Ministry of Higher Education and
Scientific Research
University of Technology
Petroleum Technology Department
Scientific
Report
Oil & Gas Separation
Homam Mohammad R.A
3rd Stage, Morning
Summer Training
Oil & Gas Separation
Prepared by
Homam Mohammad Radhy Alwan
31/August/2020
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Contents
1. Introduction ………………………………………………………...… 3
1.1 Summer Training ………………………………….……………….… 3
1.2 Separation …………………………...…………………………….…. 3
2. Separation System …………………………...………….…………… 3
2.1 Principles of Separation …………………………...…………………. 3
2.2 Types of Separators …………………………...……………………… 3
2.2.1 Vertical Separators …………………………...…….…….………… 4
2.2.2 Horizontal Separators ………………………...…….…….………… 4
2.2.3 Spherical Separators …………………………...…………………… 6
2.4 Selection of Separators …………………………...………...………… 7
3.The importance of training for students ………………….…………. 7
References …………………………...…………………………...……… 8
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1. Introduction:
1.1. Summer Training
It is training for a specific period during the summer vacation of the school year with
the aim of providing them with basic skills that are eligible for the labor market, and
enabling them to invest their spare time during the vacation in a way that benefits
them and benefits them.
1.2 Separation
Oil and gas produced from wells are normally complex mixtures of hundreds of
different compounds. A typical well stream is a turbulent mixture of oil, gas, water,
and sometimes solid particles. The well stream should be processed as soon as
possible after bringing it to the surface. Field separation processes fall into two
categories: (1) separation of oil, water, and gas; and (2) dehydration that removes
condensable water vapor and other undesirable compounds, such as hydrogen sulfide
or carbon dioxide. This chapter focuses on the principles of separation and
dehydration and selection of required separators and dehydrators.
2. Separation System
Separation of well stream gas from free liquids is the first and most critical stage of
field-processing operations. Composition of the fluid mixture and pressure determine
what type and size of separator are required. Separators are also used in other
locations such as upstream and downstream of compressors, dehydration units, and
gas sweetening units. At these locations, separators are referred to as scrubbers,
knockouts, and free liquid knockouts. All these vessels are used for the same purpose:
to separate free liquids from the gas stream.
2.1 Principles of Separation
Separators work on the basis of gravity segregation and/or centrifugal
segregation. A separator is normally constructed in such a way that it has the
following features:
i. It has a centrifugal inlet device where the primary separation of the
liquid and gas is made.
ii. . It provides a large settling section of sufficient height or length to allow
liquid droplets to settle out of the gas stream with adequate surge room
for slugs of liquid.
iii. . It is equipped with a mist extractor or eliminator near the gas outlet to
coalesce small particles of liquid that do not settle out by gravity.
iv. . It allows adequate controls consisting of level control, liquid dump
valve, gas backpressure valve, safety relief valve, pressure gauge, gauge
glass, instrument gas regulator, and piping.
2.2 Types of Separators
Three types of separators are generally available from manufacturers: vertical,
horizontal, and spherical separators. Horizontal separators are further classified into
two categories: single tube and double tube. Each type of separator has specific
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advantages and limitations. Selection of separator type is based on several factors
including characteristics of production steam to be treated, floor space availability at
the facility site, transportation, and cost.
2.2.1 Vertical Separators
Figure 10.1 shows a vertical separator. The inlet diverter baffle is a centrifugal inlet
device making the incoming stream spin around. This action forces the liquid droplets
to stay together and fall to the bottom of the separator along the separator wall due to
gravity. Sufficient surge room is available in the settling section of the vertical
separator to handle slugs of liquid without carryover to the gas outlet. A mist
eliminator or extractor near the gas outlet allows the entrained liquid in the gas to be
almost eliminated.
Vertical separators are often used to treat low to intermediate gas–oil ratio well
streams and streams with relatively large slugs of liquid. They handle greater slugs of
liquid without carryover to the gas outlet, and the action
of the liquid level control is not as critical. Vertical separators occupy less floor space,
which is important for facility sites such as those on offshore platforms where space is
limited. Because of the large vertical distance between the liquid level and the gas
outlet, the chance for liquid to revaporize into the gas phase is limited. However,
because of the natural upward flow of gas in a vertical separator against the falling
droplets of liquid, adequate separator diameter is required. Vertical separators are
more costly to fabricate and ship in skid-mounted assemblies.
2.2.2 Horizontal Separators
Figure 10.2 presents a sketch of a horizontal separator. In horizontal separators, gas
flows horizontally while liquid droplets fall toward the liquid surface. The moisture
gas flows in the baffle surface and forms a liquid film that is drained away to the
liquid section of the separator. The baffles need to be longer than the distance of
liquid trajectory travel. The liquid-level control placement is more critical in a
horizontal separator than in a vertical separator because of limited surge space.
Horizontal separators are usually the first choice because of their low costs. They are
almost widely used for high gas–oil ratio well streams, foaming well streams, or
liquid-from-liquid separation. They have much greater gas–liquid interface because of
a large, long, baffled gas separation section. Horizontal separators are easier to skid
mount and service and require less piping for field connections. Individual separators
can be stacked easily into stage-separation assemblies to minimize space
requirements. Figure 10.3 demonstrates a horizontal double-tube separator consisting
of two tube sections. The upper tube section is filled with baffles, gas flows straight
through and at higher velocities, and the incoming free liquid is immediately drained
section into the lower tube section. Horizontal double tube separators have all the
advantages of normal horizontal single-tube separators, plus much higher liquid
capacities. Figure 10.4 illustrates a horizontal oil–gas–water three phase separator.
This type of separator is commonly used for well testing and in instances where free
water readily separates from the oil or condensate. Three-phase separation can be
accomplished in any type of separator. This can be achieved by installing either
special internal baffling to construct a water leg or water siphon arrangement. It can
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also be achieved by using an interface liquid level control. In three-phase operations,
two liquid dump valves are required.
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2.2.3 Spherical Separators
A spherical separator is shown in Fig. 10.5. Spherical separators offer an inexpensive
and compact means of separation arrangement. Because of their compact
configurations, this type of separator has a very limited surge space and liquid settling
section. Also, the placement and action of the liquid-level control in this type of
separator is very critical.
2.3 Factors Affecting Separation
Separation efficiency is dominated by separator size. For a given separator, factors
that affect separation of liquid and gas phases include separator operating pressure,
separator operating temperature, and fluid stream composition. Changes in any of
these factors will change the amount of gas and liquid leaving the separator. An
increase in operating pressure or a decrease in operating temperature generally
increases the liquid covered in a separator. However, this is often not true for gas
condensate systems in which an optimum pressure may exist that yields the maximum
volume of liquid phase. Computer simulation (flash vaporization calculation) of phase
behavior of the well stream allows the designer to find the optimum pressure and
temperature at which a separator should operate to give maximum liquid recovery
(see Chapter 18). However, it is often not practical to operate at the optimum point.
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This is because storage system vapor losses may become too great under these
optimum conditions.
In field separation facilities, operators tend to determine the optimum conditions for
them to maximize revenue. As the liquid hydrocarbon product is generally worth
more than the gas, high liquid recovery is often desirable, provided that it can be
handled in the available storage system. The operator can control operating pressure
to some extent by use of backpressure valves. However, pipeline requirements for Btu
content of the gas should also be considered as a factor affecting separator operation.
It is usually unfeasible to try to lower the operating temperature of a separator without
adding expensive mechanical refrigeration equipment. However, an indirect heater
can be used to heat the gas before pressure reduction to pipeline pressure in a choke.
This is mostly applied to high-pressure wells. By carefully operating this indirect
heater, the operator can prevent overheating the gas stream ahead of the choke. This
adversely affects the temperature of the downstream separator.
2.4 Selection of Separators
Petroleum engineers normally do not perform detailed designing of separators but
carry out selection of separators suitable for their operations from manufacturers’
product catalogs. This section addresses how to determine separator specifications
based on well stream conditions. The specifications are used for separator selections.
3. The importance of training for students:
1- Increase the student’s ability to excel in his field of specialization, through
what has been learned during the study and applying that in a practical
manner.
2- The ability to creativity and innovation, as a result of practicing their
specialties.
3- Integration into the labor market, and this is what helps them face the
challenges and problems and how to deal with them after graduating from the
university.
4- It provides an opportunity for how to deal with coworkers and managers.
5- Preparing the student and encouraging him to go out to the labor market
without fear or hesitation.
6- Feeling of responsibility and commitment to official work hours.
7- Raise the morale of students in order to search for work after graduation
because of their sense of bearing responsibilities and their ability to perform
the job.
8- Giving distinguished people with competencies an opportunity to be appointed
in the institutions in which they were trained.
9- Enhancing the relationship and relations between the student and the
professional organization, as this period helps the student to submit job offers
before graduation.
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References:
1. SIVALLS, C.R. Fundamentals of oil and gas separation. Proceedings of the
Gas Conditioning Conference, University of Oklahoma, Norman,
Oklahoma, 1977.
2. IKOKU, C.U. Natural Gas Production Engineering. New York: John Wiley &
Sons, 1984.
3. AHMED, T. Hydrocarbon Phase Behavior. Houston: Gulf Publishing
Company, 1989.
