University of Tulsa

Multiphase Systems Integration

Ram S Mohan

Ovadia Shoham

Ramin Dabirian

Srinivas Swaroop Kolla

Luis Eduardo Gomez

Hariprasad Janakiram Subramani

Gene Edward Kouba

Prem Kumar Bikkina

Shoubo Wang

Lida Baghernejad

Erin Iski

Cristian Daniel Nunez

Seyi Odueyungbo

Ilias Gavrielatos

An oil-water emulsion breakup system. In one embodiment, the system includes an oil-water mixture inlet line configured to receive an oil and water liquid mixture, which may be stabilized by hydrophobic nanoparticles, surfactants of low HLB value, or both. A water injection inlet in communication with the oil-water mixture inlet is configured to direct water into the oil-water mixture inlet. A water sensor is in communication with the oil-water mixture inlet to sense percentage of water in the mixture. A water injection valve in the water injection inlet is in communication with the water sensor. A liquid-liquid separator has an inlet configured to receive a combination of the oil and water mixture and the water, with the separator separating liquid into an oil phase and a water phase. An upper leg in communication with the liquid-liquid separator receives oil separated from the separator. A lower leg in communication with the liquid-liquid separator receives water separated in the liquid-liquid separator.

Oil-water emulsion breakup (OWEB) process and system

An annular axial mixing system for combined gas and liquid flow. The system includes a gas-liquid separator to separate a multiphase gas and liquid into a gas flow and a liquid flow. A lower leg in communication with the gas-liquid separator is configured to receive liquid flow. An upper leg in communication with the gas-liquid separator is configured to receive gas flow. An annular mixing chamber receives gas from the upper leg. A static liquid chamber, at least a portion of which is within the mixing chamber, is in communication with the lower leg and includes perforations therein to receive gas bubbles from the gas in the annular mixing section chamber in order to mix the flows.

Annular axial mixing system for gas-liquid flow

The present disclosure provides a gas-liquid flow separation system configured to separate a fluid stream containing both gas and liquid components into separate gas and liquid streams. The separation of the components permits the collection of data relating to the volume of each stream. In some embodiments, the separation system provides for the subsequent recombination of the streams in a homogeneous mixture for processing by downstream facilities. Also, the present disclosure provides a manifold system configured to receive fluid streams from a plurality of sources, combine the streams into a single blended stream containing both gas and liquid components. Subsequently, the system provides for separation of the gas from the liquid components and optional recombination of the same.

Gas&#x2014;liquid flow splitting (GLFS) system

Embodiments of a Flow Conditioning System ('FCS') of this disclosure may be used for homogenizing a fluid containing a gas phase and a liquid phase. In some embodiments the FCS may be applied to a fluid containing hydrocarbons. The FCS may be located where appropriate, including but not limited to subsea. The FCS may be used for homogenizing slug flow. In embodiments, the FCS may be composed of an outer shroud pipe section, into which a concentric perforated smaller pipe is inserted at the top. The inlet slug flow regime is changed at the shroud section whereby the slugs are broken, transitioning to well-mixed flow regimes, such as bubbly flow or continuous churn flow. The bubbly or continuous churn flow that occur in the shroud section are forced to pass through the perforations of the perforated smaller diameter pipe, which promote a more thorough mixing of the phases upstream of devices such as multiphase pumps.

Flow conditioning system for homogenizing slug flow

Disclosed is a compact separation system suitable for separating components of a multiphase fluid stream. The compact separation system utilizes a cylindrical cyclone in conjunction with a filtration system. The filtration system incorporates filtration media having at least one of the following characteristics: hydrophilic-oleophobic characteristics or oleophilic-hydrophobic characteristics. The separation system is configured to substantially preclude gas under-carrying into the liquid conduit lines.

Compact gas-liquid filtration cyclone separation unit

A filter medium for oil-water separation, the filter medium being a composite, nanofibrous mat formed from electrospinning a single solution of one natural polymer and one synthetic polystyrene polymer together, where fibers of the natural polymer are reinforced by fibers of the synthetic polystyrene polymer. The nanofibrous mat may initially be hydrophobic and oleophilic, making it a suitable filter medium for separating oil from oil-water mixtures. The mat may be treated with one or more surfactants to change the surface wettability of the mat to hydrophilic and oleophobic for separating water from oil-water mixtures or to hydrophobic and oleophobic for separating oil and water droplets from wet gas.

Highly selective, ultralight, electro-spun filter media for separating oil-water mixtures

A wedge floatation device includes a bottom section and a sidewall positioned around a perimeter of the bottom section to contain a liquid within the wedge floatation device. The bottom section includes an outer portion and a plateau portion centrally positioned in the bottom section. The plateau portion is raised to a height above the outer portion and below a top edge of the sidewall. The plateau portion includes a groove that is substantially concentric with an outer perimeter of the plateau portion. The groove is designed to dampen the velocity of a liquid directed from the outer perimeter of the plateau portion to a center of the plateau portion. The bottom section further includes a transition portion extending between the outer portion and the plateau portion. The transition portion surrounds the outer perimeter of the plateau portion. The outer portion surrounds a perimeter of the transition portion.

Method and device for determining solid particle surface energy

A method of determining solid particle surface energy includes placing solid particles in a container made of a very high surface energy material and pouring a liquid into the container. The method further includes tilting the container to drain out from the container a first subset of the solid particles floating at a top surface of the liquid and tilting the container to move the liquid away from a second subset of the solid particles that are below the top surface. The method also includes tilting the container to move the liquid back toward the second subset of the solid particles such that at least a portion of the second subset of particles floats at the top surface of the liquid and tilting the container to drain out from the container the portion of the second subset of the solid particles now floating at the top surface of the liquid.

A method and apparatus for inline, controlled water separation from a multiphase hydrocarbon production stream. The method includes the steps of directing the multiphase hydrocarbon production stream to a gas/liquid separator in order to separate into a gas stream and a liquid stream. The level of liquid in the gas/liquid separator is monitored and controlled. The liquid stream removed from the gas/liquid separator is directed to an enlarged pipe section in order to separate into an oil portion and a water portion. The level of the oil portion in the enlarged pipe section is monitored and controlled. The water portion from the enlarged pipe section is directed to a liquid-liquid cyclone centrifugal separator in order to separate into a water stream and a hydrocarbon concentrated stream. The water stream from the liquid cyclone centrifugal separator is directed to at least one de-oiling hydrocyclone separator. The oily water stream is directed back to the production stream for further processing and the water stream is delivered for disposal.

Growing community of inventors

Broken Arrow, OK, United States of America

Ram S Mohan