Box 9.3
Pressurized, or Closed, Separators
Modified Production Separators
The major advantages of a closed pressurized separators are that it
(1) controls gas from the well and sends it to a flare line under pressure and (2) is serviced by a special crew.
The separator is usually operated under 3 to 5 atmospheres of pressure
(45 to 75 psig). Horizontal units are typically about 9 feet in diameter
and 50 feet long, with a throughput of 5 MMcf or 500 bbl fluid. These are
typical numbers, and sizes and pressure vary according to special jobs.
Mud gas separator
Mud Gas Separator is commonly called a gas-buster or poor boy degasser. It captures and separates large volume of free gas within the drilling fluid. If there is a “KICK” situation, this vessel separates the mud and the gas by allowing it to flow over baffle plates. The gas then is forced to flow through a line and vent it to a flare. A “KICK” situation happens when the annular hydrostatic pressure in a drilling well temporarily (and usually relatively suddenly) falls below that of the formation, or pore, pressure in a permeable section downhole, and before control of the situation is lost.-wiki