SAND TRAPS FOR USE IN OIL AND GAS EXTRACTION OPERATIONS

摘要

A sand trap for use in oil and gas extraction operations includes acylindrical vessel for receivinga high-pressure fluid stream with particulates. The vessel has a verticallongitudinal axis and ahollow cylindrical wall having upper and lower ends and an inlet openinggenerallyperpendicular to but askew to the vessel longitudinal axis. Upper and lowercaps extend fromthe upper and lower ends and have openings along the vessel longitudinal axis.An annulardiverter has top and bottom ends and a longitudinal axis coaxial with thevessel longitudinal axis.A diverter outer wall permanently extends from an inner face of thecylindrical wall, and adiverter inner wall has an upper portion narrowing to a choke area and a lowerportion flaring outfrom the choke area. A vent pipe extends from the upper cap opening to alocation between theupper cap and the diverter top end.