Minghu Jiang

Design and Experimental Study of Hydrocyclone in Series and in Bridge of Downhole Oil/Water Separation System

Hydrocyclone, as the core part of the downhole oil/water separation (DOWS) system, has been used for a long time. But some issues restricted it from extensive and long term utilization in terms of reinjection in the same oil well, offshore oil production and so on. The design in this paper solved the puzzle how to arrange the main devices and their flow channels in the comparatively narrow well bore. Some special ideas were designed to accomplish the function to get more handling capacity by connecting hydrocyclones in bridge and to obtain thicker rude oil by connecting hydrocyclones in series. Experimental study has been carried on which shows the hydrocyclones connecting both in series and in bridge can satisfy the corresponding application in DOWS. This study can arouse new efforts to separate more water in well bore than ever which can greatly decrease the burden of water treatment and gain more economic efficiency.Copyright

Research on the Pressure Field and Production Ability of Compound Hydrocyclone

Compound hydrocyclone is an important separation equipment in oilfield waste water treatment. In order to grasp the equipment separation characteristics, its pressure field and production ability research is becoming more and more important. In the process of pressure or pressure drop deduced, the hydrocyclone’s vortex field is divided into two parts: semi-free vortex area and compulsive vortex area. In the free vortex area, the pressure and the pressure drop are all deduced by the tangential equation, the pressure gradient equation and the relationship equation of tangential velocity in the hydrocyclone body and the velocity of the rotary crib. In the compulsive vortex area, the pressure and the pressure drop are deduced by the velocity equation and the hydrocyclone’s separation equation. As to the respect of the production ability, it is fixed on the relationship of the inlet flow-rate, overflow pipe diameter, the main diameter of the compound hydrocyclone, pressure drop and the inlet liquid density. The research indicates that the pressure or the pressure drop are all connected with compound hydrocyclone’s diameter, rotary crib’s running velocity and diameter of the maximum tangential velocity track face. As the results of the research, the ascertained key operators, pressure and the pressure drop, the hydrocyclone’s production ability can provide designing consult for the hydrocyclone designers.Copyright

Effects of Geometric and Operating Parameters on the Separation Performance of Air-Injected De-Oil Hydrocyclone

A new type hydrocyclone, air-injected de-oil hydrocyclone (AIDOH), was developed. Basic separation principle of the AIDOH, prototype structure, experimental technical process and facilities are introduced. The effect of different geometric parameters, including vortex finder diameter and length, micro-pore diameter, and different operating conditions, such as flowrate, split ratio, gas-liquid ratio, and air-injecting position, were studied. Laboratory experiments were carried out first to provide basis for field tests. The field research indicates that, for around 1000 mg/l polymer-flooding oily produced-water, the optimum flowrate is 4.20 m3 /h for the testing prototype, the split ratio should be 30%; gas-liquid ratio 0.45. It also shows that 20–40 µm micro-pore materials are optimum diameter for hydrocyclonic separation enhancement Research indicates that the AIDOH has satisfied separation effect, which is feasible for emulsified oil treatment. The AIDOH will have better application prospect in petrochemical, environmental field, especially for offshore application, to reduce space occupied by normal water treatment facilities.© 2006 ASME

Separation Characteristics Study on Hydrocyclone-Filter

In order to improve the oilfield waste water treatment efficiency, a new type separation equipment hydrocyclone-filter is developed. With the main separating structure manufactured with PE-X series capillary material, the hydrocyclone-filter’s separating capability and the relationship between the oil concentration in the filtered water and the filtering speed are all discussed in detail. The tests in lab indicate that the top separating efficiency 99.5% can be gained when the split-ratio is 15% on the PE-8 capillary material cyclone body, and the value 15% is the optimal split-ratio to all type cyclone separating body (PE-X series).The new equipment hydrocyclone-filter offers a new measure to the sewage treatment in oil field.Copyright

Development of Oil-Water Separation Hydrocyclones for Oilfield Produced-Fluid Pre-Treatment

Research background is first introduced, and the structural type of the hydrocyclone used for produced-fluid pre-separation is defined. The effect of geometric parameters on separation performance is studied and analyzed. The parameters include nominal diameter, inlet size and its shape, overflow tube diameter and its length, overall length, cone angle, and tail tube length, etc. Oilfield experiments were carried out. By oilfield pilot test, the results of both parallel-type hydrocyclones and vessel-type hydrocyclones were tested and contrasted. By using vessel-type hydrocyclones, 5000m3 /d scale oilfield experiments were taken. The industrial experimental results show that the studied hydrocyclones are feasible for oilfield produced-fluid pre-treatment. When the water-cut of produced-fluid is above 85%, by two-stage hydrocyclonic separation, the water-cut of the first oil outlet can be dropped down to 30%, and at the same time the oil-cut of the second water outlet can be treated to below 1000mg/L.Copyright