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Exhaust heat from engines used in oil field operations can be utilized to (1) at least partially separate a water-containing wellstream fluid into a progressively enlarged hydrocarbon phase which floats on the remainder of the wellstream fluid and/or on a water phase and (2) vaporize lighter fractio

Exhaust heat from engines used in oil field operations can be utilized to (1) at least partially separate a water-containing wellstream fluid into a progressively enlarged hydrocarbon phase which floats on the remainder of the wellstream fluid and/or on a water phase and (2) vaporize lighter fractions of the hydrocarbon phase for use as fuels for such engines. The level of the wellstream fluid in the separation vessel and the depth of the hydrocarbon phase which forms a top of the remainder of the wellstream fluid and/or water phase are automatically adjusted so that a heater tube which directs exhaust heat through the separation vessel is predominantely in contact with the hydrocarbon phase. The lighter hydrocarbon vapors thus produced are collected and, preferably, superheated prior to being used as fuels.

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An apparatus for progressively enlarging the hydrocarbon component of a portion of a wellstream fluid having both a hydrocarbon component and a water component from a fraction originally found in the wellstream fluid to an enlarged fraction, separating the hydrocarbon component from the water compon

An apparatus for progressively enlarging the hydrocarbon component of a portion of a wellstream fluid having both a hydrocarbon component and a water component from a fraction originally found in the wellstream fluid to an enlarged fraction, separating the hydrocarbon component from the water component and vaporizing at least a portion the hydrocarbon component for use as a fuel, said apparatus comprising: a vessel system having a first section for containing the wellstream fluid and a second section for containing hydrocarbon vapors generated from a liquid hydrocarbon phase which forms on the remainder of the wellstream fluid as a result of, at least in part, the action of a heater tube located in the lower section of the vessel, said heater tube passes through the first section of the vessel and is fluidly connected to a source of heat wherein the heat is introduced into said first section in order to effect a heat exchange primarily directed at an enlarging hydrocarbon component which forms on top of the remainder of the wellstream fluid and thereby vaporizing lighter hydrocarbons of the hydrocarbon phase; inlet means for introducing fluids into the first section of the vessel; outlet means for removing hydrocarbon vapors from the second section; sensor and temperature controlled valve means associated with said inlet means for introducing wellstream fluid into the vessel when the temperature within the vessel reaches a given level; means for removing hydrocarbon vapors from the first section to the second section; means for sensing and reacting to liquid levels in the first section; and means for removing at least a portion of the remaining wellstream fluid from the first section of the vessel when the level of the liquid hydrocarbon phase reaches a prescribed level in the first section. A process for progressively enlarging the oil component of a portion of wellstrean fluid having both a hydrocarbon component and a water component, separating the oil component from the water component and vaporizing the oil component for use as a fuel, said process comprising: preheating the wellstream fluid before it enters a separation vessel; controlling the input of wellstream fluid into the vessel based upon a temperature based verification that the conditions in the vessel are capable of vaporizing at least a portion of any lighter hydrocarbons in the vessel; subjecting the hydrocarbon component of the wellstream fluid to the heating action of the exhaust heat of an engine and thereby causing at least a portion of the wellstream fluid to form a liquid hydrocarbon phase which floats upon a water phase; adjusting the level of the wellstream fluid in the vessel by dumping said fluid when it reaches a prescribed higher level and stopping dumping said fluid when it reaches a prescribed lower level; sensing the prescribed lowered level of the liquid hydrocarbon phase and thereby closing a liquid outlet valve to prevent discharge of wellstream fluid from the vessel and opening a vapor outlet valve to permit discharge of vapors formed above the liquid hydrocarbon phase; collecting the vapors in a separate section of the separation vessel; superheating the vapors by the action of the exhaust heat before said vapors are used as a fuel; feeding new wellstream fluid into the vessel only on the basis of the temperature conditions within the vessel; and sensing the prescribed higher level of the liquid hydrocarbon phase and thereby closing the vapor outlet valve and opening the liquid outlet valve so as to progressively increase the liquid oil component and decrease the water phase by filling the vessel with an oil and water mixture and discharging fluids having water concentrations greater than the water concentrations originally present in the incoming wellstream fluid.