ABSTRACT
Well effluents flowing from producing wells are usually identified as turbulent, high-velocity mixtures of gases, oil, and salt water. As these streams flow, reaching the surface, they undergo continuous reduction in temperature and pressure, forming a two-phase fluid flow: gas and liquid. The gathered fluids emerge as a mixture of crude oil and gas that is partly free and partly in solution. They must be separated into their main physical components, namely, oil, water, and natural gas. The separation system performs this function, which is usually made up of a free water knock-out (FWKO), flow line heater, and gas-oil (two-phase) separators, or gas-oilwater (three-phase) separators. Gas-oil separators work on the principle that the three components have different densities, which allows them to stratify when moving slowly with gas on top, water on the bottom, and oil in the middle.
