Separator and method for separation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9387432-B2
Application number	US-201213982711-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 30, 2012
Priority date	Jan 31, 2011
Publication date	Jul 12, 2016
Grant date	Jul 12, 2016

Abstract

A separator system ( 5 ) comprising; a separation chamber ( 10 ) arranged to separate liquid from an inflow production fluid ( 45 ); at least one gas scrubber ( 15 ) for removing entrained liquid from a separated gas inflow from said separation chamber ( 10 ); wherein said at least one gas scrubber ( 15 ) is positioned above and proximate to said separation chamber ( 10 ), said gas scrubber ( 15 ) and separation chamber ( 10 ) connectable through a vertically oriented at least one liquid outflow conduit ( 20 ) arranged to direct the removed entrained liquid from the gas scrubber ( 15 ) to the separation chamber ( 10 ) wherein the conduit ( 20 ), is arranged such that an outflow end ( 22 ) of said conduit ( 20 ) extends into the separation chamber 10 ( 10 ) such that it is lower than a minimum threshold liquid depth ( 65 ) in said separation chamber 10 ( 10 ).

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A separator system ( 5 ) comprising;
a separation chamber ( 10 ) arranged to separate liquid from an inflow production fluid ( 45 );
at least one gas scrubber ( 15 ) for removing entrained liquid from both an external gas inflow and a separated gas inflow from said separation chamber ( 10 );
wherein said at least one gas scrubber ( 15 ) is positioned above and proximate to said separation chamber ( 10 ), said gas scrubber ( 15 ) and separation chamber ( 10 ) connectable through a vertically oriented at least one liquid outflow conduit ( 20 ) arranged to direct the removed entrained liquid from the gas scrubber ( 15 ) to the separation chamber ( 10 ) wherein the conduit ( 20 ) is arranged such that an outflow end ( 22 ) of said conduit ( 20 ) extends into the separation chamber ( 10 ) such that it is lower than a minimum threshold liquid depth ( 65 ) in said separation chamber ( 10 );
wherein a connecting pipe ( 25 ) includes an inlet distribution device ( 35 ) proximate to the gas scrubber ( 15 ) for dissipating the separated gas inflow into said gas scrubber, and;
further including a wax removal system ( 26 ) mounted to said connecting pipe ( 25 ), said wax removal system ( 26 ) arranged to direct a jet of hot fluid onto said inlet distribution device ( 35 ), said fluid comprising any one, or a combination, of water, steam, diesel or solvent.

2. The separator system ( 5 ) according to claim 1 wherein the conduit ( 20 ) is of a length from a base of the gas scrubber ( 15 ) so as to provide a liquid static head in the conduit pipe due to a pressure drop of gas as it traverses from the separator chamber ( 10 ) to the gas scrubber ( 15 ) is maintained within the conduit ( 20 ).

3. The separator system ( 5 ) according to claim 1 , wherein there is exactly one said gas scrubber ( 15 ) positioned above and proximate to said separation chamber ( 10 ).

4. The separator system ( 5 ) according to claim 3 , wherein there is exactly one said liquid outflow conduit ( 20 ) arranged to direct the removed entrained liquid from the gas scrubber ( 15 ) to the separation chamber ( 10 ).

5. The separator system ( 5 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the gas scrubber ( 15 ) is mounted to the separation chamber ( 10 ).

6. The separator system ( 5 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the gas scrubber is attached to the separation chamber by a supporting framework.

7. The separator system ( 5 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the separated gas inflow is directed from the separation chamber ( 10 ) to the gas scrubber ( 15 ) through a connecting pipe ( 25 ), said connecting pipe having a deflector plate ( 30 ) proximate to the separation chamber to hinder the transport of liquid through said connecting pipe.

8. The separator system ( 5 ) according to claim 1 , wherein said wax removal system ( 26 ) includes a differential pressure transmitter for measuring differential pressure between said separation chamber and the gas scrubber, said wax removal system arranged to activate the hot fluid jet on the differential pressure exceeding a predetermined threshold.

9. The separator system according to claim 1 , wherein the gas scrubber is elongate and vertically arranged.

10. The separator system according to claim 1 wherein the gas scrubber is elongate and horizontally arranged.

11. The separator system according to claim 1 , further including a heat exchanging device mounted within the gas scrubber for dissipating heat from the separated gas inflow.

12. The separator system according to claim 1 , further comprising
a slug handling device ( 320 ), said slug handling device ( 320 ) comprising a separation device ( 340 ) for receiving the inflow production fluid ( 335 ) through an inlet pipe, said separation device ( 340 ) inclined to the horizontal and arranged to separate a gas stream and liquid stream;
a stilling well ( 350 ) for receiving the separated liquid and routing said separated liquid to separator chamber ( 325 );
a gas bypass line ( 342 ) connecting the separation device ( 340 ) and the gas scrubber ( 330 ) arranged to rout the separated gas stream to the gas scrubber and consequently equalize pressure between said separation device and gas scrubber;
wherein the slug handling device is positioned above the separator chamber ( 325 ) such that a normal liquid level ( 346 ) in the stilling well provides sufficient liquid head ( 386 ) to overcome a pressure drop due to liquid flow from the stilling well to the separator chamber.

13. A separator system according to claim 12 wherein a conduit for routing the separated liquid from the stilling well ( 350 ) to the separation chamber includes one or both of a heat exchanger or a restriction orifice.

14. A separator according to claim 12 wherein the stilling well is sized for the larger of liquid surge volume to maintain steady flow or to facilitate gravity settling of sand.

15. The separator according to claim 12 wherein said stilling well includes a sand trap ( 355 ) so as to allow solids within said separated liquid to settle, said stilling well further including an outlet above the sand trap so as to discharge said separated liquid to the separation chamber ( 10 ).

16. The separator system according to claim 12 , wherein said separation device ( 340 ) comprises one of a separator or expanded pipe, said separation device ( 340 ) arranged to create a stratified flow regime for said inflow production fluid so as to yield the separation of the gas stream and liquid stream.

17. The separator system according to claim 12 , wherein said separation device ( 340 ) comprises one of a separator or expanded pipe, said separation device volume sized to accommodate the largest anticipated slug volume from the inlet stream ( 335 ).

18. The separator system according to claim 12 wherein said stilling well includes a sand trap ( 355 ) so as to allow solids within said separated liquid to settle, the outlet above the sand trap including an outlet pipe ( 457 ) inclined upwards so as to prevent sand from exiting said stilling well ( 350 ).

19. The separator system according to claim 12 , wherein the stilling well includes a said removal assembly ( 435 ) within said sand trap, said sand trap assembly including at least cyclonic device ( 442 ) within said sand trap for agitating sand into suspension, and an outlet for discharging liquid having the sand in suspension.

20. The separator device according to claim 19 , wherein said sand removal assembly having an intermediate sand trap ( 444 ) having a further valve controlled outlet ( 445 ) arranged such that the liquid is discharged to the intermediate sand trap ( 444 ), prior to final discharge.

21. The separator device according to claim 20 , wherein the intermediate sand trap includes a further cyclonic device ( 440 ) for separating the sand from the liquid phase in the intermediate sand trap prior to collection or discharge of sand via a further valve controlled outlet ( 445 ).

22. The separator device according to claim 12 , wherein the gas bypass line includes a control valve, said control valve arranged to close on high liquid level in the slug handling device or the stilling well so as to prevent liquid outflow into the gas bypass line at the slug handling device.

23. The separator device according to claim 12 , wherein outlet from the stilling well includes a control valve ( 430 ) for controlling the flow of liquid to the separator chamber ( 10 ).

24. The

Assignees

• Zainal Abidin Shahrul Azman B
• Jothy Arul
• Petroliam Nasional Berhad Petronas
• Ngltech Sdn Bhd

Inventors

• Zainal Abidin Shahrul Azman B
• Jothy Arul

Classifications

• B01D53/18

  Absorbing units; Liquid distributors therefor (B01D3/16, B01D3/26, B01D3/30 take precedence; packing elements B01J19/30, B01J19/32) · CPC title

• B01D17/0211 Primary

  with baffles · CPC title

• B01D45/08

  by impingement against baffle separators · CPC title

• B01D45/02

  by utilising gravity · CPC title

• B01D21/02

  Settling tanks {with single outlets for the separated liquid} · CPC title