Separators: 2021 #1

A separator may contain which of the following to aid in the separating of the gas, oil, and water streams (select any that apply):
__ Inlet diverters
__ Outlet vortex breakers
__ MAWP limit switch
__ Vapor pressure overflow drum
__ Turbo-expander system
__ Sweetening tube (low-psi)
__ Buckets
__ Weirs
__ Mist extractors

Click the button for the answer, with commentary and SPE Reference Guide pages sourced. Feel free to ask questions.

A separator may contain which of the following to aid in the separating of the gas, oil, and water streams (select any that apply):
 X  Inlet diverters
 X  Outlet vortex breakers
__ MAWP limit switch
__ Vapor pressure overflow drum
__ Turbo-expander system
__ Sweetening tube (low-psi)
 X  Buckets
 X  Weirs
 X  Mist extractors

Note that this "multi-choice" format (appearing on the new EBT exam last year) can make a problem extremely difficult, as this one is. The new practice problem sets will have quite a few of these, more than the real exam for sure, merely because it's a good way to test knowledge.

Source HS3 P3: The first step in the process is separating the gas from the liquid and the water from the oil. This is usually done in a separator - a pressure vessel into which the well-stream flows to allow the gas, oil, and water to separate because of gravity. Separators may contain inlet diverters, outlet vortex breakers, buckets, weirs, and mist extractors to aid separating the streams.