Examples of Test Separators
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42" x 10' x 1440 psi Test Unit


We built this test separator from a surplus 3 phase separator for an overseas customer. Requirements specified it be able to operate in a variety of environments including off-shore, swamp, jungle, and desert. It features a full lifting frame with roof surrounding a 42" x 10' x 1440# 3 phase separator. Enhancements include a built in shrinkage tester, a comingle manifold with by-pass capability, and a grated floor with sealed pan to capture spills. The unit has a 4" Daniel Sr meter run, Barton Chart Recorder, Halliburton flow meters, and three site glasses showing interface, oil, and water levels. To see the evolution from raw vessel to completed unit, click here.

Trailer Mounted Sand Trap & Test Separator


Mountain Equipment designed and built this trailer mounted Testing unit to meet the customer's requirement for portability, quick set up, and high reliability. It features a 30" x 15' x 1,440 psi refurbished horizontal three phase separator that is front-ended by a 22" x 8' x 5,000 psi vertical sand trap. The trailer includes a pipe rack on the other side to facilitate transport of necessary pipe. This unit is capable of handling approximately 27MM CF/Day of gas and 3,400 BBL/Day of fluid.

126" x 50' x 100 psi 3 Phase Separator
This 126" x 50' vessel was recently transported from Texas to our customer in western Colorado. It has a working pressure of 100 psi and separates the inflow into its three distinct phases: gas, oil, and water; hence it is called commonly called a "three phase" separator. Empty, it weighs 76,000 pounds and stands 13' 5" tall. Because of its height, this vessel had to be transported on a special route where all overpasses, bridges and other above-road obstacles were at least 16' high.

The vessel was built in 1998 to ASME code specifications meaning its design and construction was goverened by strict guidelines defined by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. Following construction the separator was inspected and registered with the National Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors. A vessel that is registered with the National Board is considered to meet the gold standard for pressure vessels.

Since this was a major purchase, the customer requested an onsite inspection of the vessel by a National Board certified inspector before buying the vessel to verify it was still "in code", meaning that no modifications to the vessel had been made that were not to ASME requirements. Pre-inspections can be done in many ways to ensure a vessel meets the customer's expectations. Common types of inspection include ultrasound testing, external and internal visual inspection, pressure testing, and even x-raying to spot check the integrity of welds.
Enclosed Test Separator
The unit at left is an enclosed three phase test separator refurbished by Mountain Equipment during April of 2007.

It features a 24" x 10' 3 phase separator rated for a maximum working pressure of 1,440 psi.  It can handle approximately 17MM CF/D of natural gas and up to 3,400 BBL/D of liquid (oil & water) at 1,000 psi.  The length of the vessel provides a "3-minute retention time" meaning the inflow stays inside the vessel for at least three minutes. The longer the retention time, the better the inflow will disassociate into gas, oil and water.

The unit has a 1,500,000 BTU heater and the 3" upstream coils are rated for 6,500 psi while the 4" downstream coils are rated at 3,000 psi.  The choke is a 1" carbide stem and seat. The exhaust stack is 19' tall and is spring loaded making it possible for a single person to safely erect it using the built-in hand crank.

 

The picture above was taken a few days before the unit was completed and its interior painted. The 3" Daniel senior meter (ANSI 600) is clearly visible on the right as is the green oil dump valve.
Test Separator w/500M BTU Firebox
This is an enclosed three-phase Test Separator refurbished by Mountain Equipment in November, 2006.

It has a 500,000 BTU firebox with 6500# (psi) coils upstream of the choke and 3300# coils downstream.  The flow from the oil well comes into the high presssure coils then goes through the choke which reduces the inflow pressure to something below the maximum working pressure of the separator vessel.  The inflow is heated by the firebox as it goes through the coils to prevent ice from building up on the critical pressure-reducing choke.

The separator vessel is 16" in diameter by 7' 6" long and is rated to 1,400 psi working pressure. Its function is to separate the input flow from the oil well into discrete oil, gas, and water.

After separation, oil is routed into an external tank where it is measured once each hour by the tester.  He measures and records the increase in the tank level, thereby developing oil production-over-time information about the well.

The Total flow meter records gas pressure/volume information. Pressure is recorded at preset intervals of time, by the test operator. The Daniel fitting is used to determine the volume of gas.  These two devices provide gas pressure and gas volume-over-time information about the well.  The third component, water, is run into yet another tank, and its level is measured every hour as well.

The entire unit was painted forest green color to blend in with the local environment in which it is used.

Common sizes of separators and sand traps that we typically carry --->






Common sizes of separators


Note: not all sizes listed will always be in stock. Our surplus list changes frequently; check our complete online database.
SEPARATORS:
  • 24 " x 7' 6" x 1440# 2 phase and 3 phase separators: click here for a listing
  • 24" x 10' x 1440# 2 phase and 3 phase separators: click here for a listing
  • 24" x 12' x 1440# 2 phase and 3 phase separators: click here for a listing
  • 30" x 10' x 1440# 2 phase and 3 phase separators: click here for a listing
  • 30" x 12' x 1440# 2 phase and 3 phase separators: click here for a listing
  • 30" x 15' x 1440# 2 phase and 3 phase separators: click here for a listing
  • 36" x 10' x 1440# 2 phase and 3 phase separators: click here for a listing
  • 36" x 12' x 1440# 2 phase and 3 phase separators: click here for a listing
  • 36" x 15' x 1440# 2 phase and 3 phase separators: click here for a listing
  • 42" x 10' x 1440# 2 phase and 3 phase separators: click here for a listing
  • 42" x 12' x 1440# 2 phase and 3 phase separators: click here for a listing
  • 42" x 15' x 1440# 2 phase and 3 phase separators: click here for a listing
  • 48" x 12' x 1440# 2 phase and 3 phase separators: click here for a listing
  • 48" x 15' x 1440# 2 phase and 3 phase separators: click here for a listing
  • 48" x 20' x 1440# 2 phase and 3 phase separators: click here for a listing
  • 60" x 12' x 1440# 2 phase and 3 phase separators: click here for a listing
  • 60" x 15' x 1440# 2 phase and 3 phase separators: click here for a listing
  • 60" x 20' x 1440# 2 phase and 3 phase separators: click here for a listing

    SAND TRAPS:
  • 16" x 8' x 3000# sand separator (sand trap): click here for a listing
  • 18" x 8' x 3000# sand separator (sand trap): click here for a listing
  • 20" x 8' x 3000# sand separator (sand trap): click here for a listing
  • 24" x 8' x 3000# sand separator (sand trap): click here for a listing
  • 18" x 8' x 4000# sand separator (sand trap): click here for a listing
  • 20" x 8' x 4000# sand separator (sand trap): click here for a listing
  • 24" x 8' x 4000# sand separator (sand trap): click here for a listing
  • 18" x 8' x 5000# sand separator (sand trap): click here for a listing
  • 20" x 8' x 5000# sand separator (sand trap): click here for a listing
  • 24" x 8' x 5000# sand separator (sand trap): click here for a listing
  • 30" x 10' x 5000# sand separator (sand trap): click here for a listing
  • 16" x 8' x 6000# sand separator (sand trap): click here for a listing
  • 18" x 8' x 6000# sand separator (sand trap): click here for a listing
  • 20" x 8' x 6000# sand separator (sand trap): click here for a listing
  • 24" x 8' x 6000# sand separator (sand trap): click here for a listing
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