CONFIGURATIONS AND METHODS FOR GAS-LIQUID SEPARATORS

• US 20140290485A1
• Filed: 03/26/2014
• Published: 10/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fluor Technologies Corporation (Fluor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fluor Technologies Corporation (Fluor Corporation)
• Inventors: Prescott, Clifford Neal, Zhang, Jianfeng (Jeff)
• Granted Patent: US 10,052,568 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 95/260
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 19/0042 modifying the liquid flow B01D19/0021 takes precedence

Abstract

Contemplated gas-liquid separators and especially subsea gas-liquid separators have a main pipe with a plurality of descending branch pipes that are fluidly coupled to the main pipe and each other such as to allow disengagement of the gas into the main pipe while liquid and sand descend into the lower ends of the branch pipes. Sand accumulation in the lower ends of the branch pipes is preferably prevented by lateral serial flow of liquid and sand from one branch pipe to the next and use of a flush liquid that is drawn from one or more branch pipes.

Claims

1. A gas-liquid separator, comprising:

a main pipe configured to receive a fluid containing a gas, a liquid, and sand, wherein the main pipe is fluidly coupled to a plurality of descending branch pipes;

wherein the branch pipes are fluidly coupled to each other such as to allow the liquid to segregate from the main pipe into a first of the branch pipes and to migrate from the first into at least a second of the branch pipes while the gas remains in the main pipe; and

wherein at least some of the branch pipes are fluidly coupled to a flush conduit and a liquid withdrawal conduit.

2. The gas-liquid separator of claim 1 wherein the plurality of descending branch pipes are coupled to the main pipe at a non-rectangular angle.

3. The gas-liquid separator of claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the first and the second descending branch pipes are coupled to each other at a lower end.

4. The gas-liquid separator of any of the preceding claims further comprising a cross-flow conduit fluidly coupled to the second and a third descending branch pipe such that at least a portion of the fluid can flow from the second to the third descending branch pipe.

5. The gas-liquid separator of claim 4 wherein the cross-flow conduit is configured to reduce or eliminate deposition of sand in the cross-flow conduit.

6. The gas-liquid separator of any of the preceding claims further comprising at least one of a feed manifold and a gas manifold fluidly coupled to respective ends of the main pipe.

7. The gas-liquid separator of any of the preceding claims wherein the flush conduit is fluidly coupled to at least one of the descending branch pipes such that the flush conduit receives the liquid as a flushing fluid from the at least one of the descending branch pipes.

8. The gas-liquid separator of any of the preceding claims wherein the liquid withdrawal conduit is configured to allow removal of the liquid and the sand.

9. The gas-liquid separator of claim 1 further comprising a cross-flow conduit fluidly coupled to the second and a third descending branch pipe such that at least a portion of the fluid can flow from the second to the third descending branch pipe.

10. The gas-liquid separator of claim 9 wherein the cross-flow conduit is configured to reduce or eliminate deposition of sand in the cross-flow conduit.

11. The gas-liquid separator of claim 1 further comprising at least one of a feed manifold and a gas manifold fluidly coupled to respective ends of the main pipe.

12. The gas-liquid separator of claim 1 wherein the flush conduit is fluidly coupled to at least one of the descending branch pipes such that the flush conduit receives the liquid as a flushing fluid from the at least one of the descending branch pipes.

13. The gas-liquid separator of claim 1 wherein the liquid withdrawal conduit is configured to allow removal of the liquid and the sand.

14. The gas-liquid separator of any one of the preceding claims further comprising a plurality of sensors, and wherein at least one of the sensors is a pressure sensor or a flow sensor.

19. The gas-liquid separator of claim 1 wherein the flush conduit is fluidly coupled to at least one of the descending branch pipes such that the flush conduit receives the liquid as a flushing fluid from the at least one of the descending branch pipes.

15. A gas-liquid separator for separation of a fluid that contains a gas, a liquid, and sand, the separator comprising:

a main pipe having a first end and a second end, and a plurality of descending branch pipes coupled to the main pipe between the first and second ends;

wherein a first, a second, a third, and a fourth of the branch pipes are fluidly coupled to the main pipe via their respective upper ends;

wherein the first and second branch pipes and the third and fourth branch pipes are fluidly coupled to each other via their respective lower ends;

a cross-flow conduit fluidly coupled to the second and third branch pipes in a position intermediate the upper and lower ends of the second and third branch pipes; and

a flush conduit and a liquid withdrawal conduit fluidly coupled to the lower end of at least one of the first and second, and third and fourth branch pipes.

16. The gas-liquid separator of claim 15 wherein the first end of the main pipe is fluidly coupled to a feed manifold and wherein the second end of the main pipe is fluidly coupled to a gas manifold.

17. The gas-liquid separator of claim 15 or claim 16 wherein the cross-flow conduit is configured to reduce or eliminate deposition of sand in the cross-flow conduit.

18. The gas-liquid separator of any one claims 15 to 17 wherein the flush conduit is fluidly coupled to at least one of the descending branch pipes such that the flush conduit receives the liquid as a flushing fluid from the at least one of the descending branch pipes.

20. The gas-liquid separator of any one claims 15 to 19 wherein the liquid withdrawal conduit is configured to allow removal of the liquid and the sand.

21. The gas-liquid separator of claim 15 wherein the liquid withdrawal conduit is configured to allow removal of the liquid and the sand.

22. The gas-liquid separator of any one claims 15 to 21 further comprising at least one of a pressure sensor and a flow sensor.

23. The gas-liquid separator of claim 15 further comprising at least one of a pressure sensor and a flow sensor.

24. A method of separating a gas from a fluid comprising the gas, a liquid, and sand, the method comprising:

providing a main pipe to which a plurality of communicating descending branch pipes are fluidly coupled at respective upper ends, wherein at least two of the branch pipes are further fluidly coupled to each other at respective lower ends;

feeding the fluid into a feed end of the main pipe at a volume and velocity such that the liquid migrates though the communicating descending branch pipes while the gas migrates from the branch pipes to the main pipe via the respective upper ends; and

withdrawing the gas from a discharge end of the main pipe and withdrawing the liquid from the respective lower ends.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein the communicating descending branch pipes form a V-shaped conduit.

26. The method of claim 24 or claim 25 further comprising a step of introducing a flush liquid to the at least two of the branch pipes at the respective lower ends.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein the flush liquid comprises the liquid, and wherein the liquid is withdrawn from at least one of the branch pipes.

28. The method of claim 26 wherein the liquid is withdrawn from the respective lower ends along with the sand.