# US 12,760,848 B2 · Integrated maintenance system for multiphase metering system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,760,848 B2 - Document ID: US12760848B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/332,506 - Filed: 2023-06-09 - Published: 2024-12-12 - Granted: 2026-10-13 - Earliest claimed: 2023-06-09 - Assignees: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.; Cactus Measurement, LLC - Applicants: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.; Cactus Measurement, LLC - Inventors: Yuanbo Lin; Shuai Tan - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12760848B2 ## CPC - F17D 3/01: for controlling, signalling, or supervising the conveyance of a product - F17D 3/18: for measuring the quantity of conveyed product (measuring volume or volume flow, in general G01F) - F17D: PIPE-LINE SYSTEMS; PIPE-LINES (pumps or compressors F04; fluid dynamics F15D; valves or the like F16K; pipes, laying pipes, supports, joints, branches, repairing, work on the entire line, accessories F16L; steam traps or the like F16T; fluid-pressure electric cables H01B9/06) ## Abstract A method for maintaining a multiphase metering system (MPMS) may include obtaining a plurality of values associated with a plurality of measurements of a parameter made by a sensor device, wherein the parameter is associated with operation of the MPMS; identifying, based on the plurality of values, an issue with the MPMS; determining a process to resolve the issue with the MPMS; and implementing the process to resolve the issue with the MPMS using a fluid management apparatus coupled to the MPMS. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for maintaining a multiphase metering system (MPMS), the method comprising: obtaining, in real time, a plurality of values associated with a plurality of measurements of a parameter made by a sensor device, wherein the parameter is associated with operation of the MPMS; identifying, in real time and based on the plurality of values, an issue with functionality of the MPMS during the operation of the MPMS, wherein the issue is associated with an obstruction within the MPMS; determining, in real time, a process to resolve the issue with the functionality of the MPMS during the operation of the MPMS; and implementing, in real time and using an implementation module, the process to resolve the issue with the functionality of the MPMS using a fluid management apparatus to facilitate movement of a fluid from the fluid management apparatus through a maintenance system manifold to the MPMS to clear the obstruction within the MPMS, wherein the maintenance system manifold is coupled to an external interface of the MPMS, and wherein the fluid management apparatus is coupled to the maintenance system manifold. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: obtaining a plurality of additional values associated with a plurality of additional measurements of the parameter made by the sensor device; determining, based on the plurality of additional values, that the issue with the functionality of the MPMS continues to exist; determining an alternative process to resolve the issue with the functionality of the MPMS; and implementing the alternative process to resolve the issue with the functionality of the MPMS using the fluid management apparatus coupled to the MPMS. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, further comprising: determining that the issue with the functionality of the MPMS remains unresolved after implementing the alternative process; and sending a notification that identifies the issue with the functionality of the MPMS and that the issue is not being resolved using the fluid management apparatus, wherein the notification is sent after a number of unsuccessful attempts to resolve the issue with the functionality of the MPMS using the fluid management apparatus exceeds a threshold count value. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the parameter comprises at least one of a group consisting of a pressure, a temperature, a flow rate, time, and a differential pressure. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the issue involves at least one of a group consisting of a line in the MPMS, a nozzle of the MPMS, a channel in the MPMS, and a taphole of the MPMS. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the process to resolve the issue with the functionality of the MPMS is implemented without interrupting production operations. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein implementing the process further comprises facilitating movement of a return fluid from the MPMS through the maintenance system manifold to the fluid management apparatus. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein determining the process to resolve the issue with the functionality of the MPMS comprises: identifying a prior process used to solve a prior issue with the functionality of the MPMS; evaluating the prior process; and determining, based on evaluating the prior process, that the prior process is repeated as the process to resolve the issue with the functionality of the MPMS. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein determining the process to resolve the issue with the functionality of the MPMS comprises: identifying a prior process used to solve a prior issue with the functionality of the MPMS; evaluating the prior process; determining, based on evaluating the prior process, that the prior method is ineffective; and modifying the prior process to establish the process to resolve the issue with the functionality of the MPMS. ### Claim 10 A system for managing a multiphase metering system (MPMS), the system comprising: a maintenance system manifold comprising a MPMS interface; a fluid management apparatus configured to provide a fluid; and a maintenance system controller configured to: obtain, in real time, a plurality of values associated with a plurality of measurements of a parameter made by a sensor device, wherein the parameter is associated with operation of the MPMS; identify, in real time and based on the plurality of values, an issue with functionality of the MPMS, wherein the issue is associated with an obstruction within the MPMS; determine, in real time, a method to resolve the issue with the functionality of the MPMS; and implement, in real time, the method to resolve the issue with the functionality of the MPMS using the fluid management apparatus to facilitate movement of the fluid from the fluid management apparatus through the maintenance system manifold to the MPMS to clear the obstruction within the MPMS, wherein the MPMS interface of the maintenance system manifold is coupled to an external interface of the MPMS, and wherein the fluid management apparatus is coupled to the maintenance system manifold. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the fluid management apparatus comprises a fluid source and a fluid injection system to deliver the fluid to the maintenance system manifold, and wherein the fluid injection system is communicably coupled to the maintenance system controller. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the fluid management apparatus further comprises an additional fluid source and an additional fluid injection system to deliver an additional fluid to the maintenance system manifold, and wherein the additional fluid injection system is communicably coupled to the maintenance system controller. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the fluid management apparatus further comprises a fluid mixing apparatus that is configured to mix the fluid and the additional fluid to generate a mixed fluid, wherein the mixed fluid is delivered to the maintenance system manifold. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the fluid source is configured to be refillable with an additional amount of the fluid. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the fluid management apparatus further comprises a second sensor device for measuring a second parameter associated with the fluid, and wherein measurements made by the second sensor device are used by the maintenance system controller to implement the method to resolve the issue with the functionality of the MPMS. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the fluid management apparatus comprises a collection vessel and a waste fluid conveyance system to deliver a waste fluid from the MPMS, via the maintenance system manifold, to the collection vessel, and wherein the waste fluid conveyance system is communicably coupled to the maintenance system controller. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the MPMS interface is further configured to deliver a fluid to and receive a waste fluid from the MPMS. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, wherein the maintenance system manifold is further configured to receive the fluid from and deliver the waste fluid to the fluid management apparatus. ### Claim 19 An integrated multiphase metering and maintenance system, the system comprising: a multiphase metering system (MPMS) configured to measure single-phase or multiple-phase flow, wherein the MPMS comprises: a sensor device; and an external interface; and a maintenance system coupled to the MPMS, wherein the maintenance system comprises: a maintenance system manifold comprising a MPMS interface coupled to the external interface of the MPMS; a fluid management apparatus configured to provide a fluid, wherein the fluid management apparatus is coupled to the maintenance system manifold; and a maintenance system controller configured to: obtain, in real time, a plurality of values associated with a plurality of measurements of a parameter made by the sensor device of the MPMS, wherein the parameter is associated with operation of the MPMS, wherein the issue is associated with an obstruction within the MPMS; identify, in real time and based on the plurality of values, an issue with functionality of the MPMS; determine, in real time, a method to resolve the issue with the functionality of the MPMS; and implement, in real time and using an implementation module, the method to resolve the issue with the functionality of the MPMS using the fluid management apparatus to facilitate movement of the fluid from the fluid management apparatus through the maintenance system manifold to the MPMS to clear the obstruction within the MPMS. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: obtaining, in real time, a second plurality of values associated with a second plurality of measurements of the parameter made by a second sensor device, wherein the parameter is associated with operation of a second MPMS; identifying, in real time and based on the second plurality of values, a second issue with functionality of the second MPMS during the operation of the second MPMS, wherein the second issue is associated with a second obstruction within the second MPMS; determining, in real time, a second process to resolve the second issue with the functionality of the second MPMS during the operation of the second MPMS; and implementing, in real time, the second process to resolve the second issue with the functionality of the second MPMS using the fluid management apparatus to facilitate movement of a second fluid, using the implementation module, from the fluid management apparatus through a second maintenance system manifold to the second MPMS to clear the second obstruction within the second MPMS, wherein the second maintenance system manifold is coupled to a second external interface of the second MPMS, and wherein the fluid management apparatus is coupled to the second maintenance system manifold.