General Electric Company
System and method for a centrifugal downhole oil-water separator

Abstract:

A centrifugal separator includes an outer tube, an inner tube, an outlet pipe, and a control mechanism. The outer tube defines at least one outer tube inlet and at least one outer tube outlet. The inner tube is disposed within the outer tube. The inner tube is configured to separate the flow of a first fluid into the flow of a second fluid and a flow of a third fluid by rotation thereof. The outlet pipe is partially disposed within the inner tube and the outer tube. The outlet pipe includes a cross-sectional area. The outlet pipe is configured to channel the flow of the third fluid out of the inner tube and the outer tube. The control mechanism is coupled to the outlet pipe. The control mechanism is configured to regulate the flow of the third fluid by changing the cross-sectional area of the outlet pipe.