Multiphase fluid analysis

A method of analysing multiphase fluid flow in at least one well, the method comprises:

• receiving in a storage a plurality of well pressure data from at least one pressure gauge installed on the at least one well;
• processing using a processor the plurality of well pressure data to obtain a time-varying slug amplitude and a time-varying slug period for slugs in the slug flow;
• analyzing, using the processor, the slug amplitudes and/or the slug periods over a period of time to thereby determine a measure of well performance to thereby characterise slug flow in the multiphase fluid flow, wherein the measure comprises a slug amplitude distribution and/or a slug period distribution over the period of time and/or wherein the measure comprises a slug amplitude average and/or a slug period average,
• determining average slug amplitudes and/or average slug periods over a predetermined period of time;
• and
• correlating the determined average slug amplitudes and/or average slug periods to well operating parameters, wherein the well operating parameters comprise lift gas rate, choke settings, fluid injection rates, gas-liquid ratio, wellhead pressure, downhole pressure, water-cut, water-oil ratio, temperature at wellhead and downhole;
• controlling an oil field unit to schedule the at least one well for testing via a test manifold based on the determined measure of well performance, wherein scheduling based on the determined measure reduces an amount of time required to identify poorly performing wells;
• routing, via the test manifold and according to the schedule, the at least one well to a test separator for testing.