Method and apparatus for separating the components of a wellstream

Claim 1

A method for separating the components of a stream which is comprised of a first liquid, a second liquid and gas, said first liquid being lighter than said second liquid, said method comprising the steps of: (a) introducing said stream into a centrifuge rotor having a rotor wall and opposed first and second end portions; (b) rotating said rotor at a speed which creates a centrifugal force sufficient to cause a radial separation of said gas from said liquids, said liquids thereby being forced outward to form a liquid layer adjacent to said rotor wall, said liquid layer being separated from said gas by a liquid/gas interface; (c) inducing countercurrent flow in said liquid layer such that the direction of flow adjacent to said interface is toward said first end portion and such that the direction of flow adjacent to said rotor wall is toward said second end portion, said countercurrent flow and said centrifugal force acting together to axially separate said first liquid and said second liquid by forcing said first liquid to flow toward said first end portion and by forcing said second liquid to flow toward said second end portion; and (d) extracting said separated first liquid, second liquid and gas from said rotor.

Claim 2

A method for separating the components of a stream which is comprised of a first liquid, a second liquid and gas, said first liquid being lighter than said second liquid, said method comprising the steps of: (a) introducing said stream into a centrifuge rotor having a rotor wall and opposed first and second end portions; (b) rotating said rotor at a speed which creates a centrifugal force sufficient to cause a radial separation of said gas from said liquids, said liquids thereby being forced outward to form a liquid layer adjacent to said rotor wall, said liquid layer being separated from said gas by a liquid/gas interface; (c) inducing countercurrent flow in said liquid layer such that the direction of flow adjacent to said interface is toward said first end portion and such that the direction of flow adjacent to said rotor wall is toward said second end portion, said countercurrent flow and said centrifugal force acting together to axially separate said first liquid and said second liquid by forcing said first liquid to flow toward said first end portion and by forcing said second liquid to flow toward said second end portion; and (d) extracting said separated first liquid, second liquid and gas from said rotor.

Claim 8

A method for separating the components of a stream which is comprised of a first liquid, a second liquid, gas and particulates, said first liquid being lighter than said second liquid, said method comprising the steps of: (a) introducing said stream into a centrifuge having an inner rotor and a primary rotor, said inner rotor being situated inside said primary rotor, said inner rotor having a radially larger portion and a radially smaller portion, said primary rotor having a primary rotor wall and opposed first and second end portions; (b) rotating said inner rotor to create a centrifugal force sufficient to force said particulates into said radially larger portion of said inner rotor; (c) extracting said separated particulates from said radially larger portion of said inner rotor; (d) continuing to introduce said stream into said inner rotor, thereby causing said first liquid, said second liquid and said gas to flow out of said inner rotor and into said primary rotor; (e) rotating said primary rotor to create a centrifugal force sufficient to cause a radial separation of said gas from said liquids, said liquids thereby being forced outward to form a liquid layer adjacent to said primary rotor wall, said liquid layer being separated from said gas by a liquid/gas interface; (f) inducing countercurrent flow in said liquid layer such that the direction of flow adjacent to said interface is toward said first end portion and such that the direction of flow adjacent to said rotor wall is toward said second end portion, said countercurrent flow and said centrifugal force acting together to axially separate said first liquid and said second liquid by forcing said first liquid to flow toward said first end portion and by forcing said second liquid to flow toward said second end portion; and (g) extracting said separated first liquid, second liquid and gas from said primary rotor.

Claim 9

A method for separating the components of a stream which is comprised of a first liquid, a second liquid, gas and particulates, said first liquid being lighter than said second liquid, said method comprising the steps of: (a) introducing said stream into a centrifuge having an inner rotor and a primary rotor, said inner rotor being situated inside said primary rotor, said inner rotor having a radially larger portion and a radially smaller portion, said primary rotor having a primary rotor wall and opposed first and second end portions; (b) rotating said inner rotor to create a centrifugal force sufficient to force said particulates into said radially larger portion of said inner rotor; (c) extracting said separated particulates from said radially larger portion of said inner rotor; (d) continuing to introduce said stream into said inner rotor, thereby causing said first liquid, said second liquid and said gas to flow out of said inner rotor and into said primary rotor; (e) rotating said primary rotor to create a centrifugal force sufficient to cause a radial separation of said gas from said liquids, said liquids thereby being forced outward to form a liquid layer adjacent to said primary rotor wall, said liquid layer being separated from said gas by a liquid/gas interface; (f) inducing countercurrent flow in said liquid layer such that the direction of flow adjacent to said interface is toward said first end portion and such that the direction of flow adjacent to said rotor wall is toward said second end portion, said countercurrent flow and said centrifugal force acting together to axially separate said first liquid and said second liquid by forcing said first liquid to flow toward said first end portion and by forcing said second liquid to flow toward said second end portion; and (g) extracting said separated first liquid, second liquid and gas from said primary rotor.

Claim 11

An apparatus adapted for separating the components of a stream which comprises a light liquid, a heavy liquid and a gas, said apparatus comprising: (a) a centerpost; (b) a primary rotor adapted for rotation about said centerpost, said primary rotor having a primary rotor wall and opposed first and second end portions; (c) a feed nozzle which is adapted to permit said stream to flow from said centerpost into said primary rotor; (d) a light liquid scoop which extends outward from said centerpost into said primary rotor at an axial position between said feed nozzle and said first end portion; (e) a first primary rotor baffle adapted for rotation about said centerpost at an axial position between said feed nozzle and said light liquid scoop; (f) a heavy liquid scoop which extends outward from said centerpost into said primary rotor at an axial position between said feed nozzle and said second end portion; and (g) a gas scoop which extends outward from said centerpost into said primary rotor for a shorter radial distance than said light liquid scoop.

Claim 12

An apparatus adapted for separating the components of a stream which comprises a light liquid, a heavy liquid and a gas, said apparatus comprising: (a) a centerpost; (b) a primary rotor adapted for rotation about said centerpost, said primary rotor having a primary rotor wall and opposed first and second end portions; (c) a feed nozzle which is adapted to permit said stream to flow from said centerpost into said primary rotor; (d) a light liquid scoop which extends outward from said centerpost into said primary rotor at an axial position between said feed nozzle and said first end portion; (e) a first primary rotor baffle adapted for rotation about said centerpost at an axial position between said feed nozzle and said light liquid scoop; (f) a heavy liquid scoop which extends outward from said centerpost into said primary rotor at an axial position between said feed nozzle and said second end portion; and (g) a gas scoop which extends outward from said centerpost into said primary rotor for a shorter radial distance than said light liquid scoop.