Separators : Comparison

Type of Separators:

l) Vertical Separators

2) Horizontal Separators

3) Spherical separators

l) Vertical Separators:

*Can handle relatively, large liquid slugs,

*Better surge control,

*Used for low to intermediate gas-oil ratio (GOR) wells (less gas, larger liquid portion) /(has larger gas section),

*Can handle more sand (Due to false bottom cone),

*Liquid level control is not as critical,

*Tendency of the liquid to revaporize is also minimized, because less surface area is available to the liquid for evaporation,

*Occupies less floor space (important for offshore use).

*More expensive to fabricate and transport to location,

*A vertical separator for the same capacity is usually larger than a horizontal separator.

2) Horizontal Separators:

*Much greater gas-liquid interface area, permitting higher gas or fluid velocities,

*Can handle large gas volumes,

*Cheaper to fabricate and ship, install and service,

*Minimum turbulence and foaming, (so, can handle high GOR wells)

*For a given capacity, horizontal separators are smaller and cheaper than vertical separators,

*Used for liq-liquid separation (Due to higher residence time).

Size comparison for same capisity

*Liquid level control is critical,

*Surge space is rather limited,

*Harder to clean, (so, not used for sandy well),

*Occupy a lot of space.

3) Spherical Separators:

*Inexpensive, cheaper than either the vertical or the horizontal separators,

*Very compact, and offer better cleanout and bottom drain features than even the vertical type,

*For low to intermediate GOR's. 

*Liquid level control is critical ,

*Very limited surge capacity and liquid settling section

*Not used for 3 phase separation.

so,

for GOR wise,

Spherical Separators<Vertical Separators<Horizontal Separators

(less)                                                                    (more)

for Surge capacity  wise,

Spherical Separators<Horizontal Separators<Vertical Separators

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Cost wise,

Spherical Separators<Horizontal Separators<Vertical Separators

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liquid level criticality,

Spherical Separators>Horizontal Separators>Vertical Separators

(more)                                                                (less)

Space wise,

Spherical Separators<Horizontal Separators<Vertical Separators

(less)                                                                    (more)

  

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