Smarter slug flow conditioning and control
AssigneeWeatherford Technology Holdings, LLC
InventorsRajan N. Chokshi, Luis E. Gonzales, William C. Lane, David A. Joy
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to attenuating the effects of slugging based on one or more measurements of parameters from one or more locations in one or more wells. In some cases, a controller may be configured to attenuate the effects of slugging based on the one or more parameters, for example, by controlling a choke or an artificial lift. In certain aspects, the one or more locations may include downhole or at the surface of the one or more wells.
Claims32
A method for managing slugs in a fluid flow produced from at least one wellbore, comprising:
- sensing downhole at least one first parameter of the fluid flow in the wellbore;
- sensing at least one second parameter of the fluid flow, wherein the at least one first parameter is sensed upstream from a configurable choke located above a surface of the wellbore and wherein the at least one second parameter is sensed downstream from the configurable choke, upstream and downstream being relative to a direction of the fluid flow;
- and
- taking one or more actions by a controller to manage the fluid flow based on the at least one first parameter and the at least the second parameter indicating a presence of a slug of gas or a slug of liquid in the fluid flow.
An apparatus for managing slugs in a fluid flow produced from at least one wellbore, comprising:
- a processing system configured to:
- sense downhole at least one first parameter of the fluid flow in the wellbore;
- sense at least one second parameter of the fluid flow, wherein the at least one first parameter is sensed upstream from a configurable choke located above a surface of the wellbore and wherein the at least one second parameter is sensed downstream from the configurable choke, upstream and downstream being relative to a direction of the fluid flow;
- and
- take one or more actions to manage the fluid flow, based on the at least one first parameter and the at least one second parameter indicating a presence of a slug of gas or a slug of liquid in the fluid flow.
A computer-readable medium comprising instructions for managing slugs in a fluid flow produced from at least one wellbore, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause an apparatus to:
- sense downhole at least one first parameter of the fluid flow in the wellbore;
- sense at least one second parameter of the fluid flow, wherein the at least one first parameter is sensed upstream from a configurable choke located above a surface of the wellbore and wherein the at least one second parameter is sensed downstream from the configurable choke, upstream and downstream being relative to a direction of the fluid flow;
- and
- take one or more actions to manage the fluid flow, based on the at least one first parameter and the at least one second parameter indicating a presence of a slug of gas or a slug of liquid in the fluid flow.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.