Patent ID: 7798217

Claim:
An apparatus for separating a mixture of liquids of differing specific gravities in a wellbore, comprising: a pressure regulating member, for forcing a plurality of gaseous compositions into the wellbore and removing said gaseous compositions from the wellbore and thereby selectively changing pressure in the wellbore; a separation chamber, with internal pressure responsive to the pressure regulating member, for receiving a mixture of liquids of differing specific gravities, and containing said liquids in an undisturbed state until said liquids have separated into a plurality of layers; a separation member, positioned inside the separation chamber, and selected to comprise a specific gravity less than a first liquid to be separated from the liquid mixture and greater than a second liquid to be separated from the liquid mixture so that said separation member floats in the interface between the two liquids; a receiving member, positioned inside the separation chamber, for receiving the separation member and maintaining a seal therewith when the separation chamber is under increased pressure; and a flow member, further comprising a plurality of disposal valves and production valves, and connected to the receiving member, for receiving a mixture of liquids of differing specific gravities through the production valves, allowing the mixture to enter the separation chamber through the receiving member prior to separation, receiving liquids of specific gravities greater than the specific gravity of the separation member, and allowing liquids of specific gravities greater than the specific gravity of the separation member to flow through the disposal valves.