Multiphase vortex flow meter
AssigneeSchlumberger Technology Corporation
InventorsAndrew Parry, Yann Dufour
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A multiphase flowmeter for detection of fluid flow by monitoring of vortex frequency or perturbation time of flight. The flowmeter includes a bluff body to facilitate formation of vortices during a consistent phase of a flowing fluid. Thus, monitoring frequency of the vortices may be employed to ascertain flowrate. Further, the bluff body may also facilitate formation of perturbations during transitioning phase of the fluid and include perturbation sensors at multiple known locations along the flow-path. Thus, analysis of perturbation detection times at the different locations may be used to ascertain flowrate even in the absence of vortices.
Claims20
A method of detecting flowrate of a fluid in a well with a multiphase flowmeter, the method comprising:
- flowing a flow of fluid through a channel of the flowmeter, wherein a bluff body disposed therein forms shedded vortices during a period of consistent phase of the fluid;
- detecting a frequency of the vortices to ascertain flowrate of the fluid during the consistent phase period;
- forming a perturbation by introduction of the bluff body to the flow of fluid during a period of transitioning phase of the fluid;
- and
- detecting the perturbation at multiple locations in the channel separated by a known distance for calculating a flowrate for the flow of fluid during the transitioning phase based on a time difference between the detections of the perturbation.
A method of detecting flowrate in a fluid channel, the method comprising:
- introducing a bluff body to a flow of fluid in the channel to form one of a shedded vortex and a perturbation of the fluid;
- detecting the one of the vortex and the perturbation at a first location in the channel;
- detecting the one of the vortex and the perturbation at a second location in the channel downstream of the first location;
- and
- calculating a flowrate for the flow of fluid based on a time difference between the detections.
A multiphase flowmeter comprising:
- a housing to define a channel to accommodate a flow of fluid there-through;
- a bluff body secured within the channel to form one of a vortex and a perturbation during the flow of fluid through the channel;
- a first sensor for detection of the one of the vortex and the perturbation, the first sensor at a first location that is one of at the bluff body and downstream of the bluff body;
- and
- a second sensor for detection of the one of the vortex and the perturbation, the second sensor at a second location that is at a known distance downstream of the first sensor to provide time of flight information between the detections for ascertaining flowrate of the flow of fluid.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.