Sand and gas quantification and automated control of flowback operations

Abstract

Systems and methods for quantifying sand and gas discharge in a sand discharge cycle and controlling a sand evacuation process of an oil and gas well system is disclosed. Sensors including at least pressure transducers and a density meter may be disposed along a discharge line and configured to detect data indicative of the flow of a discharge fluid in the discharge line. The data may be analyzed to determine a pressure differential across a discharge control valve and a density of the discharge fluid. Furthermore, a discharge fluid flowrate, a discharge volume, a discharge sand weight, and a gas discharge quantity may be estimated. Open amount and time settings of the discharge control valve may be adjusted for the next evacuation cycle based on the weight of the discharged sand and the gas discharge quantity.