Gas separation: apparatus – Degasifying means for liquid – Liquid flow slinger – spreader – deflector – disperser – or...
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-24
2001-11-27
Smith, Duane S. (Department: 1724)
Gas separation: apparatus
Degasifying means for liquid
Liquid flow slinger, spreader, deflector, disperser, or...
C096S209000, C096S211000, C096S212000, C096S214000, C166S105500
Reexamination Certificate
active
06322616
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:
This invention relates generally to oil production equipment and more particularly concerns separators for removing gas from oil and for preventing gas lock in an oil well production line.
Present gas separators employ inlet pipes with drilled or cut radial holes or slots for the admission of gas entrained fluid into the separator. Typical gas separators have an efficiency ranging from 15 to 40%. Their efficiency is generally inversely related to the quantity of fluid they process. The industry also uses “knockers” which jar the pump in order to prevent gas lock. These devices are generally made of exotic metal and are, therefore, comparatively expensive. Furthermore, despite the greater materials expense, their moving parts demonstrate a high rate of fatigue and failure. Other devices employ springs or other tension mechanisms to assist in the operation of the gas ports. However, these mechanisms are subject to corrosion and collapse. Back pressure valves have also been used to maintain the gas in a constant state of motion, but this solution increases the number of moving and changeable parts and therefore increases ordinary maintenance as well as failure down time.
All of the known separators rely to a great extent on gravity as the sole separating force. While some of the entrained gas may be separated from the fluid at the edges of the inlets to the separator, this contribution to separation is minimal.
It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a gas separator for an oil well production line which requires no moving parts. Another object of this invention is to provide a gas separator for an oil well production line which has a relatively high efficiency. A further object of this invention is to provide a gas separator for an oil well production line which does not require jarring of the pump in normal operation. Yet another object of this invention is to provide a gas separator for an oil well production line which takes advantage of gravitational forces in the separation process. It is also an object of this invention to provide a gas separator for an oil well production line which increases the effectiveness of shear forces in the separation process. Still another object of this invention is to provide a gas separator for an oil well production line which uses centrifugal force as an aid to the separation process. An additional object of this invention is to provide a gas separator for an oil well production line which subjects the gas entrained fluid to centrifugal force without the use of moving parts.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:
In accordance with the invention, a gas separator connectable between the seating nipple/pump and the mud anchor of a well production line takes advantage of gravitational, shear and centrifugal forces to detrain gas from the formation fluid. An outer cylindrical tube is concentrically secured by upper and lower couplings in relation to an inner cylindrical tube having an axial flow passage and a plurality of radial perforations. The couplings also close the upper and lower ends of the annulus formed between the outer and inner cylindrical tubes. The upper coupling is adapted for connection to the seating nipple/pump and the lower coupling is adapted for connection to the mud anchor. The couplings each have a passage therethrough to extend the inner tube axial flow passage in fluid communication between the pump and the mud anchor. The outer cylindrical tube has a plurality of inwardly downwardly centrifugally oriented passages for admitting liquid entrained with gas into the annulus and for causing the admitted liquid to flow in a downward spiral in the annulus. Fiberglass wear rings may be inserted between the couplings and the ends of the outer cylindrical tube.
Preferably, the centrifugally oriented passages have irregular sawtooth surfaces extending downwardly at approximately a 10 degree angle from horizontal and approximately tangentially in relation to the inner wall of the outer cylindrical tube. Passages of cross-sectional area equivalent to an approximately 0.04″ diameter hole disposed in a staggered approximately ⅜″ by ⅜″ array on the outer wall of the outer cylindrical tube provide a satisfactory fluid flow rate into the separator. An outer cylindrical tube approximately 6′ long with an inner diameter of approximately 3.13″ and an outer diameter of approximately 3.88″ in conjunction with the other criteria hereinbefore stated has performed satisfactorily. All of the above criteria are satisfactorily met by the use of an open weaver fiberglass pipe.
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Kennedy Howard L.
Lewis Gary W.
Catalano Frank J.
SDH, Inc.
Smith Duane S.
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