Patent ID: 8322434

Claim:
A subsea vertical separator capable of separating produced wellbore fluids into a liquid phase and a gas phase, such separator comprising: (a) an intermediate casing within an outer casing, forming a first annulus; (b) an inner casing within the intermediate casing, forming a second annulus; (c) a fluid inlet in communication with the second annulus; (d) a liquid outlet in communication with the first annulus; (e) a gas passage in the inner casing for conducting separated gas phase fluids, wherein the gas passage has a gas inlet and a gas outlet; (f) a pump assembly comprising a pump positioned within the intermediate casing having (i) a pump intake in fluid communication with the second annulus and (ii) a pump discharge in fluid communication with the first annulus; (g) a motor to drive the pump; and (f) a helix assembly positioned in the second annulus between the inner casing and the intermediate casing, wherein the outer casing further comprises a housing with an upper end and a lower end to provide pressure containment for the first annulus, second annulus, and gas passage.