Production Facilities

Schlumberger Glossary
Herlambang Abriyanto

1. Absorption: The property of some liquids or solids to soak up water or other fluids. The natural
gas dehydration process uses glycols (liquids) that absorb the water vapor to finally obtain
dehydrated gas. In the same way, light oil, also called absorption oil, is used to remove the
heavier liquid hydrocarbons from a wet gas stream to obtain dry gas.
2. Absorption Oil : A light liquid hydrocarbon used to absorb or remove the heavier liquid
hydrocarbons from a wet gas stream. Absorption oil is also called wash oil.
3. Acid Gas: A gas that can form acidic solutions when mixed with water. The most common acid
gases are hydrogen sulfide [H2S] and carbon dioxide [CO2] gases. Both gases cause corrosion;
hydrogen sulfide is extremely poisonous. Hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide gases are obtained
after a sweetening process applied to a sour gas.
4. Adsorption : The property of some solids and liquids to attract a liquid or a gas to their surfaces.
Some solids, such as activated charcoal or silica gel, are used as surfaces of adhesion to
gather liquid hydrocarbons from a natural gas stream. To complete the process, the solids are
treated with steam to recover the liquid hydrocarbons.
5. As Delivered BTU: The number of BTUs in a cubic foot of natural gas. The natural gas heat energy
(BTU) will depend mainly on its water content at the delivered pressure and temperature
conditions.
6. Battery: The installation of similar or identical units of equipment in a group, such as
a separator battery, header battery, filter battery or tank battery.
7. Battery Site: A portion of land that contains separators, treaters, dehydrators, storage tanks,
pumps, compressors and other surface equipment in which fluids coming from a well are
separated, measured or stored.
8. Blanket Gas: A gas phase maintained above a liquid in a vessel to protect the liquid against air
contamination, to reduce the hazard of detonation or to pressurize the liquid. The gas source is
located outside the vessel.
9. Blow-By: A phenomenon in which free gas leaves with the liquid phase at the bottom of
the separator. This condition may indicate a low liquid level or improper level control inside the
separator.
10. Blowing The Drip: Opening the valve on a drip to allow natural gas to blow or clear the pipe of all
liquids.
11. Bottomhole Heater: A device installed at the bottom of a well to increase the temperature of the
fluid coming from the reservoir. Bottomhole heaters are used in low API gravity crude oils to
reduce the fluid viscosity, thus reducing the high friction forces normally associated with these
types of fluids
12. Brine: Water containing salts in solution, such as sodium, calcium or bromides. Brine is commonly
produced along with oil. The disposal of oilfield brine is usually accomplished by underground
injection into salt-water saturated formations or by evaporation in surface pits.
13. British Thermal Unit: A measure of heat energy required to raise the temperature of one pound
of water by one degree Fahrenheit. British thermal unit is abbreviated as BTU.
14. Carry Over: A phenomenon in which free liquid leaves with the gas phase at the top of
a separator. Carryover can indicate high liquid level, damage of the separator or plugged liquid
valves at the bottom of the separator.
15. Compression Ratio: The ratio of the volume of an engines cylinder at the beginning of the
compression to its volume at the end of the compression process. For example, a cylinder with a
volume of 20 cubic inches before compression and 1 cubic inch as its final volume after
compression has a compression ratio of 20:1.
16. Compressor: A device that raises the pressure of air or natural gas. A compressor normally uses
positive displacement to compress the gas to higher pressures so that the gas can flow into
pipelines and other facilities.
17. Compressor Plant: A facility consisting of many compressors, auxiliary treatment equipment
and pipeline installations to pump natural gas under pressure over long distances. A compressor
plant is also called a compressor station.
18. Cut Oil: A crude oil that contains water, normally in the form of an emulsion. The emulsion must
be treated inside heaters using chemicals, which will break the mixture into its individual
components (water and crude oil).
19. Cycle Condensate: A condensate (liquid hydrocarbon) produced at surface from cycle gas.
20. Cycle Gas: A gas that is compressed and injected back to the reservoir. In gas-
condensate reservoirs, after the liquids or condensate are recovered at the surface, the residue
gas (dry gas) is returned to the reservoir to maintain pressure. This prevents retrograde
condensation, which will form unrecoverable liquid hydrocarbons in the reservoir.
21. Cycling Plant: An oilfield installation used when producing from a gas-condensate reservoir. In a
cycling plant, the liquids are extracted from the natural gas and then the remaining dry gas is
compressed and returned to the producing formation to maintain reservoir pressure. This process
increases the ultimate recovery of liquids.
22. DEA Unit: A treating system used to remove hydrogen sulfide [H2S], carbon dioxide [CO2] and
carbonyl sulfide from a gas stream. The acidgases are absorbed by the diethanolamine (DEA),
and sweet gas leaves at the top of the absorber.
23. Defoaming Plates: In a separator, a series of inclined parallel plates or tubes to
promote coalescence, or merging, of the foam bubbles liberated from the liquid.
24. Dehydrate: To remove water from a substance. The substance may be crude oil, natural gas or
natural gas liquids (NGL). Fluid dehydrationis needed to prevent corrosion and free-
water accumulation in the low points of a pipeline. In the case of gas, it is especially important to
avoid hydrate formation and also to meet pipeline requirements. Typical maximum allowable
water vapor content is 7 pounds of water per million standard cubic feet.
25. Dehydrator: A device used to remove water and water vapors from gas. Gas dehydration can be
accomplished through a glycol dehydrator or a dry-bed dehydrator, which use a
liquid desiccant and a solid desiccant, respectively. Gas dehydrators are designed to handle only
water and gas vapors. If liquid water or oil enters the dehydrator, the device cannot work
properly.
26. Desiccant: A substance used in a gas-dehydration unit to remove water and moisture. The
desiccant can be liquid, such as methanol, glycol(ethylene, diethylene, triethylene, and
tetraethylene). Desiccants also can be solid, such as silica gel or calcium chloride [CaCl2].
27. Desulfurize: To remove sulfur or sulfur compounds from an oil or gas stream.
28. Downstream Pipeline: A pipeline that receives natural gas or oil from another pipeline at some
specific connection point
29. Drip: The water and heavy hydrocarbons that condense from the gas stream and accumulate in
the lower points of the flowlines.
30. Drip Accumulator: A device used to collect water and heavy hydrocarbons that drop out of a gas
stream in a pipeline.
31. Dry Bed: A hygroscopic solid such as silica gel, calcium chloride [CaCl2] or other materials used in
dry-bed dehydrators to absorb water and water vapor from a gas stream.
32. Dry Bed Dehydrator: A device that removes water and water vapor from a gas stream using two
or more beds of solid desiccants, such as silica gel or calcium chloride [CaCl2]. Wet gas is passed
through the solid material, which absorbs the water, and then dry gas is collected at the top of
the device. The main limitation of this device is that the solid desiccant absorbs only limited
quantities of water. When the desiccant saturation point is reached, it must be replaced and
sometimes water cannot be removed from it.
33. Dry Oil: A treated oil that contains small amounts of basic sediments and water (BS&W). Dry oil
is also called clean oil.
34. Evaporation Pit: A hole dug to contain brine for disposal by evaporation. Some evaporation pits
are lined with plastic or asphalt to keep water from filtering through and contaminating nearby
free-water aquifers.
35. Flare: The burning of unwanted gas through a pipe (also called a flare). Flaring is a means of
disposal used when there is no way to transport the gas to market and the operator cannot use
the gas for another purpose. Flaring generally is not allowed because of the high value of gas and
environmental concerns.
36. Flare Gas: A vapor or gas that is burned through a pipe or burners.
37. FLNG: Abbreviation for floating liquefied natural gas vessel. FLNGs are deployed offshore in
locations that have limited access to pipelines to carry natural gas to the mainland. They serve to
recover, liquefy, store, and transfer LNG produced from subsea wells. Processed using equipment
on the ship’s deck, the natural gas may then be stored in the ship’s hull before it is offloaded to
carriers and sent directly to LNG markets. These vessels reduce the need for flaring of natural gas
to the atmosphere during production or testing.
38. FPSO: Abbreviation for floating production, storage, and offloading vessel. FPSOs are commonly
deployed for offshore production in locations that have little infrastructure. They serve as
gathering, processing and storage facilities for fluids produced from subsea wells. Processed using
equipment on the ship’s deck, the fluids are then stored in the ship’s hull before they are
offloaded to pipelines, barges, or ships. Produced natural gas may be sent to shore via pipeline or
flared if no pipeline is readily available.
39. Free Water Knockout (FWKO): A vertical or horizontal separator used mainly to remove any free
water that can cause problems such as corrosion and formation of hydrates or tight emulsions,
which are difficult to break. A free-water knockout is commonly called a three-phase separator
because it can separate gas, oil and free water. The liquids that are discharged from the free-
 water knockout are further treated in vessels called treaters. Free-water knockout is abbreviated
as FWKO.
40. Gas Processing Plant: An installation that processes natural gas to recover natural gas liquids
(condensate, natural gasoline and liquefied petroleumgas) and sometimes other substances such
as sulfur. A gas processing plant is also known as a natural gas processing plant.
41. Gaswell Gas: The gas produced or separated at surface conditions from the full well stream
produced from a natural gas reservoir.
42. Gaswell Liquids: The liquids separated at surface conditions from the full well stream produced
from a natural gas reservoir.
43. Gathering Lines: The pipes used to transport oil and gas from a field to the main pipeline in the
area.
44. Gathering System: The flowline network and process facilities that transport and control the flow
of oil or gas from the wells to a main storage facility, processing plant or shipping point. A
gathering system includes pumps, headers, separators, emulsion treaters, tanks, regulators,
compressors, dehydrators, valves and associated equipment. There are two types of gathering
systems, radial and trunk line. The radial type brings all the flowlines to a central header, while
the trunk-line type uses several remote headers to collect fluid. The latter is mainly used in large
fields. The gathering system is also called the collecting system or gathering facility.
45. Glycol Absorber: In a glycol dehydrator unit, the cylinder composed of various perforated trays in
which wet gas and glycol are put in contact.
46. Glycol Dehydrator: A unit used to remove minute water particles from natural gas
if dehydration was not attained using separators. A glycoldehydrator unit is usually composed of
an absorber and a reboiler. The wet gas enters at the bottom of the absorber. As the wet gas
percolates upward, it releases its water into the glycol solution and dry gas is obtained at the top
of the absorber. When the glycol solution becomes saturated with water, the glycol solution is
pumped through a reboiler, also called a reconcentrator, which boils the glycol-water mixture and
separates the glycol from the water. After separation, the glycol can return to the absorber
to contact additional wet gas.
47. Gravity Segregation: The tendency of fluids to stratify into different layers because
of gravity forces. In gravity segregation, the heaviest fluid settles near the bottom and the lightest
fluid rises to the top. Gravity segregation occurs inside reservoirs as well as in separatorfacilities.
48. Gun Barrel: A settling tank used for treating oil. Oil and brine are separated only
by gravity segregation forces. The clean oil floats to the top and brine is removed from the bottom
of the tank. Gun barrels are found predominantly in older or marginal fields. A gun barrel is also
called a wash tank.
49. Hatch: An opening in the top of a tank through which samples are taken or inspection is made.
50. Header: n a gathering system, a pipe arrangement that connects flowlines from several wellheads
into a single gathering line. A header has production and testing valves to control the flow of each
well, thus directing the produced fluids to production or testing vessels. Individual gas/oil ratios
and well production rates of oil, gas and water can be assigned by opening and closing selected
valves in a header and using individual metering equipment or separators.
51. Heater: Equipment that transfers heat to the produced gas stream. Heaters are especially used
when producing natural gas or condensate to avoid the formation of ice and gas hydrates. These
solids can plug the wellhead, chokes and flowlines. The production of natural gas is usually
 accompanied by water vapor. As this mixture is produced, it cools down on its way to the surface
and also when the mixture passes through a surface production choke. This reduction of fluid
temperature can favor the formation of gas hydrates if heaters are not used. Heaters may also be
used to heat emulsions before further treating procedures or when producing crude oil in cold
weather to prevent freezing of oil or formation of paraffin accumulations.
52. Heater Treater: A vessel that uses heat to break oil-water emulsions so the oil can be accepted
by the pipeline or transport. There are vertical and horizontal treaters. The main difference
between them is the residence time, which is shorter in the vertical configuration compared with
the horizontal one.
53. Horizontal Separator: A vessel, with its cylindrical axes parallel to the ground, that is used to
separate oil, gas and water from the produced stream. The horizontal separator can be a two-
phase or three-phase separator.
54. Hydrogen Sulfide: [H2S] An extraordinarily poisonous gas with a molecular formula of H2S. At low
concentrations, H2S has the odor of rotten eggs, but at higher, lethal concentrations, it is odorless.
H2S is hazardous to workers and a few seconds of exposure at relatively low concentrations can
be lethal, but exposure to lower concentrations can also be harmful. The effect of H2S depends
on duration, frequency and intensity of exposure as well as the susceptibility of the individual.
Hydrogen sulfide is a serious and potentially lethal hazard, so awareness, detection and
monitoring of H2S is essential. Since hydrogen sulfide gas is present in some subsurface
formations, drilling and other operational crews must be prepared to use detection equipment,
personal protective equipment, proper training and contingency procedures in H2S-prone areas.
Hydrogen sulfide is produced during the decomposition of organic matter and occurs with
hydrocarbons in some areas. It enters drilling mud from subsurface formations and can also be
generated by sulfate-reducing bacteria in stored muds. H2S can cause sulfide-stress-corrosion
cracking of metals. Because it is corrosive, H2S production may require costly special production
equipment such as stainless steel tubing. Sulfides can be precipitated harmlessly from water muds
or oil muds by treatments with the proper sulfide scavenger. H2S is a weak acid, donating two
hydrogen ions in neutralization reactions, forming HS- and S-2 ions. In water or water-base muds,
the three sulfide species, H2S and HS- and S-2 ions, are in dynamic equilibrium with water and
H+ and OH- ions. The percent distribution among the three sulfide species depends on pH. H2S is
dominant at low pH, the HS- ion is dominant at mid-range pH and S2 ions dominate at high pH. In
this equilibrium situation, sulfide ions revert to H2S if pH falls. Sulfides in water mud and oil
mud can be quantitatively measured with the Garrett Gas Train according to procedures set
by API.
55. Lean Glycol: In a glycol dehydrator, glycol that has been boiled and no longer contains any water.
When the glycol is lean, it can be pumped back to the absorber for reuse.
56. Liquefied Natural Gas Carrier: A sea vessel used to transport liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). The
term is commonly abbreviated as LNGC
57. Liquid Desiccant: A hygroscopic liquid used to remove water and water vapor from a gas stream.
Some liquid desiccants are glycols (diethylene, triethylene and tetraethylene), which are
substances that can be regenerated. Regeneration means that the water absorbed by these
substances can be separated from them. Some liquid desiccants, such as methanol or ethylene,
cannot be regenerated.
58. LNGC: Abbreviation for liquefied natural gas carrier, which is a sea vessel used to transport
liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).
59. Loose Emulsion: An emulsion with large and widely distributed droplets. A loose emulsion can be
easy to break.
60. Mist: Small liquid droplets (moisture or liquid hydrocarbons) in a gas stream. In separators, mist
extractors are used to collect mist.
61. Mist Extractor: A device used to collect small liquid droplets (moisture or hydrocarbons) from the
gas stream before it leaves the separator. The two most common types of mist extractors are
wire-mesh pads and vanes. Once the small droplets of liquid are collected, they are removed along
with the other liquids from the separator.
62. Multiphase Pump: A pump that can handle the complete production from a well (oil, natural gas,
water and sand, for example) without needing to separate or process the production stream near
or at the wellhead. This reduces the cost associated with the surface facilities. Using multiphase
pumps allows development of remote locations or previously uneconomical fields. Additionally,
since the surface equipment, including separators, heater-treaters, dehydrators and pipes, is
reduced, the impact on the environment is also reduced. Multiphase pumps can handle high gas
volumes as well as the slugging and different flow regimes associated with multiphase production.
Multiphase pumps include twin-screw pumps, piston pumps and helicoaxial pumps.
63. Oil And Gas Separator: A vessel that separates the well fluids into gas and total liquid. A two-
phase separator can be horizontal, vertical or spherical. The liquid (oil, emulsion) leaves the vessel
at the bottom through a level-control or dump valve. The gas leaves the vessel at the top, passing
through a mist extractor to remove the small liquid droplets in the gas. Separators can be
categorized according to their operating pressure. Low-pressure units handle pressures of 10 to
180 psi [69 to 1,241 kPa]. Medium-pressure separators operate from 230 to 700 psi [1,586 to
4,826 kPa]. High-pressure units handle pressures of 975 to 1,500 psi [6,722 to 10,342
kPa]. Gravity segregation is the main force that accomplishes the separation, which means the
heaviest fluid settles to the bottom and the lightest fluid rises to the top. Additionally, inside the
vessel, the degree of separation between gas and liquid will depend on the separator operating
pressure, the residence time of the fluid mixture and the type of flow of the fluid. Turbulent
flow allows more bubbles to escape than laminar flow.
64. Pipeline: A tube or system of tubes used for transporting crude oil and natural gas from
the field or gathering system to the refinery.
65. Pipeline Capacity: The quantity (volume) of oil and gas required to maintain a full pipeline. The
static capacity of a pipeline is usually expressed as a volume per unit length (for example, bbl/ft).
Nevertheless, the fluid volume passing through a pipeline in a specific time period will depend on
initial pressure, flow characteristics, ground elevation, density and delivery pressure.
66. Pipeline Gas: A sufficiently dry gas that will not drop out natural gas liquids (NGL) when entering
the gas pipeline; also, gas with enough pressure to enter high-pressure gas pipelines.
67. Pipeline Oil: Oil whose free water, sediment and emulsion content (BS&W) is sufficiently low to
be acceptable for pipeline shipment.
68. Pipeline Patrol: An inspection of a pipeline to check for leaks, washouts or other abnormal
conditions. A pipeline patrol is commonly performed using airplanes.
69. Pressure Storage Tank: A tank designed for storing volatile liquids such as gasoline and
liquefied petroleum gases (LPG), which generate high internal pressures. A pressure storage tank
 is commonly spherical. Other types include spheroidal or hemispherical vessels. Some pressure
storage tanks can support several hundred pounds per square inch of internal pressure. A
pressure storage tank is also called a pressure-type tank.
70. Raw Natural Gas: Gas produced from the well, unprocessed natural gas or the inlet natural gas to
a plant. The raw gas still contains natural gas liquids (condensate, natural gasoline and liquefied
petroleum gas), water and some other impurities such as nitrogen, carbon dioxide, hydrogen
sulfide and helium. The raw gas must be processed in a gas processing plant to make the gas
commercial.
71. Residence Time: Another term for retention time, the amount of time a liquid stays in a vessel.
The retention time assures that equilibrium between the liquid and gas has been reached
at separator pressure. The retention time in a separator is determined by dividing the liquid
volume inside the vessel by the liquid flow rate. The retention time usually varies between 30
seconds and 3 minutes. If a foaming crude is present, the retention time could be increased by
four times its normal values.
72. Retention Time: The amount of time a liquid stays in a vessel. The retention time assures that
equilibrium between the liquid and gas has been reached at separator pressure. The retention
time in a separator is determined by dividing the liquid volume inside the vessel by the liquid flow
rate. The retention time usually varies between 30 seconds and 3 minutes. If a foaming crude is
present, the retention time could be increased by four times its normal values.
73. Roll A Tank: to agitate a tanks contents with gas or air injected through a roll line. This procedure
is performed to settle out impurities or obtain a more homogeneous mixture of the chemicals
added to oil, such as when chemicals used to break emulsions. The procedure is also used to mix
chemicals before a stimulation treatment of an oil or gas well.
74. Roll Line: A thin, perforated pipe placed around the internal circumference of a tank. The purpose
of the roll line is to agitate the contents of a tank.
75. Rich Glycol: In a glycol dehydrator, glycol that contains water released by wet gas while
percolating upward in the absorber.
76. Separator: A cylindrical or spherical vessel used to separate oil, gas and water from the total fluid
stream produced by a well. Separators can be either horizontal or vertical. Separators can be
classified into two-phase and three-phase separators (commonly called free-water knockout). The
two-phase type deals only with oil and gas, while the three-phase type handles oil, water and gas.
Additionally, separators can be categorized according to their operating pressure. Low-pressure
units handle pressures of 10 to 180 psi [69 to 1241 kPa]. Medium-pressure separators operate
from 230 to 700 psi [1586 to 4826 kPa]. High-pressure units handle pressures of 975 to 1500 psi
[6722 to 10,342 kPa]. Gravity segregation is the main force that accomplishes the separation,
which means the heaviest fluid settles to the bottom and the lightest fluid rises to the top.
Additionally, inside the vessel, the degree of separation between gas and liquid will depend on
the separator operating pressure, the residence time of the fluid mixture and the type of flow of
the fluid. Turbulent flow allows more bubbles to escape than laminar flow.
77. SNG: Abbreviation for synthetic natural gas
78. Solid Desiccant: A solid, such as silica gel or calcium chloride [CaCl2], used in a gas-
dehydration unit to remove water and moisture. The desiccants are placed as beds through which
wet gas is passed. The main limitation of the use of solid desiccants is that they absorb only limited
 quantities of water. When the desiccant saturation point is reached, the solid desiccant must be
replaced. Another limitation is that sometimes water cannot be removed from it.
79. Spherical Separator: A ball-shaped vessel used for fluid separation. A spherical separator can be
used for two-phase or three-phase separation purposes. Spherical separators are less efficient
than either horizontal or vertical cylindrical separators and are seldom used. Nevertheless, their
compact size and ease of transportation have made them suitable for crowded processing areas.
80. Spot Sample: A sample of liquid or sediments obtained at a specific depth inside a tank using
a thief or a bottle. Spot samples are analyzed to determine the gravity of the oil and BS&W content
of the fluid in the tank.
81. Stock Tank: A storage tank for oil production after the oil has been treated
82. Stock Tank Barrel: A measure of the volume of treated oil stored in stock tanks. A stock tank barrel
is commonly abbreviated as STB.
83. Strap: To measure the dimensions of an oil tank, such as external diameter and height, using a
steel tape. Once the measurements are recorded, they may be used to prepare tank tables, which
describe tank capacity.
84. Strapping Tape: A graduated tape use to measure, or strap, producing tanks. The measurements
are used to generate a tank table, which describes tank capacity.
85. Surge Tank: A vessel placed in a flowline through which liquids or gases are flowed to neutralize
sudden pressure surges.
86. Sweetening: A process used to remove hydrogen sulfide [H2S] and carbon dioxide [CO2] from a
gas stream. These components are removed because they can form acidic solutions when
they contact water, which will cause corrosion problems in gas pipelines. In a sweetening process,
different types of ethanolamine can be used, including monoethanolamine (MEA),
diethanolamine (DEA), diglycolamine (DGA) and methyldiethanolamine (MDEA).
Hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide are absorbed by the ethanolamine and sweet gas leaves at
the top of the absorber. The ethanolamine is heated and acid gas (hydrogen sulfide and carbon
dioxide gases) and water vapor are obtained. The water is removed while the acid gas can be
flared or further treated in a sulfur recovery unit to separate out elemental sulfur. Finally, the lean
ethanolamine is returned to the absorber.
87. Synthetic Natural Gas: A gas obtained by heating coal or refining heavy hydrocarbons.
Synthetic natural gas is abbreviated SNG.
88. Tank: A metal or plastic vessel used to store or measure a liquid. The three types of tanks in an
oil field are drilling, production and storage tanks.
89. Tank Battery: A group of tanks that are connected to receive crude oil production from a well or
a producing lease. A tank battery is also called a battery. In the tank battery, the oil volume is
measured and tested before pumping the oil into the pipeline system.
90. Tank Bottoms: The settlings -- sediment, dirt, oil emulsified with water and free water -- that
accumulate in the bottom of storage tanks. The tankbottoms are periodically cleaned up and
settlings can be disposed of or treated by chemicals to recover additional hydrocarbons. Tank
bottoms are also called tank settlings or tank sludge.
91. Tank Calibration: Measurement of the dimensions of an oil tank, such as external diameter and
height, using a steel tape. Once the measurements are recorded, they may be used to prepare
tank tables, which describe tank capacity.
92. Tank Dike: A structure constructed around an oil tank to contain the oil in case the tank collapses.
The volume or space inside the tank dike should be greater than the volume of the tank. A tank
dike is also called a fire wall.
93. Tank Table: A table that shows the tank capacity in barrels as a function of the liquid level inside
the tank. A tank table is also called a tank capacity table or gauge table.
94. Tankage: The capacity of all the tanks in a field
95. Tanker: A ship designed to transport crude oil, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), liquefied natural
gas (LNG), synthetic natural gas (SNG) or refined products. Tankers with 100,000 deadweight tons
of capacity or more are called supertankers (very large crude carriers or ultralarge crude carriers).
A tanker is also called a tank ship.
96. TAPS: Abbreviation for Trans-Alaska Pipeline System
97. Test Separator: A vessel used to separate and meter relatively small quantities of oil and gas. Test
separators can be two-phase or three-phase, or horizontal, vertical or spherical. They can also be
permanent or portable. Test separators sometimes are equipped with different meters to
determine oil, water and gas rates, which are important to diagnose well problems,
evaluate productionperformance of individual wells and manage reserves properly. Test
separators can also be called well testers or a well checkers.
98. Thief: A device that can be lowered into a tank to obtain samples (liquid or sediments) at different
depths. The samples are analyzed to determine the gravity and BS&W content of the fluid into
the tank.
99. Thief Hatch: An opening in the top of the stock tank. The thief hatch allows tank access for a thief
or other level measuring devices.
100. Three Phase Separator: A vessel that separates the well fluids into gas and two types of
liquids: oil and water. A three-phase separator can be horizontal, vertical or spherical. This type
of separator is commonly called a free-water knockout because its main use is to remove any free
water that can cause problems such as corrosion and formation of hydrates or tight emulsions,
which are difficult to break. A free-water knockout is commonly called a three-phase
separator because it can separate gas, oil and free water. The liquids that are discharged from the
free-water knockout are further treated in vessels called treaters. Free-water knockout is
abbreviated as FWKO.
101. Tight Emulsion: An emulsion with small and closely distributed droplets. A tight emulsion
can be difficult to break.
102. Trans-Alaska Pipeline System: An 800-mile [1287-km], 48-in. [122-cm] pipeline that
transports more than 1 million barrels of oil from Deadhorse (near Prudhoe Bay) to Valdez, Alaska,
USA. The Trans-Alaska Pipeline System was completed in 1977 and it is often abbreviated as TAPS.
103. Treater: A vessel used to treat oil-water emulsions so the oil can be accepted by
the pipeline or transport. A treater can use several mechanisms. These include
heat, gravity segregation, chemical additives and electric current to break emulsions. There are
vertical and horizontal treaters. The main difference between them is the residence time, which
is shorter in the vertical configuration compared with the horizontal one. A treater can be called
a heater treater or an emulsion treater.
104. Two Phase Separator: A vessel that separates the well fluids into gas and total liquid. A
two-phase separator can be horizontal, vertical or spherical. The liquid (oil, emulsion) leaves the
 vessel at the bottom through a level-control or dump valve. The gas leaves the vessel at the top,
passing through a mist extractor to remove the small liquid droplets in the gas.
105. Ultralarge Crude Carrier: A supertanker with 500,000 deadweight tons of capacity or
more. The term is commonly abbreviated as ULCC.
106. Vapor Recovery Unit: A system composed of a scrubber, a compressor and a switch. Its
main purpose is to recover vapors formed inside completely sealed crude oil or condensate tanks.
The switch detects pressure variations inside the tanks and turns the compressor on and off. The
vapors are sucked through a scrubber, where the liquid trapped is returned to the
liquid pipeline system or to the tanks, and the vapor recovered is pumped into gas lines.
107. Vertical Separator: A vessel with its cylindrical axes perpendicular to the ground that is
used to separate oil, gas and water from the productionstream. The vessel can be a two-phase or
three-phase separator.
108. Very Large Crude Carrier: A supertanker with a capacity between 100,000 and 500,000
deadweight tons. The term is commonly abbreviated as VLCC.
109. Wet Gas: Natural gas that contains water.