The following guidelines provide the application and mechanical requirements for the multiphase desander.

Application and Operations

Installation Location

• Pre choke (API)
• Post choke (ASME)
• Subsea – in development

Applications

• Well testing, well cleanout, underbalanced drilling, produced solids, proppant flow back

Utilities

• Flush/fill accumulator (clean water any source at 50 psi)

Consumables

• Insert replacement and o-rings

Process Connections

• Five standard: inlet, clean fluid outlet, solids discharge, accumulator-vent, and accumulator-flush/fill

Mechanical Requirements

Footprint

• Generally, 1 m² bare equipment and 1.5-2.0 m² for skid with basic valves/piping/instruments

Height

• 3-5 meters pending accumulator size

Orientation

• Vertical standard, but WHD vessel can be operated horizontal

Weight

• 2,000-4,000 kg bare equipment, 10,000-25,000 kg full skid

Pressure Rating

• ANSI: 150#-2500#
• API: 5K, 10K, 15K

Materials of Construction

• Vessel: 4130 CS standard, Available: F22, UNS31803, UNS32760
• Insert: Standard is UNS 31803 w/ HVOF-WC internal, alternate is thick RB-SiC with duplex sheath

Operation

• Instrumentation: Inlet-Overflow DPI, Inlet PI
• Valves: Accumulator isolation, discharge, vent, and fill
• Normally operated manual (valves) but can be automated

Multiphase desander application and mechanical requirements will be covered in the next article.

References

1. Rawlins, C.H. 2017. “Separating Solids First – Design and Operation of the Multiphase Desander”, paper 185658-MS presented at the SPE Western Regional Meeting, Bakersfield, CA, 23-27 April.