Gas eliminator for offshore oil transfer pipelines

An apparatus for transferring a stream of fluid, wherein said fluid comprises a substantially hydrocarbon liquid component and a lighter component which tends to separate from said liquid component when said stream, which apparatus comprises:

• a source of said fluid capable of supplying a stream of said fluid;
• first means for removing most of said lighter component when separated from said fluid stream, said first removing means fluidly connected downstream of said source;
• a conduit fluidly connected proximate to and downstream of said first removing means, said conduit having a high-point zone;
• a port located in said high-point zone;
• and
• second means for removing said mostly lighter component from said port.

An apparatus for transferring a stream of fluid, wherein said fluid comprises a substantially hydrocarbon liquid component and a lighter component which tends to separate from said liquid component, which apparatus comprises:

• a source of said fluid capable of supplying a stream of said fluid;
• means for removing most of said lighter component when separated from said fluid stream, said removing means fluidly connected downstream of said source;
• a conduit fluidly connected proximate to and downstream of said removing means, said conduit having a high point zone;
• a port located in said zone capable of discharging said lighter component when separated from said fluid downstream of said removing means;
• and
• means for recombining a majority of said discharged lighter component with said fluid stream said recombining means absent a means for increasing the pressure of said discharged lighter component.

An apparatus for transferring a fluid stream, wherein said fluid comprises a substantially liquid component and a less dense component which tends to separate from said liquid component when said stream is under a first set of conditions, which apparatus comprises:

• a source of said fluid capable of supplying a stream of said fluid under a range of stream conditions which includes said first condition;
• a conduit fluidly connected to said source, said conduit having a zone capable of accumulating mostly separated less-dense component when said stream is at said first set of conditions within said conduit, said conduit also being capable of preventing said accumulating of said less-dense component when said stream is at a second set of conditions within said source range;
• a port located in said zone;
• and
• means for removing said mostly less-dense component from said port when said zone is accumulating said less-dense component.

A method for transporting crude oil from a first offshore platform to a crude oil import facility which comprises:

• separating a vapor component from said produced crude oil, producing a separated liquid;
• introducing said separated liquid into a conduit that takes said separated liquid from a high point on said first offshore platform to a low point below sea level;
• sensing whether a substantial pocket of vapor is present in said conduit near said high point;
• and
• discharging at least a portion of said vapor from said pocket to outside of said conduit if a substantial pocket is sensed and transporting within said conduit at least a portion of said vapor to said low point if less than a substantial portion is sensed.

A method for transporting a fluid in a conduit, wherein said fluid comprises a substantially liquid component and a less dense component substantially mixed with said liquid component, wherein said less dense component tends to separate as a vapor when said fluid is within said conduit under a first set of conditions leaving a separated liquid, and said fluid tends to remain a mixed-phase fluid under a second set of conditions, which method comprises:

• supplying said fluid at said first set of conditions into said conduit;
• transporting substantially all of said mixed-phase fluid from one end of said conduit to the other;
• supplying said fluid at said second set of conditions into said conduit;
• separating said less dense component from said liquid component within said conduit;
• and
• transporting substantially all of said separated liquid from one end of said conduit to the other.

A method for transporting a fluid stream, wherein said fluid comprises a substantially liquid component and a less dense component substantially mixed with said liquid component, wherein said less dense component tends to separate from said liquid component under a first set of conditions and tends to remain mixed under a second set of conditions which method comprises:

• supplying a stream of said fluid to a means for removing a first portion of less dense component from said liquid component, producing a first lighter stream and a separated liquid stream;
• discharging said separated liquid stream to a conduit;
• separating said second portion of said less dense component from said separated liquid stream within said conduit under said first set of conditions;
• and
• transporting said second portion mixed with said separated liquid within said conduit under said second set of conditions.