Oil & Gas Separators

Group Members
Mubeen Mukhtar Muhammad Mujahid

Oil & Gas Separators

Vessels used for separating well fluids produced from oil and gas wells into gaseous and liquid components.

Functions
Primary Functions Secondary Functions

Removal of Oil from Gas

Maintenance of Optimum Pressure on Separator

Removal of Gas From Oil

Maintenance of Liquid Seal in Separator

Methods To Remove Oil From Gas

Density Difference (Gravity ):
Natural gas is lighter than liquid hydrocarbon .It is desirable to operate oil and gas separators at low pressure.

Change of Flow Direction:

Inertia causes the liquid to continue in the original direction of flow.Liquid droplets will strike the wall and coalesce.

Change of Flow Velocity:

Sudden increase or decrease in gas velocity will also cause separation due to inertia difference.

Impingement(Obstacle):
Mist is impinged against a surface & may adhere to and coalesce on the surface.

Centrifugal Force:
Centrifugal force throws the liquid mist outward against the walls of the container and droplets coalesce.

Methods Used To Remove Gas From Oil

Settling:
Gas not in solution in the oil will usually separate from the oil if allowed to settle.

Agitation:
Agitation will cause the gas bubbles to coalesce and to separate from the oil.

Heat:
Reduces surface tension and viscosity of the oil and thus assists in releasing gas.

Types
1. Horizontal Separators

2. Vertical Separators
3. Spherical Separators

Horizontal Separators

Horizontal Separators
Smaller and less expensive than other types for a given gas capacity. Liquid droplets fall perpendicular to the gas flow so more easily settled out of the gas continuous phase. Large interface area so gas bubbles easily come out of solution as the liquid approaches equilibrium. Greater liquid capacity and are best suited for liquid-liquid separation and foaming crudes.

Vertical Separators

Vertical Separators
Used where gas to oil ratio is very small or very large.

Good in handling solid particles.

Require less plane area to be installed so more suitable in offshore applications.

Spherical Separators

Spherical Separators
Very efficient from pressure containment stand point.

Expensive as are difficult to fabricate and maintain.

Rarely used in oil & gas applications.