Method and apparatus for controlling fluctuations in multiphase flow production lines
AssigneeSchlumberger Technology Corporation
InventorsAbul K. M. Jamaluddin, Ifadat Ali Khan, Andrew John Carnegie
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus for controlling the effects of slug flow in a flow line installation from a subterranean well to a production facility are described using in the flow line a flow conditioning unit, such as a flow booster and a flow choke, and a measuring device for measuring one or more parameter determined to be the most significant installation design or flow parameters correlated with the slug volume, connected to a control unit receiving input from the measuring device and using a relationship between slug volume and the one or more most significant parameters to control the flow conditioning unit.
Claims12
A method of controlling the effects of slug flow in flow line installation from a subterranean well to a production facility, said method comprising the steps of
- determining one or more most significant installation design or flow parameters correlated with the slug volume;
- providing in said flow line a flow conditioning unit, a control unit and a measuring device for measuring said most significant installation design or flow parameters;
- and
- using a relationship between slug volume and said one or more most significant parameters to control said flow conditioning unit.
An apparatus for mitigating the effects of slug flow in a flow line installation from a subterranean well to a production facility, said apparatus comprising in said flow line a flow conditioning unit, a measuring device for measuring one or more parameter identified as being the most significant installation design or flow parameters correlated with the slug volume, and a control unit, wherein said control unit is programmed to implement a relation between slug volume and said one or more of parameters to control the operation of said flow conditioning unit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.