Battery · Surface Facilities
Production Separator
A pressure vessel that splits the well stream into gas and liquid (two phase), or into gas, oil and water (three phase).
What it does
Gives the stream time and space to separate by gravity. Gas leaves the top through a mist extractor; liquids leave the bottom through level controlled dump valves.
Basics
| Types | Two phase or three phase |
| Shapes | Horizontal, vertical or spherical |
| Inside | Inlet diverter, weir, mist extractor |
| Controls | Level controllers, dump valves, back pressure valve |
| Standard | API Spec 12J |
Common failures
- Vessel too small for the real rate, so oil carries over into the gas line
- Foaming crude fills the gas section
Troubleshooting
- Symptom
- Liquid in the gas line or at the flare
- Likely cause
- High level, failed dump valve or foam
- What to check
- Check level controller and dump valve, consider antifoam
- Symptom
- Water in the oil outlet
- Likely cause
- Interface set wrong or emulsion
- What to check
- Reset the interface level, review chemical treatment