Method and equipment for the reduction of multiple dispersions

US7730942B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• NORSK HYDRO ASA · NO

Inventors

• Per Eivind Gramme · Porsgrunn, NO
• Gunnar Hannibal Lie · Porsgrunn, NO

Key dates

• Filing date: Feb 10, 2006
• Grant date: Jun 8, 2010
• Expiry date: Jun 16, 2026

Classification

• Technology area (CPC E): Fixed Constructions
• CPC primary: E21B43/01
• WIPO field: Civil engineering
• WIPO sector: Other fields

Abstract

A method and equipment for reducing or avoiding multiple dispersions in fluid flows each having two or more non-mixable fluid components with different specific gravities and viscosities, in particular fluid flows of oil, gas and water from different oil/gas production wells (B1-B8) in formations beneath the surface of the earth or sea. The fluid flow from each well (B1-B8), depending on whether it is oil-continuous (o/w) or water-continuous (w/o), is fed to a transport pipeline (T) so that the oil-continuous fluid flows (o/w) are supplied to the transport line (T) first and the water-continuous fluid flows (w/o) second, or the two fluid flows (o/w, w/o) are fed to two separate transport lines (T1, T2). In a preferred embodiment, the two separate transport lines (T1, T2) may be connected to a common transport line (T); the two fluid flows (o/w, w/o) are mixed before further transport and any subsequent separation in a separator. In another preferred embodiment, each of the fluid flows in the respective transport lines (T1, T2) may be fed to a common separator (H) or its own independent separator.