Patent ID: 6158512
Filing Date: 2000-12-12
Classification: E21B

Abstract:
An apparatus for removing sand from an underwater well as used in connection with a recovery of oil or gas, comprising:a sand-accommodating container adapted to be opened in order to allow liquid containing such sand into a cavity thereof and in order to discharge therein collected sand therefrom and to be displaceable between a first position in a well area of sand to be removed and a second position at a sand-discharging place, said container having an outlet and a closable inlet through which sand-entraining liquid may be allowed to flow into said container when the inlet is open and the container occupies said first position, said inlet being adapted to be closed during the container's displacement from said first position to said second position;a sand filter assigned to said outlet and allowing a flow of sand-free liquid to pass therethrough while retaining within said container sand entrained in said liquid; anda jet pump assigned to the container and including a tubular housing in fluid-communication with the cavity of said container through said outlet thereof, said jet pump comprising a nozzle powering the jet pump by means of a carrier fluid flowing therethrough and into a through-going channel having one end opening positioned within an annulus of the well and one end opening adjacent said nozzle and positioned within said tubular housing, said jet pump, when powered, being adapted to establish flowing conditions in sand-entraining liquid within the well causing a flow of sand-entraining liquid into said container's cavity through the inlet thereof, the filtered liquid constituent freed from sand passing out from its outlet while the container occupies its first position, said channel being positioned a first distance from the container and said nozzle being positioned a second distance from the container so that the second distance is greater than the first distance.