Separator for liquid hydrocarbon, gas, mud and solids and method of separatin g liquid hydrocarbon, gas, mud and solids

摘要

A separator is disclosed which separates recovered drilling mud for reuse from other associated borehole products. These products include a gas component, a liquid hydrocarbon component, a water based component (drilling mud), and a solid component. This mixture is fed into the separator 10 via a tangential inlet causing a cyclone to form in a first cylindrical section 14 which separates out the gas component and causes partial separation of the remaining components. These components travel down a second cylindrical portion 12 which affects further separation and allows passage of the relatively light hydrocarbon component through a side opening 34. The heavier components move further down the cylindrical portion 12 where they collect in a vessel 11, with drilled solids settling at the bottom of the vessel 1. The liquid hydrocarbon 23 and watery layers 24 are drained automatically.