The development of a multiphase flow meter without separation based on sloped open channel dynamics

The online continuous measurement of multiphase flow is one of the most key technologies which influences the development of oil industry in future. A new type of multiphase meter system is developed based on the open channel flow. The test pipe of the meter is slightly slopped to make the flow pattern mainly stratified flow. Based on the study of oil and gas flow dynamics in the open channel test pipe, the liquid metering model and gas metering model are deduced to calculate the gas and the liquid flow rate, the water cut is measured online by the principle of differential pressure. This device can work online without the separation of the production fluid. By the lab test and field application test, the results of the metering system show that the liquid flow rate errors are within ±5%, the gas flow rate errors can be within ±5%, and the water cut absolute error is within ±2%, which can meet the demands of the field flow rate measurement.

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► A metering device based on the sloped open channel principle is developed for the high water cut production oil fields.
► The multiphase flow metering system combining three phase flows rate metering models are established.
► The precision of the metering equipment can meet the demands of the field single well flow rate measurement.