US3875998A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Installation for separation on the seabed of the effluents from underwater oil wells
Assignee: ENTREPRISE DE RECHERCHES ET D'ACTIVITIES PETROLIERES (ELF)
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Filing: 1972-10-27
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Granted: 1975-04-08
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Expires: 1992-10-27
Abstract
Abstract An installation for separation on the seabed of the effluents from underwater oil wells, consisting of a base with negative buoyancy anchored on the seabed, a hermetic caisson attached to this base and preferably articulated on it, equipped with at least one gas/liquid separator, which is connected by pipes to each underwater well and from which one pipe leads to a burner, with another pipe to draw off the liquid phase, a buoyant tubular column surmounting the caisson and communicating with it, the upper end of this column, which is above water, supporting a platform, and means inside the caisson of controlling the operation of the separator.
Inventors
- 👤 Pierre Charpentier
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 06:34
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B43/00; E21B43/34; E21B43/36; B; B01; B01D; B01D19/00; B01D19/0063; E21B41/00; E21B41/005; E21B41/0071; E21B43/01
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
194 words
An installation for the separation of the effluents from underwater oil wells, consisting of a negatively buoyant base member adapted to be anchored on the seabed near the underwater oil wells, a water-tight caisson attached to said base member, and provided with at least one gas/liquid separator, said separator being connected by inlet pipes to each of the underwater wells, and equipped with one outlet pipe leading to a burner for gas released into the atmosphere, and another outlet pipe to draw off the gas-free liquid phase, said pipes being connected to said separator through points situated inside the caisson, a buoyant tubular column member surmounting the caisson, the upper end of which is above water and carries a platform, and the inside of which provides access to the inside of the caisson, so that the platform and caisson are in communication, valves mounted in the parts of the gas-and liquid-phase-outlet pipes inside the caisson, to regulate the flow of fluid in each of the pipes, and thus control operation of the separator, and an articulated joint connecting said caisson to the base member, the tubular column member being fixed rigidly to the caisson.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
194 words
An installation for the separation of the effluents from underwater oil wells, consisting of a negatively buoyant base member adapted to be anchored on the seabed near the underwater oil wells, a water-tight caisson attached to said base member, and provided with at least one gas/liquid separator, said separator being connected by inlet pipes to each of the underwater wells, and equipped with one outlet pipe leading to a burner for gas released into the atmosphere, and another outlet pipe to draw off the gas-free liquid phase, said pipes being connected to said separator through points situated inside the caisson, a buoyant tubular column member surmounting the caisson, the upper end of which is above water and carries a platform, and the inside of which provides access to the inside of the caisson, so that the platform and caisson are in communication, valves mounted in the parts of the gas-and liquid-phase-outlet pipes inside the caisson, to regulate the flow of fluid in each of the pipes, and thus control operation of the separator, and an articulated joint connecting said caisson to the base member, the tubular column member being fixed rigidly to the caisson.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
An installation as defined in claim 1, in which the caisson is fixed directly to the base member, and the tubular column member is connected to the caisson by means of said articulated joint.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
An installation as defined in claim 1, in which the caisson is cylindrical, with an annular separator surrounding it.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
An installation as defined in claim 1, in which the caisson is parallelepiped-shaped, with two cylindrical separators, one on each of two parallel side walls of the caisson.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
An installation as defined in claim 4, in which the pipes conveying the oil from the wells to the separators passes through one of the side walls of the caisson without separator.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
73 words
An installation as defined in claim 1, in which each separator is divided into two compartments of unequal size, communicating at the bottom, the smaller of said compartments being used for monitoring and the other for actual separation, both compartments being fed simultaneously, and each being equipped with a gas-discharge pipe connected to the burner, with the gas-free liquid phase being drawn off through a pipe at the bottom of the larger compartment.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
An installation as claimed in claim 1 in which the tubular column has two open ends and thereby maintains the caisson in communication with the open air.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-04-07 | 1978-10-07 | 1979-04-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-04-07 | 1982-10-07 | 1983-04-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-04-07 | 1986-10-07 | 1987-04-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |