Optimizing separators pressure in multistage crude oil production unit

To achieve good separation between gas and liquid mixture coming out of a crude oil production system and to maximize hydrocarbon liquid recovery, it is necessary to use several separation stages at decreasing pressures and then adapting the pressure set-points to improve product separation and recovery at minimum cost. In this study an accurate methodology is presented for optimizing separators pressure in the crude oil production unit. In order to achieve this aim, the simulation of separator process was carried out. The proposed methodology determines the optimum pressures of separators in different stages of separation and consequently optimizes the operating conditions. Using this method, the optimum separators pressure for a 40000 barrel/day oil production unit was determined. As a result, the oil recovery was increased by 154 barrel/day. Also in this work, the effect of separators pressure on C7+mole fraction was investigated. The results showed that the separators pressure has not significant effect on C7+ mole fraction.

کلیدواژه ها:

pressure optimization ، crude oil ، multistage separation ، equation of state