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The 4 TH Lecture

This document discusses surface oil and gas separation operations. It begins by covering the classification, advantages, and disadvantages of different separator shapes, including horizontal, vertical, and spherical separators. It then discusses the functional components of gas-oil separators, including deflector plates, coalescing plates, foam breakers, and mist extractors that aid the separation process using mechanical means. Finally, it covers design calculations for sizing separators based on factors like density differences, retention time, and gas capacity depending on the separator type and configuration.

Uploaded by

Mahmoud Ahmed Ali Abdelrazik
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We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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202 views42 pages

The 4 TH Lecture

This document discusses surface oil and gas separation operations. It begins by covering the classification, advantages, and disadvantages of different separator shapes, including horizontal, vertical, and spherical separators. It then discusses the functional components of gas-oil separators, including deflector plates, coalescing plates, foam breakers, and mist extractors that aid the separation process using mechanical means. Finally, it covers design calculations for sizing separators based on factors like density differences, retention time, and gas capacity depending on the separator type and configuration.

Uploaded by

Mahmoud Ahmed Ali Abdelrazik
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Surface Facility

Operations
Oil Industry Stages

 Field Operations

 Transportation

 Refining Operations
Oil Industry Stages
Surface Petroleum
Operations

Surface oil operations for gas-


oil separation
Further treatment of the
crude oil
Field treatment of associated
natural gas
Surface
Petroleum
Operations

Wellhead
Surface Petroleum
Operations
Gas Treating

Well Phase Oil


Head Gathering Treating
Separation

Water
Treating

Sand
Clean & Disposal
Gas-oil Separation

Upon completion of this package, you


should be able to know:
 The various types of separators and list
their specifications
 Purposes and components of the
separator
 How to adjust the retention time for the
separator
Gas-oil Separation

Upon completion of this package, you


should be able to know:
 Why the separator should be run at a
constant pressure and how to control
this pressure
 Methods of designing the separations
systems
Gas-oil Separation

The operating principles for the separator


are covered in the following topics:
 Separation Processes

 Pressure and Level Controllers

 Safety Devices

 Metering Devices
Gas-oil Separation
Separators( A)
Classification of Separators

According to Function
 Separator: Separate two streams

 Scrubber: High gas/liquid ratio

 Knockout: separate liquid from a gas

 Flash Chamber: second stage separator


Classification of Separators

 According to No. of Phases


Separated
2- Phase Separator: O/G

3- Phase Separator: G-O-W


Classification of Separators

 According to Configuration
 Vertical Cylinder

 Horizontal Cylinder

 Spherical Vessel
Separation Processes
Advantages of the different separator shapes:
 Horizontal separators
 Normally more efficient at handling large
amounts of gas
 Cheaper than Vertical separator
 Large liquid surface area for foam dispersion
generally reduces turbulence
Separation Processes

Disadvantages of the different


separator shapes:
Horizontal separators
 Liquid level control is more critical
 More difficult to clean produced sand,
mud, wax, paraffin, etc.
Separation Processes

Advantages of the different


separator shapes:
Vertical separators
 Takes up less space than a horizontal
separator with the same capacity
 More flexible than horizontal
 Have good bottom and clean out
facilities
Separation Processes

Advantages of the different


separator shapes:
Vertical separators
 Liquid level control is not so critical
 Can handle more sand, mud, paraffin,
wax without plugging
 Has full diameter for gas flow at top
and oil flow at bottom
Separation Processes

Disadvantages of the different separator


shapes:
Vertical separators
 Some of the instruments and safety devices
may be difficult to access without ladders or
access platforms
 More expensive than horizontal separator
 Require larger diameter for a given gas
capacity
Separation Processes

Advantages and disadvantages of


the different separator shapes:

 Spherical separators
 They are not widely used

 They are difficult to fabricate


Separation Processes

 Multistage Separation: increase


the efficiency of the separation
 API
 GOR
 Flowing Pressure
Multistage Separation
Gas/Oil Separation

 Production separators are the major vessels in the


GOSP.
There are three types of Separators:
 High Pressure Separators H.P
 Intermediate Pressure Separators I.P
 Low Pressure Separators L.P
 The number of separators depends on the pressure
of the oil incoming from the well head. If it is below
300 psig, then the GOSP will have only one
separator, if it is more than 500 psig, then three
separators will be available.
Functional Components of the G/O
Separator
Functional Components of the
G/O Separator

Horizontal Separator
Vertical Separator
Spherical Separator
Design Calculations for Sizing
G/O Separators
Fundamentals
 Densities Differences: basis for
calculation
 Retention Time: 30:90 Sec
 Vertical Separator
 Gas Capacity Proportional to Cross
section area
 Horizontal Separator
Gas Capacity Proportional to surface area
Design Calculations for Sizing
G/O Separators
Assumptions
 No Oil Foaming

 Operating temperature > Hydrate


formation T

 Liquid drops: Spherical

 Liquid Carry-over < 0.10


gallon/MMSCF
Separation Processes

Separator depends on the following


processes:

 Gravity & density difference


 Mechanical devices in the separator
 Altering the pressure & gas-liquid interface
 GLR
Separation Processes

Gravity & Density Difference


 Oil, gas, & water will naturally separate
due to the effect of gravity & density
difference
 Gas rises & liquid falls in the separator
 About 95% of the liquid-gas separation
happens instantly
Separation Processes
Gravity & Density Difference
 The relative densities of gas and liquid
(oil and water) 1:20, a few seconds
 Fine mist, separated from the gas with
the aid of mechanical devices
 The relative density of oil to water
0.75:1, one or two minutes.
Mechanical Devices

Why?
To obtain good separation
Speed down the separation
process
Optimize the retention time
(Actual and required)
Mechanical Devices
Mechanical Devices

Deflector Plate
 Locate in front of the inlet
 Cause a rapid change in
direction & velocity of fluid
 Forcing the liquids to fall to the
bottom of the vessel.
 Responsible for the initial gross
separation of liquid and gas.
Mechanical Devices

Coalescing Plates
 Arrange in an inverted V-
shape
 The liquid droplets in the
gas hit the plates and stick
to them.
 More droplets form bigger
drops that fall to the bottom
Mechanical Devices

Foam Breaker

Make of wire mesh, like mist


extractor

Prevent forming of foaming


(oil and gas)
Mechanical Devices

Mist Extractor
Composed of a mass of
wire netting
Before leaving the
separator
Fall down the tiny oil
droplets in the gas
Mechanical Devices

Weir Plate
 Locate at the bottom of the vessel
 Divide the separator into two
compartments
 Control the water level
 Permits oil to overflow into the oil
compartment
End of this
Section

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