Patent ID: 8342040

Claim:
A method for obtaining liquid samples from a well comprising the steps of: a. temporarily diverting the flow of well fluids comprising liquid and gas components from a production flow path into a vessel having a top, a bottom, a length, and an inner chamber, wherein said inner chamber of said vessel defines a volume substantially equal to the volume of a sample to be obtained, a plurality of ports extend through said vessel into said inner chamber, at least one of said ports is located at or near the top of said vessel, and at least one of said ports is located at or near the bottom of said vessel; b. substantially filling said inner chamber of said vessel with well fluids; c. interrupting the flow of well fluids into said vessel; d. releasing gas from the inner chamber of said vessel to a vapor recovery system; e. opening said at least one port at or near the bottom of the vessel; and f. draining liquids from said vessel into a receptacle at ambient pressure.