Marine separator

Claim 1

A separator structure for the fluids of oil well production adapted to be mounted in a marine environment, including, a marine platform located where it will be subject to wave action which will pitch and roll the marine structure, a shell in the form of a horizontally extended cylinder and mounted on the marine platform to pitch and roll with the marine platform, a source of oil well production at the location of the marine platform, an inlet through one end of the shell and connected to the source to direct production from the source into the shell, a plate member mounted within the shell to extend horizontally and parallel the longitudinal axis of the shell from the inlet end of the shell and beneath the inlet to divide a substantial length of the shell into upper and lower volumes, a vertical baffle plate sealed to the bottom and sides of the shell and extending its upper edge as a weir above the horizontal plate member to which it is sealejd to form a compartment below the horizontal plate for the lower volume, an opening through the horizontal plate member at substantially its midpoint, baffles depending vertically downward from the plate opening, a conduit with open ends on each side of the midpoint opening and extending upward, a first outlet through the shell wall and from the compartment below the plate member, and a second outlet through the lower portion of the shell wall and beyond the vertical baffle plate, whereby, as the shell is pitched, the plate member receives all of the mixed liquids of the production on its upper surface, the heavier of the liquids flowing through the midpoint opening of the plate member and the interface between the liquids which is formed beneath the plate member while lighter liquids carried beneath the plate member return up through the conduits on each side of the opening and over the weir of the vertical baffle plate to the second outlet while the heavier liquids flow to the first outlet to complete the separation during pitching of the shell.