Separation Systems

Compact Total
Separation Systems

Compact Total
Separation Systems
Compact Total Separation
Systems from FMC Technologies
provide state-of-the-art separation technologies for primary
topsides and subsea separation.
The compact separation
equipment minimizes space
and weight while optimizing
separation efficiencies.
In e xisting installations,
these s ystems make increased
production possible.

Benefits
Optimize gas and oil quality
Minimize foot-print area and weight
Reduce impact of solids
Increase gas and oil production
Optimize produced water quality

Separation Systems
The separation company major oil companies go
to with their most challenging projects.
Maximum return on investment through extensive
experience and know-how.
The only separation company with a proven track
record with inline separation equipment.
The leading company in subsea separation.
Develops out-of-the-box solutions for the separation
challenges of tomorrow.

Cost-effective for subsea and

high-pressure applications
with limited space
The minimum weight and space requirements of Compact
Total Separation Systems help to make marginal fields
commercially viable. For existing installations where space
is limited, this compact equipment will provide separation
solutions that lead to increased production. Since pressure
vessels can be reduced in size, or sometimes even be
eliminated when applying inline separation equipment,
compact equipment is ideal for subsea separation and
other high-pressure applications.

The challenges of compact

separation systems
The lack of slug volume makes operation under slugging
conditions difficult. Other challenges are achieving
sufficient separation efficiency, erosion problems due to
high velocities and efficiency of inline equipment based on
cyclonic technology declining as the flow rate is reduced.
These challenges can be dealt with by applying Compact
Total Separation Systems.
To overcome the slugging challenges, a buffer volume
equal to the maximum required slug volume in the system
can be included. Using a design with one or more parallel
units helps to handle a wider range of flow rates. Highly
efficient desanding equipment combined with erosion
resistant material minimizes the risk of erosion. Highly
efficient liquid-liquid and gas-liquid equipment ensure
that the required separation efficiency can be achieved.

Our equipment

The modern
art of
separation

At Separation Systems we have developed a line of highly

efficient compact equipment based on cyclonic technology
that covers all aspects of primary separation.
The equipment can be combined to suit all conditions and
separation requirements.
Key characteristics:
Ultra-compact separation in pipe segments
Effective de-bottlenecking to increase production
capacity for existing processes
Compact separation skids for new-build production
systems
Combination of high G-forces and low shear rates
result in increased separation efficiency

Inline Separation Systems

Our inline separation equipment is based on compact
cyclonic technology. The inline equipment in the table on
the right is currently available.
The operating ranges of the InLine DeGasser, InLine
DeLiquidiser and InLine PhaseSplitter overlap to some
extent. The space available and required boot size / scrubber
size can restrict the use of the InLine DeLiquidiser and
InLine DeGasser in which case an InLine PhaseSplitter
should be used.

Gas-liquid

InLine DeGasser
InLine DeLiquidiser
InLine DeMister
InLine PhaseSplitter

Liquid-liquid

InLine DeWaterer
InLine ElectroCoalescer
Inline HydroCyclone

Solids

InLine Desander

Controls

InLine Controls

Inline portfolio overview

Seperation Efficiency *

InLine Degasser
Removes gas from liquid stream

InLine PhaseSplitter
One stage gas/liquid separation

100 %

100 %

80 %

80 %

0%

80 %

Liquid from gas

Gas from liquid

40 %

40 %
20 %

100 %

60 %

60 %

Gas from liquid

GVF %
10

20

30

40

50

60

70

InLine Deliquidiser
Removes liquid from gas stream

40 %

20 %
0%

60 %

Liquid from gas

20 %
Set Point

0%

GVF %
90

92

94

96

98

100

*Efficiencies achieved with actual applications, results may vary depending on flow conditions

InLine DeSander
The InLine DeSander removes sand from single and multiphase fluids and can be customized to suit any application.
It is a compact cyclonic unit without any reject streams
that can handle a wide range of flow rates and achieve
efficiencies up to 99%. Particle sizes down to 1 micron
can be removed depending on the size of the unit.
Liquid/gas stream
with sand particles

Separation
chamber

The technology was developed and q

ualified with Statoil.
The first unit, which was installed on Heidrun in the
Norwegian sector of the North Sea, has been in operation
since 2009.
100 %

Sand-free
liquid/gas

Solid particles from: 1 - 100 microns

96 %

Swirl
Sand
element extraction

Sand stream

Sand Removal Efficiency

92 %

88 %

84 %

0%

1"
4"
6"
Diameter of InLine DeSander

10"

12"

InLine DeGasser

InLine DeLiquidiser
Gas-dominated
gas/liquid stream

Separated gas

Separation
chamber
Liquid-free gas

Liquid-dominated
gas/liquid stream

Separation
chamber
Swirl element

Swirl element

Gas extraction

Gas extraction

Gas-free
liquid
Separated liquid

The purpose of the InLine DeGasser is to separate gas from

a liquid stream. The liquid stream containing gas enters the
swirl element which causes a gas core to form in the centre
of the InLine DeGasser. The gas core then enters the smaller
diameter pipe in the centre of the InLine DeGasser and is
discharged to the scrubber section, while the gas-free liquid
reaches the outlet. The technology was developed and
qualified with Statoil. The first unit, which was installed on
Statfjord B in the Norwegian sector of the North Sea, has
been in operation since 2003.

The purpose of the InLine DeLiquidiser is to separate

liquids from a gas stream. The liquid stream containing
gas enters the swirl element which causes a liquid film to
form on the wall of the InLine DeLiquidiser. The liquid-free
gas is discharged through the smaller diameter pipe in the
centre of the InLine DeLiquidiser, while the liquid film is
discharged to the vessel boot. The technology was developed and qualified with Statoil. The first unit, which was
installed on Sleipner T in the Norwegian sector of the
North Sea, has been in operation since 2004.

InLine PhaseSplitter

InLine DeWaterer
Inlet

Separated gas

gas/liquid stream

Separation
chamber

liquid
stream

Separated
oil

Separated
water

Swirl element

The purpose of the InLine PhaseSplitter is to split a multiphase stream into two single phases a gas and a liquid
phase. The InLine P
haseSplitter was designed to cover the
gap between the InLine DeGasser and InLine DeLiquidiser.
The principle of operation is the same as that of the InLine
DeGasser and the InLine DeLiquidiser, while the InLine
DeLiquidiser and InLine DeGasser can be considered to be
polishing units, the PhaseSplitter is in general for bulk
separation. The technology was developed and qualified
with Statoil. The first unit, which was installed on
Veslefrikk in the Norwegian sector of the North Sea,
has been in operation since 2006.

The InLine DeWaterer is a compact cyclonic unit designed

for efficient separation of bulk oil from water which combines high efficiency with low pressure-drop in a compact
design. It is an axial flow cyclone that uses a fixed swirl
element. The technology has been developed and qualified
with Statoil and, during testing, efficiencies exceeding
99% have been achieved. In December 2010 a successful
offshore test was carried out by Statoil at Gullfaks C.

InLine ElectroCoalescer
Compact electrostatic coalescence technology meets the
challenges involved in applications with heavy oils and highly
emulsifying oil-water mixtures. The InLine ElectroCoalescer uses
electric fields to promote water-in-oil droplet growth and emulsion breakdown to facilitate effective oil-water separation. This
technology is one of the most important parts of a process when
complete oil-water separation is carried out topsides or on the
seabed in combination with advanced separation technology.
Integrated InLine Systems
The minimum weight and space requirements of
Integrated InLine Systems helps to make marginal fields
commercially viable. For existing installations where space
is limited, this compact equipment will provide separation
solutions that lead to increased production. Since pressure
vessels can be reduced in size, and sometimes even be
eliminated, when applying inline separation equipment,
compact equipment is ideal for subsea separation and
other high-pressure applications.

Improved axial flow InLine HydroCyclone:

High separation efficiency performance
Low pressure-drop
Low differential pressure-drop ratio
Erosion resistant
Resistant to clogging
Suitable for installation in existing hydrocyclone v essels.
The worlds first subsea InLine HydroCyclone was installed
at the Petrobras Marlim Subsea Separation Project in 2011

Outlet

InLine DeWaterer
InLine
ElectroCoalescer

oil
gas
water

InLine HydroCyclone

Cyclonic Liquid-Liquid Separation

Size comparison, gravity vs. cyclonic

liquid-liquid separation

The advantage of the primary liquid-liquid separation

is that it replaces large vessels with compact technology
(to reduce size and weight). It can also be used anywhere
in a processing stream where compact bulk liquid-liquid
separation is required.

Conventional
gravity separator

InLine DeWaterer
Compact three phase separation system based on use of
InLine technology
InLine HP
PhaseSplitter

InLine
PhaseSplitter
with slug
catcher

Coalescing
chamber

Integrated InLine Systems Ultra Compact Separation Systems,

Subsea and Topside

Inline HydroCylone

Inlet

Cyclonic
L/L Separator

Slug Catcher
Gravity Separator
InLine LP
Phase
Splitter

The InLine DeWaterer is a compact centrifugal inline

separator, which removes hydrocarbon liquid from waterdominated streams that can handle up to 30%50% of
gas volume and water cuts of 50% and higher. It is
installed (for debottlenecking purposes and upgrading
existing production facilities) in the following ways:
upstream of an existing gravity separator to
remove the bulk of the water
in parallel with an existing gravity separator to
increase plant capacity
downstream of an overloaded gravity separator
to clean the water
The InLine DeWaterer can also be used to remove water
droplets from oil if the water cut is <50%, as long as the
operational viscosity of the oil is below 10cP.

Integrated Separation Systems

For large pressure vessels, the movement of the FPSO can
often cause operational problems such as spurious alarms
and shutdowns. Designing around this problem often
means increased margins and therefore larger pressure
vessels which lead to increased cost. As inline equipment
is not affected by movement, compact total separation
systems are ideal for installation on FPSOs. The potential
savings in space and weight can be substantial: up to
8 x smaller footprint and 5 x lower weight. Similar savings
can also be implemented at other offshore facilities.

Petrobras inline three-phase separation system

Photo: Statoil, Oyvind Hagen

Integrated Inline System Shell PDO Al-Huwaisah, Oman

Gasunie cyclone (A - gas/liquid)

InLine DeWaterers (B&C - dirty water cleaners)
Hydrocyclones (D - recently optimized)

Our skid replaced an installation in the desert of 135 T.

and 12x20x10 m. (LxWxH). It weighs 24 T. and measures
5x6x10 meters.

Gullfaks Compact Separation System

An Integrated InLine System was developed for Gullfaks
Aand C to handle future LP production and to extend field
life. The system consisting of InLine PhaseSplitters, InLine
DeGassers and InLine DeLiquidizers made it possible to
eliminate pressure vessels. A test programme was
performed to optimize performance and maximize
separation efficiency.

The Integrated InLine System for Brazilian national oil

company Petrobras is a skid for produced water degassing
and heavy oil removal which consists of:
A CDS-Gasunie cyclone
InLine DeWaterers
InLine HydroCyclones

Other solutions by
Separation Systems
Production Improvements
Heavy Oil production
Efficiency Improvement and Troubleshooting
Solids Handling
Produced Water

The InLine- DeGasser, DeSander, PhaseSplitter, DeWaterer and DeLiquidiser are patented by Statoil and FMC has exclusive worldwide
license to sell this technology.

 Copyright February 2011 | FMC Technologies

www.fmctechnologies.com/separation

FMC Technologies
1777 Gears Road
Houston TX 77067
USA
Phone: +1 281 591 4000

FMC Technologies
Separation Systems
Delta 101
6825 MN Arnhem
The Netherlands
Phone: +31 (0)26 7999100