Patent ID: 7311001

Claim:
An apparatus for separating and measuring fluid streams comprising an oil phase, a water phase, and a gas phase, the apparatus comprising: a generally vertical fluid separator pipe having a top end and a bottom end, an inlet member connected to the vertical fluid separator pipe between the top end and the bottom end, the vertical fluid separator pipe further comprising a first outlet at the top end, the first outlet generally for discharge of the gas phase, and a second outlet at the bottom end, the second outlet generally for discharge of the oil phase and water phase; a first conduit connected to the first outlet, the first conduit comprising backpressure control means and gas flow measurement means; a second conduit connected to the second outlet, the second conduit comprising a generally horizontal section, a first vertical chamber, and a second vertical chamber arranged in series; a weir plate dividing the first vertical chamber and the second vertical chamber; an interface detection device disposed adjacent to the first vertical chamber, upstream of the weir plate; the second vertical chamber comprising a low fluid level detection device and a high fluid level detection device in vertically stacked arrangement, the low fluid level detection device below the high fluid level detection device; a first actuated valve connected to the first vertical chamber; a second actuated valve connected to the second vertical chamber; a discharge line connected to the first actuated valve and to the second actuated valve, the discharge line comprising liquid flow measurement means; and processing means operationally connected to the interface detection device, to the low fluid level detection device, to the high fluid level detection device, the first actuated valve and the second actuated valve, the processing means configured to operate the first actuated valve and second actuated valve such that the level of the interface between the oil phase and water phase is maintained below the top of the weir plate and the oil phase flows into the second vertical chamber.