Pipe separator with improved separation

• US 7,490,671 B2
• Filed: 07/08/2004
• Issued: 02/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Statoil Petroleum As (Asa Equinor)
• Original Assignee: Norsk Hydro Asa (Norsk Hydro)
• Inventors: Lie, Gunnar Hannibal, Gramme, Per
• Primary Examiner(s): Beach; Thomas A
• Application Number:
  US10/563,291
• Publication Number:
  US 20070102369A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,685 Days
• Field of Search: 166/351, 166/357, 166/368, 166/366, 166/267, 210/248, 96/55
• US Class Current: 166/357
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 17/00 Separation of liquids, not provided for elsewhere, e.g. by thermal diffusion devices for separating or removing fatty or oily substances or similar floating material from water, waste water, or sewage C02F1/40; cleaning or keeping clear the surface of open water from oil or like materials E02B15/04; arrangements for separating lubricants from refrigerants F25B43/02
• 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 17/041 with moving devices
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 17/045 with coalescers
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 17/06 Separation of liquids from each other by electricity
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/36 Underwater separating arrangements E21B43/38 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/721 cooperating directly with the edge of the rigid printed circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6335 comprising a handle
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6658 on printed circuit board H01R13/6666 - H01R13/6691 take precedence

Abstract

A pipe separator is for separation of fluids, for example separation of oil, gas and water in connection with extraction and production of oil and gas from formations under a sea bed. The pipe separator comprises an extended, tubular separator body having a diameter at inlet and outlet ends that is mainly equal to or slightly greater than a diameter of a transport pipe to which the separator body is connected. A cyclone is arranged upstream of the separator body for separation of any gas present. An electrostatic coalescer is incorporated in and constitutes an integrated part of the separator body.

Claims

1. A pipe separator for separation of oil, gas and water in connection with extraction and production of oil and gas from formations under a sea bed, comprising:

an extended, tubular separator body having a diameter at inlet and outlet ends that is mainly equal to or slightly greater than a diameter of a transport pipe to which said separator body is connected;

a separator device upstream of said separator body for separation of gas; and

an electrostatic coalescer incorporated in and constituting an integrated part of said separator body, said electrostatic coalescer including an upper electrode and a lower electrode in a wall of said separator body such that said upper and lower electrodes are to be supplied with an electric voltage so as to establish a vertical electric field within said separator body.

2. The pipe separator according to claim 1, wherein said separator device comprises a cyclone separator.

3. The pipe separator according to claim 2, further comprising:

a water seal downstream of said separator body; and

a device in communication with said water seal for drainage of water that is separated out in said separator body.

4. The pipe separator according to claim 3, further comprising:

another electrostatic coalescer arranged in series with said electrostatic coalescer.

5. The pipe separator according to claim 3, wherein

said cyclone separator is in communication with a throttle valve that produces high shear for fluid.

6. The pipe separator according to claim 3, wherein

said cyclone separator is in close proximity to the inlet end of said separator body.

7. The pipe separator according to claim 2, further comprising:

another electrostatic coalescer arranged in series with said electrostatic coalescer.

8. The pipe separator according to claim 2, wherein

said cyclone separator is in communication with a throttle valve that produces high shear for fluid.

9. The pipe separator according to claim 2, wherein

said cyclone separator is in close proximity to the inlet end of said separator body.

10. The pipe separator according to claim 1, further comprising:

a water seal downstream of said separator body; and

a device in communication with said water seal for drainage of water that is separated out in said separator body.

11. The pipe separator according to claim 10, further comprising:

another electrostatic coalescer arranged in series with said electrostatic coalescer.

12. The pipe separator according to claim 10, wherein

said separator device is in communication with a throttle valve that produces high shear for fluid.

13. The pipe separator according to claim 10, wherein

said separator device is in close proximity to the inlet end of said separator body.

14. The pipe separator according to claim 1, further comprising:

another electrostatic coalescer arranged in series with said electrostatic coalescer.

15. The pipe separator according to claim 1, wherein

said separator device is in communication with a throttle valve that produces high shear for fluid.

16. The pipe separator according to claim 1, wherein

said separator device is in close proximity to the inlet end of said separator body.