Amoco Corporation

Standard Oil Company (indiana)

Steven L Andrews

Grant A Young

William D Wakley

Roy D Lister

Joe C Stall

Donald D Curnutt

A method and related apparatus are disclosed herein for controlling the quantity of oil as a contaminant being discharged with water from a hydrocyclone. The hydrocyclone comprises a conical body with an upper liquid mixture inlet, a drive fluid inlet, an overflow outlet for the separated oil and drive fluid, and an underflow outlet for the separated water. The method includes monitoring the quantity of separated oil with the discharged water and varying the quantity of the drive fluid introduced into the interior of the hydrocyclone whereby the quantity of the oil as a contaminant is minimized.

Method of controlling the separation efficiency of a hydrocyclone

A liquid separator is disclosed for separating a liquid mixture into first and second liquids of different densities. The liquid separator includes a substantially conical chamber having a closed upper portion with a liquid mixture inlet therein. A first liquid collecting mechanism is provided in a lower portion of the conical chamber for collecting and removing a first separated liquid, and a second liquid collecting device surrounds the opening in the lower portion of the conical chamber for collecting and removing a second separated liquid. A return conduit mechanism is provided for returning a portion of the second separated liquid tangentially into an upper portion of the conical chamber to act as a drive fluid to cause the centrally introduced liquid mixture to rotate for effective and efficient separation.

Liquid separator with tangential drive fluid introduction

A technique for continuous gravity separation of a produced oil and water emulsion has particular utility in separating water for reinjection during a waterflood secondary recovery operation without loss of saleable oil. The method employs a flow direction means to introduce the produced oil-water emulsion into a large volume settling tank substantially tangential to the tank wall and then withdraws the separated oil and water. The apparatus of the instant invention comprises: (a) a tank, (b) an oil-water inlet means, (c) a flow direction means connected to the oil-water inlet means to direct the oil-water emulsion into the settling tank tangential to the tank wall, (d) a bottom-center located water outlet pipe, and (e) an oil outlet pipe.

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Tulsa, OK, United States of America

Steven L Andrews