High Pressure Oil Treatment Process

Abstract

A method and apparatus for separating production fluids using a system designed to minimize the heating requirements through thermodynamic efficiency and reduce equipment costs.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for separating production fluids comprising:
 sending production fluids into a fluid separator to generate a first gas output, a first oil output, and a first water output;   heating the first oil output in an oil heater to generate a heated second oil output;   generating a gas slipstream from the first gas output; and   stripping the light hydrocarbons by combining the gas slipstream with the heated second oil output in a gas stripping column to generate a dead third oil output and a second gas output.   
     
     
         2 . A method for separating production fluids of  claim 1  further comprising sending the first water output to a coalescer to generate a third gas output, a second water output, and a coalescer oil output. 
     
     
         3 . A method for separating production fluids of  claim 1  further comprising flashing off light hydrocarbons from the third oil output to generate a fourth oil output and a flash off gas. 
     
     
         4 . A method for separating production fluids of  claim 2  further comprising combusting the light hydrocarbon flash off. 
     
     
         5 . A method for separating production fluids of  claim 1 , wherein the slipstream is generated using a flow control valve on the first gas output. 
     
     
         6 . A method for separating production fluids of  claim 1 , wherein the dead third oil output is suitable for sale in an oil pipeline. 
     
     
         7 . A method for separating production fluids of  claim 1 , further comprising flashing off light hydrocarbons of the first oil output before heating it. 
     
     
         8 . A method for separating production fluids of  claim 1 , wherein the oil heater raises the first oil temperature to 170 F. 
     
     
         9 . A method for separating production fluids of  claim 1 , further comprising maintain a constant oil level in the gas stripping column. 
     
     
         10 . A method for separating production fluids of  claim 1 , further comprising combining the coalescer oil into the first oil output. 
     
     
         11 . A method for separating production fluids of  claim 1 , further comprising sending the third oil output into a flash tank to generate a fourth oil output and a third gas output. 
     
     
         12 . A method for separating production fluids of  claim 1 , further comprising pumping the heated second oil output into flash pot, wherein gas is separated off of the heated second oil output before it enters the gas stripping column. 
     
     
         13 . A method for separating production fluids of  claim 1 , further comprising regulating the pressure on the gas stripper column at or below sales gas pressure.