FIRE TUBE HEATER SKID
Compact, field-gas-fired heating for remote oilfield installation -- where electrical power is unavailable and a water bath heater is larger than the application requires.
Fuel Gas Available. No Electrical Power. Space Constrained.
The fire tube heater skid occupies a specific position in the upstream heating equipment landscape: it is selected when field gas is the available fuel, when no reliable electrical supply exists for electromagnetic heating, when the heating duty is moderate and does not justify the capital cost of a vacuum phase-change heater, and when the installation site is remote or access-constrained.
Remote Wellsite Crude Oil Heating Without Electrical Power
Many remote wellsites have field gas available from the well but no reliable electrical supply. Installing electrical infrastructure requires capital and lead time that may not be justified. A fire tube heater skid uses the wellhead gas as both the process fuel and the economic justification -- producing saleable crude oil by keeping it above its pour point, fuelled by gas that would otherwise be vented or flared.
Wellhead Flowline and Separation Train Heating
Crude oil from high-wax reservoirs loses flowability rapidly as it moves through above-ground gathering lines. A fire tube heater skid installed on the wellstream reduces oil viscosity, promotes emulsion breaking, and improves three-phase separator performance. The compact skid design allows placement close to the wellhead without requiring significant civil work.
Seasonal or Supplemental Heating at Gathering Stations
Gathering stations that operate year-round in cold climates may require supplemental heating during extreme cold periods. A fire tube heater skid deployed as a seasonal supplement or maintenance backup can be brought online rapidly, using the station's existing fuel gas supply, and removed at the end of the cold season without permanent facility modifications.
Produced Water Heating for Reinjection
Produced water for reinjection sometimes requires heating to reduce viscosity and improve injectability, or to prevent scale precipitation. A fire tube heater provides the required temperature increase, fuelled by field gas. For this application, material selection (stainless steel or coated carbon steel) accounts for the corrosivity of high-chloride or high-H₂S water.
Fire Tube Heating -- Direct Combustion Heat Transfer
Fig 1. Single-pass U-tube configuration with integrated burner and stack
1 The Fire Tube Principle
A fire tube heater is a fired pressure vessel in which the combustion flame and hot flue gases pass through one or more tubes immersed directly in the process fluid. Heat transfers from the hot tube wall to the surrounding fluid by conduction, convection, and radiation. This direct heat transfer path makes it more compact than a water bath heater for equivalent heating duty and capable of achieving higher process fluid temperatures.
2 Fire Tube Configuration
The U-tube design is the most common for field heaters: the burner fires into one leg of the U, combustion gases travel the full length and return through the second leg, and the flue gas exits through the stack. This single-pass configuration allows the heater to be designed as a horizontal vessel with a compact footprint suitable for transport on a skid. For sour service, materials are upgraded to chrome-moly alloy or 316L stainless steel.
3 Burner, Fuel Gas Train & Safety
The burner fires on wellhead gas (no external fuel source required). The fuel gas train includes a pressure regulator, inline filter, and automatic solenoid valve. Safety controls include flame failure shutdown, high process temperature shutdown, low fuel gas pressure shutdown, and high firebox temperature monitoring.
Fire Tube vs. Water Bath Heater Comparison
| Factor | Fire Tube Heater | Water Bath Heater |
|---|---|---|
| Heat transfer path | Combustion gases → fire tube wall → process fluid (direct) | Combustion gases → fire tube → water bath → process coil (indirect) |
| Max process temp. | Higher -- not limited by water bath boiling point | < 95°C (limited by water bath) |
| Thermal efficiency | 75-85% | 75-85% (similar) |
| Overheating risk | Higher -- fire tube surface can be hot | Lower -- water bath limits temperature |
| Compactness | More compact at equivalent duty (no water bath volume) | Larger for equivalent duty |
| Best for | Robust, higher-temperature fluid heating; remote; compact sites | Thermally sensitive fluids; inherent safe temperature limit |
Engineering Specifications
Designed for severe oilfield environments. Our fire tube heater skids are engineered in compliance with GB 150 and ASME standards, featuring robust materials and comprehensive safety controls.
Fabrication workshop: U-tube configuration
| Heating Duty | 50 kW - 2,000 kW (Larger duties with multiple units/custom) |
|---|---|
| Process Media | Crude oil / produced water / natural gas / multiphase wellstream |
| Process Inlet Temp | -20°C to +60°C (Cold climate service standard) |
| Process Outlet Temp | Up to 150°C (Limited by process fluid temp rating) |
| Design Pressure (Vessel) | 0.4 - 4.0 MPa (g) |
| Fire Tube Material | Carbon steel (standard) / 316L SS / Chrome-moly |
| Vessel Material | Q235B / Q345R |
| Fuel | Natural gas / associated gas / LPG |
| Thermal Efficiency | 75-85% |
| Stack Temperature | Controlled above acid dewpoint |
| Safety Controls | Flame failure + high process temp + low gas pressure + high skin temp |
| Design Code (Vessel) | GB 150 / ASME VIII Div.1 (ASME U-stamp for export) |
| FAT | Burner fire-up, temperature control response, safety shutdown tests |
Standard Skid Package & Customization Options
Fully integrated functionality out-of-the-box, with extensive OEM/ODM capabilities to meet complex project specifications.
Standard Package (Included)
- Fire tube heater vessel (per GB 150; design pressure/temp per spec)
- U-tube fire tube assembly (material per fluid service)
- Natural draft burner with electric igniter
- Flue gas stack with rain cap and damper
- Fuel gas train: pressure regulator, filter, isolation & solenoid valves
- Local safety control panel: all standard shutdown functions
- Structural skid frame with lifting pads and equipment mounting
- Factory firing test: full commissioning of burner and safety loops
OEM / ODM Customizations
| Modulating burner | Tighter temp control; lower fuel consumption at part-load |
| High-temp process design | Up to 200°C for viscous crude/heavy oil |
| 316L SS / Chrome-moly tube | H₂S or CO₂-bearing service; extended life |
| Dual-pass fire tube | Longer residence time; improved thermal efficiency |
| Heat recovery coil | Preheat fuel gas using flue gas waste heat |
| Remote monitoring panel | 4G/satellite; signals to SCADA |
| ATEX / IECEx instrumentation | Zone 1 / Zone 2 area classification |
| ASME U-stamp / 3rd Party | Export compliance (SGS/BV/DNV) |
| Full skid with separator | Inlet knockout drum upstream of heater on same skid |
Pressure Vessel Licensed. Field Heater Standard Compliant. Safety Tested Before Shipment.
In-house fabrication and rigorous FAT (Factory Acceptance Testing) ensure every heater operates safely from day one.
1. Design Review
Fire tube design reviewed for temperature differential. Sour service material grade and PWHT verified against NACE MR0175.
2. Material Traceability
Vessel shell, fire tube, and nozzle materials procured with mill certificates. 3.1 certificates available for export.
3. NDT & Hydro Test
CNAS-accredited RT/UT/MT/PT. Hydrostatic pressure test at 1.25× design pressure. 3rd-party witness available.
4. Burner Commissioning
Every heater fired up in factory. Tests automatic ignition, temp control response, and triggers all safety shutdown loops.
5. Gas Train Leak Test
Connections tested for leak-free integrity at 1.5× design gas supply pressure using electronic leak detectors.
6. Export Preparation
Burner protected, flanges blanked, fire tube preserved. Export crating and full documentation package prepared.
Fired Heating Equipment -- Delivered to China's Upstream Industry for Over Two Decades.
Sinopec Northwest Bureau -- No. 5 Joint Station
Consecutive-year recognition covering the full range of heating equipment supplied, including fire tube heating packages for gathering stations.
Sinopec & CNPC HSE Certified Supplier
Sustained qualification requiring documented burner safety system design, safety valve certification, and evidence of factory commissioning testing for combustion equipment.
Remote Oilfield Wellsite Heating
Multiple Projects Across China
Supplied for remote wellsite crude oil heating where field gas availability and absence of electrical infrastructure make the compact skid the standard solution.
Industry-Leading Warranty & Support
Standard: 2 years from commissioning or 26 months from shipment. Covers vessel integrity, burner mechanicals, fuel gas train, and safety controls.
Long-term partners: up to 2.5 years, with priority access to replacement burner tips, elements, and thermocouple sensors.
After-Sales Services
- • Burner combustion setting & CO₂/O₂ analysis guidance
- • Safety control calibration & setpoint verification
- • Fire tube inspection guidelines
- • Fuel gas composition change review
- • Remote or on-site recommissioning support
Fluid, Flow Rate, Inlet Temp, Outlet Target.
Fire tube heater skid sizing requires your process fluid, flow rate, inlet temperature, required outlet temperature, and design pressure. Send us these parameters and our engineers will respond with a heater duty calculation and preliminary skid configuration within 1-2 business days.
Free Engineering Resource
Submit your process parameters and receive:
- Heater duty calculation & preliminary skid sizing
- Technology comparison (Fire Tube vs Water Bath)
- Fuel gas train specification
*Reviewed by LINSON OIL process engineers. Response typically within 1-2 business days.