Underwater Gas Liquid Separation Tubular Injection Line

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing underwater gas/liquid separation facilities for multiphase hydrocarbon mixtures face challenges such as foaming, uneven residence time, clogging, and reduced efficiency due to radial slots, which lead to entrainment of gas and liquid phases, and increased risk of damage from impurities and abrasion.

Innovation Solution

An underwater facility with a tubular injection line lacking radial openings, where the multiphase hydrocarbon mixture is injected through a single axial opening, promoting a controlled gas/liquid interface and minimizing shearing, and utilizing a compact separating chamber design with a secondary separating zone to enhance gas/liquid separation efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If radial slots are used in the injection line, then the multiphase hydrocarbon mixture can be distributed, but foaming occurs due to shearing of the fluid

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefluid distributionVSAvoidfoaming

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention removes the radial slots from the injection line, extracting the harmful shearing action that causes foaming while maintaining the core function of fluid injection through the axial opening at the free end

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of distributing fluid through radial openings along the injection line, the invention inverts the approach by concentrating injection through a single axial opening at the free end, allowing natural separation to occur without artificial shearing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Productivity

If radial slots are used in the injection line, then fluid can be injected, but gas bubbles are dispersed into finer bubbles that are harder to coalesce

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefluid injectionVSAvoidgas/liquid separation efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The radial slots are removed from the injection line, eliminating the mechanism that breaks gas bubbles into finer, harder-to-coalesce bubbles, thereby improving gas/liquid separation efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention inverts the injection approach from distributed radial slots to a concentrated axial opening, allowing gas bubbles to maintain larger sizes and coalesce more effectively for improved separation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Productivity

If the multiphase hydrocarbon mixture flows through lower radial slots, then it can be injected, but it is aspirated directly downwards by the lifting pump with priority, reducing residence time

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefluid injectionVSAvoidresidence time

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The lower radial slots are removed, eliminating the preferential downward flow path that causes rapid aspiration by the lifting pump, thereby increasing residence time for gas/liquid separation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of injecting fluid through lower radial slots that lead to rapid downward aspiration, the invention uses an axial opening at the free end that promotes upward flow and longer residence time in the separating chamber

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

4Ease of operation

If radial slots are used in the injection line, then fluid distribution is achieved, but clogging and abrasion from impurities occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefluid distributionVSAvoidclogging and abrasion resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The radial slots are removed from the injection line, eliminating the numerous small openings that are prone to clogging by impurities and causing abrasion, thereby improving reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of using multiple radial slots that are vulnerable to clogging and abrasion, the invention inverts to a single axial opening that is more resistant to these degradation mechanisms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

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 solution improves the efficiency of gas/liquid separation by controlling the gas/liquid interface, reducing foaming, and minimizing clogging and abrasion, while maintaining compact dimensions and reducing installation costs.

Implementation Method 1

Gravity separation of the gas phase comprising the gaseous hydrocarbons from the liquid phase comprising the liquid hydrocarbons and water

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravity separation: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentUS10864462B2Underwater facility for gas/liquid separation

Publication Date: 2020.12.15 TECH FRANCE SA

AI summary

An underwater facility (18) for the gas/liquid separation of a multiphase hydrocarbon mixture includes an underwater supply conduit (16) and a longitudinal separation chamber (26) intended to be installed substantially vertically, the separation chamber (26) having a lower end (30) and an opposing upper end (28), and an intermediate separation area (32), the separation chamber (26) further comprising an injection conduit (34) connected to the supply conduit (16), the injection conduit extending longitudinally into the intermediate area (32), the injection conduit having a tubular wall and a free opening that opens towards the upper end (28). The tubular wall is continuous to be impervious to the multiphase hydrocarbon mixture.