Integrated floating platform vertical annular separation and pumping system for production of hydrocarbons

A system for producing hydrocarbons from a reservoir located below the bottom of a body of water having a surface having:

• (a) a floating production vessel and
• (b) a vertical annular separation and pumping system (VASPS) having a head section and a tail section;
• wherein the improvement comprises:
• the head section (which has (1) a liquid hydrocarbon outlet in fluid communication with a first conductor and (2) a gas outlet in fluid communication with a second conductor) is located above the surface of the water in association with the vessel and
• the tail section (which has (3) an outer casing forming the outer shell of the tail section, (4) two sets of concentric tubing within the outer casing, providing with the outer casing, two annuli and a central passage, one annulus having an inlet to receive a mixture of liquid hydrocarbon and gas, the other annulus having an outlet for separated gas in fluid communication with the second conductor, and the central passage having an outlet in fluid communication with the first conductor, and (5) an electrical or hydraulic pump at the base of the central passage) is located at or near the bottom,
• the head and tail sections being in fluid communication by means of the first conductor and the second conductor, and the pump being connected by a pump drive means to the head section.