Three-Phase Separator

[@redyyz7927]

Fantastic to see DarbyTech 3 phase separator in action.

[@deanwoods9294]

Man I wish I had this at university...you guys are very lucky to get some practical experience! Very nice set up with DeltaV control system too!

[@AutomationCliff]

Thanks Dean! Yes we are very lucky to have this hardware. Its very helpful!

[@GerardoGarcia-tv8nc]

Nice video, appreciate the insight! Cool to see from a transparent view!

[@AutomationCliff]

Thank-you! I enjoyed making this video!

[@ΠΡΟΚΟΠΗΣΜΕΛΑΣ]

Dear gentlemen, thank you for the very useful video. In your experiment you express the problem between internal mounting and external mounting of the interface level instrument. At 1:25 clearly shows the difference between the internal level of the vessel and the sight glass. The difference as shown is the expected. Since the upper tap located on the top of the weir the oil sample comes inside to the sight glass is the lightest. Similarly since the lower tap located on the bottom of the weir, the water sample comes inside to the sight glass is the heaviest. Thus the external mounting instrument for measuring the interface level (sight glass) indicates higher level. The color also differs, steady yellow outside , unclear color inside. In the 5:22 minute the sight glass at oil side of the vessel indicates significantly higher level than the inside level of the vessel. The color also differs is yellow transparent.

[@rhinobridge]

Very nice!

[@AutomationCliff]

Thanks!

[@yousufali1188]

Can you please tell me how you made it, because I am required to do a graduation project at the university like this

[@AutomationCliff]

This is where the trainer was purchased from: www.darbytech.ca/three-phase-separation-trainer/ If you build one, I suggest building a smaller one to save on costs.

[@yousufali1188]

@@AutomationCliff Thank you very much. Do you know how much it costs if i want to buy it?

[@AutomationCliff]

@@yousufali1188 No, sorry. You’d have to reach out to DarbyTech.

[@yousufali1188]

@@AutomationCliff ok Thanks ☺️

[@yousufali1188]

@@AutomationCliff Do you have any manual for this separator?

[@bolisorac3298]

I liked thanks🤝🤝

[@AutomationCliff]

@@bolisorac3298 awesome!

[@virgil_anxiety770]

Will you be able to accurately measure oil volume and water volume separately? Also can it remove crude oil from water properly like uhhhh- it’ll fully separate the two

[@AutomationCliff]

There is no online water-cut analyzer on this trainer, so I’m not sure the exact amount of water left in the separated oil. I would estimate it still has about 10% water. In industry a demulsifier chemical will be injected into the feed and the vessel will be heated to about 30-40 C to increase separation. This will get the water cut to 1% or less. The separated oil is then stored in a storage tank and same with the water. The water is injected back into the ground with an injection pump and typically metered with a turbine flow meter. The oil is often trucked or pumped out and metered with a positive displacement flow meter. The volumes are determined by these flow meters.

[@radiateurfou185]

Where does the oil under the spilling threshold go?

[@AutomationCliff]

@@radiateurfou185 it goes back to the oil tank.

[@radiateurfou185]

​@@AutomationCliff I only see the water pipe on the left of the weir. does the oil go there too?

[@AutomationCliff]

@@radiateurfou185 If go to about 5:00 in the video you will see the water piping on the left like you mentioned and the yellow oil piping on the right.

[@radiateurfou185]

@@AutomationCliff Yes but the oil on the left which is under the spilling threshold, how do it go to the right?

[@AutomationCliff]

@@radiateurfou185 sorry I understand what you are saying now. In a three-phase separator like this one, the interface between the water and oil is maintained. This is done by measuring the oil-water interface and then throttling the water valve - there will always be oil there in normal operation. If the feed starts to have more oil, more oil spills over the weir if the feed has more water, it will cause the interface to rise, but the automated water valve would open more to bring it back down. If an operator actually wanted to push all that extra oil over, they would have to raise the setpoint for the interface up, but they would risk spilling water over into the oil and the oil wouldn’t be as pure. This process is continuous. It has a constant oil-water-air mix fed into it and constantly produces separated oil, water and air. As more oil comes in, the oil you are concerned about will spill over and exit out the pipe on the right. I hope this makes more sense now.

[@miebakakoko6086]

This is great! a few questions; what measures the oil-water inter-phase, as to ensure we dont get too much water up and flowing over the weir? you didnt mention any thing about the gas.

[@AutomationCliff]

Miebaka koko A Rosemount 5300 guided-wave radar (GWR) level transmitter is used to measure the oil-water interface. The gas used is just air that comes from a blower in the mechanical room next door.

[@seanmamedov9612]

@@AutomationCliff Is not it called nuclear gauge devise

[@AutomationCliff]

Sean Mamedov not on this trainer. We use a guided-wave radar (GWR). You can get nuclear level transmitters as well though.

[@seanmamedov9612]

@@AutomationCliff I am working on sizing the horizontal three face separator for crude oil, gas and water as intern. I was looking for a guide(api 12j). By any chance, could you help me to find it? The once that online don't show formulas or calculations.

[@AutomationCliff]

@@seanmamedov9612 Sorry about the late reply on this. Try Section 7 of the GPSA Engineering Data Book.

[@عصام-ف8ض]

Very practical thanks

[@FrogsofAristophones]

How much does this setup cost, including installation?

[@AutomationCliff]

This trainer was purchased from DarbyTech. You would have to reach out to them for pricing: www.darbytech.ca/

[@foxhound-0]

*he is teaching himself*

[@AutomationCliff]

Yes, for sure! I learn something new every day!

[@muhammadalihambali]

mantull broo

[@AutomationCliff]

Sorry about the late reply. What do you need help with?

[@elonmust7470]

Let's complicate instead of simplifying, that always works out for the better......

[@AutomationCliff]

Do you have any questions? Maybe I could help you out.

[@alaaeddinelhemmali1370]

How much is such unit ?

[@AutomationCliff]

This trainer was purchased from DarbyTech. You will have to request a quote from them. Here is a link to the trainer on their website: darbytech.ca/threephaseseparationtrainer/

[@ogweasel]

Lol at 1:38

[@عمرشاكرمضحيحمدي]

اتوقع اول عربي 👀

[@MrChidorinagashi10]

Oh yab a controlled environment. Because thats what happens in a true well test hu

[@AutomationCliff]

No, this controlled environment you are witnessing would be closer to a Free-Water (FWKO) Knockout found at conventional oil battery, not a well tester. The FWKO would have a more consistent flow into the vessel over a free flowing well. Thanks for your comment!

[@MrChidorinagashi10]

@@AutomationCliff it sais "3 phase seperator" no free water ko. This guy

[@AutomationCliff]

@@MrChidorinagashi10 Yep, that’s right. A well tester and FWKO are both forms of three-phase separators.

[@keshakesharam9510]

Can of India