The spelling of "gathering system" can be explained through its IPA phonetic transcription. The first syllable is pronounced as "ɡæðərɪŋ," with the "a" sound like in "cat," and the "th" pronounced as the unvoiced "th" sound in "thin." The second syllable is pronounced as "sɪstəm," with the "i" sounding like "ih" in "sit," the "s" pronounced as the unvoiced "s," and the "t" pronounced as a "t" sound. Together, they create the term "ɡæðərɪŋ sɪstəm."
A gathering system is a network of pipelines and facilities designed to collect, transport, and distribute fluids or gases, usually oil or natural gas, from multiple wells or sources to a storage or processing facility. It serves as an essential link between the production sites and the main transmission or distribution pipelines.
The gathering system consists of various interconnected components, including wellheads, flowlines, trunklines, and gathering stations. Wellheads are located at each producing well and act as the starting point of the system, where fluids are initially collected. The flowlines are small-diameter pipelines that transport the fluids from the wellheads to gathering stations or central points.
Gathering stations, strategically placed along the route, receive and process the fluids from multiple wells or flowlines. Here, impurities or contaminants are removed, and the pressure and temperature of the fluids may be adjusted for efficient transportation. The processed fluids are then transferred to the main trunklines, which are larger pipelines that carry the collected product to a storage or processing facility.
The gathering system facilitates the efficient and safe transportation of the produced fluids or gases, reducing the need for individual pipelines for each well or source. By consolidating the flow into one network, it maximizes the productivity of the wells and minimizes the overall costs of transportation. It is a crucial infrastructure component of the oil and gas industry, enabling the collection and delivery of resources from dispersed sources to processing facilities for further refining or distribution.
The word "gathering" originated from the Old English word "gaderian", which means "to come together, unite, or collect". It evolved from the Proto-Germanic word "gadurōną". The word "system" has its roots in Latin, coming from the word "systēma", which means "an organized whole". Together, "gathering system" refers to a structured arrangement or organization for collecting or uniting things or people.