초록 ▼

The total mass flowrate of a multiphase fluid flowstream such as a water, oil and gas mixture being produced from subterranean wells is determined by passing the flowstream through an apparatus which forces a substantial change in direction of the fluid flowstream and wherein a pressure differential

The total mass flowrate of a multiphase fluid flowstream such as a water, oil and gas mixture being produced from subterranean wells is determined by passing the flowstream through an apparatus which forces a substantial change in direction of the fluid flowstream and wherein a pressure differential is measured across flow paths of known cross-sectional flow area. The total mass flow is determined from the cross-sectional flow areas, the measured total density of the flowstream and the differential pressure. A sample of the flowstream is withdrawn from the flow path, gas is separated from liquid and the liquid fraction of water is measured by passing the liquid mixture through a device which measures the dielectric constant of the liquid mixture using microwave radiation transmissivity or differential pressure between columns of the liquid mixture and a column of water of equal height is compared. Total density of the flowstream may be obtained by measuring differential pressures across changes in elevation of the flowstream.

대표청구항 ▼

A method for determining the mass flow rate of the components of a multiphase fluid flowstream comprising at least one gas and at least two liquids of different densities comprising the steps of: providing conduit means for conducting said fluid flowstream from a source of said fluid flowstream to a

A method for determining the mass flow rate of the components of a multiphase fluid flowstream comprising at least one gas and at least two liquids of different densities comprising the steps of: providing conduit means for conducting said fluid flowstream from a source of said fluid flowstream to a point of delivery, said conduit means including means forming a conduit section for substantially changing the direction of flow of said fluid flowstream, means for treating a sample of said fluid flowstream to separate the gas from the liquid mixture, means for determining the total density of said fluid flowstream and means for determining the respective fractions of said at least two liquids in said liquid mixture; measuring the total density of said fluid flowstream; conducting said fluid flowstream through said conduit section for changing the direction of flow and measuring the pressure differential encountered as a result of the change of direction of said fluid flowstream; determining the flow area of said conduit section through which the flowstream is conducted to undergo the change of pressure as a result of the change of direction and determining the total mass flow rate of said fluid flowstream based on said change in pressure, said total density, and said flow area; determining the density of said components of said fluid flowstream including said gas and said at least two liquids in said liquid mixture; separating the liquids of said fluid flowstream from the gas to form a liquid mixture; determining the fraction of one liquid in the liquid mixture; determining the density of the liquid mixture (rL) from the equation: rL=ro(1-b)+rwb wherein pw is the density o said one liquid, po is the density of the other of the liquids and b is the fraction of said one liquid in the liquid mixture; determining the fraction of gas in said fluid flowstream based on the total density of the fluid flowstream, the density of the liquid mixture and the density of the gas; and determining the mass flowrate of the gas, and the respective ones of the at least two liquids in said liquid mixture using the densities of said components of said fluid flowstream, the total mass flowrate and the fractions of gas and said one liquid.