Petroleum - Water Production - Clarification - Gunbarrel: Steel & Fiberglass

The gunbarrel is a cost-effective and low maintenance means to treat oil when properly applied. Production enters the inlet flume gas boot section at the top of the tank. Solution gas is vented from the top of the flume or equalized to storage. The oil and water travels downward through a downcomer pipe and is dispersed by directional vains. Free water then is allowed to move down and around the spreader table to the outlet pipe and the oil travels upward to the oil skim outlet. Adequate oil retention time will allow entrained water to settle out and be discharged through the water-leg. Clean oil at the top spills over the oil outlet and flows to storage.

The gunbarrel is applicable only where chemical and retention time alone will treat the oil. Retention time is improved by the directional flow induced by the directional vains. Also, consider that there is no gas pressure to dump the oil and water. The vessel must be tall enough for the oil to gravity flow to storage. If considerable gas is present and/or gas is to be sold, a separator will be required ahead of the gunbarrel.