HULK SAND-X: Protect Your ESP During Shutdown from Solids
The patented Sand Stop technology featured in SAND-X makes this the only fallback tool on the market capable of preventing sand from entering your ESP in all three stages of shutdown. Patent #: US11939991
HULK SAND-X
HULK has designed and engineered SAND-X to be the first fallback preventer that is successful in protecting your ESP in all stages of shutdown. Other companies claim the first phase of shutdown, equalization, is not damaging to your ESP stages. We know this is not true because we are ESP experts and have seen the wear on the top two stages of pumps caused by the equalization phase.
We created our patented Sand Stop technology to prevent solids from entering your ESP during equalization and fallback. Then we designed our restart spirals to assist with safe restarts, breaking up collected sand in seconds.
SAND-X will not interfere with normal ESP operation and you can pump through the tool.
If you would like our engineering team to look at your ESP reports to see if you could benefit from SAND-X, please email mark.robinson@hulkusa.com.
What are the Three Phases of ESP Shutdown?
Equalization
Phase just as the ESP turns off and the tubing and casing fluid levels are equalizing. SAND-X is the first tool on the market that addresses this issue without compromising the other two phases. During this phase, sand is being driven back into the ESP. This often causes the top two pumps to be more degraded than lower pumps.
SAND-X Equalization Advantage: SAND-X’s patented Sand Stop technology allows fluid to flow through the restrictor while simultaneously separating the sand. Thereby allowing clean fluid to equalize through the ESP.
Fallback
Phase where all of the fluid has equalized and the remaining sand begins to fall. This is like a snow globe. This is the phase that is most likely to trickle back and pack off the top stages of the pump.Fallback leads to difficult restarts, unnecessary wear and tear, and could lead to a locked pump that can’t restart or if after attempting to rock the ESP, the shaft will eventually snap.
SAND-X Fallback Advantage: SAND-X has a large internal chamber capable of housing the Sand during the fallback phase. These stages provide a defense against pack off and stage the sand in preparation for flushing it out during restart.
Restart
This phase is simple. The ESP needs to be able to turn back on and continue producing. Other methods that could stop sand from going back into the ESP, like a check, are typically very unreliable and the ESP is not able to create enough pressure to overcome the sand that lodges on top of the check valve.
SAND-X Restart Advantage: During restart, fluid flow now reverses direction and begins to flow up the tool. The patented Sand Stop functions as its own clean system. Since the stages had already eliminated the risk of pack off, the patented Sand Stop and restart spirals act in concert to flush out the sand and ensure the ESP can return to full production.
sand-x FAQs
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Little to no sand will pass through the slots. Sand is permeable; liquid can pass through it and into the slotted sleeve at 1-1.5 BPM rates.
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Everything is 100% 13 Chrome. High strength SS.
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Anchored to the head and the top of the cage, with a damping mechanism in the middle of the shaft to keep it put.
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80 cups of sand.
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Two separate patents on SAND-X:
The first one is the restart spirals on the shaft that provide sand breaks for the tool. When the tool fills up with a column of sand, the cones/spirals break up the bridge, which allows it to flush easily.
The second one is called Sand Stop. The ball is a restrictor, not a diverter or check valve. The slotted sleeve and the ball are bypassed for fluid.
SAND-X has been designed and manufactured by HULK and is ready for your application.