Patent ID: 6119711
Filing Date: 2000-09-19
Classification: B01D,Y10T

Abstract:
A multiple well header system, comprising:(a) an upright header disposed in a substantially vertical orientation relative to the ground and having an upper end, a lower end, a continuous sidewall extending between said upper and lower ends and having vertical side portions angularly displaced from one another about said sidewall, and a water collection area disposed at and above said lower end, said upper and lower ends and continuous sidewall of said header defining an interior chamber, a plurality of inlet openings through one of said vertical side portions of said sidewall and an outlet opening through another of said vertical side portions of said sidewall such that said outlet opening is above at least most of said inlet openings and adjacent to and below said upper end of said header, said inlet and outlet openings all being in communication with said interior chamber, said inlet openings being arranged in a plurality of side-by-side pairs with one pair spaced above another pair to form a pair of vertical columns thereof on said one vertical side portion of said sidewall disposed above said water collection area;(b) a plurality of inlet pipes for interconnection with separate gas wells to allow for passage of flows of gas and water vapor entrained with the gas therethrough from the separate gas wells to said upright header, said inlet pipes being mounted to said one vertical side portion of said sidewall of said header through said inlet openings thereof such that said inlet pipes are arranged in a plurality of side-by-side pairs of inlet pipes with one pair being spaced above another pair to form a pair of vertical columns thereof along said one vertical side portion of said sidewall, said inlet pipes having open opposite ends providing communication from exteriorly of said header into said interior chamber of said header such that the flows of gas entrained with water vapor from the separate gas wells enter said interior chamber of said header through said inlet pipes moving in substantially the same directions through said one vertical side portion of said header so as to strike an opposing vertical side portion of said header and swirl into one another where the water vapor being heavier than the gas separates from the gas and falls to and condenses above and within said water collection area of said header whereas the gas rises to said upper end of said header; and(c) an outlet pipe for interconnection with an external location and extending from said upright header and allowing for passage of gas therethrough from said header to the external location, said outlet pipe having open opposite ends and being mounted to said another vertical side portion of said sidewall of said header in communication with said outlet opening of said header such that gas which has risen within said interior chamber of said header enters said outlet pipe for conductance to the external location.