Oil Field Separator with Equipotential Riser and Spill Preventer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems for separating and measuring crude oil, gas, and water from oil wells face challenges in accuracy due to float bias, fluid spills, and diagnostic testing difficulties, especially with medium to high volume gas presence, leading to contamination and environmental concerns.
Innovation Solution
A portable system with a fluid control manifold, gas vent, spill preventer, and adjustable float within a separation vessel, along with self-contained diagnostics, ensures accurate measurement by minimizing float bias and preventing spills, allowing for precise oil and water volume measurement without contaminating the fluid mixture.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a gas vent is added to remove accumulated gas from the surge tank, then measurement accuracy is improved by preventing gas contamination, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The gas vent assembly is extracted as a separate functional component from the surge tank system. It includes a vent body with a float-operated valve mechanism that automatically opens to release accumulated gas from the surge tank, preventing gas from contaminating the volumetric measurement of oil and water. This extraction of the gas removal function into a dedicated assembly resolves the contradiction by providing accurate measurement without requiring complex integration of gas management into the main measuring device.
2Measurement precision
If both pipelines are elevated to the same height to prevent float bias, then measurement accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional piping requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The lower pipeline is elevated to the same height as the upper pipeline, creating an equipotential configuration that eliminates gravitational bias on the float mechanism. This ensures the float operates solely in response to fluid level changes rather than being influenced by pipeline height differences. The equipotential piping arrangement resolves the contradiction by achieving accurate float-based measurement without requiring complex compensation mechanisms, as the system is designed with equal elevation from the outset.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a spill preventer is added to inhibit oil spills in case of gas vent failure, then environmental protection is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spill preventer assembly is installed as a protective barrier between the surge tank and the environment. It includes a float-operated valve mechanism that automatically closes to prevent oil spills in case of gas vent failure or other malfunctions. This beforehand cushioning approach resolves the contradiction by providing environmental protection through a dedicated safety mechanism that activates automatically upon failure conditions, rather than requiring complex preventive control systems.
4Ease of operation
If the system is designed as a portable unit for easy transfer between well sites, then ease of operation is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase to ensure portability components function correctly
Solution Approach 1:
The entire oil-water measurement system is segmented into a modular portable unit that can be easily transferred between well sites. The unit integrates the surge tank, gas vent assembly, spill preventer, and measurement components into a self-contained configuration. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by allowing the system to be moved as a complete functional module, reducing the need for complex reassembly while maintaining manufacturing precision through standardized connection interfaces and pre-configured internal components.
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
The system provides environmentally friendly and accurate oil well measurements, preventing unnecessary environmental contamination and offering a realistic account of well contents, while ensuring the portability and cost-effectiveness of the testing equipment.
Implementation Method 1
a gas vent affixed to the top of a surge tank whereby the gas may be removed from the fluid mixture before entering the fluid separator
Implementation Method 2
a spill preventer inhibiting an oil spill in case of a gas vent failure
Implementation Method 3
the higher specific gravity fluid to be released from the bottom of the separation vessel through a lower pipeline
Implementation Method 4
allows the fluid of lower specific gravity to be released from the top of the separation vessel through an upper pipeline
Implementation Method 5
an adjustable float within the vessel, which allows the fluid of lower specific gravity to be released
Implementation Method 6
both the pipelines rise to the same height to prevent biasing the float
Data Source
AI summary
An improved fluid separator and tester having a vessel, an adjustably buoyant float member, an external surge tank, and a gas vent connected to the fluid separator having a float and gas valve assembly, the improvement comprising a set of risers set to equal height, at least one valve to redirect fluid flow to test flow meters, and a spill preventer having a connection to a vertical gas valve, a housing, at least one internal freely movable float, upper float seat adapted to receive a float to seal and prevent the escape of particulates while allowing the venting of gas, a float support means, and discharge means for expelling the contents, whereby the improvements provide increased accuracy in determining a volume of each type of input fluid during operations, allow for the assessment of proper operation of the meters, and prevent environmental contamination in the event of system malfunction.