surface facilities engineering

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Last updated

July 21, 2026

Quick Summary

Surface facilities engineering is a specialized branch of petroleum engineering. It focuses on the equipment and processes needed to collect, separate, and prepare crude oil and natural gas for storage and distribution after they have been extracted from the earth.12

This involves designing systems to handle well fluids, which often include water alongside oil and gas. The surface equipment separates these components, treating the water for reinjection and sending the oil to storage. Natural gas is typically routed to a processing plant to remove natural gas liquids (NGLs) before reaching consumer pipelines. NGLs are valuable feedstocks for the chemical industry.2

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petroleum engineering
Branches of petroleum engineering
…work of production engineers and surface facilities engineers begins upon completion of the well—directing the selection of producing intervals and making arrangements for various accessories, controls, and equipment. Later the work of these engineers involves controlling and measuring the produced fluids (oil, gas, and water), designing and installing gathering and…
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…work of production engineers and surface facilities engineers begins upon completion of the well—directing the selection of producing intervals and making arrangements for various accessories, controls, and equipment. Later the work of these engineers involves controlling and measuring the produced fluids (oil, gas, and water), designing and installing gathering and…
Read More