Combustion – Structural installation
Patent
1998-08-21
1999-12-07
Dority, Carroll
Combustion
Structural installation
95262, B01D 1900
Patent
active
05997284&
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a flare tank and, more particularly, to a flare tank used for separating oil from fluid, specifically to separate combustible gases from mud which is produced during a drilling operation in the oil and gas industry.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Flares are used in various applications for the disposal of waste gases through combustion. For example, when an oil well is tested, combustible gases may be burned off through the use of a flare tank or stack.
In previous operations, mud from the drill rig which contained combustible gases was piped to or disposed of in a flare pit adjacent to the drill rig. The flare pit is simply a hole dug in the ground which is used to hold the mud. However, the combustible gases can separate from the mud in the flare pit and accidentally ignite thereby causing emissions to the atmosphere which are environmentally unattractive and dangerous to closely located personnel both by way of danger to the person and also due to the possibility of starting a grass or brush fire. Likewise, the mud in the flare pit and the combustible gas can create ground contamination which is also of concern for environmental reasons. Finally, it is necessary to often haul away the mud within the flare pit due to the contamination by unburned gases. This is costly.
European Patent Application No. 211 492 discloses an apparatus for separating oil from produced water at a wellhead. The apparatus includes a separator that operates at elevated pressure to separate the wellhead product into a three components, one of which is a gas product. The apparatus is provided with a pipe for introducing the wellhead product into the separator and a baffle which forms a weir over which a substantial proportion of the oil in the wellhead product flows. The gas component is removed through a pipe for storage or supply to a pipeline or for burning off.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a flare tank which facilities separation of the combustible gases from the fluid being treated for gas disposal. It is a further object of the invention to provide a flare tank which is portable so as to minimize disturbances on work sites. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a flare tank which is safe and not susceptible to damages associated with an explosion in the flare tank.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention there is provided a flare tank comprising a container having a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet and a fluid flow path between said inlet and said outlet; a baffle plate in the container between said fluid inlet and said fluid outlet, said baffle plate projecting into said flow path of said fluid for forming at least a partial barrier to fluid flow in said path and a gas outlet on said container for the discharge of gas separated from said fluid in said container.
A burner is conveniently used to ignite the separated gas in order to burn it off following its separation from the fluid in the flare tank.
The baffle place may extend substantially transversely across the flow path, the baffle plate being provided with a recess at a lower end thereof for the flow of fluid therethrough.
The baffle plate may be provided with at least one opening above the recess for the passage of gas therethrough. Preferably, a plurality of openings is provided above the recess in the baffle plate.
The gas outlet in the container may comprise a chimney stack on the container. The chimney stack may be pivotally connected to the container for collapsing the chimney stack onto the container to facilitate transportation of the flare tank. The burner may be located at the top and of the chimney stack.
The container may be mounted on a pair of skids to facilitate movement of the flare tank into a desired location.
The flare tank may conveniently be mounted to a holding tank to facilitate the holding and disposal of the mud or fluid following the gas removal in the flare tank.
Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the
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Gustafson Alfred James
Gustafson Evert Todd
Gustafson Richard Brian
Wierzba Paul
Worm Glen Darrell
Altex Oilfield Equipment Ltd.
Dority Carroll
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