Manifold

At its most basic level, a piping manifold is a wide pipe that serves as a collector for several smaller pipes. On a well test manifold, several production streams go into it and valves can be used to divert a single stream for test. This arrangement is useful in that a well tester does not need to be purchased for every well.

Other types of manifolds are used for inlet and outlet piping on several similar pieces of equipment such as tanks or pumps.