6 replies to this topic

[ogpprocessing]

Dear CHE Experts,

I have seen for most of the crude oil production units cluster and test separator equipment and units are considered?

1. What does cluster mean? why this is called cluster? what is the function of cluster? which equipment items are part of cluster?

2. Why test separators are considered in parallel with crude production flash separators with NNF line? what is the function of test separator? how to size this test separator? how many test separator is required?

Thanks a lot.

[Technical Bard]

The test separator is usually installed so that an individual well can be "tested", separating it's production from the rest of the group or cluster of wells. The group/cluster separator is for handling the ongoing production. The test separator is only used intermittently (in most cases). Testing may be done for purposes of regulatory reporting, or just to find out how the different wells are performing (determining wells with high water cut, varying GOR, etc.)

[ogpprocessing]

The test separator is usually installed so that an individual well can be "tested", separating it's production from the rest of the group or cluster of wells. The group/cluster separator is for handling the ongoing production. The test separator is only used intermittently (in most cases). Testing may be done for purposes of regulatory reporting, or just to find out how the different wells are performing (determining wells with high water cut, varying GOR, etc.)

Dear,
Thanks for your help. How about following points:
1. What is the meaning of cluster? why this is called cluster?
2. If test separator should serve for different wells, how to size this equpment?
3. how many test separator is required?

[Technical Bard]

The term "cluster" or "group" refers to the set of wells feeding the wellpad / battery / platform / etc. The term probably refers to the geographic proximity of the wells. A large field map may show wells grouped into "clusters", for reasons such as platform placement, wellpad location, etc.

The test separator should be sized for the single largest well flow expected.

The number of test separators required depends on how many wells are in the cluster, how long each well needs to be put on "test" and how frequently. This varies by company policy, regulatory requirements, etc. In the jurisdictions I am most familiar with, most operators won't put in more than 10-14 wells per test separator, because they want to test each well for at least 24 hours per month, plus time to switch from well to well, and time to put a well on longer test if a problem is suspected.

[ogpprocessing]

The term "cluster" or "group" refers to the set of wells feeding the wellpad / battery / platform / etc. The term probably refers to the geographic proximity of the wells. A large field map may show wells grouped into "clusters", for reasons such as platform placement, wellpad location, etc.

The test separator should be sized for the single largest well flow expected.

The number of test separators required depends on how many wells are in the cluster, how long each well needs to be put on "test" and how frequently. This varies by company policy, regulatory requirements, etc. In the jurisdictions I am most familiar with, most operators won't put in more than 10-14 wells per test separator, because they want to test each well for at least 24 hours per month, plus time to switch from well to well, and time to put a well on longer test if a problem is suspected.

Dear,

Thank you so much.

1. Would you please clarify what do you mean by wellpad?

2. Where to route the outlet streams from test separator?

3. This test separator to be designed as 3 phase separator and not 2 phase. Right?

[Technical Bard]

• A wellpad is a prepared site from which a single well, or multiple wells, are drilled and where the wellheads are located.
• The outlet streams from the test separator are usually recombined and routed to a collection battery for treatment / separation and storage / shipment. Sometimes the produced gas is routed to the plant separately.
• Most test separators are two-phase, and a water-cut meter is used on the liquid product to determine how much oil and water you have. There are some new instruments on the market that can measure three phases relatively accurately, but many jurisdictions do not yet allow them to replace test separators.

Edited by Technical Bard, 05 May 2012 - 10:38 PM.

[ogpprocessing]

• A wellpad is a prepared site from which a single well, or multiple wells, are drilled and where the wellheads are located.
• The outlet streams from the test separator are usually recombined and routed to a collection battery for treatment / separation and storage / shipment. Sometimes the produced gas is routed to the plant separately.
• Most test separators are two-phase, and a water-cut meter is used on the liquid product to determine how much oil and water you have. There are some new instruments on the market that can measure three phases relatively accurately, but many jurisdictions do not yet allow them to replace test separators.

Dear Sir,

Thanks a lot for your help.

1. In current project that I am working for 9 oil wells, one test separator and one production separator is provided and the outlet streams are routed to production unit. How to decide about the number of production separator feeding by cluster? Do you think one separator is OK as considered at this project?

2. Why the test and production separator should be 2 phase while the feed is 3 phase?

3. I am new about this "water cut meter" that you mentioned. Could you please explain more about this meter? the applicaion?

Thanks a lot.