CYCLOTECH WDC Series Wellhead Desanding Cyclone

Customized new-generation solids separation technology

The CYCLOTECH WDC Series represents a new generation of solids separation technology specifically aimed at multi-phase well streams. The M-I SWACO CYCLOTECH WDC wellhead desanding cyclone is applicable for all wellhead gas: liquid ratios from 100% liquid to 100% gas.

The critical aspects of any application determine the potential range of actual wellhead flowing conditions. Project parameters also determine the design of the suitable cyclone geometry. Most importantly, they also allow for a prediction of separation performance and cyclone pressure drop.

CYCLOTECH WDC Series wellhead desanding cyclones are custom engineered for each application. Key to the design is the accommodation of the gas phase to ensure the presence of gas improves, rather  than depresses, the separation performance.

The CYCLOTECH WDC Series desanding cyclones are provided in the form of a single or, in rare cases, a multiplicity of cyclone inserts housed inside a vessel designed to suit the application.

Principle of Operation

The CYCLOTECH wellhead desanding cyclone has no moving parts. It achieves solid separation from a multi-phase well stream by virtue of a pressure drop across the cyclone. A solids-laden multi-phase flow is forced under pressure into the inlet section of the cyclone via a tangential inlet port. This, together with the presence of a gas phase, causes the fluid to spin at a very high velocity. This spin creates a high g radial acceleration field.

The solid particles, being the densest phase, are forced outward to the hydrocyclone inner wall. Here, through internal hydrodynamic forces, the solids are ejected from the apex of the cyclone while the rest of the multi-phase flow exits counter currently via an axial port adjacent to the inlet. The separated solids are collected in a separate solids accumulator, which can be periodically purged on line, without interruption to the hydrocyclone operation. This negates the requirement for duty/standby operation.

Applications

CYCLOTECH wellhead desanding cyclones are applicable for:

• Increase production beyond sand-free production rates
• Proppant removal from gas/condensate developments
• Well clean-up operations
• Well start-up operations
• Under-balanced drilling operations.

Benefits

Incorporating sand separation upstream of the production chokes, manifolds and separators deliver a number of benefits, including:

• Protection of chokes, flow-lines and manifolds from erosion
• Protection of downstream equipment from erosion/corrosion and blockage
• Reduced production separator sand-jetting requirements
• Increased production above sand-free rates.