Patent ID: 8012347

Claim:
A device for separation of a fluid that comprises surfactants, oil and water, in connection with extraction of such a fluid containing drops of water in oil or oil in water from formations under earth's surface or sea bed, comprising: a separator comprising outlet pipes for separately passing out separated water and oil; a supply pipe or transport pipe for transporting the fluid to said separator; a phase inversion stabilizer arranged in said supply pipe or transport pipe upstream of said separator, wherein said phase inversion stabilizer is arranged to apply shear forces to the drops in the fluid to begin a coalescence process that leads to phase inversion, such that the drops are torn up to form new drops that have a diameter that is less than a third of their original diameter, and are so small that an interface of the drops generally becomes new and uncontaminated by said surfactants; and a pipe connected to said supply pipe or transport pipe upstream of said phase inversion stabilizer to recirculate separated water from separator, and lower a water cut in the oil passing out of said separator.