US5064448A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Surge dampening three-phase production separator
Assignee: ConocoPhillips Co
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Filing: 1991-01-09
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Granted: 1991-11-12
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Expires: 2011-01-09
Abstract
Abstract A separating system is provided for a fluid stream containing oil, water and gas. The fluid stream has a nominal flow rate, a maximum surge flow rate, and a cycle time or period. The system includes upper and lower elongated horizontal vessels. A weir separates the upper vessel into an inlet surge chamber and a liquid over flow chamber. A gas separator is located in the inlet surge chamber of the upper vessel and separates gas from the incoming fluid stream. A gas outlet is defined in the upper vessel. A downcomer tube communicates the inlet surge chamber of the upper vessel with the lower vessel. Oil and water are separated from each other in the lower vessel, which has oil and water outlets defined therein. A liquid overflow drain line communicates the liquid overflow chamber of the upper vessel with the lower vessel. A fluid flow restriction is provided in the downcomer tube such that the nominal flow rate of the inlet stream can flow through the downcomer tube, and such that as the inlet stream flow rate approaches its maximum surge flow rate, liquid will spill over the weir into the liquid overflow chamber where it will temporarily accumulate and then drain down through the overflow drain line into the lower vessel.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael S. Choi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 04:12
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D19/00; B01D19/0042; B01D19/0052; B01D19/0057; B01D17/00; B01D17/02; B01D17/0208; B01D17/04; B01D17/045
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 37
Claim 1
Independent Claim
292 words
A separating system for a fluid stream containing oil, water and gas, said fluid stream having a nominal flow rate and a maximum surge flow rate, comprising: a horizontally elongated degassing and surge dampening upper vessel, including; a first weir means for defining an inlet chamber and a liquid overflow chamber in said upper vessel; a fluid stream inlet communicated with said inlet chamber; a gas separator means, located in said inlet chamber and operably associated with said inlet, for separating said gas from said fluid stream; and a gas outlet defined in said upper vessel; a horizontally elongated liquid separating lower vessel, said lower vessel providing a means for separating said oil from said water, said lower vessel including an oil outlet defined therein and a water outlet defined therein; an overflow liquid drain line connecting said liquid overflow chamber of said upper vessel with said lower vessel; and a downcomer tube connecting said inlet chamber of said upper vessel with said lower vessel, said downcomer tube having a fluid flow resistance means defined therein for permitting said nominal flow rate of said fluid stream to pass therethrough at a head no greater than an elevation of said first weir means, and for preventing said maximum surge flow rate from passing therethrough at a head equal to said elevation of said first weir means, so that when said fluid stream is flowing at said maximum surge flow rate a portion of said fluid stream will overflow said first weir means into said liquid overflow chamber and then through said overflow liquid drain line into said lower vessel thus reducing a maximum liquid flow rate through said lower vessel to a value below said maximum surge flow rate of said fluid stream.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
292 words
A separating system for a fluid stream containing oil, water and gas, said fluid stream having a nominal flow rate and a maximum surge flow rate, comprising: a horizontally elongated degassing and surge dampening upper vessel, including; a first weir means for defining an inlet chamber and a liquid overflow chamber in said upper vessel; a fluid stream inlet communicated with said inlet chamber; a gas separator means, located in said inlet chamber and operably associated with said inlet, for separating said gas from said fluid stream; and a gas outlet defined in said upper vessel; a horizontally elongated liquid separating lower vessel, said lower vessel providing a means for separating said oil from said water, said lower vessel including an oil outlet defined therein and a water outlet defined therein; an overflow liquid drain line connecting said liquid overflow chamber of said upper vessel with said lower vessel; and a downcomer tube connecting said inlet chamber of said upper vessel with said lower vessel, said downcomer tube having a fluid flow resistance means defined therein for permitting said nominal flow rate of said fluid stream to pass therethrough at a head no greater than an elevation of said first weir means, and for preventing said maximum surge flow rate from passing therethrough at a head equal to said elevation of said first weir means, so that when said fluid stream is flowing at said maximum surge flow rate a portion of said fluid stream will overflow said first weir means into said liquid overflow chamber and then through said overflow liquid drain line into said lower vessel thus reducing a maximum liquid flow rate through said lower vessel to a value below said maximum surge flow rate of said fluid stream.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
69 words
The system of claim 1, wherein: said fluid flow resistance means of said downcomer tube is further characterized as a means for permitting said nominal flow rate of said fluid stream to pass therethrough at a lower head less than said elevation of said first weir means so that said inlet chamber defines a surge chamber volume between said lower head and said elevation of said first weir means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
The system of claim 1, wherein: said upper vessel has a vapor space overlying said first weir means and communicating with both said inlet chamber and said liquid overflow chamber; and said gas outlet communicates with said vapor space.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 3, further comprising: a vapor equalization line communicating said lower vessel with said vapor space of said upper vessel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 4, wherein: said vapor equalization line communicates a vapor space of said lower vessel with said vapor space of said upper vessel.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system of claim 4, wherein: said lower vessel is so arranged and constructed as to operate liquid filled with said vapor equalization line standing partly filled with liquid to define a liquid-gas interface therein.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system of claim 1, further comprising: a liquid phase separator weir means, disposed in said lower vessel, for defining an oil/water separation chamber and an oil overflow chamber in said lower vessel.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 7, wherein: said oil/water separation chamber is larger than said oil overflow chamber.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 7, further comprising: a vapor equalization line communicating a vapor space of said lower vessel with a vapor space of said upper vessel.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 1, wherein: said oil outlet is disposed in a top of said lower vessel so that said lower vessel operates in a liquid filled state.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
78 words
The system of claim 1, wherein: said gas separator means is a centrifugal gas separator means having a lower outlet for liquid phases of said fluid stream; and said upper vessel further includes a lower second weir means, between said lower outlet of said centrifugal gas separator means and said downcomer tube, for maintaining a sufficient minimum liquid level in said inlet chamber to provide a liquid seal at said lower outlet of said centrifugal gas separator means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
45 words
The system of claim 11, wherein said flow resistance means of said downcomer tube is further characterized as a means for permitting said nominal flow rate of said fluid stream to pass therethrough at a head equal to an elevation of said second weir means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system of claim 1, said fluid stream having a cycle time between consecutive fluid surges, wherein: said overflow liquid drain line is sized to drain said liquid overflow chamber within said cycle time.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
45 words
The system of claim 1, wherein: said upper vessel includes structured packing means, located in said liquid overflow chamber, for demisting gas, for collapsing any foam generated in said liquid overflow chamber, and for dampening turbulence created by liquid spillage over said first weir means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system of claim 1, wherein: said lower vessel includes structured packing means for inducing oil/water coalescence to improve separation of oil from water in said lower vessel.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
203 words
A separating system for a fluid stream containing three phases, comprising: a horizontally elongated upper vessel having an inlet for said fluid stream; a horizontally elongated lower vessel; a centrifugal separator means, disposed in said upper vessel and connected to said inlet thereof, for separating gas from said fluid stream, said separator means having a lower outlet for liquid phases of said fluid stream; a high weir means, disposed in said upper vessel, for defining an inlet surge chamber and a liquid overflow chamber in said upper vessel, said centrifugal separator means being located in said inlet surge chamber; a downcomer tube connecting said inlet surge chamber of said upper vessel with said lower vessel; a low weir means, disposed in said inlet surge chamber between said centrifugal separator means and said downcomer tube, for maintaining a sufficient minimum liquid level in said inlet surge chamber to provide a liquid seal at said lower outlet of said centrifugal separator means; an overflow liquid drain line connecting said liquid overflow chamber of said upper vessel with said lower vessel; a gas outlet defined in said upper vessel; a water outlet defined in said lower vessel; and an oil outlet defined in said lower vessel.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
203 words
A separating system for a fluid stream containing three phases, comprising: a horizontally elongated upper vessel having an inlet for said fluid stream; a horizontally elongated lower vessel; a centrifugal separator means, disposed in said upper vessel and connected to said inlet thereof, for separating gas from said fluid stream, said separator means having a lower outlet for liquid phases of said fluid stream; a high weir means, disposed in said upper vessel, for defining an inlet surge chamber and a liquid overflow chamber in said upper vessel, said centrifugal separator means being located in said inlet surge chamber; a downcomer tube connecting said inlet surge chamber of said upper vessel with said lower vessel; a low weir means, disposed in said inlet surge chamber between said centrifugal separator means and said downcomer tube, for maintaining a sufficient minimum liquid level in said inlet surge chamber to provide a liquid seal at said lower outlet of said centrifugal separator means; an overflow liquid drain line connecting said liquid overflow chamber of said upper vessel with said lower vessel; a gas outlet defined in said upper vessel; a water outlet defined in said lower vessel; and an oil outlet defined in said lower vessel.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
40 words
The system of claim 16, wherein: said upper vessel has a vapor space overlying said high weir means and communicating with both said inlet surge chamber and said liquid overflow chamber; and said gas outlet communicates with said vapor space.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 17, further comprising: a vapor equalization line communicating said lower vessel with said vapor space of said upper vessel.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 18, wherein: said vapor equalization line communicates a vapor space of said lower vessel with said vapor space of said upper vessel.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system of claim 18, wherein: said lower vessel is so arranged and constructed as to operate liquid filled with said vapor equalization line standing partly filled with liquid to define a liquid-gas interface therein.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system of claim 16, further comprising: a liquid phase separator weir means, disposed in said lower vessel, for defining an oil/water separation chamber and an oil overflow chamber in said lower vessel.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 21, wherein: said oil/water separation chamber is larger than said oil overflow chamber.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 21, further comprising: a vapor equalization line communicating a vapor space of said lower vessel with a vapor space of said upper vessel.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 16, wherein: said oil outlet is disposed in a top of said lower vessel so that said lower vessel operates in a liquid filled state.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system of claim 16, said fluid stream having a cycle time between consecutive fluid surges, wherein: said overflow liquid drain line is sized to drain said liquid overflow chamber within said cycle time.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
49 words
The system of claim 16, further comprising: a flow restriction means for limiting a maximum liquid flow rate through said downcomer tube to a value less than a maximum surge flow rate of said fluid stream at a liquid head equal to an elevation of said high weir means.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
45 words
The system of claim 16, wherein: said upper vessel includes structured packing means, located in said liquid overflow chamber, for demisting gas, for collapsing any foam generated in said liquid overflow chamber, and for dampening turbulence created by liquid spillage over said high weir means.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system of claim 16, wherein: said lower vessel includes structured packing means for inducing oil/water coalescence to improve separation of oil from water in said lower vessel.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
218 words
A separating system for a fluid stream containing oil, water and gas, comprising: a horizontally elongated upper vessel, including: a first weir means for defining an inlet chamber and a liquid overflow chamber in said upper vessel, said upper vessel having an upper vessel vapor space defined therein above and communicated with said inlet chamber and said liquid overflow chamber; a fluid stream inlet communicated with said inlet chamber; a gas separator means, located in said inlet chamber and operably associated with said inlet, for separating said gas from said fluid stream; and a gas outlet communicated with said vapor space of said upper vessel; a horizontally elongated lower vessel, including: a liquid phase separator means for defining an oil/water separation chamber and an oil overflow chamber in said lower vessel, said lower vessel having a lower vessel vapor space defined therein above and communicated with said oil/water separation chamber and said oil overflow chamber; an oil outlet communicated with said oil overflow chamber; and a water outlet communicated with said oil/water separation chamber; a downcomer tube communicating said inlet chamber of said upper vessel with said oil/water separation chamber of said lower vessel; and an overflow liquid drain line communicating said liquid overflow chamber of said upper vessel with said oil/water separation chamber of said lower vessel.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
218 words
A separating system for a fluid stream containing oil, water and gas, comprising: a horizontally elongated upper vessel, including: a first weir means for defining an inlet chamber and a liquid overflow chamber in said upper vessel, said upper vessel having an upper vessel vapor space defined therein above and communicated with said inlet chamber and said liquid overflow chamber; a fluid stream inlet communicated with said inlet chamber; a gas separator means, located in said inlet chamber and operably associated with said inlet, for separating said gas from said fluid stream; and a gas outlet communicated with said vapor space of said upper vessel; a horizontally elongated lower vessel, including: a liquid phase separator means for defining an oil/water separation chamber and an oil overflow chamber in said lower vessel, said lower vessel having a lower vessel vapor space defined therein above and communicated with said oil/water separation chamber and said oil overflow chamber; an oil outlet communicated with said oil overflow chamber; and a water outlet communicated with said oil/water separation chamber; a downcomer tube communicating said inlet chamber of said upper vessel with said oil/water separation chamber of said lower vessel; and an overflow liquid drain line communicating said liquid overflow chamber of said upper vessel with said oil/water separation chamber of said lower vessel.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 29, further comprising: a vapor equalization line communicating said lower vessel vapor space with said upper vessel vapor space.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
231 words
A separating system for a fluid stream containing oil, water and gas, comprising: a horizontally elongated upper vessel, including: a first weir means for defining an inlet chamber and a liquid overflow chamber in said upper vessel, said upper vessel having an upper vessel vapor space defined therein above and communicated with said inlet chamber and said liquid overflow chamber; a fluid stream inlet communicated with said inlet chamber; a gas separator means, located in said inlet chamber and operably associated with said inlet, for separating said gas from said fluid stream; and a gas outlet communicated with said vapor space of said upper vessel; a horizontally elongated upper vessel, having a water outlet defined in a lower portion thereof and having an oil outlet defined in a top portion thereof so that said lower vessel operates in a liquid filled state; a downcomer tube communicating with said inlet chamber of said upper vessel with said lower vessel; and an overflow liquid drain line communicating said liquid overflow chamber of said upper vessel with said lower vessel, further comprising: a vapor equalization line communicating said lower vessel with said vapor space of said upper vessel, said vapor equalization line being arranged and constructed so that when said lower vessel is operating in said liquid filled state said vapor equalization line stands partly filled with liquid to define a liquid-gas interface therein.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
231 words
A separating system for a fluid stream containing oil, water and gas, comprising: a horizontally elongated upper vessel, including: a first weir means for defining an inlet chamber and a liquid overflow chamber in said upper vessel, said upper vessel having an upper vessel vapor space defined therein above and communicated with said inlet chamber and said liquid overflow chamber; a fluid stream inlet communicated with said inlet chamber; a gas separator means, located in said inlet chamber and operably associated with said inlet, for separating said gas from said fluid stream; and a gas outlet communicated with said vapor space of said upper vessel; a horizontally elongated upper vessel, having a water outlet defined in a lower portion thereof and having an oil outlet defined in a top portion thereof so that said lower vessel operates in a liquid filled state; a downcomer tube communicating with said inlet chamber of said upper vessel with said lower vessel; and an overflow liquid drain line communicating said liquid overflow chamber of said upper vessel with said lower vessel, further comprising: a vapor equalization line communicating said lower vessel with said vapor space of said upper vessel, said vapor equalization line being arranged and constructed so that when said lower vessel is operating in said liquid filled state said vapor equalization line stands partly filled with liquid to define a liquid-gas interface therein.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
214 words
A method of separating oil, water and gas from a fluid stream having a nominal flow rate and a maximum surge flow rate comprising: (a) directing said fluid stream into an upper vessel having an inlet chamber and a liquid overflow chamber defined therein; (b) separating said gas from said fluid stream in said inlet chamber of said upper vessel; (c) when said fluid stream is flowing at said nominal flow rate, flowing substantially all of said oil and water of said fluid stream from said inlet chamber of said upper vessel into a lower vessel without passing said oil and water through said liquid overflow chamber; (d) when said fluid stream is flowing at said maximum surge flow rate, flowing a first portion of said oil and water of said fluid stream from said inlet chamber into said lower vessel without passing said first portion through said liquid overflow chamber, and flowing a second portion of said oil and water from said inlet chamber through said liquid overflow chamber and then into said lower vessel; and (e) separating said oil and water from each other to said lower vessel, further comprising: equalizing gas pressure in said upper and lower vessels by communicating said lower vessel with a vapor space of said upper vessel.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
214 words
A method of separating oil, water and gas from a fluid stream having a nominal flow rate and a maximum surge flow rate comprising: (a) directing said fluid stream into an upper vessel having an inlet chamber and a liquid overflow chamber defined therein; (b) separating said gas from said fluid stream in said inlet chamber of said upper vessel; (c) when said fluid stream is flowing at said nominal flow rate, flowing substantially all of said oil and water of said fluid stream from said inlet chamber of said upper vessel into a lower vessel without passing said oil and water through said liquid overflow chamber; (d) when said fluid stream is flowing at said maximum surge flow rate, flowing a first portion of said oil and water of said fluid stream from said inlet chamber into said lower vessel without passing said first portion through said liquid overflow chamber, and flowing a second portion of said oil and water from said inlet chamber through said liquid overflow chamber and then into said lower vessel; and (e) separating said oil and water from each other to said lower vessel, further comprising: equalizing gas pressure in said upper and lower vessels by communicating said lower vessel with a vapor space of said upper vessel.
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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) | 1994-11-11 | 1995-05-13 | 1995-11-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-11-11 | 1999-05-13 | 1999-11-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-11-11 | 2003-05-13 | 2003-11-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |