Abstract: A compact desalting system for use in a process of desalting crude oil comprises a plurality of separation stages. Each separation stage includes a compact electrostatic coalescer (42, 62) for coalescing water droplets carried with the crude oil and settling means (91, 92; 95, 96) for settling separated oil and coalesced water droplets. The system includes a vessel (46) comprising a plurality of compartments containing the settling means and the compact electrostatic coalescers are each mounted in a housing on top of the vessel.

Abstract: A compact desalting system for use in a process of desalting crude oil comprises a plurality of separation stages. Each separation stage includes a compact electrostatic coalescer (42, 62) for coalescing water droplets carried with the crude oil and settling means (91, 92; 95, 96) for settling separated oil and coalesced water droplets. The system includes a vessel (46) comprising a plurality of compartments containing the settling means and the compact electrostatic coalescers are each mounted in a housing on top of the vessel.

Abstract: A fluid phase distribution adjuster (10) comprises two or more tubes (14) arranged to provide a plurality of separate flow paths for fluid. Means are provided for generating a radial acceleration of fluid flowing through each tube so as to promote movement of at least one fluid phase towards or away from a wall of the tube. The adjuster can be used as a coalescer for increasing the size of droplets in a distributed fluid phase carried by a continuous fluid phase, or as a mixer for mixing fluid phases.

Abstract: A method of separating oil and water in a flow-stream through a gravity settling vessel (10) in which the flow-stream (12) separates into a lower water layer (22) and an upper oil layer (26), includes feeding an off-take stream (34) of the oil layer and/or an emulsion layer (20) that forms between the oil layer and the water layer through a compact electrostatic coalescer (CEC) (38) that has electrically isolated electrodes. The CEC coalesces water droplets in the off-take stream, and the coalesced off-take stream is then returned to the settling vessel. An associated separator apparatus for comprises: a gravity settling vessel (10); a CEC (38) including electrically isolated electrodes; a coalescer feed line (34) configured to provide an off-take stream of an oil phase and/or an emulsion layer from the settling vessel to the CEC; and a return line (40) from the CEC for returning the off-take stream to the settling vessel.

Abstract: Apparatus for contacting first and second fluids at elevated pressures with a membrane such that one or more components of one of the fluids passes through the membrane into the other fluid, comprising a housing e.g. a pressure vessel (4), and a membrane module (20) housed in the pressure vessel and having a first fluid inlet (8a) and a first fluid outlet (8b) and a second fluid inlet (9a) and a second fluid outlet (9b), wherein a seal (61) extends round the membrane module and seals between an outside wall of the membrane module and an inside wall of the pressure vessel so as to separate the first fluid inlet from the first fluid outlet.

Abstract: Apparatus for contacting first and second fluids at elevated pressures with a membrane such that one or more components of one of the fluids passes through the membrane into the other fluid, comprising a housing e.g. a pressure vessel (4), and a membrane module (20) housed in the pressure vessel and having a first fluid inlet (8a) and a first fluid outlet (8b) and a second fluid inlet (9a) and a second fluid outlet (9b), wherein a seal (61) extends round the membrane module and seals between an outside wall of the membrane module and an inside wall of the pressure vessel so as to separate the first fluid inlet from the first fluid outlet.

Abstract: A separator assembly for use “downhole” in an oil well, comprising an elongate body member including longitudinally extending oil and water passages, the elongate body member defining a longitudinally extending mounting face to which at least one hydrocyclone is secured, the hydrocyclone having its axis extending generally longitudinally of the elongate body, a first connecting union at the overflow end of the hydrocyclone whereby the overflow outlet of the hydrocyclone communicates with the oil passage of the body member, a second connecting union at the underflow end of the hydrocyclone whereby the underflow outlet of the hydrocyclone communicates with the water passage of the elongate body member, and, connecting means at opposite axial ends respectively of the elongate body member for establishing communication with the oil and water passages respectively.

Abstract: A gravity separator including a vessel within which a mixture containing oil and water can separate under gravity to form vertically discrete oil and water layers, the vessel having an inlet assembly including a cyclone separator for separating an oil-containing inlet flow into gas and liquid phases, that assembly including ducting for receiving the underflow of cyclone separator and conducting that underflow into that region of the vessel which, in use, is above the water layer.

Abstract: There is described a method for the treatment and processing of solutions of an organic fluid, water and one or more compounds of alkaline earth metals, alkali metals and metal ions, comprising the following steps: a) conducting a stream (5) consisting of organic fluid, water and one or more compounds of alkaline earth metals, alkali metals and metals ions to a salt reduction and crystallization unit (6), b) evaporating and optionally partially condensing the stream (5) and providing thereby a steam (9, 10) of evaporated water and organic solvent and a steam (8) of organic fluid and the compounds of alkaline earth metals, alkali metals and/or metal ions, c) conducting the steam (8) consisting substantially of organic fluid and the compounds of alkaline earth metals, alkali metals and/or metals ions to a salt reduction means (24), d) nucleating crystals of the compounds of alkaline earth metals, alkali metals and/or metal ions by means of depressurization and temperature increase, e) removing the portion of th

Abstract: A cyclonic separator for separating fluids of differing densities comprises a first chamber having a vortex finder and a core member. The vane is arranged co-axial with and adjacent the internal surface of the vortex finder to increase the rotational velocity component of fluids passing through the vortex finder by translating the axial velocity component of the fluids into a rotational velocity component.

Abstract: A cyclone separator assembly comprising a pressure vessel divided internally by first and second generally parallel dividing plates to define an overflow chamber, an underflow chamber, and an inlet chamber intermediate the overflow and underflow chambers, the dividing plates having aligned bores therein for receiving and supporting respective end regions of respective cyclone separator tubes, the ends of the bores in the first dividing plate opening into the overflow chamber being partially obstructed by restraining means restricting displacement of the cyclone tubes in a direction towards the overflow chamber.

Abstract: A method for the recovery of volatile organic components (VOC) released when loading liquid hydrocarbons into a storage or cargo tank, is described. The VOCs issuing from the tank are compressed, and injected into a sidestream taken from the main hydrocarbon stream, which is cooled and used as the absorbing medium, and is conducted to a VOC recovery unit comprising at least a bi-phase rotary separator turbine (BRST). In the BRST the VOC-containing gas is substantially separated into a VOC component and inert gas. The inert gas is vented to the atmosphere. The VOC component or VOC-enriched liquid stream is then returned to the main cargo stream or a cargo tank. Any methane contained in the volatile gases issuing from the cargo tank, instead of being vented to the atmosphere, is recovered or a catalytic process is used to convert methane to carbon dioxide and water for discharge to the atmosphere. The system is particularly intended for the offshore loading of oil into tankers.