Development of Oil-Water Separation Hydrocyclones for Oilfield Produced-Fluid Pre-Treatment

Research background is first introduced, and the structural type of the hydrocyclone used for produced-fluid pre-separation is defined. The effect of geometric parameters on separation performance is studied and analyzed. The parameters include nominal diameter, inlet size and its shape, overflow tube diameter and its length, overall length, cone angle, and tail tube length, etc. Oilfield experiments were carried out. By oilfield pilot test, the results of both parallel-type hydrocyclones and vessel-type hydrocyclones were tested and contrasted. By using vessel-type hydrocyclones, 5000m³/d scale oilfield experiments were taken. The industrial experimental results show that the studied hydrocyclones are feasible for oilfield produced-fluid pre-treatment. When the water-cut of produced-fluid is above 85%, by two-stage hydrocyclonic separation, the water-cut of the first oil outlet can be dropped down to 30%, and at the same time the oil-cut of the second water outlet can be treated to below 1000mg/L.