APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR GAS LIQUID SEPARATION IN OIL AND GAS DRILLING OPERATIONS

摘要

A two phase gas-liquid separation apparatus is provided that shapes the flow in a flow shaping line. Shaping the two-phase flow allows centrifugal force to send the heavier, denser liquid to the outside wall of the flow shaping line and allows the lighter, less dense vapor or gas to occupy the inner wall of the flow shaping line. With the gas positioned on the inner wall of the flow shaping line, an exit port on the inner wall will allow for the majority, if not all, of the gas, along with a low amount of liquid, to be sent to a conventional separator. A high ratio of vapor/liquid at a flow rate much lower than the total flow rate within the flow shaping line is sent to the conventional separator. This allows for efficient separation of the vapor from the liquid with the use of a smaller conventional separator.