Patent ID: 7347945

Claim:
An installation for separating out an effluent made up of a multi-phase fluid mixture, said installation comprising: a gravity separator wherein phases of the multi-phase fluid mixture segregate under the influence of gravity into a water phase, an oil phase and a gas phase into respective spaces of the separator; respective removal ducts for each separated fluid phase, said removal ducts being connected to respective outlets of the gravity separator for each separated fluid phase; wherein said gravity separator comprises a recovery duct comprising a suction intake at a first end and a second end operably connected and in fluid communication to one of said removal ducts said recovery duct comprising adjustment means for adjusting the length between said first and second ends of said recovery duct a such that the respective spaces for each separated fluid phase are modified during use as a function of a composition of the effluent and to position said suction intake substantially in the middle of said separated oil phase; and wherein the flow rate of at least one fluid phase in one of said removal ducts can be adjusted during said separation operation.