Gas Liquid Separation

The use of Gas Liquid Cyclones (GLC), and Axial Flow Cyclones (AFC) provide cost effective and efficient compact gas liquid separation. GLC's are used either external or internal to production separators or other gravity based systems, whereas the AFC's are typically used externally.

Multiphase fluids enter the top of a GLC tangentially and rotate from the action of the centrifugal forces. The heavier liquids are forced to the wall of the cyclone, and travel down to the underflow outlet, while the lighter gas phase migrates to a central core and migrates in the opposite direction and exits the overflow.

Multiphase fluids enter the base of an AFC and rotate from the action of centrifugal forces. Stationary helical vanes force the heavier liquids to the wall of the cyclone, and the lighter gas phase migrates to the centre. Dry gas is separated and directed to the outlet stream, and the remaining partially degassed multiphase stream continues axially through the separator.

In Topsides applications the separated gas phase will be recovered via an elbow or crossover line, whereas Downhole, the dry gas will be directed to the tubing-casing annulus.