A treater for separating oil from water in an emulsion uses vertical
coalescing vanes extending through the oil portion into the water
portion. The vanes are made of a conductive material, and are
electrically grounded in the produced water, and may be coated or
partially coated to promote de-watering. Water droplets coalescing on the
faces of the vanes are transported down the vane into the water portion
and are removed from the system. In a further embodiment, the vanes
extend above the oil portion into the gas portion to facilitate removal
of gas entrained in the oil. In another embodiment, at least some of the
coalescing vanes are rotatable, allowing external control of the flow of
fluid through the treater.
