Patent ID: 7083736

Claim:
A system for separating oil from an aqueous-based fluid, said system comprising: a housing comprising a top end and a bottom end; a bulk fluid inlet in fluid communication with said housing at said bottom end for introduction of a bulk fluid to said system; a plurality of polymeric tubes vertically oriented in said housing and fluidly communicating with said bulk fluid inlet wherein said bulk fluid passes through said plurality of polymeric tubes for aggregation of contaminants; a retention chamber positioned within said housing and in fluid communication with said plurality of polymeric tubes for retention of said aqueous-based fluid, said retention chamber having a cross-sectional area decreasing in size toward said top end thereby facilitating aggregation of oil, wherein aqueous-based fluid flows from said plurality of polymeric tubes into said retention chamber; a return chamber in fluid communication with said retention chamber, wherein said return chamber comprises at least one fluid outlet; a weir formed within the housing and about the retention chamber, said weir in fluid communication with said return chamber; and a central plenum formed within said return chamber, said central plenum in fluid communication with said weir and said retention chamber, wherein aqueous-based fluid flows from the retention chamber over the weir and into the return chamber, then into and through the central plenum and then through said outlet.