Multiphase separator, and method of separating a multiphase fluid

1. Multiphase separator for separating a multiphase fluid produced by one or more oil wells, the multiphase separator comprising:

a separating vessel, comprising an inlet chamber and an oil chamber for collecting oil at least partially separated by a barrier;

an inlet for introducing the multiphase fluid into the separating vessel; wherein the oil chamber is positioned on the opposite side of the barrier to the inlet;

a gas outlet configured to collect gas separated from the multiphase fluid;

an oil outlet configured to collect oil, separated from the multiphase fluid, from the oil chamber;

a water outlet configured to collect water separated from the multiphase fluid;

a gas and water mixture injector configured to inject a mixture of pressurized gas and water in a lower portion of the separating vessel;

a solids collection system for collecting solid material deposited at the bottom of the separating vessel; and

a cleaning system configured to inject pressurized water in a downward angled direction towards the bottom of the separating vessel to direct a swept flow of water to the solids collection system;

wherein the gas outlet comprises a gas recycling line connected to the gas and water mixture injector;

wherein the gas recycling line comprises a gas recycling valve configured to control the flow of recycled gas to control the volume of gas to be fed back into the separating vessel;

wherein the gas outlet comprises a gas outlet line; and

wherein the gas outlet line comprises a gas outlet control valve configured to control the internal pressure of the separating vessel.

2. Multiphase separator according to claim 1 , further comprising a water recycling line configured to receive water from the water outlet and to supply the received water to the cleaning system.

3. Multiphase separator according to claim 1 , wherein the barrier extends from the bottom of the separating vessel up to an intermediate height within the vessel.

4. Multiphase separator according to claim 1 , wherein the water outlet comprises a water outlet line.

5. Multiphase separator according to claim 1 , wherein the water outlet comprises a water recycling line configured to recycle water to the gas and water injector.

6. Multiphase separator according to claim 5 , wherein the water recycling line comprises a water recycling control valve.

7. Multiphase separator according to claim 1 ,

wherein the gas outlet comprises a gas recycling line connected to the gas and water mixture injector;

wherein the water outlet comprises a water recycling line configured to recycle water to the gas and water injector; and

further comprising a pump connected to the gas recycling line and to the water recycling line.

8. Multiphase separator according to claim 7 , wherein the pump is configured to impart pressure to flows intended for the gas and water mixture injector, and for the cleaning system.

9. Multiphase separator according to claim 1 , wherein the gas and water mixture injector comprises sprinklers and/or injector nozzles.

10. Multiphase separator according to claim 9 , wherein the gas and water mixture injector comprises at least one line of sprinklers.

11. Multiphase separator according to claim 1 , further comprising a mixture flow control valve configured to control the flow supplied to the gas and water mixture injector.

12. Multiphase separator according to claim 1 , further comprising a cleaning flow control valve configured to control the flow supplied to the cleaning system.

13. Multiphase separator according to claim 1 , wherein the cleaning system comprises at least one pipeline provided with a plurality of injector nozzles angled downwards for injecting high-pressure water.

14. Multiphase separator according to claim 1 , wherein the solids collection system comprises a collecting channel.

15. Multiphase separator according to claim 14 , wherein the collecting channel comprises one or more injector nozzles for propelling solids collected in the channel.

16. Method of separating a multiphase fluid produced in one or more oil wells with the multiphase separator according to claim 1 , comprising the steps of:

introducing the multiphase fluid into a separating vessel; collecting gas, separated from the multiphase fluid, from an upper part of the separating vessel;

separating oil from the multiphase fluid into an oil chamber, and collecting the oil; and

collecting water separated from the multiphase fluid;

injecting a pressurized mixture of gas water in a lower portion of the separating vessel.

17. Method according to claim 16 , wherein the step of injecting comprises injecting a pressurized mixture of at least some of the collected gas and at least some of the collected water.

18. Method according to claim 16 , further comprising the steps of:

injecting pressurized water in a downward angled direction towards a bottom of the separating vessel; and

collecting solid material deposited at the bottom of the separating vessel.

19. Method according to claim 18 , wherein the water injected in a downward angled direction is at least some of collected water.

20. Method of separating a multiphase fluid produced in one or more oil wells with the multiphase separator according to claim 1 , comprising:

introducing the multiphase fluid into the separating vessel; collecting gas, separated from the multiphase fluid, from an upper part of the separating vessel;

separating oil from the multiphase fluid into the oil chamber, and collecting the oil; and

collecting water separated from the multiphase fluid; and

injecting a pressurized mixture of gas water in a lower portion of the separating vessel;

wherein the separating vessel is part of the multiphase separator.