Subsea machine and methods for separating components of a material stream
Systems and methods include using a subsea machine for separating a mixture received from a seabed well. The subsea machine includes: a chamber configured to receive and separate by gravity the mixture received from the seabed well. The chamber includes: a housing configured to contain the mixture received from the undersea well during separation, and a piston provided inside the housing and separating the housing into a top section and a bottom section. The piston is configured to move in a first direction along an axis to create more space in the top section for receiving the mixture from the seabed well and to move in a second opposite direction along the axis for removing the mixture from the chamber after separation has occurred.
1. A subsea machine for separating a mixture received from a seabed well, the subsea machine comprising:
a chamber configured to receive and separate by gravity the mixture received from the seabed well, the chamber comprising:
a housing configured to contain the mixture received from the undersea well during separation, and
a piston provided inside the housing and separating the housing into a top section and a bottom section, the piston being configured to move in a first direction along an axis to create more space in the top section for receiving the mixture from the seabed well and to move in a second opposite direction along the axis for removing the mixture from the top section after separation has occurred;
a compressor section fluidly connected to the top section, the compressor section being configured to receive, compress and propel the gas towards an onshore facilities; and
a sound vibration module configured to selectively use sound, vibration or some combination of sound and vibration to reduce the time required for separation of the received mixture to occur.
2. The subsea machine of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first intake connected to the top section and configured to receive the mixture from the seabed well, the first intake being disposed near a top end of the chamber; and
a second intake connected to the bottom section and configured to receive seawater, the second intake being disposed near a bottom end of the chamber.
3. The subsea machine of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first extraction exit configured to connect the top section of the chamber and the compressor section and to allow passage of a gas, the first extraction exit being disposed through the top end of the chamber;
a second extraction exit connected to the top section and configured to exit liquid from the chamber, the second extraction exit being disposed below the first extraction exit;
a third extraction exit connected to the top section and configured to exit mud from the chamber, the third extraction exit being disposed below the second extraction exit; and
a fourth extraction exit connected to the bottom section and configured to exit seawater from the chamber, the fourth extraction exit being disposed below the third extraction exit near the bottom end of the chamber.
4. The subsea machine of claim 1 , further comprising:
a pump configured to extract seawater from the chamber.
5. The subsea machine of claim 1 , wherein the chamber has a height substantially in a range of 1.0-10.0 meters.
6. The subsea machine of claim 1 , wherein the compressor section extracts the gas from the chamber after separation has occurred.
7. The subsea machine of claim 1 , further comprising:
a liquid extraction pump configured to extract liquid from the chamber after separation has occurred; and
a mud extraction pump configured to extract mud, other solids, and other semi-solids from the chamber after separation has occurred.
8. A method for separating a mixture received from a seabed well in a subsea machine, the method comprising:
receiving and separating the mixture received from the seabed well in a chamber;
using a sound vibration module configured to selectively use sound, vibration or some combination of sound and vibration to reduce the time required for separation of the received mixture to occur;
containing the mixture received from the seabed well during separation in a housing;
moving a piston in a first direction along an axis to create more space in the chamber for receiving the mixture and moving the piston in a second opposite direction along the axis for removing the mixture from the chamber after separation has occurred, the piston provided inside the housing and separating the housing into a top section and a bottom section;
receiving and compressing the gas at a compressor section, the compressor section fluidly connected to the top section; and
propelling the compressed gas towards an onshore facilities.
9. A subsea machine for separating a mixture received from a seabed well, the subsea machine comprising:
a chamber configured to receive the mixture from the seabed well and sea water and to eject the mixture by using a pressure of the sea water inside the chamber, the chamber having a first vertical section, a second vertical section and a bottom section, the bottom section being configured to receive and hold seawater, both the first vertical section and second vertical section having a mixture intake, an oil extraction outlet and a gas extraction outlet, the oil extraction outlet and gas extraction outlet of one vertical section being configured to open to allow the exit of gas and oil based on force exerted by well mixture entering the mixture intake of the other vertical section to the seawater in the bottom section, and a sound vibration module configured to selectively use sound, vibration or some combination of sound and vibration to reduce the time required for separation of the received mixture to occur.
10. The method of claim 8 , further comprising receiving and separating the mixture received from the seabed well in the chamber comprises using a first intake connected to a top section of the housing, the first intake being disposed near a top end of the chamber and a second intake connected to a bottom section of the housing and configured to receive seawater the second intake being disposed near a bottom end of the chamber.
11. The method of claim 8 , wherein removing the mixture from the chamber after separation has occurred further comprises using a first extraction exit configured to connect the top section of the chamber and the compressor section and to allow passage of a gas, the first extraction exit being disposed through the top end of the chamber;
a second extraction exit connected to the top section and configured to exit liquid from the chamber, the second extraction exit being disposed below the first extraction exit;
a third extraction exit connected to the top section and configured to exit and from the chamber, the third extraction exit being disposed below the second extraction exit; and
a fourth extraction exit connected to the bottom section and configured to exit seawater from the chamber, the fourth extraction exit being disposed below the third extraction exit near the bottom end of the chamber.
12. The method of claim 8 , wherein the chamber has a height substantially in a range of 1.0-10.0 meters.
13. The method of claim 8 , wherein the compressor section extracts the gas from the chamber after separation has occurred.
14. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
extracting liquid from the chamber after separation has occurred using a liquid extraction pump; and
extracting mud, other solids, and other semi-solids from the chamber after separation has occurred using a and extraction pump configured to extract mud.