System and method for controlling a fluid transport system

A method for controlling a fluid transport system and flow of a fluid, said method implemented using a controller in communication with a memory and a multiphase pump configured to transport the fluid, stored, within the memory, a pump map including a correlation of at least one operating characteristic of the multiphase pump or the fluid with a gas volume fraction of the fluid, wherein the multiphase pump comprises an inlet pipe and an outlet pipe, the method comprising:

• receiving, from at least one sensing device in communication with the multiphase pump or the fluid and the controller, a measured value of the at least one operating characteristic, wherein the at least one operating characteristic comprises a differential pressure across said multiphase pump, a pump speed, and a temperature at said inlet pipe;
• determining, by the controller, a predicted efficiency of the multiphase pump based on the received measured value of the at least one operating characteristic and an initial estimate of a gas volume fraction of the fluid at the inlet pipe;
• determining, by the controller, a calculated efficiency of the multiphase pump based on a measured value of a power consumption of said multiphase pump;
• comparing, by the controller, the predicted efficiency and the calculated efficiency to determine an estimated value of the gas volume fraction of the fluid;
• and modulating, by the controller, at least one regulating device coupled to at least one flow control device based on the estimated value of the gas volume fraction of the fluid.

A submersible resource recovery system for controlling a fluid transport system and flow of a fluid transported by a multiphase pump, said submersible resource recovery system comprising:

• a submerged wellhead;
• a top-side production location;
• at least one flow control device;
• a multiphase pump comprising an inlet pipe and an outlet pipe, wherein the multiphase pump is configured to transport the fluid from said submerged wellhead to said topside production location, said multiphase pump further configured to be submersible;
• at least one sensing device configured to measure a value of at least one operating characteristic of said multiphase pump or said fluid;
• at least one regulating device coupled to said at least one flow control device;
• and a controller coupled to said at least one pump sensing device and said at least one regulating device, said controller programmed with a pump map comprising a correlation of the at least one operating characteristic with a gas volume fraction of the fluid, wherein the at least one operating characteristic comprises a differential pressure across said multiphase pump, a pump speed, and a temperature at said inlet pipe, wherein said controller is configured to:
• receive from said at least one sensing device a measured value of the at least one operating characteristic;
• determine a predicted efficiency of said multiphase pump based on the received measured value of the at least one operating characteristic and an initial estimate of a gas volume fraction of the fluid at the inlet pipe;
• determine a calculated efficiency of said multiphase pump based on a measured value of a power consumption of said multiphase pump;
• compare the predicted efficiency and the calculated efficiency to determine an estimated value of the gas volume fraction of the fluid;
• and modulate said at least one regulating device based on the estimated value of the gas volume fraction of the fluid.