COMPACT MULTIPHASE INLINE BULK WATER SEPARATION METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR HYDROCARBON PRODUCTION

• US 20080087608A1
• Filed: 10/10/2006
• Published: 04/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Multiphase Systems Integration
• Original Assignee: Multiphase Systems Integration
• Inventors: Wang, Shoubo, Gomez, Luis, Mohan, Ram, Shoham, Ovadia
• Granted Patent: US 7,854,849 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 210/744
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 17/0214 with removal of one of the phases
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 17/0217 by centrifugal force
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 19/0036 Flash degasification the other groups take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 19/0063 Regulation, control including valves and floats for construction and details of valves F16K
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/38 by centrifugal separation
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/40 Devices for separating or removing fatty or oily substances or similar floating material cleaning or keeping clear the surface of open water from oil or like materials E02B15/04; devices in sewers for separating liquid or solid substances from sewage E03F5/14, e.g. for use in drains leading to the sewer E03F5/16
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/40 Separation associated with re-injection of separated materials E21B43/385 takes precedence

Abstract

A method and apparatus for inline, controlled water separation from a multiphase hydrocarbon production stream. The method includes the steps of directing the multiphase hydrocarbon production stream to a gas/liquid separator in order to separate into a gas stream and a liquid stream. The level of liquid in the gas/liquid separator is monitored and controlled. The liquid stream removed from the gas/liquid separator is directed to an enlarged pipe section in order to separate into an oil portion and a water portion. The level of the oil portion in the enlarged pipe section is monitored and controlled. The water portion from the enlarged pipe section is directed to a liquid-liquid cyclone centrifugal separator in order to separate into a water stream and a hydrocarbon concentrated stream. The water stream from the liquid cyclone centrifugal separator is directed to at least one de-oiling hydrocyclone separator. The oily water stream is directed back to the production stream for further processing and the water stream is delivered for disposal.

Claims

1. A method of inline, controlled water separation from a multiphase hydrocarbon production stream, which method comprises:

directing said multiphase hydrocarbon production stream to a gas/liquid separator to separate into a gas stream and a liquid stream;

directing said gas stream removed from said gas/liquid separator through a gas control valve;

monitoring and controlling a level of liquid in said gas/liquid separator;

directing said liquid stream removed from said gas/liquid separator to an enlarged pipe section to separate into an oil portion and a water portion;

monitoring and controlling the interface of said oil portion in said enlarged pipe section;

directing said water portion from said enlarged pipe section to a liquid-liquid cyclone centrifugal separator to separate into a water stream and a hydrocarbon concentrated stream;

directing said water stream to a de-oiling hydrocyclone separator to separate into an oily water stream and a clean or water stream; and

directing said oily water stream back to the production stream and delivering said clean or water stream for disposal.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said gas/liquid separator is a cylindrical cyclone separator.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of monitoring and controlling the level of liquid in said gas/liquid separator includes a liquid level sensor, and a liquid level controller operating in combination with said gas control valve.

4. The method of claim 1 including the additional steps of metering said gas stream from said gas/liquid separator and metering said liquid stream from said gas/liquid separator.

5. The method of claim 1 including the step of directing said hydrocarbon stream to more than one said de-oiling hydrocyclone arranged in series.

6. The method of claim 1 including the step of mounting all said separators on an integrated unit.

7. An inline, controlled water separation system for a multiphase hydrocarbon production stream, which system comprises:

a gas/liquid separator to separate said production stream into a gas stream and a liquid stream;

a sensor and a controller in communication with a gas control valve to control a level of liquid in said gas/liquid separator;

an oil/water separator to separate said liquid stream into an oil portion and a water portion;

means to monitor and control a level of said oil portion in said oil/water separator;

a liquid cyclone centrifugal separator to separate said water portion into a water stream and a hydrocarbon stream; and

a de-oiling hydrocyclone separator to separate said water stream into an oily water stream and a clean or water stream.

8. A water separation system as set forth in claim 7 wherein said gas/liquid separator is a cylindrical cyclone separator.

9. A water separation system as set forth in claim 7 wherein said oil-water separator is an enlarged pipe section.

10. A water separation system as set forth in claim 7 including means to control said liquid cyclone centrifugal separator.

11. A water separation system as set forth in claim 7 including more than one said de-oiling hydrocyclone separator.

12. A water separation system as set forth in claim 7 wherein said separators are mounted on an integrated unit.