Liquid purification or separation – With gas separator
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-30
2001-04-10
Simmons, David A. (Department: 1724)
Liquid purification or separation
With gas separator
C210S256000, C210S260000, C210S322000, C210S512200, C210S908000, C210SDIG005
Reexamination Certificate
active
06214220
ABSTRACT:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
Not applicable.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
Not applicable
REFERENCE TO A “MICROFICHE APPENDIX”
Not applicable
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to wastewater treatment, particularly to an improved combined process vessel apparatus for separating oil, gas, and solids from influent produced water, such as the wastewater generated from oil and gas well drilling and production operations. More particularly, the present invention relates to an improved combined process vessel apparatus that features primary inlet separation, coalescing media and hydrocyclone separation in a single vessel, saving both platform space and piping.
2. General Background of the Invention
In the oil and gas well drilling industry, offshore platforms that are used in the drilling and production of oil and gas wells generate wastewater material that must be treated. This wastewater material is typically produced water that includes gas and droplets of oil. These droplets of oil must necessarily be removed from the waste stream before the treated water can be recycled or returned to the surrounding marine environment. Indeed, the oil must be removed sufficiently so that the water is clean enough to be discharged into the surrounding marine environment without adversely affecting marine plants and animals.
Patents have been issued that are directed to the concept of cleaning produced water in the oil and gas well drilling and production environment, including e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,681,458; 4,618,430; 4,428,841; 4,252,649; 4,372,757; and 3,893,318, each of which is incorporated herein by reference.
At times, hydrocyclones have been positioned downstream of the flowline that is discharged from an oil and gas separator. Numerous designs of hydrocyclone separators have been developed and utilized in the production of hydrocarbons from subterranean formations. Hydrocyclone separators are being utilized in more applications in hydrocarbon production due to increased environmental concerns regarding the discharge of oil with produced water into bodies of water. Examples of hydrocyclone separators are disclosed in the following patents, each of which is incorporated herein by reference: U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,237,006; 4,251,368; 4,544,486; 4,576,724; 4,464,264; and 4,683,061.
Other separate vessels that have been used to treat oily wastewater include, for example, gas flotation vessels, skim piles (see U.S. Pat. No. 3,893,918), and closed drain reflux skimmers.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The apparatus of the present invention provides an improved wastewater treatment apparatus that features combined process vessel technology.
The present invention provides an improved wastewater treatment apparatus in the form of a horizontal or vertical vessel that combines many features in one vessel.
The apparatus of the present invention can be used for produced water and open drain cleaning and disposal.
The present invention provides an improved apparatus for removing both oil and gas from a wastewater flow stream. The apparatus includes a vessel having an interior and a vessel wall. A flow inlet transmits wastewater to the vessel interior.
The vessel provides a primary oil outlet and a secondary oil outlet. A primary inlet separation device preliminarily separates gas and oil from wastewater that enters the vessel interior via the flow inlet.
The primary inlet separation device can be used to preliminarily separate gas, oil or solids from the wastewater flow stream that enters the vessel.
Coalescing media is positioned in between the primary inlet separation device and the secondary oil outlet. A de-oiler hydrocyclone separator device comprises one or more hydrocyclone liners positioned within a hydrocyclone separator that is contained within the vessel interior. The hydrocyclone separator devices are positioned upstream of the secondary oil outlet and downstream of the matrix of coalescing media.
The primary inlet separation device is preferably a cyclone type separator device. The vessel can be an elongated, horizontally positioned vessel or an elongated vertically positioned vessel.
The upper end portion of the vessel can include a gas space for collecting gas and a gas outlet fitting for withdrawing gas through the vessel wall at the gas space. A bucket and weir arrangement can be provided to receive and collect oil that enters the interior from the flow inlet. The vessel interior can be maintained at either atmospheric pressure or pressurized during use.
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Engineering Specialties, Inc.
Garvey, Smith, Nehrbass & Doody LLC
Hoey Betsey Morrison
Simmons David A.
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