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Case Studies, Papers & Promotions
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| Development of Subsea Gas-Liquid Separator Design Methodology for Total E&P by Wilde CFD
25 March 2007
 Exploitation of deep sea oil fields tips the economics of gas-liquid separation in favour of a subsea solution, but prediction of separator efficiency - across wide-ranging operating conditions over the field life - becomes critical for liquid pump selection. Mathematical modelling and CFD simulation were used alongside a scale model test programme to support separator design decisions and to develop a methodology for the design of a full-scale unit in a deep water development in Gulf of Guinea - the first ever to be installed from the start of field life.
Project objectives were:
- To improve understanding of behaviour across a wide range of conditions
- To identify the most promising generic configuration
- To provide the basis for the prediction of liquid outlet GVF at full scale.
Modelling formed a significant part of this project. The liquid section of the gravity separator was simulated using 2-way coupled particle tracking for reproducing buoyancy currents, with embedded models of surface disengagement and drag behaviour allowing for bubble size and interaction with other bubbles. Inlet boundary conditions were informed by off-line mathematical models representing the phenomenlogy of inlet pipework gas entrainment and the physics of bubble formation and depth of penetration at free surfaces.
Overall, the following benefits were obtained from the work:
- Developed new way to interpret & use test data.
- Design methodology that deconvolutes the effects of separator characteristics from inlet bubble size distribution.
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