Systems and methods for detecting deposit accumulation within a multiphase flow meter

A method for detecting deposit accumulation within a multiphase flow meter, the method comprising:

• receiving, from a multivariable transmitter, a plurality of measurements indicative of pressure differential across a venturi channel during a first period of time;
• determining, based on the first plurality of measurements, a baseline value for a statistical characteristic associated with pressure differential across the venturi channel;
• receiving, from the multivariable transmitter, a new measurement indicative of a pressure differential across the venturi channel after the first period of time;
• determining, based in part on the new measurement, a new value for the statistical characteristic associated with pressure differential across the venturi channel;
• determining whether a difference between the baseline value and the new value exceeds a threshold;
• and
• in response to determining that the difference between the baseline value and the new value exceeds the threshold, generating an alert that indicates there is deposit accumulation within the multiphase flow meter.

A wellsite, comprising:

• an oil well adapted to produce a multiphase stream of fluid;
• a manifold coupled to the oil well, the manifold adapted to direct the multiphase stream of fluid to one or more components of the wellsite;
• and
• a multiphase flow meter coupled to the manifold, the multiphase flow meter comprising:
• a venturi channel through which the multiphase stream of fluid is enabled to flow;
• a multivariable transmitter adapted to measure a pressure differential across the venturi channel;
• and
• a controller coupled to the multivariable transmitter, the controller adapted to:
• receive, from the multivariable transmitter, a plurality of measurements indicative of pressure differential across the venturi channel during a first period of time;
• determine, based on the first plurality of measurements, a baseline value for a statistical characteristic associated with pressure differential across the venturi channel;
• receive, from the multivariable transmitter, a new measurement indicative of a pressure differential across the venturi channel after the first period of time;
• determine, based in part on the new measurement, a new value for the statistical characteristic associated with pressure differential across the venturi channel;
• determine whether a difference between the baseline value and the new value exceeds a threshold;
• and
• in response to determining that the difference between the baseline value and the new value exceeds the threshold, generate an alert that indicates there is deposit accumulation within the multiphase flow meter.