# US 8,771,394 B2 · Device for separating and collecting fluid in gas from a reservoir > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,771,394 B2 - Document ID: US8771394B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/059,047 - Filed: 2009-07-13 - Published: 2011-08-25 - Granted: 2014-07-08 - Earliest claimed: 2008-08-15 - Assignees: Aker Subsea AS - Applicants: Håkon Skofteland; Kjell Olav Stinessen - Inventors: Håkon Skofteland; Kjell Olav Stinessen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8771394B2 ## CPC - E21B 43/36: Underwater separating arrangements (E21B43/38 takes precedence) - E21B 43/35: {specially adapted for separating solids (down-hole drilling fluid separation systems E21B21/002; separating solids from drilling fluids E21B21/065)} - F04D 25/0686: {specially adapted for submerged use} - F04D 31/00: Pumping liquids and elastic fluids at the same time - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS - F04D: NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS (engine fuel-injection pumps F02M; ion pumps H01J41/12; electrodynamic pumps H02K44/02) ## Abstract A device for separating and collecting liquid in gas from a reservoir, which is attached to processing equipment (14, 15) for gas, said gas being delivered to the processing equipment from the device via an inlet pipe (24) to the processing equipment and the collected liquid is removed periodically from the device via liquid outlet pipe (7). The device is formed of a liquid separator (1) and a liquid collector (2) which are two separate chambers, and which are connected to each other via a valve (3), and that for draining of the collected liquid, the liquid collector (2) is connected to an outlet pipe (19) from the processing equipment via an intermediate valve (6), draining taking place with the aid of compressed gas which via the intermediate valve (6) is supplied from the processing equipment, or alternatively from onshore or a platform, from a gas pipe or a well stream gas pipe on the seabed or the like. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A device for separating and collecting liquid entrained in gas from a reservoir, which device is attached to processing equipment for gas, said gas being delivered to the processing equipment from the device via an inlet pipe to the processing equipment and the collected liquid being removed periodically from the device via a liquid outlet pipe, the device comprising a liquid separator and a liquid collector which are two separate chambers, and which are connected to each other via a valve, and that for draining of the collected liquid, the liquid collector is connected to a gas outlet pipe from the processing equipment via an intermediate valve, draining taking place with the aid of compressed gas which via the intermediate valve is supplied from the processing equipment, or alternatively from onshore or a platform, from a gas pipe or a well stream gas pipe on the seabed. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein when secondary cleaning equipment in the form of cyclones is used in the liquid separator, a downpipe is provided in connection with the secondary cleaning equipment and opens into a position below a lower level sensor in the liquid collector. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The device according to claim 2, wherein during draining of the liquid collector, the downpipe is shut off by a downpipe valve. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The device according to claim 3, wherein the downpipe valve is arranged in a lower end of the downpipe. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein for flushing to remove sand and/or other particles, the liquid collector and/or the liquid separator is connected to the gas outlet pipe via at least one flushing valve, flushing taking place by using compressed gas which via the at least one flushing valve is supplied from the processing equipment, or alternatively from onshore or a platform, from a gas pipe or a well stream gas pipe on the seabed. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein for flushing to remove sand or other particles, the liquid separator is connected to the gas outlet pipe via a flushing valve, flushing being carried out with the aid of compressed gas which is supplied via the flushing valve from the processing equipment, or alternatively compressed gas from onshore or a platform, from a gas pipe or a well stream gas pipe on the seabed, or alternatively from any intermediate stage in the processing equipment or from cooling gas from the processing equipment. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein a shut-off valve is arranged in the liquid outlet pipe. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the outlet pipe opens into a mixing point in the gas outlet pipe for gas from the processing equipment. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the liquid outlet pipe opens into a receiving point onshore, on a platform, back to the reservoir. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein for boosting the draining, a choke valve is arranged in the gas outlet pipe from the processing equipment in a position ahead of a mixing point for liquid and gas and also after a take-off point for the intermediate valve. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the liquid separator and the liquid collector are in the form of two physically separate vessels. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the liquid separator and the liquid collector are arranged in a single vessel, their physical separation being in the form of an intermediate dividing plate equipped with the valve. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein draining is controlled with the aid of an upper and a lower level sensor which are arranged in the liquid collector. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein draining is time-controlled based on experience or calculation. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the processing equipment is in the form of a compressor and a compressor motor which are arranged in a common pressure shell, and for boosting the draining, the compressor is equipped with an extra stage so as to cause a similar boost in the drainage gas pressure. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The device according to claim 15, wherein for draining of collected liquid in the compressor with the aid of compressor's compressed gas, the pressure shell is connected to the outlet pipe from the compressor via a compressor draining valve which is arranged between the gas outlet pipe and the compressor, draining taking place with the aid of compressed gas supplied via the compressor draining valve. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The device according to claim 16, wherein the draining takes place via a lower valve when the pressure shell is oriented in a vertical direction, alternatively via at least one valve arranged in a side wall when the pressure shell is oriented horizontally, and that drained liquid is passed via the at least one valve arranged in the side wall back to the liquid collector. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15, 16, 17) The device according to any one of claims 15 to 17, wherein the outlet pipe for gas is equipped with an outlet shut-off valve, and the compressor draining valve is placed in connection with the gas outlet pipe after the outlet shut-off valve. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The device according to claim 15, wherein a compressor inlet shut-off valve is arranged in a first gas inlet pipe. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The device according to claim 15, wherein a compressor inlet shut-off valve is arranged in a second gas inlet pipe. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the processing equipment is a compressor with compressor motor. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1, 2, 3, 4, 5) The device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the draining and flushing function for the liquid collector is combined and the compressed gas is supplied from the gas outlet pipe via the intermediate valve or a flushing valve. ### Claim 23 (depends on 10) The device according to claim 10, wherein the choke valve is fixed. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The device according to claim 23, wherein the liquid outlet pipe opens into a mixing point in the fixed choke valve. ### Claim 25 (depends on 23) The device according to claim 23, wherein the fixed choke valve has a converging and a diverging part, and the liquid outlet pipe opens into the mixing point between the converging and the diverging part. ### Claim 26 (depends on 1, 12) The device according to claim 1 or 12, wherein the valve is a non-return valve. ### Claim 27 (depends on 3) The device according to claim 3, wherein the downpipe valve is a non-return valve. ### Claim 28 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein a vent pipe with a vent shut-off valve is arranged between the liquid collector and the liquid separator or the inlet pipe to the liquid separator, and the vent shut-off valve is closed during normal operation and during draining of the liquid collector and open for a certain time after draining to obtain pressure equalisation between the liquid separator and the liquid collector. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The device according to claim 28, wherein the vent shut-off valve is a non-return valve. ### Claim 30 (depends on 7) The device according to claim 7, wherein the shut-off valve is a non-return valve.