This invention relates to the separation of shale, gas and fluid at a shale-gas well. The shale debris and water from a shale-gas well is tangentially communicated to a vessel where the cyclonic effect within the vessel facilitates the separation of the gas from the shale debris. The separated shale debris and fluid falls to a jet assembly whereby it encounters a jet communicating a fluid therethrough. A venturi provides a motive force to the shale debris and fluid sufficient to propel it into a collection bin. The shale-gas separator incorporates a fluid bypass overflow line to prevent a buildup of fluid within the vessel. The shale-gas separator also incorporates an internal aerated cushion system (IACS) pipe for further motivating the shale debris and into the jet assembly, to ensure the walls of the vessel are clean, and to provide an air cushion restricting gas migration to the jet assembly.

Shale-gas separating and cleanout system

A digital display unit (14, 16, 18 or 20) includes a microcontroller (94) to process information received from one or more sensors (30, 32, 40, 42, 54 and 56), a display (96a, 96b, 96c or 96d), and a switch (108, 156 or 180) in communication with the microcontroller so that the microcontroller displays an output on the display that is specific to a type of sensor, which type may be selected from a position sensor, a pressure sensor, and a stroke counter. The digital display unit may be part of a choke control panel (10). The microcontroller and the display may be disposed in an enclosure (74), and an electrical power source (76a and 76b) may be disposed in the enclosure to supply electrical power to the microcontroller and the one or more sensors. A digital hydraulic choke position sensor assembly (30 or 32) and a digital pressure sensor assembly (54 or 56) are also described, which may be used in a system (24) for drilling an oil or gas well.

Control panel, and digital display units and sensors therefor

Fluid line drive-over

A multi-phase mixture of gas and liquid is passed into a cyclone separator 2 from which separated liquid is passed into a siphon chamber 6 where it enters the inlet to a siphon tube 7 while separated gas is passed into a line 4 and passes via line 10 to the outlet of the siphon tube 7 through a flap valve 11. Any gas from the siphon chamber 6 is also passed to the line 10 via line 8. As the siphon tube 7 fills with liquid separated gas flows via lines 4, 8 and 10 to the outlet of the siphon tube 7 where it can pass through a flow meter 12 such that the flow rate of the gas phase can be measured. When liquid reaches the top of the siphon tube 7 the siphon operates generating a slug or batch of liquid which flows through flow meter 12. The flap valve 11 is closed by the flow of liquid preventing the flow of gas into the outlet of the siphon tube. The gas now passes into the siphon chamber via line 8 such that the vacuum in the siphon chamber is relieved as the siphon operates. When the liquid in the siphon tube 7 is exhausted the siphon action ceases and a mainly gas flow is once again generated through the flow meter 12 as the siphon tube 7 refills.

Miller John Stuart Sawyer

Papers

Generating slug flow