Coriolis meters are the second technology upgrade to the new separator. These nonintrusive meters measure each phase individually with a high degree of accuracy and remain online during the entire monitoring operation. The meters operate independently of fluid properties and eliminate the need to vent gas to the atmosphere. The use of these meters while a well is flowing lowers the need for manual intervention, which reduces risks to both personnel and the environment.

The company states that the separator allows the first reservoir fluids to be identified sooner than with traditional methods, allowing well testing to begin earlier. It also allows faster cleanups by flowing the well to a higher-pressure vessel than is possible with conventional setups, which eliminates the need for and risk of pressurized storage tanks.

The new separator can handle high water cut and fluctuating flow rates without slowing down the process, which leads to the efficient isolation and measurement of purer single-phase fluids. The speed with which separation information is delivered from the CleanPhase separator allows decisions to be made more accurately and essentially in real time.

“The CleanPhase separator is a rejuvenated approach to phase isolation during the separation process,” said Eugene Francois Kleyn, CleanPhase product champion, Schlumberger. “Phase isolation limits the uncertainty inherent during reservoir characterization and significantly aids in the efficient disposal of the individual phases. The new generation well test separator allows flowback activities to be conducted confidently by increasing safety, reducing manual intervention, and providing seamless operations.”