Patent ID: 11911716
Assignee: ENERCORP ENGINEERED SOLUTIONS INC.
Field: Chemical engineering (Chemistry)
Classification: CPC B  E | IPC B  E

Claim 13:
14. A method comprising:
receiving a multi-phase process fluid from a well;
separating the multi-phase process fluid into a solids and a fluid;
directing a first portion of the fluid to a fluid outlet;
feeding the solids and a second portion of the fluid to a blowdown vessel;
draining at least some of the second portion of the fluid from the blowdown vessel while preventing the solids from draining therewith, wherein draining the at least some of the second portion of the fluid from the blowdown vessel comprises causing the at least some of the second portion of the fluid to flow through an inlet screen and into a collection chamber that is downstream from the blowdown vessel, wherein the inlet screen substantially prevents the solids from flowing therethrough and into the collection chamber, and wherein the inlet screen is positioned within the blowdown vessel;
determining a sand production rate from the well based on a weight, volume, or both of the solids in the blowdown vessel; and
draining the solids from within the blowdown vessel, wherein a frequency at which the blowdown vessel is to be drained is determined based at least partially upon an amount of the solids separated from the multi-phase process fluid.