The Babcock & Wilcox Company

Mcdermott Technology, Inc.

Daniel Patrick Birmingham

John W Berthold

William P Prueter

Matthew James Reed

A method and apparatus for separating a wellhead fluid mixture containing oil and gas phases obtained from hydrocarbon production systems into its constituent parts employs a pressure vessel having an inlet for entry of the wellhead fluids mixture and an outlet for exit of a separated gas referred to as export gas. A primary centrifugal separator is provided in the pressure vessel for centrifugally separating a first portion of the oil from the wellhead fluids mixture to produce a wet gas containing some remaining oil. A second centrifugal separator is also provided in the vessel and performs a second centrifugal separation operation on the wet gas to remove substantially all of the remaining oil from the wet gas to produce the export gas which is conveyed out of the pressure vessel. The oil and remaining oil separated from the wellhead fluids mixture is conveyed from the pressure vessel via another outlet.

Compact, high-efficiency, gas/liquid separator method and apparatus

A sensor apparatus and method for identifying a restriction in the flowline of a hydrocarbon production system, utilizes an optical fiber or optical fiber cable which is engaged along and preferably spirally wound around and along the flowline. Spaced apart strain gauges which are advantageously in the form of Bragg grating sensors, are engaged with the optical fiber at spaced locations along the flowline. The strain gauges are also engaged with the flowline to measure strain in the flowline. The hoop strain in particular indicates a change in pressure which can be measured by light signals supplied to and received from the optical fiber. Differences in strain along the flowline indicate pressure gradients in the flowline which in turn identify restrictions in the flowline.

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North Canton, OH, United States of America

Daniel Patrick Birmingham