Split flow pipe separator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9359878-B2
Application number	US-201514610765-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 30, 2015
Priority date	Mar 12, 2014
Publication date	Jun 7, 2016
Grant date	Jun 7, 2016

Abstract

The current disclosure relates to multiphase fluid separation via a multiphase separation system. The multiphase separation system is configured to feed a multiphase fluid into an inlet line within the separation system. The multiphase fluid is configured to flow through a divide and be split into separate lines of similar diameter. A control volume is also connected at the end of the separate lines, and the control volume has a diameter greater than the separate lines of similar diameter. The control volume includes outlet lines, and is configured to adjust fluid flow rate at an outlet line. Also included in the current disclosure is a sand boot connected to the separate lines that is oriented vertically with respect to the separate lines, and is configured to collect and remove sand accumulated in the multiphase separation system.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A subsea multiphase separation system, comprising:
an inlet line;
a divide, wherein the divide horizontally splits the inlet line into two or more separate lines of similar diameter, and wherein the two or more separate lines of similar diameter are substantially parallel to one another, and are configured to separate components of a multiphase fluid;
a control volume connected to the two or more separate lines of similar diameter, wherein the control volume has a diameter greater than the separate lines of similar diameter, wherein the control volume comprises outlet lines, and wherein the outlet lines are configured to flow substantially oil from an upper outlet line and flow substantially water from a lower outlet line; and
a sand boot connected to one of the separate lines of similar diameter, wherein the sand boot is disposed below the one of the separate lines of similar diameter, and wherein the sand boot is configured to collect and remove sand accumulated in the subsea multiphase separation system; and
a jet nozzle, disposed within one of the separate lines of similar diameter and connected to the lower outlet line of the control volume, the jet nozzle being positioned at an injection point upstream of the sand boot such that fluid from the lower outlet line is injected into the sand boot to activate a sand removal cyclone which fluidizes sand in the sand boot, the sand removal cyclone causing the sand to be removed from the sand boot without shutdown or slowdown of production of the subsea multiphase separation system.

2. The subsea multiphase separation system of claim 1 , further comprising a control valve downstream of the control volume for controlling a flow rate at one of the outlet line at the control volume.

3. The subsea multiphase separation system of claim 1 , wherein the subsea multiphase separation system is configured to operate in a subsea environment at water depths greater than 1500 meters, and wherein the multiphase fluid comprises production fluid from a subsea well.

4. The subsea multiphase separation system of claim 1 , wherein the separate lines of similar diameter are coupled to an electrostatic coalescer.

5. The subsea multiphase separation system of claim 1 , wherein the separate lines of similar diameter are further configured for a chemical additive to be injected.

6. The subsea multiphase separation system of claim 5 , wherein the chemical additive comprises defoamers or demulsifiers.

7. The subsea multiphase separation system of claim 1 , further comprising a downcomer coupled to one of the lines of similar diameter.

8. The subsea multiphase separation system of claim 7 , wherein the downcomer is sealed by the sand boot, and wherein the sand boot is configured to open when an amount of sand has accumulated.

9. The subsea multiphase separation system of claim 1 , wherein a pre-separator is utilized upstream of the multiphase separation system, and wherein the pre-separator is configured to separate a gas from the multiphase fluid.

10. The subsea multiphase separation system of claim 1 , wherein an outlet from the control volume is configured to be recycled upstream.

11. The subsea multiphase separation system of claim 1 , further comprising a polishing section.

12. The subsea multiphase separation system of claim 2 , wherein the control valve is actuated based on signals communicated by a control system.

13. A method for the separation of oil, water, and solid particles within a multiphase fluid, comprising:
flowing a multiphase fluid into a distribution inlet of a multiphase pipe separator, wherein the distribution inlet is configured to split the multiphase fluid;
flowing the multiphase fluid into separate pipe separator lines downstream of a divide;
separating the multiphase fluid into an oil phase and a water phase in the pipe separator lines;
separating the solid particles using a downcomer and a boot, wherein the boot opens when the solid particles are accumulated;
flowing each pipe separator line into a control volume, wherein the flow rate from each pipe separator line is controlled;
flowing substantially water through an outlet at a lower end of the control volume, and flowing substantially oil through an outlet at an upper end of the control volume;
injecting water from the outlet at the lower and end of the control volume into the boot;
using the injected water, creating a sand removal cyclone within the boot, the sand removal cyclone fluidizing the accumulated solid particles; and
removing the fluidized solid particles from the boot without shutdown or slowdown of the steps of flowing the multiphase fluid and separating the multiphase fluid.

14. The method of claim 13 , comprising lowering a velocity and pressure of the fluid in a pipe separator line through use of control valves.

15. The method of claim 13 , further comprising detecting the oil and water phase interface level in each pipe separator line, and communicating with a controller to open and close control valves downstream of the control volume based on the oil and water phase interface level detected.

16. The method of claim 13 , further comprising polishing the multiphase fluid in a polishing section upstream of the control volume.

17. A subsea multiphase separation system, comprising:
an inlet line configured to feed a multiphase fluid through a divide within the multiphase separation system, wherein the divide splits the multiphase fluid into multiple pipe separator lines that are substantially parallel, and wherein the multiple pipe separator lines are configured to allow sand to accumulate in an additional hollow space at the bottom of each of the multiple pipe separator lines;
a polishing section within the multiple pipe separator lines;
a control volume with a larger diameter than the pipe separator lines connected to each pipe separator line, wherein the control volume comprises multiple outlets;
a control valve configured to flow substantially oil at an outlet at the top of the control volume, and configured to flow substantially water at an outlet at the bottom of the control volume;
a jet nozzle, disposed within one of the multiple pipe separator lines and connected to the outlet at the bottom of the control volume, the jet nozzle being positioned at an injection point upstream of the additional hollow space such that fluid from the outlet at the bottom of the control volume is injected into the additional hollow space to activate a sand removal cyclone which fluidizes sand accumulated in the additional hollow space, the sand removal cyclone causing the fluidized sand to be removed from the additional hollow space without shutdown or slowdown of production of the subsea multiphase separation system;
a control system; and
a measurement device in communication with the control system, wherein the measurement device is adapted to measure an oil and water phase interface level at various points of the multiphase separation system, and wherein the control system is configured to adjust a flow rate in each of the pipe separator lines by adjusting the control valve based on the oil and water phase interface level measured.

Assignees

• Whitney Scott M
• Larnholm Per Reidar
• Exxonmobil Upstream Res Co

Inventors

• Whitney Scott M
• Larnholm Per Reidar

Classifications

• B01D2221/04

  Separation devices for treating liquids from earth drilling, mining · CPC title

• E21B43/12

  Methods or apparatus for controlling the flow of the obtained fluid to or in wells (E21B43/25 takes precedence; valve arrangements E21B34/00) · CPC title

• B01D17/0217

  by centrifugal force · CPC title

• B01D21/2472

  Means for fluidising the sediments, e.g. by jets or mechanical agitators · CPC title

• B01D17/02

  Separation of non-miscible liquids · CPC title