Sand Trap / Sand Separator FAQ
"You have the best damn sand traps on the market and I’ll be happy to spread the
word."
-- K.P., Appalachian Basin Testing Manager, Sep. 30, 2009
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Q. What pressures of sand traps do you offfer?
A. We offer sand traps in a variety of pressures ranging from 1440# to 10,000# working pressure. Our most
common pressures are 5000#, 5800# and 6000#, but we also offer 4000#, and 7500#. Sand traps come in two basic configurations:
mounted in an "L" skid like the one to the right, or mounted on a trailer like the examples below.
An "L" skid allows for horizontal transport of the sand trap, then it can be
stood up on the lower portion of the skid to operate vertically (all our sand traps operate vertically). Our sand traps are ASME coded
and registered with the National Board.
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"L" Skidded Sand Trap
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10K (10,000 psi)
ASME Skidded Sand Trap built 2010
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Trailer mounted
20" x 8' x 5800# Sand Trap
How much time does it take to set it up?
A. Simply drop the four jack stands on each corner and adjust so the trailer is level and locked. Next, use the electrically powered
hydraulic pump to raise the sand trap into vertical operational position then set the large safety pin that locks it into position.
Connect your pipe to the existing hammer union connections and its done. Total time from arrival to operation: 15-20 minutes. And break down is just as fast. |
Q. What are the advantages of a trailer mounted sand trap?
A. When equipment arrives on site, precious time can be lost waiting for the equipment to be unloaded from a truck, moved to the
best operational position, or brought into vertical operational position. Based on customer ideas and feedback we developed this trailer
mounted, hydraulically raised and lowered, sand trap. Shown here in primer before being painted, we demonstrate how quickly the unit can be
set up.
Can a pick up truck be used to tow it?
A. Yes. The trailer and sand trap weigh 7,500 lbs. so it can be easily towed by your average oil-patch pick up truck. It features electric brakes,
heavy duty box frame construction, and 16-ply tires. This trailer is built to handle rough terrain, but tracks very well at high speeds
on the interstate too.
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Q. What size is the Inlet and the Gas Out and Sand Discharges?
A. Our 6,000#, 5,800#, 5,000# and 3,000# sand traps have a 2" inlet configured with a male threaded 1502. The gas and sand discharge outlets have 2" 1502 female hammer halves.
Q. How easy
is it to service your sand traps?
A. After each job, clean the sand trap by flushing it with air or clean water.
There is a 1" drain on the bottom of the sand trap when it is vertical for this
purpose.
Depending on use, remove and inspect the stinger assembly checking for wear and tear
on the stinger plug. This plug is the main deflector that forces the gas stream
downwards; it is critical to the proper operation of the trap. When re-assembling
the stinger, be sure the stinger flow direction indicator bar is pointing straight
down when the sand trap is in its vertical operational position. |
Sand Trap Detail
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20" x 8' L skidded Sand Separators fresh off the production line
Q. How much sandy gas can a 20" x 8' x 5800# sand trap clean per day?
A. Depending upon the amount of sand entrained in the natural gas stream and the average operating pressure,
a 20" x 8' x 5800# unit typically cleans anywhere from 6 MMSCF to 12MMSCF
per day.
Q. What are
other common names for sand traps and what type of sand can they handle?
A. Sand traps are also referred to as sand cans and sand separators.
Sand traps are designed to handle naturally occuring reservoir sand, frac sand,
and grit that is left behind from drilling and fracking operations.
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Q. Should I put the sand trap before or after my choke manifold?
A. A Choke manifold benefits when placed downstream of the sand trap since it is not
exposed to the abrasive sand. However, there are times when it is necessary to place a
choke manifold upstream of the sand trap. The most common reason is that the pressure at
the wellhead is higher than the sand separator rating and must be reduced. Another reason
is that the new well is producing mostly liquid and the manifold is used to shunt the
liquid directly to holding tanks. As the flow from the well dries out, the manifold makes
it easy to change the flow from tanks to sand trap, and from there, into the Test Separator.
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Choke Manifold
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Sand Trap + 2 Phase Separator DualPack
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Q. Is there a dedicated sand trap + 2 phase separator unit available?
A. Yes, they are commonly knows as "DualPack" units. A DualPack is a 24" x 10' x 1440# sand trap mated to a
24" x 10' x 1440# 2 phase vertical separator and mounted on an "L" skid for easy transport.
DualPacks are popular in gas fields where a significant amount of sand and moisture is present in the gas. Used mostly
for production, a DualPack is a low cost, highly portable solution. We build DualPacks to order using surplus vessels allowing
us to keep costs down, while being able to fulfill orders quickly.
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Common sizes of sand traps that we typically carry --->
Note: not all sizes listed will always be in stock. Availability changes frequently; check our complete online database.
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SAND TRAPS:
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