Esso performed hydrocyclone field trials dating back the early 1980’s on the Kingfish B platform and subsequent testing on the Snapper and Barracouta platforms. The success from those initial testing paved the way to the advancement and adoption of the liquid-liquid hydrocyclone compact separation systems at Esso.

The first commercial dehydrating application was installed in 1991-1992 at the Esso Longford plant in Australia.  The system removed water from condensate (from 10% to <1%) using the special liquid-liquid cyclone liners.

See photograph above showing the dehydrating liners installed.

References:

1. Rawlins, C.H., “Partial Processing: Produced Water Debottlenecking Unlocks Production on Offshore Thailand MOPU Platform”, paper SPE-187109-MS, presented at the 2017 SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, San Antonio, TX, October 9 – 11, 2017. https://doi.org/10.2118/187109-MS
2. Ditria, J.C., “The Separation of Solids and Liquids with Hydrocyclone Based Technology for Water Treatment and Crude Processing”, paper SPE-28815-MS, presented at the SPE Asia Pacific Oil & Gas Conference held in Melbourne, Australia, November 7-10, 1994. https://doi.org/10.2118/28815-MS