PNGE470

SEPARATION&PROCESSING

WELLSTREAM
NaturalGas
WaterVapor
LiquidHydrocarbons
LiquidWater
Solids

BASICOPERATIONS
Separation
SeparationofSolids
SeparationofFreeLiquids
RemovaloftheHeavyHydrocarbons
Processing
RemovaloftheWaterVapor
RemovaloftheAcidGases

EngineeringObjectives
MaximizeRecovery
attheLowestCost

PNGE470

SEPARATION

SeparationofGasfromFreeLiquids
ComponentsofaSeparator

Causeaprimaryphaseseparation
ACentrifugalDevice

Removeentrainedliquidmistfromthegas
ALargeSettlingSection

Removeentrainedgasfromtheliquid
AMistExtractor

Dischargegasandliquidwithnoreentrainment
AdequateControl

SEPARATORS
TYPES

VERTICAL:LowGOR
RequireLimitedSpace
Expensive
HORIZONTAL:HighGOR
MostCommonforGasWells
LessExpensive

SPHERICAL
3PhaseSeparation
Compact
VeryLimitedSurgeSpace

HORIZONTALSEPARATOR

HORIZONTALSEPARATOR

VERTICALSEPARATOR

SPHERICALSEPARATOR

SeparatorGasCapacity
0.5

L g
vG K

g
vG =Superficial Gas Velocity, ft/s
L =Liquid Density
g =Gas Density
K Empirical Factor

SeparatorKValues

SeparatorGasCapacity
2.4D Kp L g
q

zT
g
2

0.5

q=Flow Rate, MMscf/d

D=Diameter, ft
p=Operating Pressure, psia
T= Operating Temperature, o R
z= Gas Deviation Factor

SeparatorLiquidCapacity
1440 VL
qL
t
qL Liquid Capacity, bbl/day
VL Settling Volume, bbl
t Retention time, min

RetentionTimes

VerticalSeparatorSettlingVolumes

HorizontalSeparatorSettlingVolumes

SphericalSeparatorSettlingVolumes

Example
Sizeastandardverticalseparatorforthe

followingconditions:
GasRate=5MMcfd
GasGravity=0.7
LGR=20bbl/MMCF
APIGravity=60o
P=800psig
T=80oF

Solution
2.4D Kp L g
q

zT
g
2

0.5

141.5
L 62.4
46.11 lb/ft 3
131.5 60
2.7 g P
2.7 0.7 800

3.38 lb/ft 3
=
zT
0.828 80 460
qzT g
2
D

2.4Kp L g

0.5

K 0.06 D 28"

K 0.35 D 11" K 0.205 D 15"

5 0.828 540
3.38

2.4 K 800 46.11 3.38

0.5

Solution
Liquid Rate 20 5 100 bbl/d
1440 VL
qL
t
16" 5'
Table 7-3 V= 0.27
1440 0.27
qL
389 bbl/d
1

LowPressureVerticalSeparator

Gas
Capacity

HighPressureVerticalSeparators

Gas
Capacity

LowPressureHorizontalSeparators

Gas
Capacity

HighPressureHorizontalSeparators

Gas
Capacity

SphericalSeparators

Example
Sizeastandardverticalseparatorforthe

followingconditions:
OilRate=2500bbl/day
GOR=1000SCF/bbl
P=50psig

Solution
qg 2500 1000 2,500,000 scfd 2.5MMcfd
Fig. 4.6 @50psig 36" 5 '

q 2.9MMcfd

1440 1.61
Table 7 4 V 1.61 qL
2318 2500
1
Next Size 30" 10'
1440 2.06
V 2.06 qL
2969 2500
1
30" 10'
qg 3.75MMcfd

qL 2969 bbl / day

Example
Sizeastandardverticalseparatorforthe
followingconditions:
GasRate=5MMcfd
LGR=20bbl/MMCF
P=800psig

Solution
Liquid Rate 20 5 100 bbl/d
Fig 4.7 @800 psig 20" 7',6"
Table 7-3 V= 0.65
1440 0.65
936 bbl/d
qL
1

qg 5.4MMcfd

Example
Sizeastandardhorizontalseparatorfor
thefollowingconditions:
GasRate=5MMcfd
LGR=20bbl/MMCF
P=800psig

Solution
Liquid Rate 20 5 100 bbl/d
Fig 4.10 @800 psig 16" 5'
Table 7-5 V= 0.61
1440 0.61
878 bbl/d
qL
1

qg 5.1MMcfd

Example
Sizeastandardhorizontalseparatorfor
thefollowingconditions:
GasRate=10MMcfd
CondensateRate=500bbl/d
WaterRate=100bbl/d
P=800psig

Solution
Fig 4.10 @800 psig 20" 10'

qg 10.2MMcfd

Table 7-5 V= 1.80

1440 1.80
qL
518 bbl/d< 500+100 bbl/d
5
Next Size:24" 10'
Table 7-5 V= 2.63
1440 2.63
qL
757 bbl/d
5

SeparationoftheCondensableHydrocarbons
VaporLiquidEquilibrium(VLE)
StageSeparation
PandTReduction
Compression

VaporLiquidEquilibrium(VLE)
yi

FlashCalculations
yi
ki
xi

zi

zi 1 ki
0

i 1 nV ki 1 1
Nc

zi
zi ki
xi
, yi
nL ki nV
nL ki nV

xi

StandingMethod

LPFlash

LP-Flash.xsl
This spreadsheet performs flash calculations at low pressures and temperatures.
(pressure < 1,000 psia, temperature < 200 oF)
Instructions:
1) Update input data in blue;
2) Run Macro Solution;
3) Enter a value for z-factor in the "Flash Calculation" section;
4) View results.
Input Data:
Pressure:
Temperature:
Specific gravity of stock tank oil:
Specific gravity of solution gas:
Gas solubility (Rs):

600
200
0.90
0.70
500

Composition
Compound Mole Fraction (zi)
C1

0.6599

C2

0.0869

C3

0.0591

i-C 4

0.0239

n-C 4

0.0278

i-C 5

0.0157

n-C 5

0.0112

C6

0.0181

C 7+

0.0601

N2

0.0194

CO 2
H2S

0.0121
0.0058
1.0000

psia
F
water = 1
air = 1
scf/STB

Flash Calculation:
nv =

Results

0.8791

Compound
C1

zi

ki

zi(ki-1)/[nv(ki-1)+1]

0.6599

6.5255

0.6225

C2

0.0869

1.8938

0.0435

C3

0.0591

0.8552

-0.0098

i-C 4

0.0239

0.4495

-0.0255

n-C 4

0.0278

0.3656

-0.0399

i-C 5

0.0157

0.1986

-0.0426

n-C 5

0.0112

0.1703

-0.0343

C6

0.0181

0.0904

-0.0822

C 7+

0.0601

0.0089

-0.4626

N2

0.0194

30.4563

0.0212

CO 2

0.0121

3.4070

0.0093

H2S

0.0058

1.0446

0.0002
0.0000

nL =

0.1209

Compound
C1

xi

yi

xiMW i

yiMW i

0.1127

0.7352

1.8071

11.7920

C2

0.0487

0.0922

1.4633

2.7712

C3

0.0677

0.0579

2.9865

2.5540

i-C 4

0.0463

0.0208

2.6918

1.2099

n-C 4

0.0629

0.0230

3.6530

1.3356

i-C 5

0.0531

0.0106

3.8330

0.7614

n-C 5

0.0414

0.0070

2.9863

0.5085

C6

0.0903

0.0082

7.7857

0.7036

C 7+

0.4668

0.0042

53.3193

0.4766

N2

0.0007

0.0220

0.0202

0.6156

CO 2

0.0039

0.0132

0.1709

0.5823

H2S

0.0056

0.0058

0.1902

0.1987

Apparent molecular weight of liquid phase:

Apparent molecular weight of vapor phase:
Specific gravity of liquid phase:
Specific gravity of vapor phase:
Input vapor phase z-factor:
Density of liquid phase:
Density of vapor phase:
Volume of liquid phase:
Volume of vapor phase:
GOR:
API gravity of liquid phase:

80.91
23.51
0.76
0.81
0.958
47.19
2.08
0.04
319.66
8659
56

water =1
air = 1
lbm/ft

3
3

lbm/ft
bbl
scf
scf/bbl

Example

Solution
nv = 0.8791
Compound

zi

ki

zi(ki-1)/[nv(ki-1)+1]

C1

0.6599

6.5255

0.6225

C2

0.0869

1.8938

0.0435

C3

0.0591

0.8552

-0.0098

i-C4

0.0239

0.4495

-0.0255

n-C4

0.0278

0.3656

-0.0399

i-C5

0.0157

0.1986

-0.0426

n-C5

0.0112

0.1703

-0.0343

C6

0.0181

0.0904

-0.0822

C7+

0.0601

0.0089

-0.4626

N2

0.0194

30.4563

0.0212

CO2

0.0121

3.4070

0.0093

H2S

0.0058

1.0446

0.0002
0.0000

Solution
nL = 0.1209
Compound
C1
C2
C3
i-C4
n-C4
i-C5
n-C5
C6
C7+
N2
CO2
H2S

xi
0.1127
0.0487
0.0677
0.0463
0.0629
0.0531
0.0414
0.0903
0.4668
0.0007
0.0039
0.0056

yi
0.7352
0.0922
0.0579
0.0208
0.0230
0.0106
0.0070
0.0082
0.0042
0.0220
0.0132
0.0058

xiMWi
1.8071
1.4633
2.9865
2.6918
3.6530
3.8330
2.9863
7.7857
53.3193
0.0202
0.1709
0.1902

yiMWi
11.7920
2.7712
2.5540
1.2099
1.3356
0.7614
0.5085
0.7036
0.4766
0.6156
0.5823
0.1987

Solution
Apparent molecular weight of liquid phase:
Apparent molecular weight of vapor phase:
Specific gravity of liquid phase:
Specific gravity of vapor phase:
Input vapor phase z-factor:
Density of liquid phase:
Density of vapor phase:
Volume of liquid phase:
Volume of vapor phase:
GOR:
API gravity of liquid phase:

80.91
23.51
0.76
0.81
0.958
47.19
2.08
0.04
319.66
8659
56

water =1
air = 1
lbm/ft3
lbm/ft3
bbl
scf
scf/bbl

STAGESEPARATION

STAGESEPARATION

LowTemperatureSeparation
IncreasedLiquidHCRecovery
WaterVaporRemoval

TemperatureReductionisAchievedbySudden
PressureReduction.
RequiresHighPressure

T
Joul-Thompson Coefficeint: =

P H
Constant H Sudden Expansion
For Natural Gas 0 P T

EffectofTemperatureon
LiquidRecovery

Example
High pressure gas condensate well:
Gas Rate = 10 MMcfd
P = 800 psig
Liquid Rate= 200 bbl/day
Temperature =85oF
If T is lowered to 20oF, what additional
recovery could be expected?

Solution

200
bbl
Liquid to Gas Ratio
20
10
MMcf
bbl
@ 20 F Liquid to Gas Ratio 25.7
MMcf
Additional Recovery ( 25.7 20 ) 10 57 bbl / day
o