Indirect water bath heater with burner and bath assembly. Final duty and arrangement are project specific.Indirect water bath heater for oil and gas process duty
An indirect water bath heater transfers heat to a process stream through a coil immersed in a heated water or glycol bath. A burner heats the bath through a separate firetube; the process fluid does not contact the flame or combustion products. The bath provides thermal buffering while the coil, circulation and controls are sized for the specified flow and outlet temperature.
MechOilfield Equipment Pvt. Ltd. develops skid mounted heater packages for well testing, gas conditioning and upstream process applications. The offer can include the bath vessel, process coil, firetube and burner, expansion arrangement, fuel train, instruments, piping, controls, insulation, stack, inspection and project documentation. The final scope follows the approved process datasheet and P&ID.
Sized for duty, turndown and site conditions
Heater capacity cannot be established from vessel diameter or coil length alone. The process review considers inlet and required outlet temperatures, minimum and maximum flow, fluid composition, pressure drop, operating pressure, ambient conditions and expected turndown. The thermal design establishes heat duty, bath operating range, coil surface and burner firing requirements before mechanical dimensions are finalised.
Process data to share
- Fluid type and composition, density and viscosity across the operating temperature range
- Minimum, normal and maximum flow rates; inlet and target outlet temperatures
- Operating and design pressure and temperature; allowable process side pressure drop
- Fuel availability, composition and pressure; ambient design conditions and site classification
Engineering outputs
- Heat duty, coil arrangement, bath volume and burner selection basis
- Process and mechanical datasheets, general arrangement and P&ID
- Fuel train and burner control philosophy, safety interlocks and instrument list
- Insulation, surface protection and inspection plan as required
Pressure retaining coil and vessel components are designed and inspected to the codes and project specifications agreed in the technical offer. Materials and corrosion allowances depend on the fluid and bath chemistry.
A coordinated heater skid
Heat transfer equipment
The package can include a bath vessel with process coil, firetube, expansion tank, level provision, circulation or mixing arrangement if needed, drain and vent connections, manways and maintainable coil access. Bath medium, freeze protection and operating level are selected for the environment.
Burner and utilities
A gas fired or dual fuel burner may be offered where the fuel basis calls for it. The burner management system, fuel isolation, flame supervision, combustion air, stack and purge sequence are defined against the approved safety philosophy and applicable standards.
Interfaces defined in the P&ID
Typical connection and monitoring points are shown below for enquiry planning. The actual line sizes, pressure classes, set points and valve makes are established in the approved drawings.
| System | Potential equipment and connections | Typical control or protection |
|---|---|---|
| Process coil | Inlet and outlet isolation, drains, vents and temperature measurement | Inlet and outlet pressure and temperature monitoring as specified |
| Bath and expansion | Fill, drain, vent and expansion connections | Bath temperature and level monitoring; high temperature and low level safeguards |
| Fuel train | Fuel isolation, filtration or regulation, piping and burner connection | Fuel pressure monitoring, shutoff valves and flame supervision |
| Exhaust and utilities | Stack, combustion air, electrical and control interfaces | Burner management and alarm or shutdown signals as agreed |
Relief protection, hazardous area equipment, electrical scope and interfaces with the wider well testing package are reviewed for each installation.
Inspection and documentation for the specified service
Material traceability, welding procedures, NDT, dimensional checks, hydrostatic or leak tests, burner functional checks and instrument calibration are planned against the approved inspection and test plan. The required extent and witness points depend on the applicable code and client specification. The technical offer identifies any third-party inspection, coating and insulation requirements.
Documentation can include datasheets, calculations, GA and P&ID drawings, material certificates, weld and NDT records, test reports, instrument documents and operating guidance as agreed. Skid lifting, access, transport and maintenance clearances are considered during layout development.
Water bath heater questions
Can the heater use two fuels?
A dual fuel burner can be evaluated when both fuels and their supply conditions are defined. Burner selection and changeover controls are confirmed in the offer.
Is there a standard heater size?
Indicative arrangements can be discussed, but the selected heat duty, coil geometry and vessel size follow the process calculation. Share the flow, fluid, temperatures and fuel data for a meaningful quotation.
Can it be integrated into a well testing package?
Yes. The heater can be assessed alongside the three phase separator and the 5K or 10K well testing package. Interface pressures and equipment ratings are determined by the approved process arrangement.