Foamy Crude in Production Separator
The non-water substance appearance in crude is the major cause of foam in crude problems. Those substances will not be removed until the crude enters the separator. The separator must be designed properly to have adequate time or coalescing surface to break the foam. Three major problem of foaming crude in separator is as follow:
1. The mechanical control can not reach its best performance because the control devices most deal three liquid phases.
2. The foam will fill much of the separator space so it reduces liquid collection capability.
3. The gas or liquid outlet might carry out foamy material.
The pressure drop and temperature determine the amount of foam. To address foam problem we can use foam depressants to increase separator capacity.
Categories: Oil and Gas Separator | Tags: crude, foam, production separator | Leave a comment