Design and Experimental Study of Hydrocyclone in Series and in Bridge of Downhole Oil/Water Separation System

Hydrocyclone, as the core part of the downhole oil/water separation (DOWS) system, has been used for a long time. But some issues restricted it from extensive and long term utilization in terms of reinjection in the same oil well, offshore oil production and so on. The design in this paper solved the puzzle how to arrange the main devices and their flow channels in the comparatively narrow well bore. Some special ideas were designed to accomplish the function to get more handling capacity by connecting hydrocyclones in bridge and to obtain thicker rude oil by connecting hydrocyclones in series. Experimental study has been carried on which shows the hydrocyclones connecting both in series and in bridge can satisfy the corresponding application in DOWS. This study can arouse new efforts to separate more water in well bore than ever which can greatly decrease the burden of water treatment and gain more economic efficiency.