Inclined Plate Oil-Water Separation for Wellhead Produced Fluids
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing centralized treatment methods for high water-cut produced fluid in oilfields face high energy consumption, equipment costs, and operational challenges, while downhole separation technologies are difficult to implement and monitor.
Innovation Solution
A wellhead oil-water separation device with a simple structure and physical methods for on-site separation, utilizing inclined longitudinal plates to separate oil and water phases through buoyancy and gravity, with a collection system for efficient oil and suspended solids removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If centralized treatment mode is used for high water-cut produced fluid, then treatment capacity is improved, but energy consumption increases and operational reliability deteriorates due to overload operation
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the centralized treatment system into distributed wellhead separation units. Each wellhead is equipped with an independent oil-water separation device, segmenting the treatment process from a single centralized location to multiple distributed locations, thereby reducing transport distance and energy consumption while maintaining treatment capacity
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a single-dimensional centralized treatment approach to a multi-dimensional distributed separation network. By adding the spatial dimension of distribution across multiple wellheads, the system achieves both high treatment capacity and low energy consumption simultaneously
2Productivity
If downhole cyclone separation device is used, then water separation capability is improved, but device complexity and equipment cost increase due to high wellbore structure requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces the complex mechanical downhole cyclone separation system with a simpler wellhead separation device that uses natural buoyancy and gravity forces. This substitution eliminates the need for high-speed rotation mechanisms and complex wellbore structures while maintaining effective water separation capability
Solution Approach 2:
The wellhead separation device utilizes natural physical forces (buoyancy and gravity) to perform separation without requiring complex mechanical systems or external energy input. The device serves itself by leveraging the inherent properties of oil-water mixtures, eliminating the need for sophisticated wellbore structures
3Productivity
If downhole separation technology is used, then on-site separation is achieved, but monitoring capability deteriorates due to difficulties in detecting downhole separation effect
Solution Approach 1:
The invention inverts the separation location from downhole to wellhead, moving the separation process to an accessible location where monitoring and detection are straightforward. This positional inversion maintains on-site separation benefits while eliminating monitoring difficulties associated with downhole operations
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables on-site separation and treatment of wellhead produced fluid, reducing costs and energy consumption, and improving operational efficiency by avoiding long-distance transport, with high separation efficiency and a small footprint.
Implementation Method 1
small oil droplets dispersed in the water become larger ones through collision coalescence and wetting coalescence, which float up along the lower surface of the inclined longitudinal plate member under the action of buoyancy
Implementation Method 2
Fine suspended solids in the water collide and coalesce with each other so that the particle sizes thereof become larger. Then, these suspended solids slide down along an upper surface of the longitudinal plate member under the action of gravity
Data Source
AI summary
An oil-water separation apparatus has a housing that contains at least one longitudinal plate member arranged in a longitudinal direction of the housing (10) and inclined relative to a horizontal direction. The longitudinal plate member forms at least one fluid channel in an inner chamber of the housing. A first guiding hole is provided on the longitudinal plate member or between the longitudinal plate member and an inner wall of the housing, and is in communication with the fluid channel. A second guiding hole is provided on the longitudinal plate member or between the longitudinal plate member and the inner wall of the housing, and is in communication with the fluid channel and is placed lower than the first guiding hole is positioned. A collection pipe is arranged at a longitudinal downstream end of the housing, and is in communication with the inner chamber of the housing.