RBI Heater Treaters – Reliable Performance in Any Climate

At its core, a heater treater, also known as a treater or oil treater, is a three-phase separator vessel designed to break down oil-water emulsions. In the production stream, crude oil is often mixed with water, gas and various solids. To prepare oil for sale and meet pipeline specifications, these components must be separated.

The treater accomplishes this by applying heat to the emulsion. As the mixture is heated, the viscosity of the oil decreases, and the specific gravities of oil and water become more distinct. This allows the water to coalesce and settle at the bottom of the vessel, while gas rises to the top to be vented or captured. The cleaner, dehydrated oil is then collected from the middle section. The process effectively removes water, gas and other impurities, ensuring a higher-quality final product.

RBI understands that no two production sites are the same. Well characteristics, flow rates and environmental conditions vary widely. RBI treaters are designed to meet your specific operational requirements.

Our engineering and manufacturing capabilities allow customization of core specifications:

• Size Range: We manufacture treaters in diameters ranging from 48 inches to 144 inches, accommodating a wide spectrum of processing volumes.
• Pressure Ratings: RBI vessels are designed for various pressure environments, with standard ratings of 75#, 125#, 250# and 500#.
• Design Orientation: RBI manufactures both vertical and horizontal designs. Vertical treaters optimize small footprints, while horizontal treaters accommodate higher throughputs and tougher emulsions.
• Skid Types: Choose between containment and no-containment skid options based on your site’s safety protocols and environmental regulations.
• Certification: RBI provides options for vessels certified to ASME Code standards or units built to code specifications but not stamped, offering flexibility to match your project’s budget and compliance needs.

Beyond these foundational specifications, RBI offers various inlet devices tailored to your well application, internal coating options to protect against corrosion and integrated Instrumentation and Electrical (I&E) and Burner Management System (BMS) options for enhanced control and safety.

For operators in colder climates or shale plays prone to extreme temperature drops, winter presents a significant operational threat. Cold can thicken emulsions, reduce separation efficiency, freeze lines and damage equipment, leading to costly downtime and repairs. RBI’s cold-weather packages are engineered to withstand these challenges and keep your production flowing smoothly, even in the most severe conditions.

RBI offers advanced insulation for the treater vessel itself, which minimizes heat loss and reduces the energy required to maintain the optimal separation temperature.

Furthermore, we provide insulation for all internal and external piping. Exposed pipes are the most vulnerable points for freezing. By insulating every line, from the inlet to the oil and water outlets, we ensure the fluid remains in a liquid state and flows without obstruction.

In extremely cold environments, passive insulation may not be enough. RBI integrates catalytic heaters into our cold-weather packages to provide a safe, reliable and flameless source of heat. These heaters use a chemical reaction to generate heat, making them an ideal solution for Class I, Div I and Div II hazardous locations where an open flame would be a significant safety risk. They provide consistent, low-temperature heat to prevent components from freezing without compromising site safety.

Protecting your equipment from wind, snow and ice is essential. RBI designs and fabricates housings and enclosures specifically engineered to withstand the wind and snow loads of your geographic location. These are not one-size-fits-all solutions. We calculate the specific environmental stresses for your site to ensure the structure provides complete protection.

We also offer flexibility with partial enclosures. In some cases, full housing may be unnecessary. A partial enclosure can shield the most critical components—such as controls and piping from the elements while allowing easier access for maintenance.

Operating in cold weather often means dealing with complex electrical and safety requirements. Our cold-weather packages are designed with compliance at the forefront. We develop electrical systems that adhere to all state and local regulations.

More importantly, our solutions are designed for hazardous environments. We ensure all components, including heaters, lighting and control panels, meet the strict standards for Class I, Div 1 and Div 2 locations, where flammable gases or vapors may be present. This integrated approach ensures your site is not only operational but also safe and compliant.

RBI specializes in delivering turnkey packages. Your heater treater arrives on-site with all cold-weather components, piping and instrumentation pre-installed and tested. This minimizes field assembly time and reduces the risk of installation errors.

RBI heater treaters are built for durability, efficiency and performance. With our versatile design options and specialized cold-weather packages, RBI separation equipment is ready to handle whatever the weather or well throws at it.

Download our treater brochure to learn more or contact us to request a quote for a heater treater package tailored to your production requirements.