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Sunday, April 15, 2012

Random Photograph of a Pair of Heater Treaters -- The Bakken, North Dakota, USA

A reader sent me this photograph asking me what they are.

I 've seen them occasionally on pads (as has the reader) and assumed they were separators of some sort (water from oil; wet gas from oil) but more than that, I do not know.

I'm sure a reader out there will let us know.  Thank you in advance.

4 comments:

  1. They are commonly called "treaters" but do as you described, separate water from oil. The round silver piece on the bottom left of each "treater" is the heater that helps in the separation process.

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  2. These are heater treaters that separate the oil and water while heating both to separate the two with the heat.

    The heat is coming from a burner that is fueled by natural gas from the well or secondary source otherwise such as butane.

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    Replies
    1. Thank you. I think at one time I recall "Don" or someone telling me this, but I forgot. Along with a million other things.

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  3. These comments are correct in that they are referred to as heater treaters. These are very impressive looking units as in the olden days, these units were very small and had to monitored often due to fire hazards as the units aged. This newer unit is far more advanced in both safety and functions.

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