Type / Description
Self-Venting Inlet Device (SVID)
Development of novel inlet device for horizontal 3-phase separators to provide efficient separation under challenging working conditions typical of mature and/or unconventional oil fields
Challenge
- Make the device fit for service under challenging conditions such as:
- Fluctuating flow rates
- Frequent slugs
- Low operating pressures
- GOR up to 100 sm3 /sm3
- Stratified or wavy inlet pipe flow patterns
- Provide sound momentum dissipation and mechanical resistance to cope with frequent slugging regime
- Achieve good bulk gas/liquid separation with minimum disturbances in the separator inlet section
- Gently direct the separated gas to the gas section and the separated liquids below the O/W interface band zone in liquid section, minimizing perturbances in effective separation length
Project Development
- Designing of several prototypes to analyze construction constraints
- CFD modeling of the selected alternatives, including the inlet pipe configuration and normalization length
- CFD studies to analyze and minimize distortions caused by liquid slugs
- CFD studies to optimize calming baffles after the inlet device
- Fluid-structure modeling to determine the maximum stress the inlet device is subjected to
- Development of the mechanical design with appropriate safety features to deal with slugs
Outcome
- The SVID was successfully applied in several three-phase separators for heavy conventional and light unconventional crude oils
- Gross flow rates ranged between 20,000 and 70,000 BPD with a GOR within the limits of design
- Less than 2% free water cut in outlet oil stream even with significant inlet flow fluctuation and inlet water cuts between 30 – 90%