[h=Design Conditions Required]2[/h]
  • Gas Flow Rate MMSCF / Day
  • Sales Line Pressure
  • Oil Rate BBL / Day
  • Water Rate BBL / Day
  • Flowing Temperature
  • Specific Gravity
  • Sour Gas
  • CO2

[h=Sizing Information]2[/h]
  • Vertical Gas Scrubbers
  • Low Pressure Horizontal Three Phase Separator
  • Low Pressure Horizontal Two Phase Separator
  • Low Pressure Vertical Three Phase Separator
  • Low Pressure Vertical Two Separator
  • High Pressure Vertical Separator
  • High Pressure Horizontal Three Phase Separator

[h=Technical Information]2[/h] Separators are mechanical devices for removing and collecting liquids from natural gas. A properly designed separator will also provide for the release of entrained gases from the accumulated hydrocarbon liquids. A wellstream separator must perform the following:


  1. Cause a primary-phase separation of the mostly liquid hydrocarbons from those that are mostly gas.
  2. Refine the primary separation by removing most of the entrained liquid mist from the gas.
  3. Further refine the separation by removing the entrained gas from the accumulated liquid.
  4. Discharge the separated gas and liquid from the vessel and insure that no re-entrainment of one into the other takes place.

If these functions are to be accomplished, the separator design must:

  1. Control and dissipate the energy of the wellstream as it enters separator;
  2. Insure that the gas and liquid flow rates are low enough so that gravity segregation and vapor-liquid equilibrium can occur;
  3. Minimize turbulence in the gas section of the separator and reduce velocity;
  4. Eliminate re-entrainment of the separated liquid into the gas;
  5. Accumulate and control froths and foams in the vessel;
  6. Provide outlets for gases and liquids with suitable controls to maintain pre-set operating pressure and liquid levels;
  7. Provide relief for excessive pressure in case the gas or liquid outlets should become plugged or valves malfunction;
  8. Provide equipment (pressure gauges, thermometers, and liquid-level gauge assemblies) to visually check the separator for proper operation;
  9. Provide cleanout opening at points where solids will accumulate when solids are present in the inlet stream.

[h=Separator Selection: Basic Considerations]3[/h] The goal for ideal separator selection and design is to separate the wellstream into liquid-free gas and gas-free liquid. Ideally, the gas and liquids reach a state of equilibrium at the existing conditions of pressure and temperature within the vessel. As it is generally not economically justifiable to separate to the state of true equilibrium, industry consensus standards as to liquid retention time for solution gas break-out and liquid carry-over in the gas have been set. In some cases, the process equipment and conditions downstream of a separator will dictate the necessary degree of separation and the actual design.