Schlumberger Technology Corporation

Ibrahim Babelli

Michel V Berard

Kamal Babour

An in-line flow separator comprises an uphill section of pipeline which, in use, carries a gravitationally stratified flow of a first liquid and a second denser liquid. The second liquid forms a sump extending uphill from the foot of the uphill section, and an interface between the first and second liquids on the uphill section is inclined from the horizontal. An extraction port in the pipeline extracts the second liquid from the sump.

In-line flow separation of fluids in a pipe separator

An in-line flow separator () comprises an uphill section () of pipeline which, in use, carries a gravitationally stratified flow of a first liquid () and a second denser liquid (). The second liquid () forms a sump () extending uphill from the foot of the uphill section (), and an interface between the first and second liquids on the uphill section is inclined from the horizontal. An extraction port () in the pipeline extracts the second liquid from the sump.

A system is provided for measuring flow in a pipeline which, in use, carries a stratified flow of a first liquid and a second, denser liquid. The system comprises: a section of the pipeline in which the stratified flow is uphill; a section of the pipeline in which the stratified flow is downhill; and a holdup meter on each of said pipeline sections for measuring the holdup in each section. The flow rates of the first and second liquids can be calculated from the measured holdups.

Growing community of inventors

Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia

Ibrahim Babelli