Apparatus and method for separating a fluid from a mixture of fluids
AssigneeSchlumberger Technology Corporation
InventorGary Martin Oddie
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention relates to an apparatus for separation of a first fluid from a mixture of at least the first fluid and a second fluid and a method for doing the same. The apparatus is preferably located downhole, but also can operate on the surface. According to the invention, the apparatus comprises:—a production pipe for flowing the mixture;—at least one settling chamber surrounding the production pipe;—at least one aperture allowing the mixture flowing into the production pipe to flow into the settling chamber; and—an exit pipe, connected to the settling chamber, allowing the first fluid to flow out of the settling chamber.
Claims13
An apparatus for separation of a first fluid from a mixture of at least said first fluid and a second fluid, comprising:
- a production pipe for flowing the mixture;
- a plurality of settling chambers surrounding said production pipe;
- for each settling chamber at least one aperture allowing at least part of the mixture flowing in the production pipe to flow into the settling chamber;
- and
- an exit pipe, connected to one or more of the settling chambers, allowing the first fluid to flow out of said settling chambers.
A method for separation of a first fluid from a mixture of at least said first fluid and a second fluid, comprising the following steps:
- (a) flowing the mixture through a production pipe;
- (b) flowing at least part of the mixture through at least one aperture of said production pipe, into a plurality of settling chambers surrounding said production pipe;
- (c) allowing the first fluid to separate from the mixture under the effect of the gravity in each of said settling chambers;
- and
- (d) flowing the first fluid out of the settling chambers.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.