In this article we finish the discussion of the multiphase desander.

Key Items

• All oil & gas wells produce sand. Multiphase desanding removes the sand in Node 4 (post B-FSM-006)
• A multiphase desander is unit process device based on cyclonic technology. It has the highest throughput-size ratio of any separating technology (post B-FSM-079).
• Wellhead desanding protects choke, flow lines, separator, and downstream equipment while wellstream desanding protects the separator and downstream equipment (B-FSM-081)
• Separation of sand at the wellhead can restore or increase hydrocarbon production (B-FSM-004)
• Sand removed at wellhead is easy to transport and handle
• Wellhead desander operates at 0-100% GVF (B-FSM-087 and B-FSM-092)
• Single insert design most appropriate for multiphase flow
• Mechanical design available from ANSI 150# to API 15K

The references below are the best to start with in regards to multiphase cyclonic desanding.

References:

1. Giunot, F., Douglass, S., Duncan, J., Orrell, M., Stenger, B., “Sand Exclusion and Management in the Okwori Subsea Oil Field, Nigeria”, paper 106294, European Formation Damage Conference, Scheveningen, The Netherlands, 30 May-1 June 2007.
2. Hagemeijer, P.M., Jagernath, S., “Hydrocyclone field tests for removal of sand from production wells in South Oman”, Journal of Canadian Petroleum Technology, Vol. 42, No. 6, June 2003, pp. 47-53.
3. Kaura, J.D., Macrae, A., Mennie, D., “Clean up and Well Testing Operations in High-Rate Gas-Condensate Field Result in Improved Sand Management System”, paper 68747, SPE Asia Pacific Oil & Gas Conference and Exhibition, Jakarta, Indonesia, 17-19 April 2001.
4. Loong, Y., Rawlins, C.H., and Goo, D., “Upgrade of Spar Topsides with Comprehensive Facilities Sand Management System”, paper 24705-MS, Offshore Technology Conference Asia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, March 25-28, 2014.
5. Marquez, J., Brito, A., “How to Separate Sand in Heavy and Extra Heavy Oil Fields Surface Facilities”, paper WHOC14-395, World Heavy Oil Congress 2014, New Orleans, LA.
6. Peruzzi, T., Gagen, E., Reynolds, R., Cunningham, L.E., “Case History: Sand Handling and Hydrocarbon Containment During a Coiled Tubing Cleanout of a Live Deepwater Well”, paper 166531, SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, New Orleans, LA, 30 September-2 October, 2013.
7. Rawlins, C.H., “Sand Management Methodologies for Sustained Facilities Operations”, Oil & Gas Facilities, Vol. 2, No. 5, October 2013, pp. 27-34.
8. Rawlins, C.H. “Application of Multiphase Desander Technology to Oil and Gas Production,” BHR Group 3rd North American Conference on Multiphase Technology, Banff, Alberta, Canada, Jun. 2002.
9. Rawlins, C.H., “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 2017.

This article completes the discussion on Multiphase Desanding. I will be taking a few months break before starting the next series on Multiphase Screen-Filters – also called Dual-Pot Sand Filters.