Sand accumulators to aid downhole pump operations

Abstract

A first sand accumulator may include a housing and an insert within the housing. The insert includes axially aligned outer and inner sleeves. In a first position, the outer and inner sleeves both have large flow ports that align to form a continuous flow path for fluid to flow through the sand accumulator such that a vortex flow forms in the sand accumulator. A second sand accumulator may include a housing disposed in line with a wellbore tubular and an insert disposed inside the housing such that insert forms a continuous end-to-end seal with a section of the wellbore tubular. An inlet section of the insert has an inlet port configured to permit fluid flow such that a vortex flow forms in the inlet section. A method of using a sand accumulator includes introducing process fluid entrained with sand to the sand accumulator.