US3722184A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for separating oil and gas from a foaming crude oil stream
Assignee: Black Sivalls and Bryson Inc
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Filing: 1971-05-17
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Granted: 1973-03-27
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Expires: 1991-05-17
Abstract
Abstract The present invention relates to improved apparatus for separating oil and gas from a foaming crude oil stream of the type which includes an elongate substantially horizontal vessel having a crude oil stream inlet at one end and oil and gas outlets at points removed from the inlet. By the present invention a coalescing section comprised of a plurality of smooth cylindrical plates positioned longitudinally and concentrically to provide annular flow passages therebetween is disposed within said vessel across the interior thereof and adjacent to the crude oil stream inlet so that gas, oil and foam from the crude oil stream pass through the annular flow passages and oil carried with the gas is coalesced and agglomerated on said plates and removed from the gas. A plurality of foam breaking pads are disposed in the vessel positioned in spaced relationship across the interior thereof on the side of the coalescing section away from the crude oil stream inlet, each of the foam breaking pads including knitted mesh having a texture to distort and break oil foam thereby releasing the gas held in the foam. An oil outlet from the vessel is provided positioned on the side of the last of the foam breaking pads away from the crude oil stream inlet, and a closed compartment is disposed within the vessel at the end thereof away from the crude oil stream inlet. A passageway is provided communicating the top portion of the vessel with the closed compartment so that gas separated from the crude oil stream and gas released from foam in the vessel is passed into the closed compartment. Gas and oil outlets from the closed compartment are provided, and a mist extractor pad is positioned across the closed compartment between the passageway and the gas outlet so that oil mist entrained in the gas passing through the compartment is removed therefrom.
Inventors
- 👤 Kinn R Mc
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 06:17
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D19/00; B01D19/02; E; E21; E21B; E21B43/00; E21B43/34
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
292 words
Apparatus for separating oil and gas from a foaming crude oil stream which comprises: an elongate horizontal vessel having closed first and second compartments therein; a crude oil stream inlet into said first compartment of said vessel; a coalescing section comprised of a plurality of smooth cylindrical plates positioned longitudinally and concentrically to provide annular flow passages therebetween, said plates being disposed within said first compartment across the interior thereof so that gas and foam from said crude oil stream pass through said annular flow passages and oil carried with said gas is coalesced and agglomerated on said plates and removed from said gas; a plurality of foam breaking pads disposed in said first compartment positioned in spaced relationship across the interior thereof on the side of said coalescing section away from said crude oil stream inlet, each of said foam breaking pads including knitted mesh having a texture to distort and break foam thereby releasing gas held in said foam; an oil outlet from said first compartment positioned on the side of the last of said foam breaking pads away from said crude oil stream inlet; a passageway communicating the top portion of said first compartment on the side of the last of said foam breaking pads awAy from said crude oil stream inlet with said second compartment so that separated gas and gas released from said foam in said first compartment is passed into said second compartment; a gas outlet from said second compartment; a mist extractor pad positioned across said second compartment between said passageway and said gas outlet so that oil mist entrained in said gas passing through said second compartment is removed therefrom and accumulated in said second compartment; and an oil outlet from said second compartment.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
292 words
Apparatus for separating oil and gas from a foaming crude oil stream which comprises: an elongate horizontal vessel having closed first and second compartments therein; a crude oil stream inlet into said first compartment of said vessel; a coalescing section comprised of a plurality of smooth cylindrical plates positioned longitudinally and concentrically to provide annular flow passages therebetween, said plates being disposed within said first compartment across the interior thereof so that gas and foam from said crude oil stream pass through said annular flow passages and oil carried with said gas is coalesced and agglomerated on said plates and removed from said gas; a plurality of foam breaking pads disposed in said first compartment positioned in spaced relationship across the interior thereof on the side of said coalescing section away from said crude oil stream inlet, each of said foam breaking pads including knitted mesh having a texture to distort and break foam thereby releasing gas held in said foam; an oil outlet from said first compartment positioned on the side of the last of said foam breaking pads away from said crude oil stream inlet; a passageway communicating the top portion of said first compartment on the side of the last of said foam breaking pads awAy from said crude oil stream inlet with said second compartment so that separated gas and gas released from said foam in said first compartment is passed into said second compartment; a gas outlet from said second compartment; a mist extractor pad positioned across said second compartment between said passageway and said gas outlet so that oil mist entrained in said gas passing through said second compartment is removed therefrom and accumulated in said second compartment; and an oil outlet from said second compartment.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus of claim 1 which is further characterized to include a centrifugal separator disposed within said first compartment and connected to said crude oil stream inlet for initially separating gas from oil and foam contained in said crude oil stream.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
87 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said second compartment within said vessel is substantially spherical in internal shape and said passageway communicating said first compartment with said second compartment comprises a conduit extending from within the upper portion of said first compartment into said second compartment, said conduit opening within said second compartment horizontally and tangentially to an internal surface thereof so that centrifugal force is imparted to said gas as it passes through said second compartment thereby promoting the separation of entrained oil from said gas.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
134 words
The apparatus of claim 3 which is further characterized to include: a plurality of gas outlets from said first compartment, the first of said outlets being located between said coalescing section and said plurality of foam breaking pads, other of said outlets being located between each of said foam breaking pads, and the last of said outlets being located on the side of the last of said foam breaking pads away from said crude oil stream inlet; a gas outlet header; a plurality of conduits connecting said gas outlet header to said plurality of gas outlets; means for controlling the flow of gas passing from each of said outlets into said header disposed in each of said conduits; and a conduit connecting said gas outlet from said second compartment to said gas outlet header.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
295 words
In an apparatus for separating oil and gas from a foaming crude oil stream of the type including an elongate substantially horizontal vessel having a crude oil stream inlet at one end and oil and gas outlets at points removed from the inlet, the improved combination with said vessel comprising: a coalescing section comprised of a plurality of smooth cylindrical plates positioned longitudinally and concentrically to provide annular flow passages therebetween disposed within said vessel across the interior thereof and adjacent to said crude oil stream inlet so that gas and foam from said crude oil stream pass through said annular passages and oil carried with said gas is coalesced and agglomerated on said plates and removed therefrom; a plurality of foam breaking pads disposed in said vessel positioned in spaced relationship across the interior thereof on the side of said coalescing section away from said crude oil stream inlet, each of said foam breaking pads including knitted mesh having a texture to distort and break foam thereby releasing the gas held in said foam; an oil outlet from said vessel positioned on the side of the last of said foam breaking pads away from said crude oil stream inlet; a closed compartment disposed within said vessel at the end thereof away from said crude oil stream inlet; a passageway communicating the top portion of said vessel with said closed compartment so that separated gas and gas released from said foam in said vessel is passed into said closed compartment; a gas outlet from said closed compartment; a mist extractor pad positioned across said closed compartment between said passageway and said gas outlet so that oil mist entrained in said gas passing through said compartment is removed therefrom; and an oil oUtlet from said compartment.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
295 words
In an apparatus for separating oil and gas from a foaming crude oil stream of the type including an elongate substantially horizontal vessel having a crude oil stream inlet at one end and oil and gas outlets at points removed from the inlet, the improved combination with said vessel comprising: a coalescing section comprised of a plurality of smooth cylindrical plates positioned longitudinally and concentrically to provide annular flow passages therebetween disposed within said vessel across the interior thereof and adjacent to said crude oil stream inlet so that gas and foam from said crude oil stream pass through said annular passages and oil carried with said gas is coalesced and agglomerated on said plates and removed therefrom; a plurality of foam breaking pads disposed in said vessel positioned in spaced relationship across the interior thereof on the side of said coalescing section away from said crude oil stream inlet, each of said foam breaking pads including knitted mesh having a texture to distort and break foam thereby releasing the gas held in said foam; an oil outlet from said vessel positioned on the side of the last of said foam breaking pads away from said crude oil stream inlet; a closed compartment disposed within said vessel at the end thereof away from said crude oil stream inlet; a passageway communicating the top portion of said vessel with said closed compartment so that separated gas and gas released from said foam in said vessel is passed into said closed compartment; a gas outlet from said closed compartment; a mist extractor pad positioned across said closed compartment between said passageway and said gas outlet so that oil mist entrained in said gas passing through said compartment is removed therefrom; and an oil oUtlet from said compartment.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
65 words
The apparatus of claim 5 which is further characterized to include a centrifugal separator disposed within said first compartment between said crude oil stream inlet and said coalescing section, said centrifugal separator being connected to said crude oil stream inlet so that gas is initially separated from oil and foam contained in said crude oil stream as said crude oil stream passes through said separator.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
86 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said closed compartment within said vessel is substantially spherical in internal shape and said passageway communicating the upper portion of said vessel with said closed compartment comprises a conduit extending from the upper portion of said vessel into said closed compartment, said conduit opening within said closed compartment horizontally and tangentially to an internal surface thereof so that centrifugal force is imparted to said gas as it passes through said closed compartment thereby promoting the separation of entrained liquids therefrom.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
136 words
The apparatus of claim 7 which is further characterized to include: a plurality of gas outlets from said vessel, the first of said outlets being located between said coalescing section and said plurality of foam breaking pads, other of said outlets being located between each of said foam breaking pads and the last of said outlets being located on the side of the last of said foam breaking pads away from said crude oil stream inlet; a gas outlet header; a plurality of conduits connecting said gas outlet header to said plurality of gas outlets; means for controlling the flow of gas passing from each of said gas outlets to said gas outlet header disposed in each of said conduits; and a conduit connecting the gas outlet from said closed compartment to said gas outlet header.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-03-26 | 1976-09-25 | 1977-03-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-03-26 | 1980-09-25 | 1981-03-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-03-26 | 1984-09-25 | 1985-03-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |