DST Surface equipment

The surface equipments used during DST are as follows:

Flow head:
When testing a well, surface shut off is usually provided by a flow control head or flowhead that
functions as a temporary christmas tree. The flowhead is located on top of the well and is the first piece
of equipment at the surface that fluid flows through.
The flowhead has the following features and benefits:
A master valve that allows isolation of the surface equipment from the downhole test string.
A swab valve that permits introduction and retrieval of wireline tools.a flow line valve to allow fluid
to flow from the well. This valve is usually operated with a hydraulic actuator, allowing remote and
automatic closure.
A kill line valve used to pump fluid into the well.
An optional swivel allowing the test string suspended from the flowhead to be rotated
independently of the main flowhead block.
An elevator sub used to handle the flowhead with the rig elevators.
A threaded connection on top of the elevator sub used to attach pressure equipment.
Choke Manifold:
The choke manifold is used to control the fluid from the well by reducing the flowing pressure and by
achieving a constant flow rate before the fluid enters the processing equipment on the surface.
When testing a well, the aim is to impose critical flow across the choke. When critical flow is achieved,
changes in pressure and flow rate made downstream from the choke do not affect downhole pressure
and flow rate.
The choke manifold has the following features and benefits:
Four gate valves used to isolate the choke boxes on either side of the choke manifold.
An adjustable choke to gain quick control of the well and to change fixed choke beans without
interrupting the flow.
A fixed choke box to insert calibrated choke beans of different diameters, depending on the
pressure and flow rate required.
Tapping points for measurement of the upstream and downstream pressures.
Thermometer well inserted in the flow path allowing the fluid temperature to be monitored.



Indirect heater:
The indirect heater is used to raise the temperature of the well effluent to prevent hydrate formation,
reduce fluid viscosity, and breakdown emulsions before the well effluent enters the separator. The
indirect heater uses a diesel burner to heat a water bath which in turn heats the well effluent.
The indirect heater has the following features and benefits:
A choke assembly to control the well at the indirect heater instead of the choke manifold. The fluid
is heated before it passes through the choke.
An inlet manifold made of three gate valves to control the fluid flow and to bypass the indirect
heater if necessary.
The diesel flame is regulated by an automatic control valve (ACV) to maintain a preset temperature.
A shutdown valve stops the diesel supply if the pilot light is extinguished.
Three phase separator:
The three-phase test separator is a versatile piece of equipment that allows separation, metering, and
sampling of well effluent components. Designed for multiple tasks, the test separator does not separate
fluids as perfectly as a production-station separator, but separation is effective enough for fluids to be
reliably metered.
The separator has the following features and benefits:
Mechanical components inside the vessel improve the gravity separation process and reduce
retention time.
An orifice meter to measure the gas flow rate.
Two oil meters: a positive displacement meter for low flow rates and a vortex meter for high flow
rates.
A positive displacement meter to measure the water flow rate.
A built-in shrinkage tester to calculate the shrinkage factor.
An adjustable oil-gas interface level to handle various flow rates and gas-oil ratios (GOR).
A pressure controller to adjust the separation pressure and improve separation efficiency.
The vessel is protected against overpressure by two different devices: a safety relief valve and a
rupture disc.
Several tapping points for taking oil, gas, and water samples.
Multiple dimensions and pressure ratings.
Gauge Tank:
The gauge tank is usually part of the standard well testing equipment, except when H2S is present. (Gas
from the gauge tank is released to the atmosphere where H2S could endanger personnel.) The gauge
tank is used to measure low oil flow rates and to calibrate the liquid (oil and water) meters on the
separator lines.
The gauge tank has the following features and benefits:
Two compartments: one can be emptied while the other is being filled.
Graduated sight glasses used to record changes in liquid levels. Liquid levels are used to calculate
liquid volume based on the dimensions of the tank.
Two flame arrestors: one on each gas vent line.
A shearing roof (with safety seams) that will split in case of accidental overpressure.
The gauge tank's main application is the calibration of the oil meters mounted on the separator oil lines.
But it has other applications as well:
When the flow rate is too low to efficiently drive oil to the burners, the tank is used to store oil
temporarily.
In low flow conditions separator meters are not reliable, so the gauge tank is used to meter oil flow
rates.
The gauge tank is also used to store oil when large samples are required.
Surge Tank:
Originally designed as a low-pressure, secondary separator, today the most common function of the
surge tank is identical to the gauge tank. It replaces the gauge tank when H2S is present in the well
effluent.
Originally designed as a low-pressure, secondary separator, today the most common function of the
surge tank is identical to the gauge tank. It replaces the gauge tank when H2S is present in the well
effluent.
The surge tank has the following features and benefits:
A single or double compartment, depending on the version of the tank.
An automatic control valve (ACV) on the gas outlet line to maintain a constant pressure in the vessel.
Sight glasses with a graduated scale to record changes in liquid levels. Liquid levels are used to
calculate liquid volume based on the dimensions of the tank.
A safety relief valve to prevent the vessel from being overpressurized.
An optional alarm system (low and high level sound) to monitor liquid levels.
The surge tank allows degassed volume measurements to be taken and compared to metered volume
readings to yield a ratio called the volume correction factor. Multiplying the oil meter reading by this
factor results in an accurate volume measurement that can be used to calculate an accurate flow rate.
The surge tank can also function as a separator, in case further separation of oil and gas is needed. It
offers the client an option that is simpler to operate and less expensive than a second separator.
The surge tank is usually part of the standard well testing equipment, replacing the gauge tank, when
H2S is present in the well effluent. As a replacement for the gauge tank, its main application is the
calibration of separator oil meters. It can also perform any other function that the gauge tank might be
used for:
When the flow rate is too low to efficiently drive oil to the burners, the tank can be used to store oil
temporarily.
In low flow conditions, separator meters are not reliable so the surge tank can be used to meter oil
flow rates.
The surge tank can also be used to store oil when large samples are required.
Oil manifold:
The oil manifold allows the oil leaving the separator to be diverted to the tank or to the burners. The oil
from the tank is also sent to the burners via the oil manifold.