The present disclosure is related to a method and system for subsea purification of produced water in a subsea installation comprising a tank assembly for separating gas, oil, sand and other minerals and water by means of gravitational forces and retention time, as well as releasing purified water and storing of sand and other mineral particles for a long period, including many years.

An apparatus and method for removing particulates from a multiple-phase fluid stream is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a treatment chamber having a fluid inlet for receiving the multiple-phase fluid stream. The apparatus also comprises a recovery chamber having a gas channel and a liquid channel in fluid communication with the treatment chamber at a gas and a liquid port, respectively. The gas and liquid channels converge at an intake port of a fluid outlet for discharging particulate-removed gas and liquid.

The present invention relates to a removal device for removing gas bubbles and/or dirt particles from a liquid in a liquid conduit system or for removing a second liquid from a first liquid in the conduit system. The removal device includes a main channel for a main flow, the main channel having an entry and an exit which are configured to be connected to the conduit system, a housing which defines an inner space, at least one supply channel extending from the main channel to the inner space, at least one return channel extending from the inner space back to the main channel, directly or indirectly via a return chamber, at least one quiet zone in the inner space in which in use the liquid has a substantially smaller velocity than in the main channel. The quiet zone is configured to allow dirt particles or a relatively heavy liquid to settle at a lower end of the housing and/or gas bubbles or a relatively light liquid to rise to an upper end of the housing. The removal device further comprises means to remove dirt particles or relatively heavy liquid, and/or gas or relatively light liquid out of the housing.

An apparatus for gas and solids separation from down-hole fluids having an inner tube and an outer tube disposed about the inner tube. The annular region between the tubes contain a plurality of chambers, separated by fluid barriers. The chambers include an intake chamber to receive fluids from outside of the outer tube through an orifice, and processing chambers. Fluid communication between the intake and processing chambers is restricted to fluid flow through sets of tubes. Fluid communication between a lowermost processing chamber below the intake chamber and a lower processing chamber above the intake chamber is restricted to fluid flow through the inner tube. A block restricts fluid communication within the inner tube to other chambers above the intake chamber. Orifices in the inner tube of the processing chambers on either side of the block provide fluid communication across the block.

An hydraulic separator for balancing varying flows in a primary liquid circuit and a secondary liquid circuit includes a housing which defines an inner space, an upper entry and an upper exit located in an upper region of the housing, and a lower entry and a lower exit located in a lower region of the housing. The upper entry and lower exit are constructed to be connected to a primary liquid circuit and the upper exit and lower entry being constructed to be connected to a secondary liquid circuit A fluid communication channel is provided between the upper region and the lower region, such that when in use the flow in the primary or secondary circuit suddenly varies, a leak flow is allowed to occur between the upper entry and lower exit or between the lower entry and upper exit, for balancing the flows.

A method of separating a multiphase fluid, the fluid including a relatively high density component and a relatively low density component, that includes introducing the fluid into a separation region; imparting a rotational movement into the multiphase fluid; forming an outer annular region of rotating fluid of predetermined thickness within the separation region; and forming and maintaining a core of fluid in an inner region. Fluid entering the separation vessel is directed into the outer annular region and the thickness of the outer annular region is such that the high density component is concentrated and substantially contained within this region, the low density component being concentrated in the rotating core. A separation system employing the method is also provided. The method and system are particularly suitable for the separation of solid debris from the fluids produced by a subterranean oil or gas well at wellhead flow pressure.

A method of separating a multiphase fluid, the fluid including a relatively high density component and a relatively low density component, that includes introducing the fluid into a separation region; imparting a rotational movement into the multiphase fluid; forming an outer annular region of rotating fluid of predetermined thickness within the separation region; and forming and maintaining a core of fluid in an inner region. Fluid entering the separation vessel is directed into the outer annular region and the thickness of the outer annular region is such that the high density component is concentrated and substantially contained within this region, the low density component being concentrated in the rotating core. A separation system employing the method is also provided. The method and system are particularly suitable for the separation of solid debris from the fluids produced by a subterranean oil or gas well at wellhead flow pressure.

The invention concerns a method and an apparatus for operating a multi-phase pump which has a suction-side inlet (10) and a discharge-side outlet (20) and which pumps a multi-phase mixture charged with solids, comprising the following steps:

a. pumping a multi-phase mixture into a discharge-side separation chamber (45),

b. separating a gaseous phase from a liquid phase and a solid phase in the separation chamber (45),

c. separating the liquid phase from the solid phase in the separation chamber (45), and

d. supplying a portion of the liquid phase freed from the solid phase to the suction side.

The disclosure provides a backflow collection system and method for reclaiming backflow from a wellbore. In one embodiment, a backflow collection system comprises a collection tank having an upper and lower section, the collection tank having a side opening configured to receive backflow from an oil/gas well, as well as a discharge port proximate an upper end of the upper section configured to discharge gas from the collection tank; and a substantially vertical auger system coupled proximate the lower section of the collection tank, the auger configured to receive solid and liquid matter from a bottom opening in the collection tank, and when elevated remove at least a portion of the solid and liquid matter from the collection tank, the collection tank designed such that when fluid is contained therein it acts as a liquid/gas seal to prevent gas from exiting through the bottom opening in the collection tank.

The system and method is directed to improved separation or clarification of solids from a solids-laden liquid, including the removal of low gravity solids. A liquid to be treated is introduced into the inlet of a solid-liquid separator modified to include one or more sources of vibrational energy. The liquid is directed through a conduit within the separator. This conduit can be configured into a tortuous flow path to assist in the separation of solids from the liquid, the tortuous path being interconnected between two separation towers. Vibrational energy and gas sparging is applied to the flow path. As solids fall out of solution, they are collected. The clarified liquid is also collected. A vacuum can be applied to the system to assist in moving the solid-liquid mixture through the system and to provide vacuum clarification. Electrocoagulation electrodes can also be employed.