6 Essential Accessories for Oil-Gas-Water Three-Phase Separators You Can't Miss!

In oil and gas field development, the performance of an oil-gas-water three-phase separator is not only determined by the design of the tank itself but also closely related to the selection of supporting accessories. Many users focus primarily on the price of the main equipment when purchasing, often overlooking the impact of "small accessories" such as flow meters, level gauges, and control valves on overall cost and production efficiency. Depending on the configuration of accessories, the price of the same separator can vary by more than 30%. As a member of HC's technical team, we handle over 500 separator inquiry requests annually and have found that 90% of customers overlook key accessory configuration requirements during initial communication. HC will break down 6 types of accessories that directly affect both equipment performance and cost, helping you allocate your budget more wisely.

1. Flow Meter: The "Eye" of Separation Efficiency

Function: Real-time monitoring of the outlet flow of oil, gas, and water to ensure separation accuracy.

Common Mistakes:

Only selecting single-phase flow meters (e.g., monitoring only the oil phase), which leads to uncontrolled water and gas content.

Choosing mechanical flow meters (prone to blockage) without considering sand content and high viscosity conditions.

HC Solution:

For regular conditions: Turbine flow meters (accuracy ≤ 1.5%, low cost).

For sand-containing/high-viscosity crude oil: Coriolis mass flow meters (wear-resistant, accuracy 0.5%).

2. Level Control Kit: The "Gatekeeper" to Prevent Oil-Water Emulsification

Core Components:

Magnetic float level gauge (on-site observation).

Radar level transmitter (remote signal transmission).

Pneumatic control valve (automatic liquid discharge).

Configuration Recommendations:

Onshore Projects: Level gauge + electric control valve (low maintenance cost).

Offshore Platforms: Explosion-proof pneumatic valves must be selected.

3. Pressure Safety Components: The "Bumper" to Prevent Major Accidents

Spring-loaded safety valve: Automatically relieves pressure when it exceeds 10% of the set value.

Bursting disc: A secondary line of defense against rapid pressure increases (e.g., during slug flow).

Pressure gauge: Range should be 1.5-3 times the working pressure, equipped with diaphragm isolators to prevent clogging.

4. Coalescence Separation Module (The "Efficiency Booster" Missed by 90% of Users)

Ordinary separators rely solely on gravity settling, with separation efficiency for oil droplets/water droplets below 10μm being less than 60%. By adding a coalescence module, the efficiency can increase to over 95%, directly reducing the downstream treatment load.

As a professional manufacturer of oil-gas-water three-phase separators, HC designs various internal structures based on client parameters and field conditions, offering reasonable technical solutions with an emphasis on reducing operational costs for customers.

5. Temperature Control System: The "Lifeline" for Low-Temperature Conditions

Oil and gas field three-phase separators typically have three major heating methods (electric trace heating, steam coils, and heat transfer oil heating systems). However, since our separators come in two basic series: integrated three-phase separator heating devices and standalone three-phase separator skid units, we select the appropriate heating method based on customer preferences.

Electric Trace Heating:

Applicable Equipment: Standalone skid-mounted three-phase separators (requires external power source).

Principle: Resistance wire is wrapped around the separator’s outer wall, converting electrical energy into heat to prevent crude oil from solidifying.

Typical Scenario: Single-well test stations (daily treatment volume < 500m3), seasonal production wells (annual running time < 150 days).

Cost Comparison: Low installation cost but higher long-term electricity expenses.

Steam Coils:

Applicable Equipment: Integrated three-phase separator heating devices (separator + water bath heater combined into a skid, requires a steam boiler).

Principle: Steam generated by the boiler circulates in the coils, achieving heat transfer efficiency of over 85%.

6. Instrument Cables and Explosion-Proof Junction Boxes

Instrument Cables: Transmit sensor data and power, must be heat-resistant, oil-resistant, and corrosion-resistant to ensure stable signal transmission.

Explosion-Proof Junction Boxes: Seal all electrical connections, isolate electrical sparks, and prevent explosion risks.

Key Configuration Recommendations:

For onshore normal conditions: Standard oil-resistant cables + cast aluminum explosion-proof boxes.

For sulfur-containing/offshore platforms: Corrosion-resistant cables + stainless steel explosion-proof boxes.

7. Why Choose HC?

Transparent Pricing: All accessory brands, models, and quantities are clearly priced, eliminating hidden costs.

Flexible Configuration: We offer three levels of packages—basic, standard, and advanced—allowing customers to choose their preferred accessory combinations.

Advanced Technology: Our technical team and production workers have extensive project experience and can handle a wide range of challenges.

After-Sales Support: With our own service base, we quickly resolve customer issues with a 24-hour response time.

If you need a separator with high treatment capacity, excellent separation efficiency, and stable operation, please contact us. For more information on separator selection and pricing, please refer to the articles "High-Pressure vs. Low-Pressure Oil & Gas Separators: Which One is Right for Your Field?" and "What is the Price of a Horizontal Three-Phase Separator for Oil & Gas?".