Patent ID: 8333825

Claim:
An apparatus for separating multi-phase fluids, comprising a uniaxial cyclonic separator having an inlet for multi-phase fluids, a cyclonic separation chamber, a first outlet for relatively high density fluids and a second outlet for relatively low density fluids, wherein the inlet for multi-phase fluids is located at one end of the cyclonic separation chamber and the first and second outlets are located at an opposite end of the cyclonic separation chamber, and a secondary separator in which fluids are separated partly by gravity and partly by cyclonic separation, said secondary separator comprising a separation vessel having a substantially upright peripheral wall, a first inlet connected to receive the relatively high density fluids, a second inlet connected to receive the relatively low density fluids and to direct said relatively low density fluids along the peripheral wall, a gas outlet in an upper part of the separation vessel for a separated gas phase and a liquid outlet in a lower part of the separation vessel for a separated liquid phase.