 of the rod 36. herefore, by turning the handwhccl 40 in one or the other direction it will lift or lower the rod 36 and consequently set the opening of the outlet member 51 at a desired position so as to enable the separation or outflow of the oil at or above a desired predetermined level with respect to the liquid content of the receptacle 2, as it is, obvious that the oil will vary in clarity according to the specific gravity of its constituents and the upper portion of. a mass of oil is therefore clearer than the lower portion, and to secure the separation of this clearer or better quality the outlet member 31. is made adjustable. A further feature of the resent invention resides in the provision-o a buoyant yet substantial means for automatically controlling the opening and closing simultaneously of the gas outlet valve 26 and the oil outlet valve 34, and to that. end -these valves'are shown as mounted on a common rock shaft 45 on which is provided a lever 46 to the outer end of which is connected it link 47 the upper end of which is attached at 48 to a lever arm 49 on which may counterbalancing weight 50.

The lever arm 49 is secured to the contiguous end of a short rock shaft 51 mounted in a box 52 attached to the side of the re- "ceptacle 2 this box having diverging walls forming; a mouth opening to the interiorof the receptacle 2, and in this month there oscillates a lever 53'attached tothe rtion of the shaft 51 extending into the x 52. The swinging end of the lever '53 is pivotally connected at 54 to a bearin 55 that is attached to the adjacent side 0 a pneumatic cylinder 56.

For the purpose of stabilizing and maintaining this pneumatic c linder in a vertical position it has connecte to it at 57 the side arms of a yoke 58 which has rearwardly extending parallel arms 59 these bein pivoted on a bearing 60 arran d within the receptacle 2; the length of t e lever device 58 and the lever 53 hem substantially equal and therefore holding t e float 56 in an upright position and causing it to move in a vertical position at all times as determined by variation of the level of the oil in the receptacle 2.

As above mentioned there is maintained in the receptacle :1 gas pressure as determined by the adjustmont of the pressure regulating valve 28, and it is desirable to provide, therefore, a pneumatic heat as 56 which will not. only be of a highly buoyant characteristic but :ilso'will be able to with- The valve 28 havin been set by its regulating means 29 to ho d a given pressure in be adjusted at pipe 12 the latter will be small compartmentthrough the inlet or feed ,the receptacle 2 then as oil and gas is so plied to theteoeptacle b the oil supp y irected down the sleeve 15 by which the oi is showered on to the adjacent portion of the receptacle wall whence it flows downwardly between the wall and the partition 19 any gases being liberated rising to the top of this compartment and passing over the upper end of the partition 19 and accumulating in the upper end of the receptacle 2. a

The oil mass, or emulsion in some cases, passes beneath the lower end of the partition 19 and thus facilitates the deposit or separation of solids such as" sand or other heavy substances, and the lighter portion of the oil with the gas and the emulsion rises into the larger compartment of the receptacle and asses-upwardly to a level that is determine by the position of the pneumatic float 56. The gas will be compressed-to a pressure substantially equal to that determined by the valve 28 and maintained there, and as the oil accumulates it will lift the float 56 and through means of the lever arm 53 rock the rock shaft 51 and through means of its connection to the valve shaft 45 rock the latter so as to open or increase the opening of-- the oil valve 34 and permit the discharge-of oil through a past the valve 3'; and to the discharge 35.

hereupon the level of the oil will fall until in such action the float 56 in descending will again close or partially close the oil valve 34 and open or increase the opening of the gas valve 2 This alternate action of the automatic valve mechanism will continue so long as oil is supplied by the main oil pipe 13 to the apparatus.

From the above it will beseen that I have provided a method for se arating or facili tating the separation of t e gas and oil and separately discharging the same from emulsions; and furthermore have provided a. method in which, by maintaining a predetermined pressure in the oil receptacle, the latter is subjected to pressures having the effect of expressing the gaseous content from emulsions, the gaseous constituent in the emulsion being driven from the denser liquids by the increase in the pressure on the oil within the receptacle 2. his, therefore, prevents the loss of the uluablc gaseous constituentisuch 'ns occurs in apparatus in which the oil passes in'umediately from a well or other source to an apparatus in which it is subject only to atmosp ieric pressure.

In the event of treating oils that are not emulsified the valve 34 may be omitted or may be fixed open and a static head or pressure may be secured by maintaining a column of oil in the discharge pipe 35 by providing the lath. with a .fety extension :55". This extension is shown as in the form of a the outlet member 31' oil from oil wells comprising and terminating, short 0 horizontal to an upright position about the axis of the pipe 35 and may be temporaril and substantially secured in its angular ad justment by a suitable jack comprising for instance a post 35 having a sleeve 35 the upper end of which engages the cross or top section of the siphon tube as at 35".

For the purpose of breaking the siphon effect in one branch as 35 of the tube an inwardly opening check valve 35' is mounted, preferably, in the vice so that the oil will not be drawn from the branch to which the pipe 35 is connected but will be maintained therein to prevent drawing out of the gas from the receptacle 2. 1

Preferably water is maintained in the bottom of the receptacle to a level somewhat above the lower end of the sand sheet or partition so that the incoming supply of oil when passjn below the lower end of'tho' partition is rought into contact with the water and the attrition between the emulsion causes a rapid separation of the gaseouscontent as the oil and mixture engages the water.

It has been found from practical experience in the operation of this a iparatus that there is an increase in the production of oil from some wells because of the back pressure in the well line which prevents the rapid increment in the quantity of sand ordinarily found in wells,

loss of pro The sand sheet 19 is, preferably, provided with a window opening that may be covered by a cover plate 19 through which the mem' ber 15-may be applied and removed when necessary. 7

arious changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

\Vhat is claimed is:

1. In arrapparatus for separating gas and a receptacle, a d in the receptacle the top and bottom of the 'receptacle,,and means arranged between the, said pa rtition and a contiguous wall of the receptacle for introducing the oil from the well whereby the oil is caused to flow downwardly and around the lower end of the partition and rise on the opposite side and the gas that freely escapes rum the oil rising to the top of the receptacle and collecting above the upper end of the partition; said means including an inlet oil tube Ell" ranged in the upper part of the receptacle, said tube having a surrounding discharge sleeve with a deflecting bottom plate for discharging the oil toward the receptacle wall.

2. In an apparatus for separating gas and vertical partition arran oil from oil wells comprising a receptacle,

U-shaped pipe stem that is'turnable from n bend of the siphonic deand which increment results in the clogging or jamming of the well and."

nction until the well is blown,

a vertical partition arranged in the receptacle and terminating short of the top and bottom, of the receptacle, and means arranged between the said partition and a .contiguous wall of the receptacle for intro ducing the oil from the well whereby the oil is caused to flow downwardly and around the lower end of the partition and rise on the opposite side and the gas that freely escapes from the oil rising to the top of the'reec tacle and collecting above the upper end 0 the partition; said means including an inlet oil tube arranged in the upper part of the receptacle, said tube having a surrounding discharge sleeve with a efiecting bottom plate for dischargi the'oil toward the receptacle wall; said sl eevc having 'upper and lower outlets for gas and oil respectively.

3. In an apparatus for separatin oil and gas, a receptaclehaving separate ischarge means for the oil and s, each having an exterior valve actuated y a common crank,

said valves being set for one to open as the other closes and float means within the receptacle actuated by'the heightof the liquid,

operatively connected to said crank to actuate said valves.

4. In an a paratus for separating oil and gas, the com mation of a receptacle having I rang oil inlet means, separate oil and gas outlet meant comfprising pipes extending from the interifl' 0 said receptacle, stop cocks arin said pipes, one to open as the other closes and actuated by a common crank, float means within the receptacle operatively connected to said common crank adapted to actuate the valves with reference to the height of the liquid within the receptacle.

5. In an apparatus for separating gas and oil the combination of a receptacle, a float within the receptacle for actuating s and oil outlet valves, said float comprising a sealed chamber, two supporting arms of equal lengths pivoted to said float at their proximal ends and pivoted to the wall of the receptacle at the r distal ends to hold the chamber in substantially vertical alinement In testimony whereof I have signed my' name to this specification.

DAVID G. LORRAINE.

, during movement thereof, the pivotal cen-

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