Abstract: A separation system uses electromagnetic energy to facilitate separation of water and oil from crude oil. The separation system includes a degassing tank, a microwave cavity arranged inside the degassing tank, and a microwave generating system for generating and transmitting electromagnetic energy to the microwave cavity. Crude oil is introduced into the microwave cavity, where the crude oil is exposed to electromagnetic energy, in order to separate water and oil from the crude oil, and the electromagnetic energy interacts with a crude oil introduced into the interior volume to enhance separation of oil from water in the crude oil.

Abstract: A gas-oil separation plant (GOSP) system includes a crude inlet line for flowing an inlet fluid stream to an upstream heat exchanger. The upstream heat exchanger includes an outer shell and a bundle of heating tubes therein defined between a lower tube height and an upper tube height. A first exchanger discharge is operable to discharge an oil component of the inlet fluid stream as a heated oil stream. At least one level controller is operable to control a flow a fluid into or out of the outer shell to maintain a lower level of the oil component in the outer shell at or below the first tube height and an upper level of the oil component at or above the second tube height. A separation vessel is fluidly coupled to the first exchanger discharge, and is operable to separate the heated oil stream into gas, oil and water components.

Abstract: A gas-oil separation plant (GOSP) system includes a crude inlet line for a fluid inlet stream. An inlet pressure control valve is coupled within the crude inlet line to control a pressure of the fluid inlet stream passing therethrough. A separation vessel is provided downstream of the inlet pressure control valve and is operable to separate a water component from the inlet fluid stream. The GOSP system further includes a water line coupled to the separation vessel and a water draw-off pump including a shaft operably rotatable to draw the water component through the water line from the separation vessel. A turbine is coupled upstream of the inlet pressure control valve and includes a turbine shaft rotatable in response to the inlet fluid stream flowing therethrough. The turbine shaft is operably coupled to the pump shaft such that the pump shaft rotates in response to rotation of the turbine shaft.

Abstract: Methods for chilling a natural gas stream may comprise: obtaining an expanded natural gas stream from an outlet of an expander, in which the expanded natural gas stream has a lower temperature and pressure than does the natural gas stream; introducing at least a portion of the expanded natural gas stream to a heat exchanger to promote indirect thermal communication between the expanded natural gas stream or a portion thereof and an external refrigerant circulating through the heat exchanger by way of a cooling loop; obtaining a chilled natural gas stream from the heat exchanger; introducing the chilled natural gas stream to a cold separator; and obtaining from the cold separator a further chilled natural gas stream as an overhead stream. The cooling loop comprises at least one compressor, and the expander supplies at least a portion of the power needed to operate the at least one compressor.