Introduction

The oil and water separation and

sand cleaning occurs as intermittent
rain and washdown water flows
through a series of closely spaced
baffle plates. The tight spacing of the
baffle plates creates quiescent zones
and reduces the distance a given
droplet must rise to be separated from
the main flow. Once in the quiescent
zone there is sufficient time for
coalescence of the oil particles. The
larger coalesced droplets then migrate
up the underside of the baffle into
the oil riser. The riser prevents the oil
droplets from being swept back into
the flow stream and remixing with the
incoming water.
Design Considerations
Flow Rate
When determining flow rate
through the skim pile, the produced
water flow, deck surface area,
washdown water, and open and
closed drain water are considered with
respect to inlet oil concentrations.
These elements are critical in selecting
equipment that will achieve the
desired effluent. Since sump caissons
are designed for intermittent flows,
the worst case for operation is used as
the basis for design.
Inlet and Effluent Concentrations
As the relationship between oil
droplet size and oil concentration
is essential in determining the
effectiveness of an oil and water
separator, Cameron calculates the
micron size to be removed to achieve
the required effluent. There will
be a distribution of droplet sizes
from zero to the maximum size, and
this distribution will depend upon
parameters unknown at the time of
initial design.
Cameron experimental data indicates
that a conservative assumption for
design would be to characterize the
distribution in the following manner.
Oil with a high specific gravity and
which is not finely dispersed in the
water or is entrained in the water as
large droplets will be more likely to
cause a sheen. It is also safe to assume
that, due to the use of soaps and
detergents in deck washdown, much
of this free oil will be less than 150
in size.
Water Depth
In shallow water (<50 ft/15m)
skimmer and sump vessels or closed
end sump caissons are recommended
to attain the needed retention time
and baffle plated length. In deep
water (>100 ft/30m), open ended sump
caissons are preferred since they can
handle larger volumes. Water depth is
critical in calculating the plated length
of a caisson.
Retention Time
Camerons sump systems are
designed for a 1030 minute retention
time. This amount of time is adequate
to prevent spills and allows for
removal of large oil particles.
Vent
Oil out
Solids closed drains
Solids closed drains
Quiescent areas
Flowing zones
Open drains
Splash zone
Open drains
Pump
NATCO

Skim Pile (Plated Caisson with Oil Risers)

Preferred caisson for applications with strict regulations
PROCESS SYSTEMS
Data Sheet | TC9814-030
WA T E R
Reynolds Number and
Stokes Law
The NATCO Skim Pile system is
designed to operate in the laminar flow
regime (Reynolds Number less than
1000) at worst case conditions. Operating
in this fashion allows the use of Stokes
Law to calculate the rate (or velocity) of
the oil particles rise or fall, or of solids in
the water.
Oil and water characteristics such
as specific gravity, temperature and
viscosity, along with flow rate and
particle size, are used to compute the
performance of sump systems. In all sump
systems, the rising velocity of the oil
droplets must be greater than the exit
velocity of the water for separation to
occur.
Internal Motion
The motion of the oil and water inside
a skim pile sump caisson is a factor of the
inlet flow rate baffle spacing, and cut
out size of the baffle plates as well as the
external wave height and period. Low
internal motion is vital so that oil can be
removed using level controls with pumps
or blowcases.
Corrosion Protection
Due to the corrosive nature of
oxygen laden rain washdown water and
produced water, Cameron internally
paints and provides cathodic protection
anodes.
200ppm
Open drains
Cellar deck
Sampler
Boat deck
Solid out
Mud line
Clean water out
20ppm
Blanket gas in To vent header
Reflux skimmer
Water outlet
Oil outlet Water inlet from Reflux skimmer
Open drains
Additional Separation
Additional oil and water separation
is achieved through coalescence as a
result of the large number of baffle
plates, long retention time and low
energy output of the skim pile. Free oil is
removed from sand due to the agitation
and abrasion created as the sand tumbles
down the series of baffle plates and is
disposed through the end of the caisson.
Removal Efficiency
The Skim Pile is the final stage of
the open drain and produced water
treatment system and is designed to
remove all oil droplets larger than 50
microns.
Reflux Technology
As government regulations for disposal
of wastewater become more stringent,
methods such as reflux technology will
be positive steps to attain the required
effluent quality.
The reflux system incorporates the
normal skim pile arrangements with
another above-deck skimming vessel such
as WEMCO

Pacesetter or WEMCO ISF

.
The system operates by removing the oil
and water interface from the sump skim
pile and treating it in the reflux vessel.
The clean water is further treated when
returning into the sump. By continuously
refluxing the wastewater a final effluent
of less than 20 ppm can be achieved.
2010 Cameron | NATCO, WEMCO and ISF are registered trademarks of Cameron | Printed in USA | 07/10 TC9814-030
PROCESS SYSTEMS
LOCATI ONS
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11210 Equity Dr., Suite 100
Houston, TX 77041 USA
TEL +713.849.7500
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Cameron House
61-73 Staines Road West
Sunbury-on-Thames
Middlesex, UK TW16 7AH
TEL +44.1932.732000
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2 Gul Circle (Gate 2)
Jurong, Singapore 629560
TEL +65.6861.3355
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