Overview on Downhole Oil Water Separators (DOWS)

by
Majed H. Al-Uteibi, MSE

University of Texas at Austin, 2003
Supervisor: Augusto L. Podio

With increasing water production in oilfields today, there emerged a strong need for solutions to reduce its handling cost. Downhole Oil Water Separators (DOWS) provide means for substantially minimizing the quantity of water brought to surface while possibly enhancing more oil production. Although sounds very attractive, DOWS has not yet earned the reliability and popularity suitable with its potential advantages. The rate of failure in previous field applications of DOWS was high while little has been done by its providers to improve its performance. This report gives an up to date literature review on DOWS technology.

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