A separation system for separating a fluid mixture, the system including a uniaxial cyclonic separator having a first inlet for receiving a fluid mixture, a separation chamber for separating the fluid mixture by cyclonic action into a first fluid and a second fluid, the first fluid being denser than the second fluid, a first outlet for the first fluid and a second outlet for the second fluid, and a reverse flow cyclonic separator having a second inlet for receiving the first fluid from the first outlet, a separation chamber for separating the first fluid by cyclonic action into a third fluid and a fourth fluid, the third fluid being denser than the fourth fluid, a third outlet for the third fluid and a fourth outlet for the fourth fluid.