Apparatus and method for gas liquid separation in oil and gas drilling operations

A well system for separating gas from liquid in a gas-liquid flow from a wellbore drilled from a drilling rig, the system comprising:

• a blowout preventer;
• a riser extending from the blowout preventer;
• and
• a flow separation apparatus disposed adjacent the blowout preventer, the flow separation apparatus comprising:
• a first pipe having a first end and a second end, each end in fluid communication with the riser, wherein at least a portion of the pipe between said first end and second end is curvilinear in shape so as to be characterized by an inner wall and an outer wall at said curvilinear portion of said pipe;
• an outlet port disposed in said pipe along the inner wall between said first and second ends;
• a gas separator in fluid communication with the outlet port;
• and
• a first valve disposed between the riser and the first end of the pipe, the valve operable to control fluid flow between the riser and the pipe.

A method for recovering hydrocarbons from a wellbore, the method comprising:

• directing a gas-liquid flow from a wellbore into a curvilinear flow path;
• concentrating gas within a first portion of said flow path;
• concentrating liquid within a second portion of said flow path;
• separating said first portion of said flow path from said second portion of said flow path;
• and
• directing said first portion of said flow path into a gas separator.