# US 10,311,173 B2 · Multiphase flow simulator sub-modeling > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,311,173 B2 - Document ID: US10311173B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/873,895 - Filed: 2015-10-02 - Published: 2016-04-07 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2014-10-03 - Assignees: Schlumberger Technology Corporation - Applicants: Schlumberger Technology Corporation - Inventors: Kjetil Havre; Jon-Terje Lilleby; Stian Henriksen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10311173B2 ## CPC - G06F 30/20: Design optimisation, verification or simulation (optimisation, verification or simulation of circuit designs G06F30/30) - E21B 43/00: Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells (applicable only to water E03B) - G06F 30/18: Network design, e.g. design based on topological or interconnect aspects of utility systems, piping, heating ventilation air conditioning [HVAC] or cabling (circuit design at the physical level G06F30/39; network planning tools for wireless communication networks H04W16/18) - G06F 2111/10: Numerical modelling - G06F 2113/08: Fluids - G06F 2113/14: Pipes - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS ## Abstract A method can include receiving a model of a fluid production network where the model includes a plurality of sub-models; synchronizing simulation of the plurality of sub-models with respect to time; and outputting values for fluid flow variables of the model. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method comprising: receiving information from at least one sensor of a fluid production network for a model of the fluid production network wherein the model comprises a plurality of sub-models; synchronizing simulation of the plurality of sub-models with respect to time, wherein, during at least a portion of the simulation, a number of time steps for a first one of the sub-models differs from a number of time steps for a second one of the sub-models and an input value of one of the time steps of the first one of the sub-models is determined using at least one output value of at least one of the time steps of the second one of the sub-models; via synchronizing simulation, outputting values for fluid flow variables of the model; and based at least in part on one or more of the values for fluid flow variables of the model, outputting a control command to control at least one piece of equipment of the fluid production network. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the simulation comprises common time points wherein a number of time steps for one of the sub-models differs from a number of time steps for another one of the sub-models at one of the common time points. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 comprising a production model, a pipeline network model and a plurality of well models wherein the pipeline network model is a sub-model of the production model and wherein the plurality of well models are sub-models of the pipeline network model. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the synchronizing comprises performing the simulation of the plurality of sub-models at least in part in parallel. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the synchronizing simulation comprises adjusting at least one time step associated with one of the plurality of sub-models. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein at least two of the sub-models are mutually dependent. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the synchronizing simulation comprises transferring information from one of the sub-models to another one of the sub-models. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the synchronizing simulation utilizes minor time steps and major time steps. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the synchronizing simulation comprises time stamping information generated by sub-model simulation. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the synchronizing simulation comprises storing values for fluid flow variables for at least two times and interpolating the values with respect to time. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the input value of one of the time steps of the first one of the sub-models is determined via interpolation using output values of a plurality of time steps of the second one of the sub-models. ### Claim 12 A system comprising: an interface; a processor; memory accessible by the processor; and processor-executable instructions stored in the memory wherein the instructions comprise instructions to instruct the system to receive, via the interface, information from at least one sensor of a fluid production network for a model of the fluid production network wherein the model comprises a plurality of sub-models; synchronize simulation of the plurality of sub-models with respect to time wherein, during at least a portion of the simulation, a number of time steps for a first one of the sub-models differs from a number of time steps for a second one of the sub-models and an input value of one of the time steps of the first one of the sub-models is determined using at least one output value of at least one of the time steps of the second one of the sub-models; via the simulation, output values for fluid flow variables of the model; and based at least in part on one or more of the values for fluid flow variables of the model, output a control command to control at least one piece of equipment of the fluid production network. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12 wherein the processor-executable instructions comprise instructions to instruct the system to implement a scheduler. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12 wherein the input value of one of the time steps of the first one of the sub-models is determined via interpolation using output values of a plurality of time steps of the second one of the sub-models. ### Claim 15 One or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media comprising computer-executable instructions executable by a computer, the instructions comprising instructions to: receive information from at least one sensor of a fluid production network for a model of the fluid production network wherein the model comprises a plurality of sub-models; synchronize simulation of the plurality of sub-models with respect to time wherein, during at least a portion of the simulation, a number of time steps for a first one of the sub-models differs from a number of time steps for a second one of the sub-models and an input value of one of the time steps of the first one of the sub-models is determined using at least one output value of at least one of the time steps of the second one of the sub-models; via the simulation, output values for fluid flow variables of the model; and based at least in part on one or more of the values for fluid flow variables of the model, output a control command to control at least one piece of equipment of the fluid production network. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 15 wherein the fluid production network comprises a substantially vertical conduit and a substantially horizontal conduit and wherein a time step for simulation of fluid flow in the substantially vertical conduit is less than a time step for simulation of fluid flow in the substantially horizontal conduit. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 15 wherein the fluid production network comprises a multiphase fluid production network. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 15 wherein the values comprise values for fluid flow variables at a plurality of different times. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 15 wherein the input value of one of the time steps of the first one of the sub-models is determined via interpolation using output values of a plurality of time steps of the second one of the sub-models.