Abstract: The present invention relates to a modified MPD vessel which allows the coupling of identical secondary MPD vessels, which can house either sand filter and/or sand cyclonic MPD internals, to the vessel without the need for any vessel or pipework modifications whereby, a plurality of these MPD vessels can be further coupled using identical inlet and outlet configurations. This configuration of MPD vessels allows for improved means for removing produced solids from a hydrocarbon fluid stream and allows for a vastly more flexible system as a whole.

Abstract: A separated solids monitoring system comprising a pressurised solids accumulator for receiving separated process solids, a weighing platform located inside the accumulator and arranged to carry process solids as they settle in the accumulator, a force transducer located inside the pressurised accumulator and mechanically coupled to the weighing platform to provide a weight signal which is a measure of gravitational force on the weighing platform, and mechanically based pressure compensation means integrated within the force transducer, and arranged substantially to compensate and remove a force offset in the weight signal due to the pressure of fluids in the solids accumulator thereby allowing a fuller measurement range of the force transducer to be used and substantially dedicated to indicating a mass of solids on the weighing platform.