Patents by Inventor Gunnar Hannibal Lie

Gunnar Hannibal Lie has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8012347
    Abstract: A device for separation of fluid, in particular oil, gas and water, in connection with the extraction of such a fluid from formations under the surface of the earth or the sea bed. The fluid is transported in a supply pipe or transport pipe (4) to a separator (1) in the form of a tubular separator body, a gravitation tank or similar. The separated components, water and oil, are passed out of the separator separately via outlet pipes. The fluid upstream of the separator (1) is subjected to shear forces so that the drops in the supply flow are torn up to form drops that are so small that the interface generally becomes new and “uncontaminated” by surfactants. The shear forces are supplied by a phase inversion device (6) in the form of a valve or similar. Water can expediently be added to the fluid upstream of the phase inversion device (6) to achieve the desired phase inversion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Norsk Hydro ASA
    Inventors: Per Gramme, Gunnar Hannibal Lie
  • Patent number: 7901492
    Abstract: A device in connection with a pipe separator. The pipe separator comprising an extended tubular body (1) with a diameter that is principally the same as or slightly larger than the diameter of the inlet pipe (3) of the pipe separator. A gas manifold (2) is arranged in connection with the inlet pipe. The manifold (2) includes a number of vertical degassing pipes (7), which are connected to the supply pipe (3) immediately ahead of the inlet to the separator and which end in an overlying, preferably slightly inclined gas collection pipe (6). The manifold is designed so that the gas will be diverted up through the vertical degassing pipes and collected in the gas collection pipe (6) for return to the outlet pipe after the separator or transported onwards to a gas tank or gas processing plant or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Norsk Hydro ASA
    Inventors: Per Eivind Gramme, Gunnar Hannibal Lie
  • Patent number: 7803233
    Abstract: A device or arrangement for cleaning a pipe separator (1) in which the separator body (2) includes an extended, tubular body with an inlet (4) and an outlet (5) having essentially the same diameter as the separator body. At the outlet, there is a bend or a loop (3) designed to maintain a fluid level in the separator. Just before the bend, there is an outlet (6) with an outlet pipe (9) for conducting fluid, e.g. water, from the separator. Sand or other particulate materials introduced into the outlet (6) are returned, using a pump (7) arranged on the outlet pipe (9), together with the fluid from the outlet, to the separator after the bend (3) by means of reversal with a valve (8) via a return pipe (11). In connection with the outlet (6), there is a flushing device having a pipe loop (12) connected to the outlet pipe (9) for the return of fluid from the outlet to the nozzles (14) arranged in the outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: Norsk Hydro ASA
    Inventors: Per Eivind Gramme, Gunnar Hannibal Lie
  • Patent number: 7730942
    Abstract: A method and equipment for reducing or avoiding multiple dispersions in fluid flows each having two or more non-mixable fluid components with different specific gravities and viscosities, in particular fluid flows of oil, gas and water from different oil/gas production wells (B1-B8) in formations beneath the surface of the earth or sea. The fluid flow from each well (B1-B8), depending on whether it is oil-continuous (o/w) or water-continuous (w/o), is fed to a transport pipeline (T) so that the oil-continuous fluid flows (o/w) are supplied to the transport line (T) first and the water-continuous fluid flows (w/o) second, or the two fluid flows (o/w, w/o) are fed to two separate transport lines (T1, T2). In a preferred embodiment, the two separate transport lines (T1, T2) may be connected to a common transport line (T); the two fluid flows (o/w, w/o) are mixed before further transport and any subsequent separation in a separator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Norsk Hydro ASA
    Inventors: Per Eivind Gramme, Gunnar Hannibal Lie
  • Publication number: 20100000926
    Abstract: A device for separation of fluid, in particular oil, gas and water, in connection with the extraction of such a fluid from formations under the surface of the earth or the sea bed. The fluid is transported in a supply pipe or transport pipe (4) to a separator (1) in the form of a tubular separator body, a gravitation tank or similar. The separated components, water and oil, are passed out of the separator separately via outlet pipes. The fluid upstream of the separator (1) is subjected to shear forces so that the drops in the supply flow are torn up to form drops that are so small that the interface generally becomes new and “uncontaminated” by surfactants. The shear forces are supplied by a phase inversion device (6) in the form of a valve or similar. Water can expediently be added to the fluid upstream of the phase inversion device (6) to achieve the desired phase inversion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2009
    Publication date: January 7, 2010
    Inventors: Per GRAMME, Gunnar Hannibal Lie
  • Patent number: 7617940
    Abstract: A device in connection with a separator for cleaning or reaming such a separator. The separator includes a tank or a body (2) with an inlet and at least one outlet (5, 6). A transport pipeline (3) is connected to the inlet for the supply of fluid that is to be separated in the separator. The transport pipeline (3) extends from the inlet through the separator body (2). Part (6) of the line that is located inside the separator body (2) is provided with perforations or slits (7) so that fluid that arrives in the transport pipeline (3) flows into the tank through the perforations/slits (7). Mechanical equipment for cleaning the transport pipeline (3) is designed to be sent from a magazine through the separator body (2) and on via a pipe loop back to the magazine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: Norsk Hydro ASA
    Inventors: Per Eivind Gramme, Gunnar Hannibal Lie
  • Patent number: 7611633
    Abstract: A method for separation of fluid, in particular oil, gas and water, in connection with the extraction of such a fluid from formations under the surface of the earth or the sea bed. The fluid is transported in a supply pipe or transport pipe (4) to a separator (1) in the form of a tubular separator body, a gravitation tank or similar. The separated components, water and oil, are passed out of the separator separately via outlet pipes. The fluid upstream of the separator (1) is subjected to shear forces so that the drops in the supply flow are torn up to form drops that are so small that the interface generally becomes new and “uncontaminated” by surfactants. The shear forces are supplied by a phase inversion device (6) in the form of a valve or similar. Water can expediently be added to the fluid upstream of the phase inversion device (6) to achieve the desired phase inversion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: Norsk Hydro ASA
    Inventors: Per Gramme, Gunnar Hannibal Lie
  • Publication number: 20090145832
    Abstract: A pipe separator for separation of a fluid, in particular separation of fluids with non-mixable fluid components such as oil, gas and water, comprising an extended tubular separator body with a diameter that is principally the same as or slightly larger than the diameter of the inlet pipe and the outlet pipe(s) for the separated components from the separator. The separator body, from the inlet to the outlet(s), has a curved path or course in one or more parts of its longitudinal design.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2006
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Inventors: Per Eivind Gramme, Gunnar Hannibal Lie
  • Publication number: 20090126927
    Abstract: A method and equipment for reducing or avoiding multiple dispersions in fluid flows each consisting of two or more non-mixable fluid components with different specific gravities and viscosities, in particular fluid flows of oil, gas and water from different oil/gas production wells (B1-B8) in formations beneath the surface of the earth or sea, The fluid flow from each well (B1-B8), depending on whether it is oil-continuous (o/w) or water-continuous (w/o), is fed to a transport pipeline (T) so that the oil-continuous fluid flows (o/w) are supplied to the transport line (T) first and the water-continuous fluid flows (w/o) second, or the two fluid flows (o/w, w/o) are fed to two separate transport lines (T1, T2). In a preferred embodiment, the two separate transport lines (T1, T2) may be connected to a common transport line (T); the two fluid flows (o/w, w/o) are mixed before further transport and any subsequent separation in a separator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2006
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Inventors: Per Eivind Gramme, Gunnar Hannibal Lie
  • Patent number: 7490671
    Abstract: A pipe separator is for separation of fluids, for example separation of oil, gas and water in connection with extraction and production of oil and gas from formations under a sea bed. The pipe separator comprises an extended, tubular separator body having a diameter at inlet and outlet ends that is mainly equal to or slightly greater than a diameter of a transport pipe to which the separator body is connected. A cyclone is arranged upstream of the separator body for separation of any gas present. An electrostatic coalescer is incorporated in and constitutes an integrated part of the separator body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: Norsk Hydro ASA
    Inventors: Per Gramme, Gunnar Hannibal Lie
  • Publication number: 20080178915
    Abstract: Device or arrangement for cleaning a pipe separator (1) in which the separator body (2) consists of an extended, tubular body with an inlet (4) and an outlet (5) having essentially the same diameter as the separator body. At the outlet, there's a bend or a loop (3) designed to maintain a fluid level in the separator. Just before the bend, there's an outlet (6) with an outlet pipe (9) for fluid, e.g. water, from the separator. Sand or other particulate materials introduced into the outlet (6) are returned, using a pump (7) arranged on the outlet pipe (9), together with the fluid from the outlet, to the separator after the bend (3) by means of reversal with a valve (8) via a return pipe (11); in connection with the outlet (6), there's a flushing device comprising a pipe loop (12) connected to the outlet pipe (9) for the return of fluid from the outlet to the nozzles (14) arranged in the outlet, designed to flush in a direction downstream of the outlet, any particles having accumulated in the outlet chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2006
    Publication date: July 31, 2008
    Inventors: Per Eivind Gramme, Gunnar Hannibal Lie
  • Publication number: 20080156716
    Abstract: A device in connection with a separator for cleaning or reaming such a separator. The separator comprises a tank or a body (2) with an inlet and at least one outlet (5, 6). A transport pipeline (3) is connected to the inlet for the supply of fluid that is to be separated in the separator. The transport pipeline (3) extends from the inlet through the separator body (2). Part (6) of the line that is located inside the separator body (2) is provided with perforations or slits (7) so that fluid that arrives in the transport pipeline (3) flows into the tank through the perforations/slits (7). Mechanical equipment for cleaning the transport pipeline (3) is designed to be sent from a magazine through the separator body (2) and on via a pipe loop back to the magazine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2006
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Inventors: Per Eivind Gramme, Gunnar Hannibal Lie
  • Publication number: 20080142414
    Abstract: A method for optimising the use of chemicals, in particular the use of antifoaming agents and emulsion breakers, for gas/oil/water fluid in oil processing plants on the seabed, onshore or offshore. The chemicals are dosed on the basis of the effect they have on the thickness of the foam layer and the emulsion layer, respectively, of the fluid. The fluid may expediently be supplied to and separated in a separator (1); the measurement of the emulsion and foam layers is performed by a measuring device (3), which emits signals to a control device (4), which controls the operation of pumps (5, 6), which, in turn, pump, at all times, the measured quantity of chemical to the fluid to be separated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2006
    Publication date: June 19, 2008
    Inventors: Per Eivind Gramme, Gunnar Hannibal Lie
  • Publication number: 20080134651
    Abstract: A device in connection with a pipe separator, comprising an extended tubular body (1) with a diameter that is principally the same as or slightly larger than the diameter of the inlet pipe (3)/outlet pipe of the separator. A separate gas manifold (2) is arranged in connection with the inlet. The manifold (2) comprises a number of vertical degassing pipes (7), which are connected to the inlet pipe (3) immediately ahead of the inlet to the separator and which end in an overlying, preferably slightly inclined gas collection pipe (6). The gas is designed to be diverted up through the vertical degassing pipes and collected in the gas collection pipe (6) for return to the outlet pipe after the separator or transport onwards to a gas tank or gas processing plant or similar.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2006
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Inventors: Per Eivind Gramme, Gunnar Hannibal Lie