US 12,085,278 B2
Systems and methods to prevent explosions in a tank using automated gas harvesting and purge safety devices
Adam Harold Martin, Carrollton, TX (US); Mark McGouldrick, Arbroath (GB); and Daniel Joshua Stark, Carrollton, TX (US)
Assigned to Halliburton Energy Services, Inc., Houston, TX (US)
Filed by Halliburton Energy Services, Inc., Houston, TX (US)
Filed on Apr. 8, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/716,369.
Prior Publication US 2023/0324046 A1, Oct. 12, 2023
Int. Cl. F23N 5/24 (2006.01); E21B 21/06 (2006.01); E21B 34/02 (2006.01); E21B 43/12 (2006.01); E21B 43/26 (2006.01)
CPC F23N 5/245 (2013.01) [F23N 2231/04 (2020.01); F23N 2231/28 (2020.01); F23N 2235/24 (2020.01); F23N 2235/30 (2020.01)] 35 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A flowback system, comprising
a tank, the tank including an inlet, a fluid outlet, and a vent;
a transfer pump having a transfer pump inlet and a transfer pump outlet, the transfer pump inlet coupled to the fluid outlet of the tank and the transfer pump outlet coupled to a burner head, the burner head configured to burn liquid hydrocarbons received from the tank;
a low-pressure vent line coupled between the vent and a first flare tip, the first flare tip configured to burn low-pressure gaseous hydrocarbons received from the tank;
a high-pressure gaseous hydrocarbon line coupled to a second flare tip, the second flare tip configured to burn high-pressure gaseous hydrocarbons; and
a control system including a sensor, a valve and a valve controller coupled to the valve, the valve of the control system coupled between the low-pressure vent line and the high-pressure gaseous hydrocarbon line, the control system configured to sense an unsafe system event and actuate the valve to supply high-pressure gaseous hydrocarbons from the high-pressure gaseous hydrocarbon line to the low-pressure vent line.