Method and apparatus for collecting and then disposing sand contained in production fluid

摘要

Production fluid mixture is directed through a sand removal unit (12) in a retrievable module (1) installed in a modular seabed processing system, and the unit (12) collects sand from the mixture. The production fluid mixture then enters a fluid separation chamber (17) in the module (1) where it is separated into a gas and a mixture of oil and water. Seawater is drawn in from outside the module and is pumped into the sand removal unit (12) to flush the collected sand. The mixed flushed sand and seawater is commingled with the mixture of oil and water downstream of the fluid separation chamber (17) and the commingled mixture is conveyed to a host facility. There, the sand is separated from the commingled mixture and is disposed of.