Paper: REDUCING DOWNHOLE PUMP PROBLEMS RELATED TO SOLIDS IN PRODUCTION FLUIDS

This paper describes a new tool and method for removing solids; such as sand, scale, and iron sulfide; from production fluids before the fluid's entry and passage thru a downhole pump. A downhole pump's life and efficiency may be significantly increased. Erosive wear and sticking of pump parts is greatly reduced. This new device, the "Sandtrap" Downhole Dasandar, is run on the production string below any type of downhole pump. Centrifugal action within the device separates solids prevalent in well fluids and collects the separated solids in extended intervals of mud anchor joints or the rathole. It is most applicable in wells that produce small volumes of solids continuously or large volumes (slugs) intermittently.