free-water knockout — Oil & Gas Glossary
A vertical or horizontal separator used mainly to remove any free water that can cause problems such as corrosion and formation of hydrates or tight emulsions, which are difficult to break.A free-water knockout is commonly called a three-phase separator because it can separate gas, oil and free water. The liquids that are discharged from the free-water knockout are further treated
Detailed Explanation
in vessels called treaters. Free-water knockout is abbreviated as FWKO.