Separators, Heater-Treaters, and Pressure in Oil & Gas Production - Greasebook

6/9/2019 Separators, Heater-treaters, and Pressure in Oil & Gas Production - Greasebook
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G E T S TA R T E D N O W
L E A R N MOR E
Separators, Heater-treater
in Oil & Gas Prod
https://greasebook.com/blog/separators-heater-treaters-pressure/ 1/23
Pressurized tanks and other equipment require special handling. Gas or liquids under pressu
themselves are liable to some problems. Understanding the different parts of pressurized equ
the larger pumping system, is essential.
While different operations need different equipment, some pressurized equipment is going t
include the separator and the heater-treater, both of which are part of the process for separa
used to control flow are also usually under some pressure.
Figure 1. Polyethylene piping for a flow lin
Pressurized Lines
The surface pipeline from the wellhead to the tank battery is called the flow line. The choice o
options being best suited to different situations.
Steel is a common option for operations with wells that flow naturally or have a high pressu
spare or older upset tubing that is not being used for the well. Heavy duty pipe is also commo
coupling. While steel pipe can be prone to corrosion, it can be plasti-coated to protect it. Fibe
concern. For low to medium pressure operations, polyethylene has become very popular. It is
suitable for steel.
As the flow line is a surface pipeline, it’s important to keep weather conditions in mind when
use, it will expand in hotter weather and contract when it gets cold. Extreme cold weather ca
hot weather can cause the pipe to buckle. This is more likely to happen when the flow line is
battery.
The solution is to run the pipe at a soft curve, so that the expansion and contraction won’t a
Figure 2. A buried flowline crossing under a r
It is usually wise to provide some protection for the flow line. If the line has to pass under a r
can protect it with casing. Sealed casing should always have a surface vent, to allow gas to d
using steel pipe, it’s wrapped and coated properly.
The Header
The header is where flow lines from different wells come together into a single collection line
so that the flow from each well can be controlled and measured independently.
It is possible to simply join all the flow lines together for all your wells together without using
problems. The advantage of using a header is that oil flow can be controlled and measured fr
needs to be brought to each well. The other option is to shut in all but the well being tested, s
measured. That’s obviously less than desirable, as the shut in wells end up sitting idle.
The flow lines approach the tank battery parallel to each other, with about 20 inches of separ
should be installed. The purpose of the check valve is to prevent the loss of oil down the well.
malfunctions, the loss of pressure can cause the flow line to drop into the well. A similar prob
pulls oil from other wells and the tank battery.
Processing of the oil usually begins at the header, where it’s possible to add chemicals. When
standard practice to add them at the header. Another standard practice is to use quarter rou
quickly. It’s also important to have bypass lines for each vessel.
Common Lines and Openings

All pressure vessels have some fittings and openings in common, while some are specific to
equipment’s specifications is essential, but in particular it’s helpful to know some basic info
Figure 3. Common openings for pressurized tank ba
Fluid enters the vessel through the emulsion inlet. Emulsion in this case refers to the produc
The inlet is located on the side of the vessel above the level of fluid. Some vessels, for example
of the inlet. This causes the fluid to mix and turn as it enters, which helps to separate the ga
level so that oil is not lost back down the fluid line.
At the very top of the vessel is the gas outlet, which allows the separated gas to exit. The drai
There can be several oil outlets. One will be at the level of the top of the fluid. The second one
as a water outlet if the vessel is a three stage separator. If there’s also a fire tube, the vessel c
Floaters
A float is used inside a vessel attached to an arm or other sensor to control the volume of flu
divided into indiscriminate and discriminate types.
Indiscriminate floats stay on top of both water and oil, and thus gauge the total volume of fl
ball floats, and their size can depend on a number of factors.
Discriminate floats are weighted to float only on oil, and thus rest on the meeting place betw
depending on the oil’s weight, and water density depends on the salinity of the water, floats o
about 7 pounds per gallon, while water will weigh around 9 lbs, varying with the salt content
Separator
The separator is usually the first vessel in the tank battery. It’s purpose is to separate the gas
not technically under high pressure, as their normal operating pressure is between 15 and 50
however. This vessel is pressurized primarily to push fluid to the next vessel in the tank batte
Separators can be spherical, horizontal, or vertical, which refers to the shape and internal de
separators. Two phase separators are more common, and separate gas from water and oil. Th
other. A third kind is called a metering separator. It can use either a two phase system, a thre
fluids and measures each of their volumes.
The most common in lease pumping operations is the two stage vertical separator, which co
has an emulsion inlet on its right side, and the left-hand separator has an inlet on its left. A
Generally, whichever is better placed is used, and the extra is plugged.
How A Separator Works

Fluid from the well enters at the emulsion inlet. Most separators, as mentioned earlier, will h
this plate is to set the fluid moving in a circular motion which encourages gas to separate fr
lost as mist is possible.
Figure 4. The interior of a vertical separato
The gas rises to the top of the separator, where it passes through a mist extractor. From ther
the gas line, which is located at the very top of the vessel. The gas is under some pressure, no
pressure.
After the gas has been separated, fluid is directed to the next vessel in the tank battery, most
by a dump valve. Most newer dump valves use a small pipe or tub to draw fluid closer to the b
usually higher on the vessel. That reduces the amount of water that sits in the separator, he
opened and closed by hand regularly to make sure it hasn’t gotten stuck.
Figure 5. An example of a standard two stage vertica
A pressure gauge should be mounted above the dump valve. A sight glass is also usually help
the separator at once. As always keeping a record of standard operations can help you recog
two valves, one at either end. These valves can become clogged with paraffin or other substa
clean those sorts of clogs out. It’s a good idea to occasionally empty a sight glass, in a sense
Figure 6. A pneumatically controlled separa
Rather than using mechanical valves, some separators may use hydraulic controls. In this c
dump valve and other controls.
Figure 7. A few different release valves and ruptu
Pressure Safety
As the separator is under pressure, there are a couple of safety devices to prevent overpressu
relief valve. The relief valve is set to open near, but still a bit below, the pressure limit for the s
maintenance, and will open and close automatically to regulate pressure.
The second device is the rupture disc, also known as the safety head. This a thin dome of me
may use brass. The disc is designed to rupture at a pressure slightly higher than the relief va
disc breaks instead, releasing the pressure. Unlike the relief valve, once the disk breaks it rele
stop it. It may be a good idea to run a pipe from the disc to a disposal pit so that escaping flu
rarely get used, but frozen water and corrosion can be serious problems when it is. A good ro
essential.
Heater-Treater
These are three-phase vessels that are usually larger than separators while operating at arou
usually more expensive, as the larger size requires thicker walls to hold the same pressure. T
battery, just after the separator. If you use a higher pressure separator, it’s possible to use a l
Figure 8. An example of a standard vertical heater-heater. The firebox an

How A Heater-Treater Works

As the name implies, the heater-treater uses heat as part of the separation process. In many
the sun warming the tank is enough to do the job. You can just add chemicals, and it will wo
makes it a three stage separator. You can light the firebox if the weather turns cold, though t
sold. Cost effective use of a heater-treater depends on balancing the efficiency of using natu
income.
Figure 9. Inside a heater-treater. (courtesy of Siva
A heater-treater is a three phase vessel, so it has three primary outlets. There is a gas line at
Somewhat below the top of tank is the oil outlet. This is also the level of total fluid in the hea
waste water.
The inlet leads to a smaller compartment at the top of the tank where any gas that was not r
line. The water and oil flow down through a tube to the bottom of the heater treater. Water flo
the oil outlet. Controlling the height of the water column in the heater-treater is an importan
should be about one foot above the fire tube. In other words, water fills the space from the bo
above that. As oil flows from the inlet tube and up, it will flow past and around the fire tube.
The water stays at the bottom of the tank and stays relatively cool. The oil absorbs most of th
inside of this part of the heater-treater has several horizontal plates with offset openings. An
while the heated oil continues upward. Any remaining gas is also separated at this point, thr
maintain the pressure, and thus the water level, of the water in the water leg.
Figure 10. A back pressure valve that uses a diaphragm. (co
Separated oil flows out through the oil outlet and into the oil line. Likewise, water flows throu
disposal line should use back pressure valves, which only open when a certain amount of pre
fills up above the valve, pressure grows until the valve opens. That usually happens when fou
the collected column of fluid has passed through the valve the pressure drops and the valve c
Figure 11 are good choices for these valve.
Figure 11. Examples of treater valves. (courtesy Kim
Figure 12. An outline of the system for using a treater valve. (c
The dump valve in Figure 13 is float controlled, and of a type that is popular with lease pumpe
below the valve seat is transferred to its top, which helps with the ease and reliability of the v
opposite direction.
Figure 13. A dump valve that is float controlled. (courtes
Controlling Water Height

The water leg is a name applied to the secondary tube on the right side of Figure 13. Rather th
treater simply uses line height and gravity flow for operation. As the fluid enters from the hig
throughout the system to the slightly lower oil outlet. The height of water in the water leg wi
the heater-treater.
Water flows from the bottom of the heater-treater and up the interior tube of the water leg. It
the outer tube until the pressure is enough to open the valve. The amount of water in the he
side boot on the water leg.
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Separators, Heater-treaters, and Pressure in Oil & Gas Production - Greasebook
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6/9/2019 Separators, Heater-treaters, and Pressure in Oil & Gas Production - Greasebook

FOR FOR PUMPERS

Figure 1. Polyethylene piping for a flow lin

options being best suited to different situations.

Figure 2. A buried flowline crossing under a r

Common Lines and Openings

Figure 3. Common openings for pressurized tank ba

divided into indiscriminate and discriminate types.

ball floats, and their size can depend on a number of factors.

fluids and measures each of their volumes.

Generally, whichever is better placed is used, and the extra is plugged.

How A Separator Works

Figure 4. The interior of a vertical separato

Figure 5. An example of a standard two stage vertica

Figure 6. A pneumatically controlled separa

dump valve and other controls.

Figure 7. A few different release valves and ruptu

maintenance, and will open and close automatically to regulate pressure.

Figure 8. An example of a standard vertical heater-heater. The firebox an

How A Heater-Treater Works

Figure 9. Inside a heater-treater. (courtesy of Siva

Figure 10. A back pressure valve that uses a diaphragm. (co

Figure 11. Examples of treater valves. (courtesy Kim

Figure 12. An outline of the system for using a treater valve. (c

Figure 13. A dump valve that is float controlled. (courtes

Controlling Water Height

side boot on the water leg.

The Basics of Setting Up an Oil & Gas Production Tank Battery

Handling Emulsion in Oil & Gas Production

Equipment For Handling Crude Oil In Oil & Gas Production

How To Sell Your Oil & Gas Production

Tank Battery Design In Oil & Gas Production

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Start the discussion…

Be the first to comment.

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Working Over Oil & Gas Production Wells Testing And T

Tanks At Atmospheric Pressure in Oil & Gas Production

Introducing the easiest, slickest, mo

Get Started Now...

Get Your Invitation

THE INDUSTRY'S #1 OILFIELD SOFTWARE!

Get Your Invitation

GreaseBook set out on a mission to invent a turnkey, intelligent, comple

Turnkey operating. Deliverable by any oil field manager, not hampered b

Is it an outrageous idea? All such ideas are outrageous. If it weren’t out

To our way of thinking, it was ridiculously simple. So simple in fact that w

"LIBERATING THE INDEPENDENT, ONE GREASEBOOK AT A TIM

bbls pumped to date

MCF ﬂowed to date

Get Your Invitation

COLLECT SUBMIT DISCUSS

Be the office hero, streamline your operations, and di

Everything in one place

Get paid your due

Get Your Invitation

Offline access Mobile sync

Bobi Posey, Admin | Phoenix Oil & Gas, Inc | Seminole, OK

FREE CALL NO CONTRACT NO TRAINING FEES

Get Your Invitation

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