Well Test Burner System and Method

Abstract

Methods and systems of burning waste effluent include controlling flow of waste effluent to burner nozzles using flow control elements. The flow control elements are biased toward closed positions using biasing forces, wherein reduced biasing forces are applied to selected flow control elements so that waste effluent flow first reaches the burner nozzles associated with the flow control elements receiving reduced biasing forces. The selected burner nozzles may be located nearer a pilot to more reliably induce combustion and reduce fallout.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE[0001]Hydrocarbons are widely used as a primary source of energy, and have a significant impact on the world economy. Consequently, the discovery and efficient production of hydrocarbon resources is increasingly important. As relatively accessible hydrocarbon deposits are depleted, hydrocarbon prospecting and production has expanded to new regions that may be more difficult to reach and / or may pose new technological challenges. During typical operations, a borehole is drilled into the earth, whether on land or below the sea, to reach a reservoir containing hydrocarbons. Such hydrocarbons are typically in the form of oil, gas, or mixtures thereof which may then be brought to the surface through the borehole.[0002]Well testing is often performed to help evaluate the possible production value of a reservoir. During well testing, a test well is drilled to produce a test flow of fluid from the reservoir. During the test flow, key parameters such as fluid press...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0005]Systems and methods are disclosed herein for combusting fluids having a hydrocarbon content. The fluids may be generated during well testing, oil spill cleanup, or other operations. According to the systems and methods disclosed herein, flow control elements used to control waste effluent flow to burner nozzles are biased to a closed position by a biasing force. Reduced biasing forces are applied to selected flow control elements so that the burner nozzles associated with the selected flow control elements will open first during startup and close last during shut down. The flow control elements receiving reduced biasing forces may be selected according to proximity of the associated burner nozzles to one or more pilots so that combustion occurs more reliably and fallout of unburned waste effluent is minimized.

Problems solved by technology

As relatively accessible hydrocarbon deposits are depleted, hydrocarbon prospecting and production has expanded to new regions that may be more difficult to reach and / or may pose new technological challenges.

The costs associated with performing the testing operations may be significant, however, and therefore testing operations should be performed as efficiently and economically as possible.

Fluids produced from the test well are generally considered to be waste and therefore are typically disposed of by burning, which raises environmental and safety concerns.

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