3-phase test separator is an instrumented pressure vessel designed to efficiently separate well effluent into oil, gas and water for onshore and offshore well testing. The 3-phase test separator can operate as a stand-alone unit or in combination with the surge tank, reducing the dependency on the separation process for high-quality flow measurements.

The 3-phase test separator typically consists of a vessel, an oil flow-measuring system with dual meters, a flow-measuring system for gas, several sampling points for each effluent phase, and two relief valves to protect the vessel against overpressure. Most separators are also equipped to measure water flow rate. To provide accurate measurements, the 3-phase test separator is fitted with pneumatic regulators that maintain a constant pressure and a constant liquid level inside the vessel by control valves on the oil and gas outlets.

The 3-phase test separator is fitted with a deflector plate, coalescing plates, a foam breaker, a vortex breaker, a weir plate, and a mist extractor. These components reduce the risk of carryover (liquid in gas line) and carry under (gas in liquid line) that would affect the flow rate measurement accuracy.

Applications
Onshore and offshore exploration, development, and production well testing after cleanup

Features
Wide range of vessel sizes for different flow rates
Gas metering with orifice diameters or mass flowmeter
Pneumatic control valves on gas and oil outlets
Fitted with deflector plate, coalescing plates, foam and vortex breaker, weir plate, and mist extractor
Sand-jet line for fast cleaning
Sampling points for all phases
Two relief valves to protect against overpressure
Compliant with ASME VIII, Div. 1 or 2, NACE MR 0175