Abstract: A separation tank for the separation of a mixture of oil, gas, water, and solids obtained from an oil field includes distinct regions vertically located within the tank interior where constituent components of the mixture can collect. The inflowing mixture may be directed to a vertical column extending inside the separation tank and can be introduced to the tank interior through a swirl vane diffuser configured to impart a helical direction to the inflowing mixture that assist separation of the mixture component. To further facilitate separation of oil from the mixture, the separation tank may be operatively associated with an aeration system configured to generate and introduce an aerated liquid to the tank interior. Gas dissolved in the aerated liquid may form microbubbles that can naturally adhere to the oil and solids separate it from the mixture which can improve the quality of the water.

Abstract: A tank for removing sand entrained in a flow includes an inlet assembly including churn tubes configured to receive fluid provided into the tank such that sand is separated from water, gas and oil present in the flow. An oil outlet port communicates with an oil collection device, and a water outlet port communicates with a water outlet assembly.

Abstract: A collection and concentration system including a separation tank having a plurality of distribution arms configured to separate and recover oil, water, and sediment or sand from an inflowing mixture of the same. The distribution arms are connected to and in fluid communication with a downcomer section of a center column that is vertically arranged in the separation tank. The distribution arms extend radially toward a sidewall of the tank and include tangential discharge nozzles that are tangentially directed toward the sidewall. Inflowing mixture directed tangentially against the sidewall is directed in a downward, helical manner that assists in the separation and recovery of oil, water, and sediment from the inflowing mixture.

Abstract: A separation tank for crude oil. Fluid enters an inlet section of a center column of the tank via an offset inlet pipe so the fluid enters swirling. Solids that settle in the inlet section are removed by a center column drain and a solids removal system. Free gas rises and exits from the top of the tank. Liquid flows out of the center column via a diffuser that spirals the fluid evenly toward the wall of the tank where oil coalesces and wicks upward. Liquid flows downward around two flow diverting baffles where more oil coalesces and wicks upward via an oil conduit into the oil layer. The water flows under the lower flow diverting baffle and exits the tank through the outlet section. A large circular oil collector weir uniformly removes oil from the oil layer. Interface draw offs located below the oil-water interface remove excess BS&W.

Abstract: A de-sanding tank with a conical bottom. The de-sanding tank includes an enclosed tank having a vertical wall that extends down to a flat bottom. A conical bottom is disposed within an interior of the tank. The conical bottom is secured to the vertical wall forming an enclosing space bounded by a wall of the conical bottom and the vertical wall and flat bottom of the tank. A solids outlet is disposed at a lower tip of the conical bottom configured for removal of solids. The conical bottom is supported by a foam structure located within the enclosing space.

Abstract: An automatically skimmable tank for removing oil from water. A water inlet with a 90 degree elbow that is turned sideways and points slight upward causes flow to first impinge on the wall of the tank then flow upward helically around the tank's internal diameter (ID) to maximize retention time so that oil separates from the water. At the tank's upper fluid level, the water flows to the center of the tank, then spirals downward to the bottom and under the incoming fluid flow before exiting via the water outlet. Oil is removed from the tank via an upwardly extending oil outlet riser provided with two horizontal anti-vortex plates. A level transmitter senses the oil-gas and the oil-water interfaces and a programmed PLC activates an oil valve and a low shear oil transfer pump to remove oil from the tank when the oil layer surrounds the anti-vortex plates.

Abstract: An atmospheric vertical oilfield tank designed to pre-condition oilfield fluid streams. Flow enters on tangent a vertical cyclone tube located within the tank and rotates inside the tube. Solids fall downward out of the tube to the bottom of the tank; gases exit upward out of the tube and vent from the tank. Liquids exit the cyclone tube tangential to the ID of the tank, additional solids separation due to impingement, and the liquid flows into the body of the tank where flow slows to allow for settling of solids. Solids are periodically removed from the bottom of the tank. The liquid flows over the top of multiple vertical flow dividing tubes located at the same elevation within the tank, creating separate and equal effluent discharge streams. The tank is taller than destination vessels to provide the height differential necessary to create flow into subsequent tanks without using pumps.

Abstract: A separation tank for crude oil. Fluid enters an inlet section of a center column of the tank via an offset inlet pipe so the fluid enters swirling. Solids that settle in the inlet section are removed by a center column drain and a solids removal system. Free gas rises and exits from the top of the tank. Liquid flows out of the center column via a diffuser that spirals the fluid evenly toward the wall of the tank where oil coalesces and wicks upward. Liquid flows downward around two flow diverting baffles where more oil coalesces and wicks upward via an oil conduit into the oil layer. The water flows under the lower flow diverting baffle and exits the tank through the outlet section. A large circular oil collector weir uniformly removes oil from the oil layer. Interface draw offs located below the oil-water interface remove excess BS&W.

Abstract: A de-sanding tank with a vertical exterior wall and an interior conical bottom with a solids outlet located at a lower tip of the conical bottom. Downwardly and tangentially oriented water jet nozzles within the tank cause a swirling action to remove solids. An enclosing space located between the vertical wall and the conical bottom has a honey-combed structure of closed pore foam as reinforcement for the conical bottom. Compartments within the honey-combed structure fill with water as the vessel is placed in service to add support for the conical bottom. Water enters the compartments via downwardly facing bottom openings that fill a common void located at the bottom of the enclosing space and then into the compartments. Weep holes provided between the top of each compartment and the interior of the tank allow the air from the compartments to enter the tank as the compartments fill.

Abstract: A gun barrel tank for treating raw crude oil mixtures. The fluid mixture enters through a degassing boot where gas is separated from the liquid. The liquid travels through a central column to a horizontal hydraulic distributor located in the lower area of the tank, first entering a central distributor trough, then passing into open bottom horizontal inverted lateral troughs and finally out through a plurality of metering orifices provided near the top edges of the lateral troughs to provide uniform distribution of the liquid in the tank. A circular oil collection trough provided at the top of the tank has a plurality of V-shaped notches on its top edge over which oil flows into an oil collection trough to provided uniform collection of the separated crude. A circular water collector in the bottom of the tank removes separated water, and solids are removed from the bottom of the tank.

Abstract: An atmospheric vertical oilfield tank designed to pre-condition oilfield fluid streams. Flow enters on tangent a vertical cyclone tube located within the tank and rotates inside the tube. Solids fall downward out of the tube to the bottom of the tank; gases exit upward out of the tube and vent from the tank. Liquids exit the cyclone tube tangential to the ID of the tank, additional solids separation due to impingement, and the liquid flows into the body of the tank where flow slows to allow for settling of solids. Solids are periodically removed from the bottom of the tank. The liquid flows over the top of multiple vertical flow dividing tubes located at the same elevation within the tank, creating separate and equal effluent discharge streams. The tank is taller than destination vessels to provide the height differential necessary to create flow into subsequent tanks without using pumps.

Abstract: A separation tank for crude oil. Fluid enters an inlet section of a center column of the tank via an offset inlet pipe so the fluid enters swirling. Solids that settle in the inlet section are removed by a center column drain and a solids removal system. Free gas rises and exits from the top of the tank. Liquid flows out of the center column via a diffuser that spirals the fluid evenly toward the wall of the tank where oil coalesces and wicks upward. Liquid flows downward around two flow diverting baffles where more oil coalesces and wicks upward via an oil conduit into the oil layer. The water flows under the lower flow diverting baffle and exits the tank through the outlet section. A large circular oil collector weir uniformly removes oil from the oil layer. Interface draw offs located below the oil-water interface remove excess BS&W.