Horizontal production separator with helical emulsion circulation coils

Abstract

A separator for separating wellbore emulsions into liquid and gaseous components has helical emulsion preheat coils encircling a single-cylinder, dual chamber firetube disposed inside a horizontal separator vessel. In use, emulsion enters the preheat coils before entering the separator vessel. The flow of emulsion through the helical coils promotes initial separation of the emulsion by means of heat transfer and centrifugal flow. Resultant centripetal force separates lighter gaseous and liquid particles toward the inside of the helical coils, while heavier emulsion fractions condense toward the outside of the helical coils. The use of helical preheat coils and a single-cylinder, dual-chamber firetube eliminate or minimize abrupt changes in emulsion flow direction that are characteristic of prior art separators, resulting in reduced wear in both the coils and the firetube.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A separator assembly comprising:
 (a) a separator vessel having an interior chamber, a first end, and a first removable vessel head associated with said first end of the separator vessel;   (b) a firetube disposed within the interior chamber of the separator vessel;   (c) a burner associated with a first end of the firetube; and   (d) one or more helical coils for receiving a flow of emulsion, said one or more helical coils being disposed around the firetube.   
     
     
         2 . A separator assembly as in  claim 1  wherein the firetube is a single-cylinder firetube having a lower firetube chamber and an upper firetube chamber. 
     
     
         3 . A separator assembly as in  claim 1  wherein the one or more helical coils are of generally circular configuration as seen in end view. 
     
     
         4 . A separator assembly as in  claim 1  wherein the firetube is a U-shaped firetube. 
     
     
         5 . A separator assembly as in  claim 4  wherein the one or more helical coils are of generally circular configuration as seen in end view. 
     
     
         6 . A separator assembly as in  claim 4  wherein the one or more helical coils are of generally elliptical configuration as seen in end view. 
     
     
         7 . A separator assembly as in  claim 1  wherein the one or more helical coils, the firetube, and the first vessel head form a subassembly that is removable from the interior chamber of the separator vessel. 
     
     
         8 . A separator assembly as in  claim 7  wherein the subassembly further includes the burner. 
     
     
         9 . A separator assembly as in  claim 1  wherein the first removable vessel head is a quick-removal vessel head. 
     
     
         10 . A separator assembly as in  claim 1  wherein the separator vessel is oriented horizontally. 
     
     
         11 . A separator assembly comprising:
 (a) a separator vessel having an interior chamber, a first end, and a first removable vessel head associated with said first end of the separator vessel;   (b) a firetube disposed within the interior chamber of the separator vessel;   (c) a burner associated with a first end of the firetube; and   (d) one or more helical coils for receiving a flow of emulsion, said one or more helical coils being disposed below the firetube.   
     
     
         12 . A separator assembly as in  claim 11  wherein the one or more helical coils are of generally elliptical configuration. 
     
     
         13 . A separator assembly as in  claim 12  wherein the one or more helical coils are contoured for conformation with the shape of the firetube. 
     
     
         14 . A separator assembly as in  claim 11  wherein the one or more helical coils, the firetube, and the first vessel head form a subassembly that is removable from the interior chamber of the separator vessel. 
     
     
         15 . A separator assembly as in  claim 14  wherein the subassembly further includes the burner. 
     
     
         16 . A separator assembly as in  claim 11  wherein the first removable vessel head is a quick-removal vessel head. 
     
     
         17 . A separator assembly as in  claim 11  wherein the separator vessel is oriented horizontally.