Increasing Control and Accuracy in the Separation Process by Density Profiling

Abstract

Three-phase, horizontal, gravity separation vessels are the principal method of extracting oil and gas from unwanted produced water and solids prior to transportation. Traditionally, oil production separators have used separate single-point transmitters for interface and bulk level measurement. This paper shows how a profile of the different layers as opposed to single-point measurement can enable oil production and chemical usage to be optimised.