Separator

oil/gas separator is a pressure vessel

used for separating a well stream
into gaseous and liquid components
. Based on the vessel configurations,
the oil/gas separators can be divided
into horizontal, vertical, or spherical
separators.

 In teams of fluids to be separated,

the oil/gas separators can be
grouped into gas/liquid two-phase
separator or oil/gas/water threephase separators.

 Based on separation function, the

oil/gas separators can also classified
into primary phase separator, test
separator, high-pressure separator,
low-pressure separator, deliquidizer,
degasser,metering seperators etc.

Conventional oil/gas separator

names

Oil/gas separator
Gas/liquid separator
Degasser
Deliquidizer
Scrubber
Trap

Requirements of separators
Separators are required to provide oil/gas
streams that meet saleable pipeline
specification as well as disposal.
Oil must have less than 1% (by volume)
water and less than 5 lbm water/MMscf
gas.
Water stream must have less than 20
ppm oil for overboard discharge in the
Gulf of Mexico (GOM)

 To meet process requirements, the

oil/gas separators are normally
designed in stages, in which the first
stage separator is used for
priliminary phase separation, while
the second and third stage separator
are applied for further treatment of
each individual phase (gas, oil and
water).

Separator components
An oil/gas separator generally consists of following components: Inlet device located in pre-separation zone/section for preliminary
phase separation;
Baffles downstream the inlet component to improve flow
distribution.
Separation enhancement device located in the primary separation
(gravity settling) section for major phase separation.
Mist extraction device located in gas space to further reduce liquid
content in the bulk gas stream.
Various weirs to control the liquid level or interface level;
Vortex breaker to prevent gas carry under at outlet of liquid phase;
Liquid level/interface detection and control, etc.
Gas, oil, water outlet
Pressure relief devices

Methods used to remove oil from gas in separators

Density difference (gravity separation)

Natural gas is lighter thanliquid hydro carbon. Minute particles of liquid
hydrocarbon that are temporarily suspended in a stream of natural gas will,
by density difference or force of gravity, settle out of the stream ofgasif
the velocity of the gas is sufficiently slow.
The larger droplets of hydrocarbon will quickly settle out of the gas, but
the smaller ones will take longer.
At standard conditions ofpressureandtemperature, the droplets of liquid
hydrocarbon may have a density 400 to 1,600 times that of natural gas.
However, as the operating pressure and temperature increase, the
difference in density decreases
The fact that the liquid droplets may have a density 6 to 10 times that of
the gas may indicate that droplets of liquid would quickly settle out of and
separate from the gas. However, this may not occur because the particles
of liquid may be so small that they tend to "float" in the gas and may not
settle out of the gas stream in the short period of time the gas is in the oil
and gas separator. As the operating pressure on a separator increases, the
density difference between the liquid and gas decreases. For this reason, it
is desirable to operate oil and gas separators at as low a pressure as is

2.Impingement
If a flowing stream ofgascontainingliquid,
mist is impinged against a surface, the liquid
mist may adhere to and coalesce on the
surface. After the mist coalesces into larger
droplets, the droplets will gravitate to the
liquid section of the vessel. If the liquid
content of the gas is high, or if the mist
particles are extremely fine, several
successive impingemenT surfacesmay be
required to effect satisfactory removal of the
mist.

3 Change of flow direction

When the direction of flow of agas stream
containingliquid mist is changed abruptly,
inertia causes the liquid to continue in the
original direction of flow. Separation of liquid
mist from the gas thus can be effected
because the gas will more readily assume
the change of flow direction and will flow
away from the liquid mist particles. The
liquid thus removed may coalesce on a
surface or fall to the liquid section below.

 Change of flow velocity

Separation ofliquidandgascan be effected with
either a sudden increase or decrease in gas
velocity. Both conditions use the difference in
inertia of gas and liquid. With a decrease in
velocity, the higher inertia of the liquid mist carries
it forward and away from the gas.The liquid may
then coalesce on some surface and gravitate to the
liquid section of the separator. With an increase in
gas velocity, the higher inertia of the liquid causes
the gas to move away from the liquid, and the
liquid may fall to the liquid section of the vessel.

 Centrifugal force
If agasstream carryingliquid mist flows in
a circular motion at sufficiently high velocity,
centrifugal force throws the liquid mist
outward against the walls of the container.
Here the liquid coalesces into progressively
larger droplets and finally gravitates to the
liquid section below. Centrifugal force is one
of the most effective methods of separating
liquid mist from gas.

Methods used to remove gas from oil in separators

Agitation
Moderate, controlled agitation which can
be defined as movement of the crude oil
with sudden forceis usually helpful in
removing nonsolutiongasthat may be
mechanically locked in the oil by surface
tension and oil viscosity. Agitation usually
will cause the gas bubbles to coalesce and
to separate from the oil in less time than
would be required if agitation were not used

Heat
Heat as a form of energy that is transferred
from one body to another results in a difference
in temperature. This reduces surface tension
and viscosity of the oil and thus assists in
releasinggasthat is hydraulically retained in
the oil. The most effective method of heating
crude oil is to pass it through a heated-water
bath exchangers, or heated free-water
knockouts or emulsion treaters can be used to
obtain a heated-water bath.

Centrifugal force
Centrifugal force which can be defined as a fictitious
force, peculiar to a particle moving on a circular path,
that has the same magnitude and dimensions as the
force that keeps the particle on its circular path
(thecentripetal force)but points in the opposite
direction is effective in separatinggasfrom oil. The
heavier oil is thrown outward against the wall of the
vortex retainer while the gas occupies the inner
portion of the vortex. A properly shaped and sized
vortex will allow the gas to ascend while theliquid
flows downward to the bottom of the unit.

Factors Affecting Separation

Gas/liquid flow rate( minimum,
average, peak)
Operating Pressure and temperature
Surging and slugging tendencies of a
feed stream
Physical properties of the fluids
Presence of impurities

Functional sections of
Separators
Four major section

QUESTIONS
HOW TEMPERATURE EFFECTS SURFACE
TENSION AND VISCOCITY?
What is the function of mist eliminator?
What is the function of baffles and inlet
diverter?
Give the classification of separators?
What are the methods which are used to
remove gasfrom liquid fluid?
What are the methods which are used to
remove water from gas stream?