(12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2013/ A1

Transcription

1 (19) United State (12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2013/ A1 TWeit et al. US A1 (43) Pub. Date: (54) (75) (73) (21) (22) SETTLING VESSEL AND METHOD OF USE Inventor: Travi Bjarne Tweit, Langdon (CA); Robert John Garnier, Sylvan Lake (CA) Aignee: Appl. No.: Filed: BONAVSTA ENERGY CORPORATION, Alberta (CA) 13/306,557 Nov. 29, 2011 Publication Claification (51) Int. Cl. BOID 2L/00 ( ) (52) U.S. Cl. USPC /803; 210/521 (57) ABSTRACT A veel for ue in ettling particulate matter from a fluid tream i provided. Fluid i introduced to the veel through an angled inlet, with flow into the veel both dirupted and deflected by an inlet baffle, to redirect the fluid tream parallel to a horizontal axi of the veel. The velocity of the fluid tream i reduced within the veel, allowing the particulate matter to ettle along the bottom of the veel. 2

2 Patent Application Publication US 2013/ A1 en N en f c r SC y N en O y d e d ef ya pla w 5 J G wn r w

3 SETTLING VESSEL AND METHOD OF USE FIELD OF THE INVENTION The preent invention relate generally to a veel for ue in removing particulate matter from a fluid tream. More particularly, the preent invention relate to a horizontal deander having internal baffle, rib, or flow barrier to ait in the removal of particulate matter from a fluid tream. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In oil and ga operation, and i often preent within fluid tream removed from a wellbore. For example, and may be ued a a proppant in fracturing operation, and a a reult, may be preent in the reulting flow-back produc tion fluid. Further, increaing amount of and may be pro duced a oil and ga field production mature. A the preence of and within well fluid may damage or erode urface equip ment, veel of variou configuration have been developed to ait in the removal of and from fluid produced from a wellbore. Such veel are typically known a deander, or and eparator In a vertical and trap, gravity i leveraged to effect ettling of and from the fluid flow. That i, a fluid tream enter a vertically oriented veel, and and accumulate in the bottom of the veel for later removal In a hydrocyclone deander, one or more hydrocy clone are attached to a feed manifold. Inflow fluid to be deanded pae through the manifold and to the hydrocy clone, which dicharge particulate from the bottom thereof, while overflow fluid from the hydrocyclone may be collected and further proceed in Subequent tep. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with a firt apect of the invention, a veel i provided for ue in eparation of particulate matter from a fluid tream, the veel compriing: a horizontally elongated eparation chamber compriing firt and econd end, the chamber compriing wall defining a chamber Vol ume; a chamber inlet and outlet, each providing an angular flowpath with repect to the elongated axi of the chamber, the inlet proximal to the firt end of the chamber to define an inflow pathway for delivery of a fluid tream into the firt end of the chamber, the outlet proximal to the econd end of the chamber to define an fluid outflow pathway from the econd end of the chamber, the chamber thereby providing a epara tion flowpath along the elongated axi of the chamber from the chamber inlet to the chamber outlet; one or more epara tion baffle depending from a bottom urface of the chamber between the inlet and the outlet to facilitate collection of particulate matter from the fluid tream along the bottom urface of the chamber; and an inlet baffle dipoed within the chamber and aligned with the inflow pathway to dirupt flow of the fluid tream entering the eparation chamber In an embodiment, the chamber i generally cylin drical and the inlet ha a cro ectional area that i le than a correponding cro ectional area of the elongated epara tion chamber In an embodiment, the veel inlet and outlet are each oriented perpendicular to the horizontal axi of the ve el. The inlet baffle may be poitioned at an angle to be aligned with both the inlet of the veel and the elongated axi of the veel, o a to redirect the fluid tream toward the outlet In certain application, the fluid tream may origi nate from a wellhead, and may include oil, water, and/or ga. The fluid tream may comprie and In an embodiment, at leat one of the end of the chamber comprie a valve for ue inacceing the interior of the chamber to remove particulate matter therefrom. The veel may further comprie a lower drain for ue in wahing and/or emptying the chamber In an embodiment, the veel further comprie an outlet baffle within the chamber, the outlet baffle proximal to the outlet for dirupting flow of fluid from the inlet to the outlet. Generally, the inlet baffle and/or the outlet baffle may be poitioned at an angle between 30 and 60 degree from horizontal. For example, the inlet or outlet baffle may be poitioned at 45 degree from horizontal In an embodiment, the outlet extend from the ide of the chamber, and the outlet baffle depend from an inner ide wall of the chamber. The veel may further comprie additional baffle extending from an inner ide wall of the chamber In accordance with a econd apect of the invention, there i provided a veel for ue in eparation of particulate matter from a fluid tream, the veel compriing; an elon gated, horizontal eparation chamber compriing firt and econd end and defining a chamber Volume and having a cro ectional area; a chamber inlet and outlet, each provid ing an angled flowpath with repect to the elongated axi of the chamber, the inlet proximal to the firt end of the chamber to define an inflow pathway for delivery of a fluid tream into the firt end of the chamber, the outlet proximal to the econd end of the chamber to define an fluid outflow pathway from the econd end of the chamber, the chamber thereby provid ing a eparation flowpath along the elongated axi of the chamber from the chamber inlet to the chamber outlet; an inlet baffle dipoed within the chamber and aligned with the inflow pathway to dirupt flow of the fluid tream entering the eparation chamber; and an outlet baffle within the chamber, the outlet baffle proximal to the outlet for dirupting flow of fluid from the inlet to the outlet In order to reduce the velocity of the fluid tream, the inlet may have a cro ectional area that i le than the cro ectional area of the chamber In an embodiment, the inlet baffle i poitioned at an angle to be aligned with both the inlet of the veel and the elongated axi of the veel, o a to redirect the fluid tream toward the outlet In an embodiment, the inlet and outlet each provide a generally perpendicular flow pathway into or out of the veel, repectively In an embodiment, the fluid tream originate from a wellhead and may comprie, oil, water, and/or ga. The fluid tream may comprie and In an embodiment, at leat one of the firt and ec ond end of the chamber comprie a valve for ue in acce ing the interior of the chamber to remove particulate matter therefrom In an embodiment, the inlet baffle or the outlet baffle i poitioned at an angle between 30 and 60 degree from horizontal. For example, the inlet or outlet baffle may be poitioned at 45 degree from horizontal In an embodiment, the veel further comprie a particulate outlet in a lower portion of the chamber In accordance with a third apect of the invention, there i provided a method for ue in ettling particulate

4 matter from a fluid tream, the method compriing the tep of receiving a fluid tream from a fluid tream conduit, the fluid tream compriing fluid and particulate matter at a firt preure; introducing aid fluid tream to a horizontally elon gated veel through a ubtantially vertically oriented inlet of the veel, the horizontally elongated veel further com priing a fluid outlet dital to the vertically oriented inlet of the veel; operating the veel content at a econd preure, the econd preure lower than the firt preure to facilitate ettling of particulate matter within the veel; contacting the fluid tream with an inlet baffle, the baffle proximal to the inlet and oriented o a to redirect the vertical flow of the fluid tream from the inlet along the horizontal axi of the veel; collecting fluid from the fluid outlet of the veel; and col lecting ettled particulate matter from the veel In variou embodiment, the fluid tream may con tain ga and/or liquid In an embodiment, the particulate matter i a prop pant Such a and In an embodiment, the fluid tream comprie well bore production fluid and the conduit may be a pipeline In an embodiment, the fluid outlet i oriented ub tantially parallel to the fluid inlet. In an embodiment, the fluid inlet and/or outlet comprie a ubtantially vertically oriented conduit extending from the veel. The fluid outlet may dicharge fluid vertically from the veel In an embodiment, the tep of operating the veel content at a econd preure comprie providing a veel having a cro ectional area greater than the cro ectional area of the conduit from which the fluid tream i received In an embodiment, the tep of contacting the fluid tream with an inlet baffle comprie intalling the inlet baffle within the veel proximal to, and aligned with, the inlet. The inlet baffle may be intalled within the veel at an angle between 30 and 60 degree from horizontal In an embodiment, the tep of removing ettled par ticulate matter from the veel comprie cloing a valve to terminate fluid communication between the conduit and the veel In an embodiment, the tep of removing ettled par ticulate matter from the veel comprie opening a valve at an end of the veel. The tep of removing ettled particulate matter from the veel may comprie collecting particulate matter from a olid dicharge port in the veel In an embodiment, the method further comprie the tep of contacting the horizontally redirected fluid tream with a eparation baffle along a bottom urface of the veel. In a further embodiment, the method compried the tep of contacting the horizontally redirected fluid tream within the veel with an outlet baffle, the outlet baffle poitioned within the veel to interrupt flow of the fluid tream to the outlet In accordance with a fourth apect of the invention, there i provided a method for eparating particulate matter from a fluid tream, the method compriing the tep of providing a eparation veel compriing: a horizontally elongated eparation chamber, an inlet defining an inflow pathway Subtantially perpendicular to the elongated axi of the veel, and a fluid outlet dital to the inlet, the outlet for dicharging fluid from the veel; introducing an inflow tream compriing fluid and particulate matter to the inlet; providing a baffle within the veel, the baffle poitioned within the inflow pathway and oriented to deflect a fluid tream from the inlet toward the outlet; providing one or more eparation baffle extending from a bottom urface of the veel, the baffle oriented ubtantially perpendicular to the elongated axi of the veel; providing an outlet baffle within the veel, the outlet baffle poitioned o a to impede laminar flow of the fluid tream from the inlet to the outlet; dicharg ing fluid from the outlet of the veel; and removing ettled particulate matter from the veel In an embodiment, the tep of removing ettled par ticulate matter comprie opening a valve at one end of the veel to acce ettled particulate matter within the veel In an embodiment, the method further comprie the tep of connecting the inlet with a flow containment ytem continuou with a fluid tream. For example, the flow con tainment ytem may include a pipeline Other apect and feature of the preent invention will become apparent to thoe ordinarily killed in the art upon review of the following decription of pecific embodi ment of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying figure. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 0034 Embodiment of the preent invention will now be decribed, by way of example only, with reference to the attached Figure, wherein: 0035 FIG. 1 i a chematic cro ectional view of a epa rator veel in accordance with one embodiment of the inven tion. DETAILED DESCRIPTION 0036 Generally, a method and ytem for ettling particu late matter from a fluid tream i provided In a horizontal and trap, a fluid tream generally enter an area of reduced preure, cauing a decreae in fluid velocity. A a reult, the particulate matterfall from the fluid and collect at the bottom of the and trap. With reference to FIG. 1, a ettling veel 10 extend horizontally, defining two end 11, 12. The veel i contructed to be operated at pipe line preure, for example up to 2800 pi Toward the firt end 11 of the veel, an inlet 15 i provided through which a fluid tream containing Supended particulate matter may be introduced. The inlet provide a generally perpendicular (ubtantially vertical) flowpath for the fluid tream into the veel. Similarly, an outlet 16 i provided toward the econd end 12 of the veel, through which fluid may be dicharged from the veel. The outlet hown in the drawing provide a generally perpendicular (or ubtantially vertical) flowpath from the veel Fluid tream containing ga, liquid and upended particulate olid may all be introduced into the veel inlet. For example, well production fluid may contain ga and liquid hydrocarbon, water, and and. When uch a fluid tream i introduced into the veel, the and i eparated from the fluid and accumulate on the bottom of the veel. Inlet The veel inlet hown in FIG. 1 provide a conduit extending upwardly from the veel. Extenion from the top of the veel in thi manner may facilitate connection of the veel within a facility or otherwie pace-contrained y tem. However, the veel inlet may intead imply be a port within the veel, or may extend from the veel from any location or at any angle. The fluid inlet may further beformed in the ide of the veel. The inlet i adapted for connection to the fluid tream ource, uing appropriate flange, coupling,

5 etc. When the veel i ued for deanding well production fluid, for example, the inlet would typically be connected to a preurized pipeline or to preurized Surface production equipment. A uch, the inlet would be adapted for fluid-tight connection to the fluid tream ource. Typically, the conduit connected to the inlet will have a cro ectional area that i le than the cro ectional area of the veel, thereby cauing a preure drop acro the veel inlet. Fluid Outlet With reference to FIG. 1, the veel include an outlet for dicharge of fluid. The outlet hown in FIG. 1 extend vertically from the top of the veel, however, many alternate outlet configuration are poible for dicharge of fluid from the veel. In mot ituation, an outlet location in the upper portion of the veel would be uitable, to avoid reupenion of ettled particulate matter from the bottom of the veel a the fluid i dicharged. However, a ide outlet and baffle are alo pecifically contemplated, a thi will again redirect the fluid tream, further interrupting laminar flow within the veel to facilitate ettling of any remaining particulate matter from the fluid tream prior to reaching the outlet. Thi configuration i further dicued below The outlet i adapted for connection to a tank, pipe line, conduit, or other fluid torage veel. The outlet may contain a creen, baffle, or other flow obtructing device within the vertically extending portion of the outlet to pro mote ettling of any and that reache the outlet. Inlet Baffle A the vertical introduction of fluid into a horizontal ettling veel would generally be expected to caue contant turbulence and eroion of the bottom urface of the veel, a acrificial inlet baffle 20 i provided, aligned with the inlet flowpath. The inlet baffle i poitioned to redirect inflow fluid from the inlet toward the outlet. That i, the inlet baffle redirect inflow fluid parallel to the horizontal axi of the veel and toward the econd end 12 of the veel. Should the inlet be provided in the ide of the veel intead of the top, the baffle would be appropriately poitioned at an angle to direct fluid from the ide inlet A hown in FIG.1, the inlet baffle may bean angled plate provided within the veel. Such baffle may be poi tioned within the veelatanangle o a to be generally facing both the inlet flowpath and the horizontal axi of the veel. The baffle hould be removable, eaily replaceable, and hould not interfere with cleanout of particulate matter from the bottom of the veel. For example, the baffle may be a tungten plate hingedly attached to the veel wall. The hinge mechanim of the baffle hown in FIG. 1 i provided a abar welded at each end to the interior ide ide of the veel, the bar having a releae and/or pivot point for acceing the bar to hingedly attach the baffle. The inlet baffle ha generally flat upper and lower edge and therefore depend from the hinge bar leaving an upper gap between the upper edge of the baffle and the curved top of the veel, while the lower edge of the inlet baffle ret along the lower portion of the curved wall of the veel, leaving a lower gap between the lower edge of the baffle and the bottom of the veel. The baffle i located and ized o a to ret at an angle of at leat about 15 degree from vertical. Practically, the angle i determined by the width of the inlet. That i, the baffle hould be of a ize and poitioned at Such an angle o a to provide a redirection barrier between the inlet and the bottom urface of the veel. When appropriately poitioned, the baffle redirect the inflow fluid tream along the horizontal axi of the veel, while alo acting a a acrificial Surface to preventeroive damage to the bottom of the veel oppoite the inlet A the fluid tream enter the veel at the inlet containing fluid and particulate matter, any treamlined or laminar flow in the fluid tream i interrupted by the inlet baffle. The turbulence introduced by placement of the baffle, together with the preure drop acro the inlet both erve to magnify the flow characteritic between the fluid and the particulate matter Supended therein, releaing the particulate matter from the fluid tream to ettle at the bottom of the veel Teting to date ha confirmed that the turbulence provided at the firt end of the veel, by the poitioning of the inlet and the inlet baffle a dicued above, caue a greater degree of ettling toward the firt end of the veel that ha been oberved in exiting horizontal ettling device without vertical introduction of the fluid tream and without an inlet baffle a decribed above In teting to date, the baffle ha been placed at about a 45 degree angle from horizontal, however angle between 30 and 60 degree would alo be uitable. It i expected that an approximately equal angle from the inlet and from horizontal will be mot efficient. That i, where the inlet i not vertical, the angle of the inlet hould be appropriately adjuted. For example, angling the inlet at 45 degree and the baffle at 45 degree would reult in the inflow tream contacting the baffle at 90 degree. Thi may caue exceive turbulence, poibly reulting in backflow or exceive turbulence throughout the veel The hinged attachment of the baffle facilitate clean ing out of particulate matter from the bottom of the veel a needed, upon opening of the end valve of the veel. The acrificial inlet baffle may be inpected and replaced a nec eary during regularly cheduled cleanout of the veel to remove ettled particulate matter. Notably, when the inlet i provided within the ide of the veel, cleanout of the particu late matter may be further facilitated a the inlet baffle could be poitioned with a larger gap beneath the inlet baffle 0049 Providing a gap between the lower edge of the inlet baffle and the bottom of the veel promote ettling toward the firt end of the veel, a the ettled particulate matter can accumulate behind the inlet baffle. Teting to date ha hown that the configuration of the inlet and inlet baffle hown in Figure provide more ettling toward the inlet end of the tank, and therefore allow a greater time between particulate cleanout than in exiting veel where the fluid tream i introduced parallel to the veel axi without turbulence Secondary inlet baffle may alo be preent. Thee econdary baffle may extend within the veel from any interior veel urface, to dirupt flow of fluid through the veel, thereby increaing fluid retention time and promoting ettling. Notably, baffle extending inwardly from the ide of the veel may be added without complicating cleanout pro cedure, particularly when uch ide baffle are hingedly attached and eaily moved by cleaning equipment. Settling Baffle A redirected fluid flow from the inlet baffle 20 toward the econd end 12 of the veel, the fluid tream flow at reduced Velocity Such that particulate matter Supended within the fluid tream begin to fall toward the bottom of the

6 veel. The ettling particulate matter may continue to be carried toward the econd end of the veel a it fall from upenion, by fluid flowing within the lower portion of the veel. Placement of ettling baffle along the bottom of the veel may therefore be ueful inhalting the forward progre ion of Such falling particulate, trapping them along the bottom of the veel. An example of uch ettling baffle 30 i hown in FIG Each ettling baffle i configured a a rib extending acro the width of the veel between the inlet 15 and outlet 16. In the embodiment hown in the Figure, each rib i fixed to the bottom of the veel and extend generally upward from the bottom of the veel, but not to uch an extent that would impede cleaning out of particulate matter from one or both end of the veel. In practice, a two-inch height ha provided a Suitable barrier for trapping particulate matter, while not impeding cleanout of the veel. During operation, particu late matter will accumulate on the inlet ide of each ettling baffle, forming mound that may be later remove from the veel. A mound of ettled particulate accumulate along the bottom of the veel, the mound will further act a baffle to Some extent, facilitating ettling of further particulate from the redirected fluid tream. It i noted that the ettling baffle may take any other Suitable form, may be hingedly, pivotably, or removably attached within the veel to facilitate cleanout, and may extend a ignificant ditance acro the veel a deired. Outlet Baffle 0053 A a further aid to the ettling of particulate matter from the fluid tream, an outlet baffle 40 may be placed within the veel between the inlet and the outlet, proximal to the outlet. The outlet baffle i generally poitioned o a to dirupt the flow of the fluid tream prior to reaching the outlet, facili tating the ettling of further particulate from the fluid tream A hown in FIG. 1, an outlet i provided in the top of the veel, extending vertically therefrom. The outlet may or may not alo extend into the veel. An outlet baffle 40 i poitioned at an angle jut before the outlet, to interrupt laminar flow along the horizontal axi of the veel. Such redirection of the fluid tream promote ettling of any remaining particulate matter that may remain Supended within the fluid a it approache the econd end of the veel The outlet baffle may be imilar in contruction, orientation, and intallation a the inlet baffle, but will not be ubject to eroive damage to the ame extent a the inlet baffle due to the lower velocity and reduced concentration of par ticulate matter preent in the fluid tream adjacent the outlet, compared to the concentration at the inlet. The outlet baffle may be fixed or hingedly attached within the veel, may have generally flat upper and lower edge, and may ret at an angle, with the lower edge of the baffle upported by the lower portion of the veel wall. Thi hinged attachment facilitate cleanout of the veel, and alo allow replacement of the outlet baffle a neceary. A gap above the upper edge of the baffle and below the lower edge of the baffle may be preent. In addition, the outlet baffle may have lot, vertical weir opening, may be creened, or may be provided in any alter nate configuration that partially or fully redirect, or partially obtruct flow to the outlet In an alternate configuration, the outlet may be pro vided in a firt ide of the veel, proximal to the econd end of the veel, and one or more outlet baffle may alo be attached to the firt and/or econd ide of the veel, jut prior to the outlet. In thi configuration, fluid would be required to flow around the outlet baffle() toward in order to reach the outlet Any additional lengthening of the pathway from the inlet to the outlet, or otherwie increaing the fluid retention time within the veel, for example by placement of addi tional baffle, will favour further ettling of particulate matter from the fluid tream. Particulate Removal During initial operation of the veel, minimal par ticulate matter may be detected in the outlet fluid tream. A operation continue, and and or other particulate matter accumulate along the bottom of the veel. Some particulate matter may be more readily detectable in the outlet fluid. Once the amount of particulate matter preent in the outlet tream become unacceptable, the veel will be taken offline for cleanout. In the embodiment hown in FIG. 1, each end of the veel may be opened. One or both end may be opened for cleaning out particulate matter from the veel a needed A hown in FIG. 1, the veel include a vent 45, preure releae valve 43, lower drain 44. End valve 41, 42. are provided at each end of the veel 11, 12, repectively. The preure releae valve 43, operate to releae preure from the veel at a predetermined limit. For example, if the veel i rated for 2800 pi, the preure releae valve 43 may open when an internal preure of 2520 pi i detected ( % tolerance) When cleanout of particulate matter or other main tenance i required, the vent may be opened to depreurize the veel. Once the veel preure ha been equalized, one or both of the end valve 41, 42 may be opened to clean out particulate matter from the veel a needed. A cleaning tool, for example a cruh, Scraper, or vacuum, i inerted into the open veel and ued to remove particulate matter, deflecting any baffle a neceary in order to acce the bottom of the veel for removal of olid A lower drain 44 i provided to facilitate full drain age of the veel when relocation i deired. Other Feature In FIG. 1, the veel i upported within a front and rear addle 51, 52. One or both of the addle may be adjut able to accommodate Support over variou Surface and truc ture, and to facilitate tranport. In the embodiment hown, the front addle 51 i fixed to the veel, while the rear addle 52 i movable beneath the veel. Operation In operation, a fluid ource/fluid tream containing particulate matter i identified. An inflow conduit continuou with the fluid ource i attached to the veel inlet 15. An outflow conduit may be attached to the outlet A the veel i operated, receiving fluid from the fluid ource via the inlet 15 proximal to the firt end 11, the fluid tream entering the veel will contact the inlet baffle at high Velocity, cauing turbulence in the fluid tream about the inlet. Fluid will be redirected generally parallel to the hori Zontal axi of the veel, continuing to flow toward the econd end 12 of the veel. Solid within the fluid tream will be wept by the turbulent fluid, promoting eparation of particu late from the fluid, and ettling of ame below and adjacent the inlet. Some particulate will be carried within the fluid

7 toward the outlet, however a the cro ectional area of the veel i greater than that of the inflow conduit, the velocity of the fluid low and particulate are depoited along the bot tom of the veel, halted by the ettling baffle() acro the bottom of the veel Compared with other preurized horizontal ettling veel, a ignificant degree of ettling occur cloer to the firt end 11 (inlet end) of the veel a a reult of the preence of the inlet baffle, creating turbulence at the inlet. Moreover, a the inlet baffle redirect the fluid tream toward the econd end 12 of the veel, the firt end of the veel i available to collect ettled olid behind the inlet baffle. Thi reult in efficient utilization of the pace within the veel, and increae the amount of particulate matter collected within the veel and/or the length of time between required cleanout (before exceive particulate can be detected within the outlet fluid) A neceary, the veel may be taken off-line by cloing the inlet (and outlet). The preurized veel i equal ized to atmophere via the vent 45, and one or both end valve 41, 42, may be opened for cleanout of ettled particulate matter. When the veel i to be moved, the interior may be wahed and drained, and the veel may be lifted from beneath, between the addle During particulate cleanout, the baffle, and veel Surface in general, are inpected to determine appropriate timing for replacement baed on eroion pattern experienced during operation. The baffle may be engineered to withtand eroion for at leat the expected time required between cleanout, uch that no additional hutdown of the veel are required to maintain the baffle or other interior veel Sur face The above-decribed embodiment of the preent invention are intended to be example only. Alteration, modification and variation may be effected to the particular embodiment by thoe of kill in the art without departing from the cope of the invention, which i defined olely by the claim appended hereto. 1. A veel for ue in eparation of particulate matter from a fluid tream, the veel compriing: a horizontally elongated eparation chamber compriing firt and econd end, the chamber compriing wall defining a chamber Volume; a chamber inlet and outlet, each providing an angular flow path with repect to the elongated axi of the chamber, the inlet proximal to the firt end of the chamber to define an inflow pathway for delivery of a fluid tream into the firt end of the chamber, the outlet proximal to the ec ond end of the chamber to define an fluid outflow path way from the econd end of the chamber, the chamber thereby providing a eparation flowpath along the elon gated axi of the chamber from the chamber inlet to the chamber outlet; one or more eparation baffle depending from a bottom urface of the chamber between the inlet and the outletto facilitate collection of particulate matter from the fluid tream along the bottom Surface of the chamber, and an inlet baffle dipoed within the chamber and aligned with the inflow pathway to dirupt flow of the fluid tream entering the eparation chamber. 2. The veel a in claim 1, wherein the chamber i gener ally cylindrical and wherein the inlet ha a cro ectional area that i le than a correponding cro ectional area of the elongated eparation chamber. 3. The veel a in claim 1, wherein the inlet baffle i poitioned at an angle to be aligned with both the inlet of the veel and the elongated axi of the veel. So a to redirect the fluid tream toward the outlet. 4. The veel a in claim 1, wherein the inlet and outlet are each oriented perpendicular to the horizontal axi of the ve el. 5. The veel a in claim 1, wherein the fluid tream origi nate from a wellhead. 6. The veel a in claim 5, wherein the fluid tream com prie one or more fluid elected from the group coniting of oil, water, and ga. 7. The veel a in claim 1, wherein the fluid tream com prie and. 8. The veel a in claim 1, wherein at leat one of aid firt and econd end of the chamber comprie a valve for ue in acceing the interior of the chamber to remove particulate matter therefrom. 9. The veel a in claim 1, further compriing an outlet baffle within the chamber, the outlet baffle proximal to the outlet for dirupting flow of fluid from the inlet to the outlet. 10. The veel a in claim 1, wherein the inlet baffle or the outlet baffle i poitioned at an angle between 30 and 60 degree from horizontal. 11. The veel a in claim 10, wherein the inlet or outlet baffle i poitioned at 45 degree from horizontal. 12. The veel a in claim 1, further compriing a drain in a lower portion of the chamber. 13. The veel a in claim 1, wherein the outlet extend from the ide of the chamber. 14. The veel a in claim 13, wherein the outlet baffle depend from an inner ide wall of the chamber. 15. The veel a in claim 14, further compriing additional baffle extending from an inner ide wall of the chamber. 16. A veel for ue in eparation of particulate matter from a fluid tream, the veel compriing: an elongated, horizontal eparation chamber compriing firt and econd end and defining a chamber Volume and having a cro ectional area; a chamber inlet and outlet, each providing an angled flow path with repect to the elongated axi of the chamber, the inlet proximal to the firt end of the chamber to define an inflow pathway for delivery of a fluid tream into the firt end of the chamber, the outlet proximal to the ec ond end of the chamber to define an fluid outflow path way from the econd end of the chamber, the chamber thereby providing a eparation flowpath along the elon gated axi of the chamber from the chamber inlet to the chamber outlet; an inlet baffle dipoed within the chamber and aligned with the inflow pathway to dirupt flow of the fluid tream entering the eparation chamber; and an outlet baffle within the chamber, the outlet baffle proxi mal to the outlet for dirupting flow of fluid from the inlet to the outlet. 17. The veel a in claim 16, wherein the inlet ha a cro ectional area that i le than the cro ectional area of the chamber. 18. The veel a in claim wherein 16, the inlet baffle i poitioned at an angle to be aligned with both the inlet of the veel and the elongated axi of the veel. So a to redirect the fluid tream toward the outlet.

8 19. The veel a in claim 16, wherein the inlet and outlet each provide a generally perpendicular flow pathway into or out of the veel. 20. The veel a in claim 16, wherein the fluid tream originate from a wellhead. 21. The veel a in claim 20, wherein the fluid tream comprie oil orga. 22. The veel a in claim 16, wherein the fluid tream comprie and. 23. The veel a in claim 16, wherein at leat one of aid firt and econd end of the chamber comprie a valve for ue in acceing the interior of the chamber to remove particulate matter therefrom. 24. The veel a in claim 16, wherein the inlet baffle or the outlet baffle i poitioned at an angle between 30 and 60 degree from horizontal. 25. The veel a in claim 24, wherein the inlet or outlet baffle i poitioned at 45 degree from horizontal. 26. The veel a in claim 16, further compriing a particu late outlet in a lower portion of the chamber. 27. A method for ue in ettling particulate matter from a fluid tream, the method compriing the tep of: receiving a fluid tream from a fluid tream conduit, the fluid tream compriing fluid and particulate matter at a firt preure; introducing aid fluid tream to a horizontally elongated veel through a ubtantially vertically oriented inlet of the veel, the horizontally elongated veel further compriing a fluid outlet dital to the vertically oriented inlet of the veel; operating the veel content at a econd preure, the econd preure lower than the firt preure to facilitate ettling of particulate matter within the veel; contacting the fluid tream with an inlet baffle, the baffle proximal to the inlet and oriented o a to redirect the vertical flow of the fluid tream from the inlet along the horizontal axi of the veel; collecting fluid from the fluid outlet of the veel; and collecting ettled particulate matter from the veel. 28. The method a in claim 27, wherein the fluid tream comprie ga. 29. The method a in claim 27, wherein the fluid tream comprie a liquid. 30. The method a in claim 27, wherein the particulate matter i and. 31. The method a in claim 27, wherein the particulate matter i proppant. 32. The method a in claim 27, wherein the fluid tream comprie wellbore production fluid. 33. The method a in claim 27, wherein the conduit i a pipeline. 34. The method a in claim 27, wherein the fluid outlet i oriented ubtantially parallel to the fluid inlet. 35. The method a in claim 27, wherein the fluid outlet dicharge fluid vertically from the veel. 36. The method a in claim 27, wherein the fluid inlet comprie a Subtantially vertically oriented conduit extend ing from the veel. 37. The method a in claim 27, wherein the fluid outlet comprie a Subtantially vertically oriented conduit extend ing from the veel. 38. The method a in claim 27, wherein the fluid i deliv ered to and collected from oppoing horizontal end of the veel. 39. The method a in claim 27, wherein the tep of operat ing the veel content at a econd preure comprie pro viding a veel having a cro ectional area greater than the cro ectional area of the conduit from which the fluid tream i received. 40. The method a in claim 27, wherein the tep of con tacting the fluid tream with an inlet baffle comprie intall ing the inlet baffle within the veel proximal to, and aligned with, the inlet. 41. The method a in claim 40, wherein the inlet baffle i intalled within the veel at an angle between 30 and 60 degree from horizontal. 42. The method a in claim 27, wherein the tep of remov ing ettled particulate matter from the veel comprie clo ing a valve to terminate fluid communication between the conduit and the veel. 43. The method a in claim 27, wherein the tep of remov ing ettled particulate matter from the veel comprie open ing a valve at an end of the veel. 44. The method a in claim 27, wherein the tep of remov ing ettled particulate matter from the veel comprie col lecting particulate matter from a olid dicharge port in the veel. 45. The method a in claim 27, further compriing the tep of contacting the horizontally redirected fluid tream within the veel with a eparation baffle along a bottom urface of the veel. 46. The method a in claim 27, further compriing the tep of contacting the horizontally redirected fluid tream within the veel with an outlet baffle, the outlet baffle poitioned within the veel to interrupt flow of the fluid tream to the outlet. 47. A method for eparating particulate matter from a fluid tream, the method compriing the tep of providing a eparation veel compriing: a horizontally elongated eparation chamber, an inlet defining an inflow pathway ubtantially perpendicular to the elon gated axi of the veel, and a fluid outlet dital to the inlet, the outlet for dicharging fluid from the veel; introducing an inflow tream compriing fluid and particu late matter to the inlet; providing a baffle within the veel, the baffle poitioned within the inflow pathway and oriented to deflect a fluid tream from the inlet toward the outlet; providing one or more eparation baffle extending from a bottom urface of the veel, the baffle oriented ubtan tially perpendicular to the elongated axi of the veel; providing an outlet baffle within the veel, the outlet baffle poitioned o a to impede laminar flow of the fluid tream from the inlet to the outlet; dicharging fluid from the outlet of the veel; and removing ettled particulate matter from the veel. 48. The method a in claim 47, wherein the tep of remov ing ettled particulate matter comprie opening a valve at one end of the veel to acce ettled particulate matter within the veel. 49. The method a in claim 47, further compriing the tep of connecting the inlet with a pipeline ytem continuou with a fluid tream.