There are typically two types of test separators. “Inlet Well Test Separators and Mobile Test Separators”.

Mobile Test separators are typically brought in to a new well shortly after drilling and completion. In addition to separating the well stream into its constituent components, the well test separator records the volume of each component over time, allowing the flow rates to be calculated. This provides knowledge on how productive the new well is and gain insight into the underground reservoir, so reservoir calculations can be done.