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WO2001088335A1 - Dual purpose device - Google Patents

Dual purpose device Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2001088335A1
WO2001088335A1 PCT/GB2001/002142 GB0102142W WO0188335A1 WO 2001088335 A1 WO2001088335 A1 WO 2001088335A1 GB 0102142 W GB0102142 W GB 0102142W WO 0188335 A1 WO0188335 A1 WO 0188335A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
fluid
fluids
dual purpose
inducing
housing
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/GB2001/002142
Other languages
French (fr)
Other versions
WO2001088335B1 (en
Inventor
Paul William Gayton
Original Assignee
Ingen Process Limited
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Ingen Process Limited filed Critical Ingen Process Limited
Priority to AU2001264045A priority Critical patent/AU2001264045A1/en
Publication of WO2001088335A1 publication Critical patent/WO2001088335A1/en
Publication of WO2001088335B1 publication Critical patent/WO2001088335B1/en

Links

Classifications

    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B43/00—Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells
    • E21B43/34—Arrangements for separating materials produced by the well
    • E21B43/36—Underwater separating arrangements
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01D—SEPARATION
    • B01D17/00—Separation of liquids, not provided for elsewhere, e.g. by thermal diffusion
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01D—SEPARATION
    • B01D17/00—Separation of liquids, not provided for elsewhere, e.g. by thermal diffusion
    • B01D17/02—Separation of non-miscible liquids
    • B01D17/0217—Separation of non-miscible liquids by centrifugal force
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01D—SEPARATION
    • B01D19/00—Degasification of liquids
    • B01D19/0042—Degasification of liquids modifying the liquid flow
    • B01D19/0052—Degasification of liquids modifying the liquid flow in rotating vessels, vessels containing movable parts or in which centrifugal movement is caused
    • B01D19/0057—Degasification of liquids modifying the liquid flow in rotating vessels, vessels containing movable parts or in which centrifugal movement is caused the centrifugal movement being caused by a vortex, e.g. using a cyclone, or by a tangential inlet
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B33/00—Sealing or packing boreholes or wells
    • E21B33/02—Surface sealing or packing
    • E21B33/03—Well heads; Setting-up thereof
    • E21B33/068—Well heads; Setting-up thereof having provision for introducing objects or fluids into, or removing objects from, wells
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B43/00—Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells
    • E21B43/34—Arrangements for separating materials produced by the well

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a device for separation of a component of a fluid from a multiphase fluid stream and, more particularly, to a dual purpose device for use within a fluid processing installation, which is adapted for the separation of a component of a multiphase fluid.
  • the invention finds particular application in the petrochemical industry.
  • multiphase fluids which may for example include mixtures of liquid and gas phased products are not uncommon. Other phases may include oil and water. Whilst these products are recovered simultaneously from the well, it is generally desirable to separate the different phases of the fluid for collection in purpose built facilities.
  • the transportation and separation of the phases of a multiphase fluid stream is generally carried out at subsea or topside installations prior to transportation of the separate phases for treatment, disposal storage or exportation.
  • the design of these subsea or topside facilities are complex and require many different component pieces of equipment to be provided and maintained in often hard to reach locations.
  • a dual purpose device for use in a fluid processing installation handling multiphase fluids said device being adapted to perform primary and secondary functions within the installation and comprising means for inducing a cyclonic effect in fluids passing through the device and means for preferentially removing one of the phases of the fluid from the device .
  • a method of modifying a device for use in a fluid processing installation into a dual purpose device having primary and secondary functions comprising the steps of providing means for inducing a cyclonic effect within the device to separate a multiphase fluid passing through the device and providing means for preferentially removing one phase of the fluid, said method being carried out without affecting the primary function of the device within the fluid processing installation.
  • the advantage of the present invention is that the means for separating out the different phases of the fluid may be provided within existing equipment which simplifies the top side or subsea facilities. Furthermore, by mounting the cyclone in this position, maintenance of the cyclone can be carried out more simply and efficiently thereby leading to a reduction in down time. Additionally, no additional pumping apparatus is required to force the fluids into the cyclone as the energy from the fluids can be used to operate the cyclone .
  • the device is a pig launcher or retriever, a heat exchanger, a vessel or a separator.
  • a fluid processing installation comprising a dual purpose device for use in a fluid processing installation, the dual purpose device comprising means for inducing a cyclonic effect within the device to separate multiphase fluids having components of different densities and means for preferentially removing one of the components, the device being adapted to perform another function within the same fluid processing installation.
  • multiphase fluid for example the product of a well bore containing gas and liquid components of different densities, flows through a pipeline from the well head to a treatment facility prior to separation.
  • the incoming multiphase fluids are routed into a pig receiver which comprises a housing into which a pipeline pig is received following its travel through the pipeline during cleaning or inspection services.
  • a cyclone is induced within the housing of the pig receiver. This may be by mounting a cyclone within the housing or alternatively modifying the housing of the pig receiver to provide a conical body therein for inducing a cyclonic effect in fluids passing therethrough.
  • the kinetic energy of the fluids flowing in the pipeline are converted into centrifugal energy within the cyclone.
  • lighter phase fluids are carried upwards within the cyclone and are removed via an outlet in the upper part of the cyclone. Meanwhile, heavier fluids fall within the cyclone for removal via a lower outlet.
  • the heavier fluids may be carried to the outer region of the cyclone and the lighter fluids collected towards the centre of the cyclone .
  • the pig receiver is a dual purpose device which is adapted for a purpose other than separation of fluids and can continue to perform this other function upon request.
  • the separated components of the fluid can then be transported to selected facilities for further treatment is required.
  • this can reduce the use of chemicals within the installation, simplify the pipeline design and in some cases enable the removal of additional and more complicated subsea or topside facilities to provide separation.
  • the cyclone may be provided within an unused heat exchanger, pig launcher, separator or other vessel suitably modified to receive the cyclone.
  • the resulting device is a dual purpose device within the processing installation.
  • the cyclone is provided within existing equipment and no additional pumping equipment is required, the technical specification of the facilities required are simplified. The process also leads to a low maintenance design which is easy to fit and remove and which requires low capital cost.
  • the means for inducing a cyclonic effect within the device such as a pig receiver may be retro fitted or alternatively, the device itself may be formed with the means for inducing this effect already in place.
  • the means for inducing the cyclonic effect may be removably mounted within the device and selectively introduced into the device when separation is required.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
  • Geology (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
  • Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • Cyclones (AREA)

Abstract

A dual purpose device for use in a fluid processing installation handling multiphase fluids, said device being adapted to perform primary and secondary functions within the installation and comprising means for inducing a cyclonic effect in fluids passing through the device and means for preferentially removing one of the phases of the fluid from the device.

Description

DUAL PURPOSE DEVICE
This invention relates to a device for separation of a component of a fluid from a multiphase fluid stream and, more particularly, to a dual purpose device for use within a fluid processing installation, which is adapted for the separation of a component of a multiphase fluid. The invention finds particular application in the petrochemical industry.
In the extraction of fluids such as hydrocarbons from a well bore, multiphase fluids which may for example include mixtures of liquid and gas phased products are not uncommon. Other phases may include oil and water. Whilst these products are recovered simultaneously from the well, it is generally desirable to separate the different phases of the fluid for collection in purpose built facilities.
The transportation and separation of the phases of a multiphase fluid stream is generally carried out at subsea or topside installations prior to transportation of the separate phases for treatment, disposal storage or exportation. The design of these subsea or topside facilities are complex and require many different component pieces of equipment to be provided and maintained in often hard to reach locations.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a device for the separation of multiphase fluids which overcomes or at least mitigates the above disadvantages of known processes. According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a dual purpose device for use in a fluid processing installation handling multiphase fluids, said device being adapted to perform primary and secondary functions within the installation and comprising means for inducing a cyclonic effect in fluids passing through the device and means for preferentially removing one of the phases of the fluid from the device .
According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of modifying a device for use in a fluid processing installation into a dual purpose device having primary and secondary functions, said method comprising the steps of providing means for inducing a cyclonic effect within the device to separate a multiphase fluid passing through the device and providing means for preferentially removing one phase of the fluid, said method being carried out without affecting the primary function of the device within the fluid processing installation.
The advantage of the present invention is that the means for separating out the different phases of the fluid may be provided within existing equipment which simplifies the top side or subsea facilities. Furthermore, by mounting the cyclone in this position, maintenance of the cyclone can be carried out more simply and efficiently thereby leading to a reduction in down time. Additionally, no additional pumping apparatus is required to force the fluids into the cyclone as the energy from the fluids can be used to operate the cyclone . Preferably, the device is a pig launcher or retriever, a heat exchanger, a vessel or a separator.
According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a fluid processing installation comprising a dual purpose device for use in a fluid processing installation, the dual purpose device comprising means for inducing a cyclonic effect within the device to separate multiphase fluids having components of different densities and means for preferentially removing one of the components, the device being adapted to perform another function within the same fluid processing installation.
One embodiment of the present invention will now be described to illustrate the invention. In this embodiment, multiphase fluid, for example the product of a well bore containing gas and liquid components of different densities, flows through a pipeline from the well head to a treatment facility prior to separation.
The incoming multiphase fluids are routed into a pig receiver which comprises a housing into which a pipeline pig is received following its travel through the pipeline during cleaning or inspection services.
A cyclone, is induced within the housing of the pig receiver. This may be by mounting a cyclone within the housing or alternatively modifying the housing of the pig receiver to provide a conical body therein for inducing a cyclonic effect in fluids passing therethrough.
As the multiphase fluids pass through the housing and into the cyclone, the kinetic energy of the fluids flowing in the pipeline are converted into centrifugal energy within the cyclone. As the fluids spin within the cyclone, lighter phase fluids are carried upwards within the cyclone and are removed via an outlet in the upper part of the cyclone. Meanwhile, heavier fluids fall within the cyclone for removal via a lower outlet.
Alternatively, depending upon the internal characteristics of the cyclone, the heavier fluids may be carried to the outer region of the cyclone and the lighter fluids collected towards the centre of the cyclone .
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the pig receiver is a dual purpose device which is adapted for a purpose other than separation of fluids and can continue to perform this other function upon request.
The separated components of the fluid can then be transported to selected facilities for further treatment is required. By providing such a separation before onward transportation of the fluids, this can reduce the use of chemicals within the installation, simplify the pipeline design and in some cases enable the removal of additional and more complicated subsea or topside facilities to provide separation.
In an alternative embodiment, the cyclone may be provided within an unused heat exchanger, pig launcher, separator or other vessel suitably modified to receive the cyclone. In each case, the resulting device is a dual purpose device within the processing installation. As the cyclone is provided within existing equipment and no additional pumping equipment is required, the technical specification of the facilities required are simplified. The process also leads to a low maintenance design which is easy to fit and remove and which requires low capital cost.
It is to be understood that the means for inducing a cyclonic effect within the device such as a pig receiver may be retro fitted or alternatively, the device itself may be formed with the means for inducing this effect already in place. In some embodiments, the means for inducing the cyclonic effect may be removably mounted within the device and selectively introduced into the device when separation is required.

Claims

1. A dual purpose device for use in a fluid processing installation handling multiphase fluids, said device being adapted to perform primary and secondary functions within the installation and comprising means for inducing a cyclonic effect in fluids passing through the device and means for preferentially removing one of the phases of the fluid from the device .
2. A device according to claim 1 wherein the device comprises a housing and the means for inducing a cyclonic effect comprises a cyclone mounted within the housing of the device .
3. A device according to wherein the device comprises a housing having a conical body within which the cyclonic effect is induced.
4. A device according to claim 2 wherein the means for inducing the cyclonic effect is removably mounted within the device.
5. A device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the means for preferentially removing one of the phases of fluid comprises an outlet in the housing of the device.
6. A device according to claim 5 wherein the housing comprises a plurality of outlets for separation of various phases within the fluid.
7. A device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the primary function of the device is a pig launcher or retriever, a heat exchanger, a vessel or a separator.
8. A device for use in a fluid processing installation handling multiphase fluids, said device being adapted to perform primary and secondary functions within the installation substantially as hereinbefore described.
9. A fluid processing installation for processing multiphase fluids comprising a dual purpose device according to any one of the preceding claims.
10. A method of modifying a device for use in a fluid processing installation into a dual purpose device having primary and secondary functions, said method comprising the steps of providing means for inducing a cyclonic effect within the device to separate a multiphase fluid passing through the device and providing means for preferentially removing one phase of the fluid, said method being carried out without affecting the primary function of the device within the fluid processing installation.
11. A method of modifying a device for use in a fluid processing installation into a dual purpose device having primary and secondary functions substantially as herein before described.
PCT/GB2001/002142 2000-05-19 2001-05-17 Dual purpose device WO2001088335A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU2001264045A AU2001264045A1 (en) 2000-05-19 2001-05-17 Dual purpose device

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GBGB0012097.2A GB0012097D0 (en) 2000-05-19 2000-05-19 Dual purpose device
GB0012097.2 2000-05-19

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2001088335A1 true WO2001088335A1 (en) 2001-11-22
WO2001088335B1 WO2001088335B1 (en) 2002-03-14

Family

ID=9891902

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/GB2001/002142 WO2001088335A1 (en) 2000-05-19 2001-05-17 Dual purpose device

Country Status (3)

Country Link
AU (1) AU2001264045A1 (en)
GB (1) GB0012097D0 (en)
WO (1) WO2001088335A1 (en)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US8136600B2 (en) 2005-08-09 2012-03-20 Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company Vertical annular separation and pumping system with integrated pump shroud and baffle
US8322434B2 (en) 2005-08-09 2012-12-04 Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company Vertical annular separation and pumping system with outer annulus liquid discharge arrangement

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4900433A (en) * 1987-03-26 1990-02-13 The British Petroleum Company P.L.C. Vertical oil separator
EP0711903A2 (en) * 1994-11-10 1996-05-15 THE BABCOCK & WILCOX COMPANY Separation of oil and gas phases in wellhead fluids
US5711374A (en) * 1992-12-17 1998-01-27 Read Process Engineering A/S Method for cyclone separation of oil and water and an apparatus for separating of oil and water

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4900433A (en) * 1987-03-26 1990-02-13 The British Petroleum Company P.L.C. Vertical oil separator
US5711374A (en) * 1992-12-17 1998-01-27 Read Process Engineering A/S Method for cyclone separation of oil and water and an apparatus for separating of oil and water
EP0711903A2 (en) * 1994-11-10 1996-05-15 THE BABCOCK & WILCOX COMPANY Separation of oil and gas phases in wellhead fluids

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US8136600B2 (en) 2005-08-09 2012-03-20 Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company Vertical annular separation and pumping system with integrated pump shroud and baffle
US8322434B2 (en) 2005-08-09 2012-12-04 Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company Vertical annular separation and pumping system with outer annulus liquid discharge arrangement

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2001088335B1 (en) 2002-03-14
GB0012097D0 (en) 2000-07-12
AU2001264045A1 (en) 2001-11-26

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