Vertical oil separator
US4900433A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 23, 1988 |
| Grant date | Feb 13, 1990 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 23, 2008 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
- CPC primaryE21B43/38
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A vertical separator for separating crude oil into liquid and gas phases composed of an outer casing and two further sets of concentric tubing to enclose two annuli and a central passage, one annulus having an inlet to receive crude oil, the other annulus having an outlet for separated gas, each at the top of the separator. The central passage collects produced oil with a pump near its base and a pump drive pipe extending up it. The crude oil may flow down its annulus with a swirling motion which can be induced and assisted by a tangential inlet, and/or a cyclone at the top, and one or more helices in the annulus. The separator may be used for underwater wells and may extend partially or wholly into the sea bed with a protective cemented external casing around it.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.