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US 12,326,353 B2Granted
Measuring flow rates of multiphase fluids
AssigneeSaudi Arabian Oil Company
InventorVijay Ramakrishnan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A multiphase fluid is flowed from a flow pipe to a U-bend. Several differential pressures of the multiphase fluid flowing through the flow pipe and U-bend are measured. A total flow rate of the multiphase fluid is determined at least based on the measured differential pressures. In some cases, flow rates of each of the phases of the multiphase fluid can be determined at least based on the measured differential pressures.
Claims19
A system comprising:
- a U-bend configured to flow a multiphase fluid, the U-bend comprising:
- a first conduit;
- a second conduit, wherein a cross-sectional flow area of the first conduit is substantially the same as a cross-sectional flow area of the second conduit;
- and
- a connecting conduit connecting the first conduit to the second conduit;
- a third conduit configured to flow the multiphase fluid, the third conduit having a cross-sectional flow area that is different from the cross-sectional flow area of the first conduit;
- a first bend connecting the third conduit to the first conduit;
- a fourth conduit configured to flow the multiphase fluid, the fourth conduit parallel to and in-line with the third conduit, the fourth conduit having a cross-sectional flow area that is substantially the same as the cross-sectional flow area of the third conduit;
- a second bend connecting the fourth conduit to the second conduit;
- a first differential pressure sensor coupled to the third conduit and to the first conduit, wherein the first differential pressure sensor is configured to measure a first differential pressure of the multiphase fluid across the first bend;
- a second differential pressure sensor coupled to the second conduit and to the fourth conduit, wherein the second differential pressure sensor is configured to measure a second differential pressure of the multiphase fluid across the second bend;
- and
- a computer, comprising:
- a processor communicatively coupled to the first differential pressure sensor and to the second differential pressure sensor;
- and
- a computer-readable storage medium coupled to the processor and storing programming instructions for execution by the processor, the programming instructions instructing the processor to perform operations comprising:
- receiving a first differential pressure signal from the first differential pressure sensor, the first differential pressure signal representing the first differential pressure of the multiphase fluid;
- receiving a second differential pressure signal from the second differential pressure sensor, the second differential pressure signal representing the second differential pressure of the multiphase fluid;
- receiving, as input, a mixture density of the multiphase fluid;
- and
- determining a total flow rate of the multiphase fluid at least based on the first differential pressure, the second differential pressure, and the mixture density of the multiphase fluid.
18 more elements
A method comprising:
- flowing a multiphase fluid from a flow pipe to a U-bend, wherein the multiphase fluid comprises a gas phase, an aqueous phase, and an oil phase, and the U-bend comprises:
- a first conduit;
- a second conduit;
- and
- a connecting conduit connecting the first conduit to the second conduit, wherein the multiphase fluid flowing through the U-bend flows into the first conduit, through the connecting conduit, and out of the second conduit;
- flowing the multiphase fluid from the U-bend to the flow pipe, wherein:
- the flow pipe comprises a third conduit and a fourth conduit;
- the third conduit of the flow pipe is connected to the first conduit of the U-bend by a first bend;
- the fourth conduit of the flow pipe is connected to the second conduit of the U-bend by a second bend;
- flowing the multiphase fluid from the flow pipe to the U-bend comprises flowing the multiphase fluid from the third conduit of the flow pipe through the first bend to the first conduit of the U-bend;
- and
- flowing the multiphase fluid from the U-bend to the flow pipe comprises flowing the multiphase fluid from the second conduit of the U-bend through the second bend to the fourth conduit of the flow pipe;
- measuring a first differential pressure of the multiphase fluid between a first location on the third conduit of the flow pipe and a second location on the first conduit of the U-bend, wherein the first location and the second location are separated by a specified height along the first conduit of the U-bend;
- measuring a second differential pressure of the multiphase fluid between a third location on the second conduit of the U-bend and a fourth location on the fourth conduit of the flow pipe, wherein the third location and the fourth location are separated by the specified height along the second conduit of the U-bend;
- and
- determining a total flow rate of the multiphase fluid at least based on the first differential pressure, the second differential pressure, and a mixture density of the multiphase fluid.
13 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.