ECOLOGICALLY SENSITIVE MUD-GAS CONTAINMENT SYSTEM
This invention relates to an ecologically and environmentally friendly mud-gas containment system. Specifically, this invention relates to a mobile device that is capable of receiving waste gas and, in emergency situations, a volume of a mud-gas mixture from a drilling operation. The waste gas is communicated to a removable flare stack through a vent line. The mud-gas is received at a containment vessel. The impact of the mud-gas within the containment vessel separates the mud-gas into mud and waste gas. The mud is collected for recycling and/or environmentally sensitive disposal. The waste gas from the vessel is communicated to the flare stack. Separate removal ports and conduits are used to remove any residual mud or mud-gas from the vent line and/or containment vessel. Excess mud or mud-gas is communicated to an overflow catch tank for removal. The entire assembly is mounted on a mobile skid sized for highway transportation.
Latest Mathena, Inc. Patents:
This invention relates to a mobile, ecologically and environmentally friendly mud-gas containment system mounted upon a single, highway transportable skid. The mobile device receives, from drilling, production, and/or completion operations, both a waste gas and a volume of drilling mud having entrained and commingled waste gas. The waste gas is communicated to a removable flare stack. The volume of the drilling mud, with entrained waste gas, is received at a containment vessel. This invention also relates to capturing and storing the drilling mud for recycling.
During well drilling, production, and/or completion operations, numerous operational activities and components function simultaneously. Drilling fluid, also called “mud,” is used for the lubrication, cooling, and removal of the cuttings from the well during the drilling, production, and/or completion operations. Because the mud is used within the well, waste gas from the well becomes entrained and commingled within the mud, creating a mud-gas mixture. During drilling operations, safely separating the gas from the mud-gas mixture usually requires communicating the mud-gas mixture to a mud-gas separator. Subsequently, substantially gas-free mud passes to a holding tank or reserve pit for recycling at a later date. Simultaneously, the released waste gas is burned at a flare stack.
In the event of a well blow out or other emergency, the mud-gas mixture from a wellbore is rapidly dumped into the holding tank or reserve pit. Unfortunately, the gradual out-gassing of waste gas from the mud mixture creates a combustion hazard near the well site. Capture and safe disposal of the waste gas is limited or non-existent for such situations.
When employing a standard mud-gas separator, a vent line communicates the waste gas away from the well site, or a mud-gas separator, to the flare stack. Unfortunately, currently available mud-gas separators frequently pass some mud with the gas through the vent line with the waste gas. Over time, the mud residue within the vent line begins to impede and eventually block the flow of waste gas to the flare stack. The usual method to remove the mud residue is to disassemble the vent line and flush the residue out.
Environmental concerns and technology improvements have dictated that waste products be captured at the well site while presenting a smaller footprint for well drilling operations. Thus, it is important to design the components for well operations to be carried on transportation skids. Well operations typically include well drilling, production, and/or completion operations. The mobility helps prevent any by-products of the process from contaminating the area. Numerous transportation skids are required to carry all of the well site support equipment used to capture waste products. To reduce the number of skids at a well site, a single skid carrying all the components of an ecological friendly mud-gas containment system is desired. The skid-based ecological mud-gas containment system should provide for: safe flaring of waste gas; environmentally safe removal of the mud residue build-up in a flare stack vent line; emergency dumping of the mud-gas mixture from a well with continued waste gas separation from the mud-gas mixture; and recovery of the mud for recycling. The present invention solves the foregoing problems by providing an environmentally/ecologically friendly mobile mud-gas containment system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention provides an ecologically improved system to capture a mud-gas mixture and to safely dispose of waste gas from a wellbore. In one aspect, the present invention is a single skid having a small footprint, carrying all of the components of a mud-gas containment system. Another aspect of the current invention significantly reduces the opportunity for an inadvertent spill of mud. Particularly, the present invention provides a containment and disposal system for any excess mud-gas mixture resulting from a blow out or other emergency. Any released waste gas is burned in a fluidly connected flare stack carried by the mud-gas containment system. The present invention also allows for removal of any buildup of residual mud in the vent line feeding the flare stack. The mud is transferred from the vent line to the overflow catch tank. For the entire system, captured mud-gas mixture is eventually removed for environmentally friendly recovery, recycling, or disposal.
In one embodiment, the present invention provides for an environmentally friendly mud-gas containment system. The system comprises a gas vent line which is in fluid communication with both the wellbore and a flare stack. The gas vent line transports waste gas to the flare stack. The system also comprises at least one input line in fluid communication with a wellbore and a vessel. An overflow line carries any excess mud-gas mixture from the vessel to a catch tank. Additionally, the gas vent line carries a residual drain line for removal of residual mud from the gas vent line.
The current invention also provides a waste gas disposal system. The waste gas disposal system comprises a gas vent line in fluid communication with a wellbore and a flare stack. The waste gas disposal system also comprises a trap, a drain line and a drain port. The drain line provides a conduit from the trap for removing the build-up of any residual mud in the gas vent line.
In yet another embodiment, the current invention provides a mud recovery system. The mud recovery system comprises a gas vent line in fluid communication with a wellbore and a flare stack. The gas vent line includes an elbow, or trap, which captures or retains any residual mud carried by the waste gas. An access port provides external access to the trap. A drain line connected to the gas vent line provides for removal of the residual quantity of the mud.
Still further, the current invention provides a mobile mud-gas containment apparatus. The mobile mud-gas containment apparatus has a gas vent line for receiving a fluid communication from the wellbore. The gas vent line is also in fluid communication with a flare stack. The mobile mud-gas containment apparatus also has at least one input line for receiving a fluid communication from a wellbore and in fluid communication with a vessel. The input line transports the mud-gas mixture from the wellbore to the vessel. An overflow line in fluid communication with the vessel and a catch tank permits removal of excess mud-gas mixture from the vessel. The gas vent line, vessel and catch tank are mounted upon a mobile skid, with each component being detachable from their respective wellbore connections.
Numerous objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments is read in conjunction with the drawings, which illustrate such embodiments.
Referring to
The primary, interrelated systems of this invention are vessel 12, catch tank 14, vent line 16, and flare stack 20. Vessel 12 is the first interrelated system, with catch tank 14, vent line 16, and flare stack 20 being the second, third and fourth interrelated systems respectively. The interrelated systems are connected to wellbore 24. Wellbore 24 is connected to vessel 12 and vent line 16 as described herein. As depicted in
Vessel 12 is in fluid communication with both flare stack 20 through T-joint 64 and catch tank 14 through overflow line 128. Additionally, to drain any remaining mud-gas mixture from vessel 12, vessel drain line 120 via drain line input port 121 provides an alternate fluid path to catch tank 14. T-joint 64 provides a fluid communication from vent line 16 to flare stack 20. For transportation purposes, flare stack 20 detachably connects at T-joint 64. As used herein, flare stack 20 carries flare stack feed lines 66, 68, igniter 82, and burner 21.
In addition to receiving fluid from vessel 12, catch tank 14 is in fluid communication with vent line 16 at elbow 58. Elbow 58 may be an integral component of vent line 16 or may be a separate unit affixed to vent line 16. Elbow 58 preferably provides the fluid communication transition between gas tube 28 and vent line 16 at waste gas entry point 60, hence the shape of elbow 58 may be any shape that provides transition between gas tube 28 and vent line 16. Furthermore, elbow 58 preferably provides a detachable connection to gas tube 28. Additionally, elbow 58 preferably carries trap 151. Accumulated residual mud passes from trap 151 in elbow 58 to catch tank 14 through residual mud drain line 150 and drain line 158.
Mud-gas containment system 10 further includes a control system 184 for management operations. Preferably, control system 184 mounts to skid 22, vessel 12 or catch tank 14. As those skilled in the art know, control system 184 may be separated into numerous components to facilitate and provide the necessary control mechanism for managing the operations of mud-gas containment system 10. As depicted in
Vessel 12 is in fluid communication with wellbore 24 through panic line 18. Preferably, panic line 18 is detachable from conical adapter 88, which is carried by vessel 12. Panic line 18 enables removal of the mud-gas mixture from wellbore 24 in the event of a blow-out or other emergency. In a preferred embodiment, vessel 12 receives at least one panic line 18 positioned between wellbore 24 and vessel 12. Other embodiments employ valves, manifolds and chokes to regulate part of the flow from wellbore 24 to vessel 12. When employed, these systems prevent excessive flow of the mud-gas mixture into vessel 12 in the event of a well blow out when a large volume of the mud-gas mixture is rapidly evacuated from wellbore 24.
Although panic line 18 is depicted as a single mud-gas supply line connected directly to wellbore 24, one skilled in the art will recognize that other systems or a plurality of segments may be inserted between panic line 18 and wellbore 24. As depicted in
In addition to carrying conical adapter 88, vessel 12 also carries vessel input line 86. Preferably, vessel 12 has about four (4) vessel input lines 86 which communicate fluid from conical adapter 88 to an interior of vessel 12. It is preferred that vessel input line 86 be sized to receive fluid from at least a six (6) inch panic line 18. As shown in
A particularly preferred embodiment of vessel 12 is depicted in
Each riser pipe 202 is normally supported by at least one bracket. In the preferred embodiment, wall bracket 210 connects riser pipe 202 to vessel wall 93, and top bracket 212 connects end cap 206 to vessel top wall 214. As shown in
An alternate embodiment is depicted in
To prevent excessive splashing, wear plate 208, baffle plate 102 and top splash plate 106 are employed internal to vessel 12. Wear plate 208 was described above. Referring to
As shown in
Waste gas recovered in vessel 12 passes through exit port 108 and continues on through flare stack feed line 17 to flare stack 20. Recovery is enhanced by placing exit port 108 at highest point 110 of vessel 12. Flare stack feed line 17 includes gas elbow 112, vessel vent stack 113, vessel vent flange 115, second back flow prevention valve 114, and T-joint input conduit 118. Thus, as depicted in
Referring to
Referring to
Valve 140 carried by tank dump line 142 is designed to permit the emptying of catch tank 14. Preferably, valve 140 is a ball type valve. Tank dump line 142 is depicted in
In the embodiment of
Fluid level within catch tank 14 is controlled by the combination of upper and lower fluid sensors 226, 228, power/control panel 224 and pump 216. When fluid levels within catch tank 14 are below sensor 226, power/control panel 224 automatically precludes operation of pump 216. When the fluid level reaches sensor 226, a signal is transmitted to power/control panel 224. Power control panel 224 interprets the signal and automatically turns on pump 216. Pump 216 operates until fluid levels drop to below sensor 228, at which time sensor 228 transmits a signal to power/control panel 224. Power/control panel 224 interprets the signal from sensor 228 and directs the shutdown of pump 216. Power/control panel 224 also provides for manual override of sensors 226 and 228. Power for the power/control panel 224 is externally provided. Alternatively, a portable generator (not shown) may be utilized to provide power.
Pump 216 is surrounded by drain barrier 230. Drain barrier 230 is an environmental containment area to ensure that any accidental leakage of mud will be contained. Drain barrier plug 232 allows the area to be drained if any mud does leak from pump 216.
Vent line 16 is in fluid communication with wellbore 24. Gas tube 28 provides fluid communication from wellbore 24 to vent line 16 for transport of non-entrained waste gas to flare stack 20. Gas tube 28 is also referred to as a waste gas tube 28, while vent line 16 is also referred to as a waste gas vent line 16. Similarly, panic line 18 provides fluid communication between wellbore 24 and vessel 12 for transport of a mud-gas mixture. The mud-gas mixture hitting wear plate 208, or bottom segment 100, releases a portion of the entrained waste gas from the mud-gas mixture. Additionally, waste gas will also outgas from the mud-gas mixture while sitting in vessel 12. As waste gas separates from the mud, it accumulates in vessel 12. Waste gas accumulating in vessel 12 is communicated to flare stack 20 through vessel flare stack feed line 17, thereby permitting the safe disposal of waste gas. Vessel flare stack feed line 17 is also referred to as secondary gas vent line 17. Flare stack 20 is any flare stack capable of burning off waste gas from a well site. Vent line 16 and flare stack feed lines 17, 66, and 68 are sized to facilitate fluid communication of the waste gas to the flare stack burner 21.
As shown in
As depicted in
In the preferred embodiment, elbow 58 and vent line 16 fluidly communicate waste gas from wellbore 24 to T-joint 64. As configured, T-joint 64 has T-joint first input 72 receiving waste gas from vent line 16, and T-joint second input 116 receiving waste gas from vessel 12. T-joint output 76 provides fluid communication from T-joint 64 to first flare stack feed line 66. In the preferred embodiment, T-Joint 64 permits the removal of flare stack 20 from the mud-gas containment system 10 for purposes of transporting mud-gas containment system 10 from a first well site to a second well site. As stated above, flare stack 20 includes first flare stack feed line 66, and second flare stack feed line 68. First flare stack feed line 66 is in fluid communication with second flare stack feed line 68. Second flare stack feed line 68 carries flare stack burner 21 and flare stack igniter 82. Although depicted as separate components, one skilled in the art will recognize that first flare stack feed line 66 and second flare stack feed line 68 may be replaced by a single, continuous feed line. Alternatively, additional flare stack feed lines may be added to first flare stack feed line 66 and second flare stack feed line 68 to further elevate flare stack 20 and flare stack burner 21.
Referring to
The preferred first direction of flow provides for the residual mud to flow through drain line T-joint 156, drain line 158, and catch tank input valve 160, with the flow terminating in catch tank 14. Drain line 158 is connected to drain line T-joint first output 162 and carries the residual mud to catch tank input valve 160. Catch tank input valve 160 is in fluid communication with catch tank residual input port 170 shown in
The alternate second direction passes residual mud through drain line T-joint second output 166 and clean out port 164. Cleanout port 164 allows direct access to input line 154 and elbow 58. Cleanout port 164 preferably has removable cleanout cap 168 covering it.
Mud-gas containment system 10 has several access points and ports to permit cleaning or servicing in between jobs. For example, vessel 12 includes a manhole 172, while access to elbow 58 is accomplished by removing cleanout cap 168 which is covering clean out port 164 at drain line T-joint second output 166. Finally,
As described herein, mud-gas containment system 10 is a portable system suitable for movement from a first well site to a second well site, or some other location, without requiring complete disassembly. In the preferred embodiment, vessel 12, catch tank 14, vent line 16, flare stack 20 and associated supply line connections are all mounted on mobile skid 22. Flare stack 20 is preferably detached or removed prior to transporting the system. Additionally, panic lines 18 and gas tube 28 are detachable from mud-gas containment system 10 to facilitate its mobility. Mobile skid 22 is preferably sized to be transportable on United States' state or federal highways.
As shown in
Referring to
As shown in
The current invention also provides a method of ecologically containing a mud-gas mixture and safely disposing waste gas. In the preferred embodiment, this method utilizes the mud-gas containment system 10 described above. Mud-gas containment system 10 is transported to a wellsite across a United States' federal or state highway without requiring a special permit.
Once at the wellsite, gas tube 28 detachably connects to vent line 16. If mud-gas separator 26 is employed, it is normally positioned between wellbore 24 and vent line 16. Thus, gas tube 28 is optionally interrupted by mud-gas separator 26. If mud-gas separator 26 is not employed, gas tube 28 is detachably connected to well head 34. At least one detachable panic line 18 is fluidly connected to vessel 12 at conical adapter 88 and to well head 34.
Flare stack 20 is assembled at either T-joint first input 72, or T-joint output 76, whichever was the selected detachment point for transporting mud-gas containment system 10. If utilized, a separate off-skid holding tank for catch tank 14 is connected to pump drain line 222 and a separate field power unit is attached to power/control panel 224. The separate field power unit provides power to operate pump 216. Additionally, remote ignition/cutoff switch 186 preferably is positioned at a distant control point. The distant control point being established by the field personnel subsequent to the assembly of the mud-gas containment system 10. Guy lines 178 are attached to lift points 176 and flare stack 20 to support the structure.
During drilling and completion operations, mud-gas mixture from wellbore 24 flows to mud-gas separator 26 for separation of waste gas. Released waste gas passes from separator 26 to vent line 16 and flare stack 20. Upon initial startup of mud-gas containment system 10, remote ignition/cutoff switch 186 is activated to ignite the waste gas, thereby starting the flame in burner 21.
The mud-gas mixture being fluidly communicated in panic line 18 is a result of an intentional release of mud-gas from wellbore 24, or from an emergency situation. Within vessel 12, the mud-gas mixture flows from outlet port 204, impacts on wear plate 208 of vessel 12, thereby causing the mixture to splash. Alternatively, when the mud-gas mixture flows from dump opening 98, the mud-gas mixture impacts on bottom segment 100 of vessel 12, which also causes splashing. Discharging, releasing or splashing mud-gas mixture on wear plate 208, baffle 102 and top splash plate 106 enhances the release of waste gas from the mud-gas mixture. The released entrained gas is a waste gas that is communicated to flare stack 20 to be burned in burner 21.
When the volume of mud-gas mixture reaches a pre-determined level, a portion thereof is transferred to catch tank 14. The mud-gas mixture begins to flow to catch tank 14 when the volume of mud-gas mixture in vessel 12 rises up overflow line 128 and reaches a level that it is co-planar with horizontal segment 132. Preferably, valve 134 is open, and the mud-gas mixture flows out through overflow outlet 136 into catch tank 14. This action prevents vessel 12 from impeding the flow of the mud-gas mixture from wellbore 24.
As the mud-gas mixture enters catch tank 14, it first encounters lower level sensor 228. As the mud-gas mixture begins to fill-up catch tank 14, it encounters and triggers upper level sensor 226. Upper level sensor 226 sends a signal to power/control panel 224. When control power/control panel 224 receives a signal from upper level sensor 226, power/control panel 224 automatically starts pump 216, thereby transferring the mud-gas mixture in catch tank 14 to a separate, off-skid holding tank. Upper level sensor 226 precludes accidental overflows and/or spillages of the mud-gas mixture from catch tank 14. When the volume within catch tank 14 drops below a pre-determined level, lower level sensor 228 sends a signal to power/control panel 224, stopping pump 216, and thereby terminating the flow to the separate, off-skid holding tank. Preferably, any time delays between sensors 226, 228, power/control panel 224 and pump 216 are negated by the placement of sensors 226, 228 to ensure pump 216 is turned on and off at the proper time.
Occasionally, vent line 16 has a buildup of residual mud at elbow 58. Preferably, prior to removing the residual mud build up in elbow 58, all operations of mud-gas containment system 10 are stopped to ensure the safety of personnel performing maintenance. The residual mud is removed by opening valves 152 and 160 to allow the mud to flow through residual mud drain line 150 to catch tank 14. Alternatively, only valve 152 is opened, and the residual mud is removed through clean out port 164. Once clean out port 164 is removed to clear the buildup of mud, a clean out tool is inserted into clean out port 164. Alternatively, a standard clean out hose is used to spray liquid, such as water, into clean out port 164. Both methods are effective at removing the buildup of mud. The mud is extracted to either catch tank 14, or directly through clean out port 164 into a portable container.
When operations at a wellsite are complete, the mud-gas containment system is disassembled in reverse of the assembly instructions mentioned above. The disassembled mud-gas containment system is then transported to another wellsite or back to the shop.
Other embodiments of the current invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from a consideration of this specification or practice of the invention disclosed herein. Thus, the foregoing specification is considered merely exemplary of the current invention with the true scope thereof being defined by the following claims.
Claims
1-36. (canceled)
37. A mud-gas containment system for use at a wellsite, the mud-gas containment system comprising:
- a vessel in which a mud-gas mixture is adapted to be contained, the vessel comprising: a bottom segment, a top wall vertically spaced from the bottom segment, and an exit port formed through the top wall and via which waste gas is adapted to flow out of the vessel;
- a flare stack in fluid communication with the exit port of the vessel and adapted to burn off the waste gas at the wellsite;
- a vent line in fluid communication with each of the flare stack and the vessel;
- a trap carried by the vent line and adapted to capture a volume of residual mud;
- a catch tank in fluid communication with the vessel; and
- a first drain line extending between the bottom segment of the vessel and the catch tank, the first drain line providing, at least in part, the fluid communication between the vessel and the catch tank, the first drain line being configured so that at least a portion of the mud-gas mixture is adapted to flow from the vessel to the catch tank via the first drain line;
- wherein the first drain line comprises a first valve, the first valve having: an open position in which the at least a portion of the mud-gas mixture is permitted to flow from the vessel to the catch tank via the first drain line; and a closed position in which the at least a portion of the mud-gas mixture is not permitted to flow from the vessel to the catch tank via the first drain line.
38. The mud-gas containment system of claim 37, further comprising:
- a vessel flare stack feed line connected to the exit port; and
- a joint connected to the vessel flare stack feed line;
- wherein the flare stack is connected to the joint and extends in an upward direction; and
- wherein the vent line is connected to the joint and extends in a downward direction.
39. The mud-gas containment system of claim 37, further comprising a second drain line fluidically positioned between the trap and the catch tank;
- wherein the second drain line is configured so that at least a portion of the residual mud is adapted to flow from the trap to the catch tank via the second drain line and independently of the first drain line.
40. The mud-gas containment system of claim 37, further comprising:
- an overflow line providing in part the fluid communication between the vessel and the catch tank;
- wherein the overflow line is configured so that, when a volume of the mud-gas mixture reaches a pre-determined level within the vessel, another portion of the mud-gas mixture is adapted to flow from the vessel to the catch tank via the overflow line and independently of the first drain line.
41. The mud-gas containment system of claim 40, wherein the overflow line comprises:
- a first segment extending within the vessel,
- a second segment disposed within the vessel and extending downward from the first segment, and
- an intake located at the end of the second segment opposite the first segment, wherein the intake of the overflow line is positioned within the vessel and near the bottom segment of the vessel.
42. The mud-containment system of claim 41, wherein the overflow line further comprises an overflow outlet positioned outside of the vessel;
- wherein the overflow outlet is in fluid communication with the first segment;
- and
- wherein at least a portion of the overflow outlet extends downward towards the catch tank.
43. The mud-containment system of claim 42, wherein the overflow line further comprises a second valve fluidically positioned between the first segment and the overflow outlet.
44. The mud-containment system of claim 40, wherein the overflow line comprises a second valve;
- wherein the second valve is configured to permit fluid flow from the vessel to the catch tank; and
- wherein the second valve is configured to prevent fluid flow into the vessel via the overflow line.
45. The mud-gas containment system of claim 37, further comprising a backflow prevention valve fluidically positioned between the exit port and the flare stack;
- wherein the backflow prevention valve is configured to permit fluid flow from the exit port to the flare stack; and
- wherein the backflow prevention valve is configured to prevent fluid flow from the flare stack to the exit port.
46. The mud-gas containment system of claim 37, further comprising:
- a second drain line fluidically positioned between the trap and the catch tank;
- and
- an overflow line providing in part the fluid communication between the vessel and the catch tank;
- wherein the second drain line is configured so that at least a portion of the residual mud is adapted to flow from the trap to the catch tank via the second drain line and independently of each of the first drain line and the overflow line; and
- wherein the overflow line is configured so that, when a volume of the mud-gas mixture reaches a pre-determined level within the vessel, another portion of the mud-gas mixture is adapted to flow from the vessel to the catch tank via the overflow line and independently of each of the first drain line and the second drain line.
47. A mud-gas containment system for use at a wellsite, the mud-gas containment system comprising:
- a vessel in which a mud-gas mixture is adapted to be contained, the vessel comprising: a bottom segment, a top wall vertically spaced from the bottom segment, and an exit port formed through the top wall and via which waste gas is adapted to flow out of the vessel;
- a flare stack in fluid communication with the exit port of the vessel and adapted to burn off the waste gas at the wellsite;
- a vent line in fluid communication with each of the flare stack and the vessel;
- a trap carried by the vent line and adapted to capture a volume of residual mud;
- a catch tank in fluid communication with the vessel; and
- a first drain line fluidically positioned between the trap and the catch tank, the first drain line being configured so that at least a portion of the residual mud is adapted to flow from the trap to the catch tank via the first drain line;
- wherein the first drain line comprises a first valve, the first valve having: an open position in which the at least a portion of the residual mud is permitted to flow from the trap to the catch tank via the first drain line; and a closed position in which the at least a portion of the residual mud is not permitted to flow from the trap to the catch tank via the first drain line.
48. The mud-gas containment system of claim 47, further comprising:
- a vessel flare stack feed line connected to the exit port; and
- a joint connected to the vessel flare stack feed line;
- wherein the flare stack is connected to the joint and extends in an upward direction; and
- wherein the vent line is connected to the joint and extends in a downward direction.
49. The mud-containment system of claim 47, further comprising a second drain line extending between the bottom segment of the vessel and the catch tank, the second drain line providing, at least in part, the fluid communication between the vessel and the catch tank,
- wherein the second drain line is configured so that at least a portion of the mud-gas mixture is adapted to flow from the vessel to the catch tank via the second drain line and independently of the first drain line.
50. The mud-gas containment system of claim 47, further comprising:
- an overflow line providing, at least in part, the fluid communication between the vessel and the catch tank;
- wherein the overflow line is configured so that, when a volume of the mud-gas mixture reaches a pre-determined level within the vessel, at least a portion of the mud-gas mixture is adapted to flow from the vessel to the catch tank via the overflow line and independently of the first drain line.
51. The mud-gas containment system of claim 50, wherein the overflow line comprises:
- a first segment extending within the vessel,
- a second segment disposed within the vessel and extending downward from the first segment, and
- an intake located at the end of the second segment opposite the first segment, wherein the intake of the overflow line is positioned within the vessel and near the bottom segment of the vessel.
52. The mud-containment system of claim 51, wherein the overflow line further comprises an overflow outlet positioned outside of the vessel;
- wherein the overflow outlet is in fluid communication with the first segment;
- and
- wherein at least a portion of the overflow outlet extends downward towards the catch tank.
53. The mud-containment system of claim 52, wherein the overflow line further comprises a second valve fluidically positioned between the first segment and the overflow outlet.
54. The mud-containment system of claim 50, wherein the overflow line comprises a second valve;
- wherein the second valve is configured to permit fluid flow from the vessel to the catch tank; and
- wherein the second valve is configured to prevent fluid flow into the vessel via the overflow line.
55. The mud-gas containment system of claim 47, further comprising a backflow prevention valve fluidically positioned between the exit port and the flare stack;
- wherein the backflow prevention valve is configured to permit fluid flow from the exit port to the flare stack; and
- wherein the backflow prevention valve is configured to prevent fluid flow from the flare stack to the exit port.
56. The mud-containment system of claim 47, further comprising:
- a second drain line extending between the bottom segment of the vessel and the catch tank, the second drain line providing in part the fluid communication between the vessel and the catch tank;
- an overflow line providing in part the fluid communication between the vessel and the catch tank;
- wherein the second drain line is configured so that at least a portion of the mud-gas mixture is adapted to flow from the vessel to the catch tank via the second drain line and independently of each of the first drain line and the overflow line; and
- wherein the overflow line is configured so that, when a volume of the mud-gas mixture reaches a pre-determined level within the vessel, another portion of the mud-gas mixture is adapted to flow from the vessel to the catch tank via the overflow line and independently of the each of the first drain line and the second drain line.
57. A system, comprising:
- a separator adapted to receive a mud-gas mixture from a wellbore, and to collect at least a portion of the mud from the mud-gas mixture; and
- a mud-gas containment system in fluid communication with the separator and adapted to receive the mud-gas mixture after the collection of the at least a portion of the mud by the separator, the mud-gas containment system comprising: a vessel in fluid communication with the separator and in which the mud-gas mixture is adapted to be contained after the collection of the at least a portion of the mud; a flare stack in fluid communication with the vessel and adapted to burn off waste gas from the mud-gas mixture; a vent line in fluid communication with each of the flare stack and the vessel; a trap carried by the vent line and adapted to capture a volume of residual mud; and a catch tank in fluid communication with the vessel and adapted to receive at least a portion of the mud-gas mixture when a volume of the mud-gas mixture reaches a pre-determined level within the vessel.
58. The system of claim 57, wherein the vessel comprises:
- a bottom segment;
- a top wall vertically spaced from the top wall; and
- an exit port formed through the top wall and via which the waste gas is adapted to flow out of the vessel and towards the flare stack;
- and
- wherein the mud-gas containment system further comprises:
- a vessel flare stack feed line connected to the exit port; and
- a joint connected to the vessel flare stack feed line;
- wherein the flare stack is connected to the joint and extends in an upward direction; and
- wherein the vent line is connected to the joint and extends in a downward direction.
59. The system of claim 57, wherein the vessel comprises: and
- a bottom segment;
- a top wall vertically spaced from the top wall; and
- an exit port formed through the top wall and via which the waste gas is adapted to flow out of the vessel and towards the flare stack;
- wherein the mud-gas containment system further comprises an overflow line providing, at least in part, the fluid communication between the vessel and the catch tank, the overflow line comprising: a first segment extending within the vessel, a second segment disposed within the vessel and extending downward from the first segment, and an intake located at the end of the second segment opposite the first segment, wherein the intake of the overflow line is positioned within the vessel and near the bottom segment of the vessel;
- wherein the overflow line is configured so that, when the volume of the mud-gas mixture reaches the pre-determined level within the vessel, the at least a portion of the mud-gas mixture is adapted to flow from the vessel to the catch tank via the overflow line.
60. The system of claim 57, wherein the vessel comprises:
- a bottom segment;
- a top wall vertically spaced from the top wall; and
- an exit port formed through the top wall and via which the waste gas is adapted to flow out of the vessel and towards the flare stack;
- wherein the mud-gas containment system further comprises a drain line extending between the bottom segment of the vessel and the catch tank, the drain line providing, at least in part, the fluid communication between the vessel and the catch tank, the drain line being configured so that the at least a portion of the mud-gas mixture is adapted to flow from the vessel to the catch tank via the drain line;
- and
- wherein the drain line comprises a valve, the valve having:
- an open position in which the at least a portion of the mud-gas mixture is permitted to flow from the vessel to the catch tank via the drain line; and
- a closed position in which the at least a portion of the mud-gas mixture is not permitted to flow from the vessel to the catch tank via the drain line.
61. The system of claim 57, wherein the vessel comprises:
- a bottom segment;
- a top wall vertically spaced from the top wall; and
- an exit port formed through the top wall and via which the waste gas is adapted to flow out of the vessel and towards the flare stack;
- wherein the mud-gas containment system further comprises a drain line fluidically positioned between the trap and the catch tank, the drain line being configured so that at least a portion of the residual mud is adapted to flow from the trap to the catch tank via the drain line;
- and
- wherein the drain line comprises a valve, the valve having:
- an open position in which the at least a portion of the residual mud is permitted to flow from the trap to the catch tank via the drain line; and
- a closed position in which the at least a portion of the residual mud is not permitted to flow from the trap to the catch tank via the drain line.
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 17, 2014
Publication Date: May 15, 2014
Applicant: Mathena, Inc. (El Reno, OK)
Inventor: Harold Dean Mathena (Edmond, OK)
Application Number: 14/158,367
International Classification: E21B 21/06 (20060101);