Closed gas buster separation system and method

A separation system comprising:

• a horizontal separation vessel comprising a first end, a second end, an upper wall, a lower wall, and a gas dome extending above the upper wall near the first end, the separation vessel containing a liquid;
• a liquid weir disposed within the separation vessel near the second end and operatively connected to the lower wall, wherein an upper surface of the liquid weir is disposed below the upper wall of the separation vessel, and wherein a liquid level of the liquid contained in the separation vessel is defined by the upper surface of the liquid weir;
• a baffle plate disposed within the separation vessel between the gas dome and the liquid weir, the baffle plate operatively connected to the upper wall, wherein a lower surface of the baffle plate is disposed above the lower wall of the separation vessel and below the liquid level;
• a gas separation chamber within the separation vessel defined by the gas dome, the upper wall of the separation vessel, the baffle plate, and the level of the lower surface of the baffle plate;
• a hydrostatic pressure seal zone within the gas separation chamber between the liquid level and the lower surface of the baffle plate, wherein the gas separation chamber and the hydrostatic pressure seal zone are configured for preventing a gas disposed within the gas separation chamber from escaping into a remainder of the separation vessel;
• a fluid inlet in fluid communication with an internal fluid line terminating within the gas separation chamber;
• a gas outlet extending from an upper portion of the gas dome;
• and
• a liquid outlet between the liquid weir and the second end of the separation vessel.

A method of separating a fluid mixture containing a gas and a liquid, comprising the steps of:

• a) providing a separation system comprising:
• a horizontal separation vessel comprising a first end, a second end, an upper wall, a tower wall, and a gas dome extending above the upper wall near the first end;
• a liquid weir disposed within the separation vessel near the second end and operatively connected to the lower wall, wherein an upper surface of the liquid weir is disposed below the upper wall of the separation vessel;
• a baffle plate disposed within the separation vessel between the gas dome and the liquid weir, the baffle plate operatively connected to the upper wall wherein a lower surface of the baffle plate is disposed above the lower wall of the separation vessel and below the level of the upper surface of the liquid weir;
• a gas separation chamber within the separation vessel defined by the gas dome, the upper wall of the separation vessel, and the lower surface of the baffle plate;
• b) feeding the fluid mixture through a fluid inlet and an internal fluid line of the separation vessel and into the gas separation chamber;
• c) allowing the gas to rise within the gas separation chamber, and allowing the liquid to fall within the gas separation chamber to a liquid level within the gas separation chamber;
• d) allowing the gas to exit the separation vessel through a gas outlet extending from an upper portion of the gas dome;
• e) preventing the gas from escaping from the gas separation chamber into a remainder of the separation vessel by a hydrostatic pressure seal formed by the liquid disposed in the gas separation chamber between the level of the upper surface of the liquid weir and the level of the lower surface of the baffle plate;
• f) allowing the liquid to flow under the lower surface of the baffle plate and over the upper surface of the liquid weir;
• g) discharging the liquid through a liquid outlet positioned between the liquid weir and the second end of the separation vessel.