Two Phase Separation

Separation Process
• Reservoir fluids tend to • Overview of Separator
separate into phases Classification
as they experience
pressure and
temperature drop.

• The physical separation

of these phases is
one of the basic
Operation in
O&G Industry
• Seperation is achieved
by a mechanical means
@specific temperature
and pressure
General Separation Principles
• The principal methods for the
separation of heterogeneous
mixtures could be classified as:
• Settling and sedimentation:
– In settling processes, particles
with higher density are
separated from a fluid by
gravitational forces acting on
the particles.
– Can be used to separate any
particle from any fluid,
whether it is a liquid from a
gas, a solid from a liquid, or a
liquid from a liquid (with
different densities)
• Inertial and centrifugal separation
– This method is similar to
sedimentation, but some forces
are added in order to get a
better separation.
– Inertial separation is done by
giving the particles downward
momentum, in addition to
the gravitational force.
• Electrostatic precipitation
– It is generally used to separate
particulate matter that is easily
ionized from a gas stream by
using an electric charge.
– The principal actions are the
charging of particles and forcing
them to the collector plates
Vapour- Liquid Separator
Vapor-Liquid Separator • Vapor-liquid separators are very
• A vapor-liquid separator widely used in many industries
is a vessel into which a such as:
liquid and vapor mixture – Oil refineries
is fed. – Natural gas processing
plants
• The liquid is separated by – Petrochemical and
gravity which falls to the chemical
bottom of the vessel, and plants
is withdrawn. – Refrigeration systems
• The vapor travels upward – Air conditioning
at a design velocity which
minimizes the liquid – Compressor systems for air
entrainment. or gases
– Gas pipeline
 Separators in the Oil &Gas industry
• By Configuration By Operational Pressure Rating.
– Vertical Separators • Low Pressure Separator (LP)
– Horizontal Separators – Large Liquid Phase compared to Gas
Phase
– Low Operating Pressure (14.7 – 225 Psi)
– Production of Low API Oil
• By Function • Medium Pressure Separators
– Two – Phase – Pressure Range →230 – 700psi.
Separators
– Three -Phase • High Pressure Separators
Separators – High Pressure (Gas Distillate ) separators
– Large Gas Phase Volume Compared to
Liquid
– Production of High API Liquid
Separators in the Oil&Gas industry……
By Application
– Test Separators
– Production
Separators
– Stage Separators
 Separators in Oil & Gas Industry……
• Factors Affecting Separation
– Gas and liquid flow rates – Presence of impurities
(minimum, average, and peak) (paraffin, sand, scale,
– Operating and design etc.)
pressures and temperatures – Corrosive tendencies of
– Physical properties of the the liquids or gas
fluids such as density and
compressibility
– Designed degree of separation
(e.g., removing 100% of
particles greater than 10
microns)
Separator Vessel Descriptiom

Separator vessels usually

contain as follow: 3. Coalescing section.
1. Primary section. 4. Sump or liquid collecting
2. Secondary section (gravity section
settling).
 Common Separator Internals
Primary separation section
(entrance):
• For separating the bulk
of the
liquid from the gas.
• It is desirable to remove the
liquid slugs and large droplets of
liquid quickly from the gas
stream, and to remove gas from
the liquid.
Secondary separation section:
• For removing smaller particles
of
liquid by gravity
• Settling depends to a large extent
on the decreased gas velocity and
reducing the turbulence of gas.
Liquid separation section (or the liquid
accumulation section):
• For removing gas bubbles which
may
be occluded with the liquid,
• For sufficient storage of the liquid to
handle the slugs of liquid anticipated in
routine operation.
Mist extractor or eliminator section:
• For liquid carried over into the gas
which did not separate in the
secondary section
Separator by Configuration- Horizontal
 Separator by Configuration- Horizontal
Horizontal Separator
• This Liquid collection section
• The fluid enters the separator provides the retention time
required to let entrained gas
and hits an inlet diverter evolve out of the oil and rise to
causing a sudden change in the vapor space.
momentum.
• The liquid then leaves the
• The initial gross separation of vessel through the liquid dump
liquid and vapor occurs at the valve.
inlet diverter.
• The liquid dump valve is
• The force of gravity causes the regulated by a level controller.
liquid droplets to fall out of the
gas stream to the bottom of
the vessel where it is collected. • The level controller senses
changes in liquid level and
controls the dump valve
accordingly.
Separator by Configuration- Vertical

Vertical Separation • The level controller

• The inlet diverter does the and liquid dump valve
operate the same as in a
initial gross separation. horizontal separator
• The liquid flows down to • The gas flows over the
the liquid collection section inlet diverter and then
of the vessel. vertically upward
toward the gas outlet.
• As the liquid reaches
equilibrium, gas bubbles • In the gravity settling
flow counter to the section the liquid drops
direction of the liquid flow fall vertically
and eventually migrate to downward counter to
the vapor space. the gas flow.
Separator by Configuration- Vertical

• Gas goes
through the
mist extractor
section before
it leaves the
vessel.
Pressure and
level are
maintained as
in a
horizontal
separator.
Comparison of Different Gravity Separators
Parameters Vertical Separators
Advantage 1.Easier to clean
2. Saves space
3. Provides better surge control
4.Liquid level control is not
critical
5.Less tendency for re-
evaporization of liquid into
the gas phase due to the
relatively greater vertical
distance between liquid level
and gas outlet
Horizontal
1. Can handle much higher gas-oil
ratio well streams because the
design permits much higher gas
velocities
2. Cheaper than the vertical
separator
3. Easier and cheaper to ship and
assemble
4. Requires less piping for field
connections
5. Reduces turbulence and
reduces foaming (thus, it can
handle foaming crude)
Comparison of Different Gravity Separators
Parameters Vertical Horizontal
Disadvantages 1. It takes a longer 1. Greater space requirements
Diameter separator for generally
a given gas capacity as 2. Liquid level control more critical
compared to horizontal 3. Surge space is
separator somewhat limited
2. More expensive to 4. Much harder to clean (hence a
fabricate bad choice in any sand producing
3. Difficult and more area)
expensive to ship
(transport)

Ideal Use Low to intermediate GOR High GOR crudes, foaming

and where relatively large crudes, or for liquid/liquid
slugs of liquid are expected separation.
Desalting
 DESALTING
• Removal of salts from crude is called Desalting

• The salt content in the crude oil varies depending on source

of the crude oil.  When a mixture from many crude oil
sources is processed in refinery, the salt content can vary
greatly.
 Why do we Use Desalting Unit?
• Crude oil introduced to refinery processing contains many
undesirable impurities, such as sand, inorganic salts, drilling
mud, polymer, corrosion byproduct, etc.

• The purpose of desalting is to remove these undesirable

impurities, especially salts and water, from the crude oil
prior to distillation.

When do we Use a Desalter?

As soon as refinery receive oil, the oil is desalted before
entering into any other process in Refinery.
 Functioning of Desalter
• Desalter removes salt and water in crude feed.
• Oil is heated at excessive temp, causing salts to be very
corrosive.
• Chemicals which are called breakables are added into the
crude feed.
• The breakables caused the salt and oil to de-emulsified.
• Then water is added into the coming crude, salts are
dissolved in the water and entered into the desalting unit.
• To ensure desalting, electrostatic grids are added to optimize
the coalescence of salt & water.
• When the water level is too high, the grids automatically
shuts down as a safety measure.
• The chemicals are removed from the bottom of the unit and
while the clean oil effluent is ready for the distillation.
 Process Description
Stage 1:
Crude oil is heated to temp in range of 120-130C by heat
exchanger.
Result:
The viscosity of crude oil is reduced & flow condition
improved. This also helps in mixing of crude oil with water &
further separation.

Stage 2:
Water de-mineralized is added to crude oil stream.
Result:
The oil salt content water is diluted & low salt content water is
achieved.
Stage 3:
The emulsified crude oil feed in de-salter vessel under a
low viscosity condition & subject to voltage at electric field.
Result:
The droplets of water disperse & separate from emulsion (oil
phase) along with salt.

Stage 4:
The crude oil flows from the top section of vessel & water from
bottom is removed.
Result:
De-salting of crude oil occurs.
 Benefits of Crude Oil Desalting

• Less plugging, scaling, coking of heat exchanger

• Less corrosion in exchanger, fractionators, pipelines, etc.

• Better corrosion control in CDU overhead

• Less erosion by solids in control valves, exchanger, furnace,

pumps

• Saving of oil from slops from waste oil