Abstract: A coalescing apparatus including a casing having an inner chamber for accommodating insulating fluid. At least one tube of electrically insulating material extends through the casing and the chamber. Each tube forms a flow channel for emulsion to be treated. A set of electrodes is mounted in the chamber. The tube is allotted at least one pair of electrodes of the set. A voltage set is configured to apply mutually different electric potentials to the electrodes of each electrode pair so as to form an electric field between them and thereby an electric field inside the respective tube. A heater is configured to heat the insulating fluid so as to allow the insulating fluid to transfer heat to emulsion flowing through at least one tube and thereby raise the temperature of the emulsion. An emulsion treatment system includes a coalescing apparatus. A coalescing method.

Abstract: A separator apparatus for separating immiscible fluid components of different specific gravities. A body includes an internal flow channel for a mixture of fluid components to be separated. A rotation generating device brings the fluid mixture to rotate about the longitudinal axis of the flow channel. An extraction device withdraws a central part of the rotating fluid mixture flowing through the flow channel. A bubble introducer introduces micro-sized gas bubbles into the fluid mixture so as to thereby enhance the separation of the fluid components. Also a method for separating immiscible fluid components of different specific gravities.

Abstract: A well fluid processing system has a separator for separating heavier and lighter components of well fluid flowing from a subsea well and directing the lighter components to flow to a surface processing facility. The separator has a cylindrical chamber having a length at least ten times its diameter. A coalescing unit located in the chamber causes water droplets in the well fluid flowing through the tubes to coalesce into larger droplets. A dielectrophoresis unit having undulating sheets spaced close to each other is also located in the chamber. The sheets of the unit are supplied with an electrical potential to force the water droplets into predetermined passage portions to form high water content sections of liquid. Bypass valves allow backflushing of one of the separators while others continue to operate.

Abstract: A device for coalescing an emulsion component in an emulsion including a mixture of at least two different fluid components by an electric field applied to the emulsion. The device includes at least one electrostatic coalescer element. The coalescer element includes a tubular channel made of an electrically insulating material, a first electrode mounted on one side of the tubular channel, and a second electrode mounted on the other side of the tubular channel, a first end wall including a first opening adapted to receive a first end of the tubular channel, and a second end wall including a corresponding second opening adapted to receive a second end of the tubular channel. The walls together with the tubular channel isolate the emulsion from the electrodes.

Abstract: A subsea well fluid processing system has a separator for separating heavier and lighter components of well fluid flowing from a subsea well and directing the lighter components to flow to a surface processing facility. A choke is located downstream of the separator for limiting the flow rate of well fluid. The separator has a cylindrical chamber having a length at least ten times its diameter. A coalescing unit located in the chamber causes water droplets in the well fluid to coalesce into larger droplets. A dielectrophoresis unit having undulating sheets spaced close to each other is also located in the chamber. The sheets of the unit are supplied with an electrical potential to force the water droplets into predetermined passage portions to form high water content sections of liquid. Bypass valves allow backflushing of one of the separators while others continue to operate.

Abstract: A method for separating phases of a mixture comprising and oil-water together with gas. At least a substantial part of the gas is separated from the emulsion before the emulsion is introduced into a separator tank. The oil-water emulsion from which the gas has been separated is conducted to a liquid-liquid cyclone for further separating the phases of the emulsion. The liquid-liquid cyclone is located inside the separator tank. The emulsion is conducted to the separator tank for separating the oil from the water.

Abstract: An electrically energised device for coalescing a first conductive fluid, emulsified in a second fluid, comprising a tube member (1), having at least one fluid inlet (2) and at least one fluid outlet (3), the tube B member (1) defining a flow channel (4) for an emulsion of the first and second fluid from its inlet side to its outlet side and comprising at least one electrically insulating layer portion, the channel B (4) having a generally circular or elliptic cross section, and an interacting pair of a first and a second electrode (5, 6) that are arranged outside and adjacent to the at least one insulating layer portion, that separates the electrodes (5, 6) from the channel (4) and thereby from immediate contact with the emulsion, and supplied with a pulsed or alternating voltage for the purpose of subjecting the first and second fluid flowing through the flow channel to an electrostatic field.

Abstract: A subsea well fluid processing system has a subsea well fluid separator for separating heavier and lighter components of well fluid flowing from a subsea well and directing the lighter components to flow to a surface processing facility. A choke is located downstream of the separator for limiting the flow rate of well fluid from the subsea well. The separator has a cylindrical chamber having a length at least ten times its diameter. A coalescing unit having a plurality of tubes to which an electrical potential is applied is located in the chamber to cause water droplets in the well fluid flowing through the tubes to coalesce into larger droplets. A dielectrophoresis unit having a pair of undulating sheets spaced close to each other is also located in the chamber. The sheets of the dielectrophoresis unit are supplied with an electrical potential to force the water droplets in the well fluid into predetermined passage portions between the sheets to form high water content sections of liquid.