Abstract:
A Stationary Assembly, for Chemical Injection, Atomization, and Sacrificial Probe Corrosion Monitoring that is configured around a main body portion, utilizing interchangeable lower end devices to perform these functions. The top inlet port of the apparatus accepts a chemical injection line for use with the injection quill or atomizer lower body portions, or a plug element for use with lower body portions that accept rod, disk, or flat type corrosion probes. Ports for equalization of pressure on the corrosion probe holder lower body portions for use with the plug element will also allow the use of a valve to allow fluid sampling at the corrosion monitoring site. Insertion depth similarities for these processes in a given high pressure vessel or flowline configuration allow the main body portion to perform the functions associated with the individual lower body portions.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The apparatus of the present invention relates to devices for threadably sealable attachment of chemical injection quills and atomizers, and installing corrosion monitoring probes on to thread-o-lets on high pressure vessels and flowlines for that purpose. More particularly, the present invention relates to the utilization of a main body portion, that includes lower body portions to accommodate these processes. 
         [0003]    General Background of the Invention 
         [0004]    In the technology of the integrity of vessels and flowlines, there has developed a technique whereby a variety of sacrificial probes and chemical injection devices, are used to monitor and treat certain properties of the high-pressure fluids transported within said high-pressure vessels and flowlines. Sacrificial probes are pre-weighed samples of metal similar to the metal used in the fabrication of the high-pressure vessel or flowline. Sacrificial probes are exposed to the high-pressure fluids within the high-pressure vessel or flowline for a predefined period, and then removed for processing. The weight loss of the probe experienced during exposure to the high-pressure fluids is then converted to a mills-per-year corrosion rate estimate that can be applied to the high-pressure vessel or flowline. This method of monitoring corrosion has been in use for decades, and although new techniques for monitoring corrosion are available, the practice continues to be very common. In relation to either of the methods mentioned for monitoring the properties and condition of the high-pressure fluids, there is the need for application of chemical compounds to offset the effects of the high-pressure fluids on the high-pressure vessel or flowline. Examples of probes used for this purpose include chemical injection quills that prevent immediate contact with the inner surface of the high-pressure vessel or flowline before the chemical can be absorbed into the high-pressure fluids, and chemical atomizers that reduce the particle size of the chemical for improved contact with and absorption into the high-pressure fluids. 
         [0005]    In the current state of the art, stationary chemical injection quills and atomizers, and corrosion probe holders, use an individual apparatus to perform these processes. In the current state of the art, an engineer planning a chemical injection and corrosion monitoring program for a given production facility would use a vast array of devices for these processes. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The apparatus and method of the present invention solves the problem in a simple and straightforward manner. What is provided is a main body with threading for attachment to a thread-o-let on a high pressure vessel or flowline, an extension tube suitable for the insertion depth into the high pressure vessel or flowline, and attachments to allow the main body to perform any of these chemical injection or corrosion monitoring processes. 
         [0007]    Therefore, it is the principle object of the present invention to provide an improved apparatus for use with a wide range of sacrificial probe corrosion monitoring and chemical injection processes. 
         [0008]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved apparatus that can be configured at the installation site to perform any of said chemical injection or corrosion monitoring processes. 
         [0009]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide an apparatus wherein the insertion depth relative to a given installation is common to these processes. 
         [0010]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide an injection quill attachment that allows horizontal installation via drip grooves that force corrosive treatments to drip off of the assembly tip and into fluids providing dilution. 
         [0011]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide a main body upper port that can be fitted with a valve element to collect fluid samples when in use as a corrosion probe holder for direct comparison to corrosion probe results. 
         [0012]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide a chemical atomization element designed specifically for the apparatus, that supplies an improved, reduced particle size of the atomized chemical for contact with and absorption into the high-pressure fluids. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
         [0013]    For a further understanding of the nature, objects, and advantages of the present invention, references can be had to the following detailed description, read in conjunction with the following drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like elements and wherein: 
           [0014]      FIG. 1A  comprises a side elevation in cross section and illustrates the main body of the apparatus. 
           [0015]      FIG. 1B  comprises a side elevation in cross section and illustrates the injection quill lower body portion of the apparatus. 
           [0016]      FIG. 1C  comprises a side elevation in cross section of the atomizer lower body portion of the apparatus, including a top view of the spring retainer with additional fluid passage ports. 
           [0017]      FIG. 1D  comprises a side elevation in cross section of the corrosion probe holder lower body portion of the apparatus for use with rod and disk type corrosion probes. This said lower body portion is constructed of a non-conductive material with vertical grooves to equalize pressure, which will be discussed further, and includes a top and bottom elevation for clarification of said grooves. 
           [0018]      FIG. 1E  comprises a side elevation in cross section of the corrosion probe holder lower body portion of the apparatus for use with flat corrosion probes, and includes side elevations of non-conductive elements, and the retaining screw used to secure the flat corrosion probes to the apparatus. 
           [0019]      FIG. 1F  comprises a side elevation in cross section of a plug element used when the device is used as a corrosion probe holder. 
           [0020]      FIG. 2A  comprises a side elevation of the main body portion. 
           [0021]      FIG. 2B  comprises a side elevation and illustrates the injection quill lower body portion of the apparatus. 
           [0022]      FIG. 2C  comprises a side elevation of the atomizer lower body portion of the apparatus. 
           [0023]      FIG. 2D  comprises a side elevation of the corrosion probe holder lower body portion of the apparatus, for use with rod and disk type corrosion probes. 
           [0024]      FIG. 2E  comprises a side elevation of the corrosion probe holder lower body portion of the apparatus for use with flat corrosion probes, with the likeness of a flat corrosion probe installed on the apparatus. 
           [0025]      FIG. 2F  comprises a side elevation of a plug element used when the device is used as a corrosion probe holder. 
           [0026]      FIG. 2G  comprises a side elevation of the likeness of a rod type corrosion probe. 
           [0027]      FIG. 2H  comprises a side elevation of the likeness of a disk type corrosion probe and the screw element used to attach it to the corrosion probe holder illustrated in  FIG. 2D , including bottom elevations of the disk type corrosion probe and the screw element. 
           [0028]      FIG. 2I  comprises a front elevation of the likeness of a flat type corrosion probe. 
           [0029]      FIG. 3A  comprises a side elevation of the apparatus with injection quill lower body portion installed, and the apparatus installed in a cross section of flowline, to depict the purpose of the drip grooves on said injection quill lower body portion. 
           [0030]      FIG. 3B  comprises a side elevation in cross section of the main body portion with the injection quill lower body portion installed, with the apparatus installed in a section of high pressure vessel or flowline with the likeness of a chemical injection attachment and chemical passage associated with a vertically installed injection quill. 
           [0031]      FIG. 3C  comprises a side elevation in cross section of the main body portion with the atomizer lower body portion installed, with the apparatus installed in a section of high pressure vessel or flowline with the likeness of a chemical injection attachment and chemical passage associated with an atomizer. 
           [0032]      FIG. 3D  comprises a side elevation in cross section of the main body portion with the corrosion probe holder lower body portion for rod type corrosion probes installed, with the likeness of a rod type corrosion probe installed, and installed in a section of high pressure vessel or flowline, with the threadably, sealable attached sampling valve element used with this assembly installed. 
           [0033]      FIG. 4A  comprises a side elevation of the main body portion with the injection quill lower body portion installed, with the likeness of a chemical injection line attached, and fluids consistent with an injection quill coming out of lower end. 
           [0034]      FIG. 4B  comprises a side elevation of the main body portion with the atomizer lower body portion installed, with the likeness of a chemical injection line attached, and fluids consistent with an atomizer coming out of lower end. 
           [0035]      FIG. 4C  comprises a side elevation of the main body portion with the corrosion probe holder lower body portion for use with flat type corrosion probes installed, with the likeness of a flat corrosion probe installed, and the threadably, sealable attached sampling valve element option installed. 
           [0036]      FIG. 4D  comprises a side elevation of the main body portion with the corrosion probe holder lower body portion for use with rod or disk type corrosion probes installed, with the likeness of a rod corrosion probe installed, and with the threadably, sealable attached plug element option installed. 
           [0037]      FIG. 4E  comprises a side elevation of the main body portion with the corrosion probe holder lower body portion for use with rod or disk type corrosion probes installed, with the likeness of a disk corrosion probe installed, and with the threadably sealable attached plug element option installed. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0038]      FIGS. 1-4  illustrate the apparatus of the present invention referenced by the numeral  10 . As illustrated initially,  FIG. 1A  comprises a side elevation in cross section of the main body portion  12  and an externally threaded upper portion  14  for threadably sealable connection to a thread-o-let access point on a high-pressure vessel or flowline, which will be discussed and illustrated further. Main body portion  12  further comprises internal threads  20  for connection to chemical supply lines for injection or a plugging element as illustrated in  FIG. 1F , for use as a corrosion probe holder. Returning to  FIG. 1A , further comprises lower generally elongated tubular portion  16  threadably and sealable attached  18 , to upper portion  14 , and forming a continuous inner bore defined by inner wall  24 . Lower generally elongated tubular portion  16  further comprises an internal threaded lower portion  22  for threadably, sealable connection to lower body portions illustrated in  FIG. 1B ,  FIG. 1C ,  FIG. 1D , and  FIG. 1E , which will be discussed further. 
         [0039]      FIG. 1B  comprises a side elevation in cross section of the injection quill lower body portion, comprising a threaded upper body portion  26 , an O-ring  28  for threadably sealable connection to internally threaded lower portion  22  of  FIG. 1A . Returning to  FIG. 1B , injection quill lower body portion further comprises a lower body portion  30 , having drip grooves  32  which force corrosive liquids to drip off of said lower body portion  30  when installed in a horizontal configuration, which will be discussed further. Injection quill lower body portion further comprises a continuous inner bore defined by inner wall  34 . 
         [0040]      FIG. 1C  comprises a side elevation in cross section of the atomizer lower body portion comprising a lower body portion  36 , having an upper threaded portion  38  and an O-ring  40  for threadably sealable connection to internally threaded lower portion  22  of  FIG. 1A . Returning to  FIG. 1C , lower body portion  36  further comprises a continuous inner bore defined by inner wall  42  terminating at the bottom with an angled seat  44 , and terminating at the top with a spring seat  46  for retaining spring element  48 .  FIG. 1C  atomizer lower body portion further comprises a piston element  50  passing through lower body portion  36 , spring element  48 , upper spring retaining element  52  and retained in place by nut elements  54 . Upper spring retaining element  52  further comprises a fluid passage  56 , to allow fluid passage in addition to passage through the spring element  48 . Further detail of upper spring retainer element  52  and fluid passage  56  can be had with a top elevation of upper spring retainer element  52  in  FIG. 1C .  FIG. 1D  comprises a side elevation in cross section of the rod and disk type non-conductive corrosion probe holder lower body portion comprising an upper threaded portion  58 , a raised shoulder  60  to match the dimensions of O-ring elements in  FIG. 1B ,  FIG. 1C , and  FIG. 1E . Returning to  FIG. 1D , rod and disk type non-conductive corrosion probe holder lower body portion further comprises lower body portion  62 , wherein a threaded bore begins upward through said lower body portion  62  and ends before the upper wall of upper threaded portion  58 , defining a non-conductive threaded receptacle  64  for rod and disk type corrosion probes. A continuous notch  66  begins upward from the bottom wall of lower body portion  62  and continues upward through upper threaded portion  58 , for equalization of pressure which will be discussed further. Further detail of continuous notch  66  can be had with a top elevation and bottom elevation of  FIG. 1D  rod and disk type non-conductive corrosion probe holder lower body portion. 
         [0041]      FIG. 1E  comprises a side elevation in cross section of the flat type corrosion probe holder lower body portion comprising an upper threaded portion  68 , an O-ring element  70  for threadably sealable connection to internally threaded lower portion  22  of  FIG. 1A . Returning to  FIG. 1E , flat type corrosion probe holder lower body portion further comprises lower body portion  72 , having a continuous threaded bore  74 , non-conductive elements  76  and  78 , and a retaining screw element  80 . Further detail of non-conductive elements  76  and  78  can be had with side elevations included in  FIG. 1E  flat type corrosion probe holder lower body portion, and their purpose will be clarified further in the figures. Flat type corrosion probe holder lower body portion further comprises a continuous bore defined by inner wall  82  for pressure equalization, which will be discussed further. 
         [0042]      FIG. 1F  comprises a side elevation in cross section of a threadably sealable plug element  84  for use with corrosion probe holding lower body portions  FIG. 1D  and  FIG. 1E . 
         [0043]      FIG. 2A  comprises a side elevation of the main body portion  12  and provides detail to the upper body portion hexagon upper portion  86 . 
         [0044]      FIG. 2B  comprises a side elevation of the injection quill lower body portion and provides further detail to the O-ring  28 , lower body portion  30 , and drip grooves  32 . 
         [0045]      FIG. 2C  comprises a side elevation of the atomizer lower body portion and provides further detail to the O-ring  40 , and spring element  48 .  FIG. 2C  side elevation of the atomizer lower body portion further comprises a 90 degree rotated view of the upper spring retainer element  52 , giving further detail to fluid passage  56 .  FIG. 2C  further comprises greater detail to nut elements  54 . 
         [0046]      FIG. 2D  comprises a side elevation of the rod and disk type non-conductive corrosion probe holder lower body portion and provides further detail to raised shoulder  60  to match the dimensions of O-ring elements in  FIG. 2B ,  FIG. 2C , and  FIG. 2E . Returning to  FIG. 2D  rod and disk type non-conductive corrosion probe holder lower body portion provides further detail to continuous notch  66 . 
         [0047]      FIG. 2E  comprises a side elevation of the flat type corrosion probe holder lower body portion providing further detail to O-ring element  70  and is illustrated with non-conductive elements  76  and  78 , and retaining screw element  80  installed into continuous threaded bore  74  of  FIG. 1E  which is not visible in this side elevation. Returning to  FIG. 2E , said side elevation of the flat type corrosion probe holder lower body portion further comprises a likeness of a flat type corrosion probe  88  installed on the flat type corrosion probe holder lower body portion. 
         [0048]      FIG. 2F  comprises a side elevation of the threadably sealable plug element  84  providing further detail to hexagon upper body portion  90 . 
         [0049]      FIG. 2G  comprises a side elevation of the likeness of a rod type corrosion probe and providing detail to the upper threaded portion  92  and the customary weight stamp to one thousandth of a gram  94 . 
         [0050]      FIG. 2H  comprises a side elevation of a disk type corrosion probe  96 , and includes a bottom elevation of a disk type corrosion probe and the customary weight stamp to one thousandth of a gram  98 .  FIG. 2H  further comprises a side elevation of the mounting and retaining element  100 , and includes a bottom elevation having detail to the drive mechanism  102 . 
         [0051]      FIG. 2I  comprises a front elevation of a flat type corrosion probe  88 , providing detail to the mounting hole  104 , and the customary weight stamp to one thousandth of a gram  106 . 
         [0052]      FIG. 3A  comprises a side elevation of the main body portion  12  with the injection quill element detailed in  FIG. 1B  and  FIG. 2B  installed onto the main body portion  12 . Returning to  FIG. 3A  further provides a depiction of the apparatus mounted in horizontal orientation within a high pressure vessel or flowline thread-o-let in cross section  114 , providing detail to the function of the drip grooves  32 .  FIG. 3A  further comprises a side elevation of the likeness of a chemical injection line  116  attached to the apparatus. Drip grooves  32  force corrosive liquids to drip off over and into fluids  110  as depicted  112  within the high pressure vessel or flowline stopping said corrosive treatments from following the path depicted by arrow  108  and contacting the vessel or flowline. 
         [0053]      FIG. 3B  comprises a side elevation in cross section of main body portion  12  with the injection quill lower body portion detailed in  FIG. 1B  and  FIG. 2B  installed onto the main body portion  12 , returning to  FIG. 3B , and mounted in a vertical orientation within a section of high pressure vessel or flowline thread-o-let in cross section  114 .  FIG. 3B  further comprises the likeness of a chemical injection connection  118 , and depicts the fluid behavior  120 , of a quill injection scenario. 
         [0054]      FIG. 3C  comprises a side elevation in cross section of main body portion  12  with the with the atomizer lower body portion detailed in  FIG. 1C  and  FIG. 2C  installed onto the main body portion  12 , returning to  FIG. 3C , and mounted in a vertical orientation within a section of high pressure vessel or flowline thread-o-let in cross section  114 .  FIG. 3C  further comprises the likeness of a chemical injection connection  118 , and depicts the fluid behavior  122 , of an atomizer injection scenario. 
         [0055]      FIG. 3D  comprises a side elevation in cross section of the main body portion  12  with the rod and disk type non-conductive corrosion probe holder lower body portion detailed in  FIG. 1D  and  FIG. 2D  installed onto the main body portion  12 , returning to  FIG. 3D , and mounted in a vertical orientation within a section of high pressure vessel or flowline thread-o-let in cross section  114 .  FIG. 3D  further comprises the likeness of a rod type corrosion probe as depicted in  FIG. 2G  installed on the rod and disk type non-conductive corrosion probe holder lower body portion detailed in  FIG. 1D  and  FIG. 2D . Returning to  FIG. 3D  further comprises a sample valve element  124  option installed on the apparatus. 
         [0056]      FIG. 4A  comprises a side elevation of the main body portion  12  with the injection quill lower body portion installed, with the likeness of a chemical injection line  116  attached, and fluid behavior  120 , consistent with an injection quill. 
         [0057]      FIG. 4B  comprises a side elevation of the main body portion  12  with the atomizer lower body portion installed, with the likeness of a chemical injection line  116  attached, and fluid behavior  122 , consistent with an atomizer. 
         [0058]      FIG. 4C  comprises a side elevation of the main body portion  12  with the corrosion probe holder lower body portion for use with flat type corrosion probes installed, with the likeness of a flat type corrosion probe  88  installed, and a side elevation of the likeness of a threadably sealable sampling valve element  126  installed. 
         [0059]      FIG. 4D  comprises a side elevation of the main body portion  12  with the corrosion probe holder lower body portion for use with rod or disk type corrosion probes installed, with the likeness of a rod type corrosion probe installed, and a threadably sealable plug element  84  installed. 
         [0060]      FIG. 4E  comprises a side elevation of the main body portion  12  with the corrosion probe holder lower body portion for use with rod or disk type corrosion probes installed, with the likeness of a disk type corrosion probe  96  installed, and a threadably sealable plug element  84  installed.