Systems and methods for volume fraction analysis of production fluids utilizing a vertically oriented fluidic separation chamber comprising an optically transparent pipe

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11815229-B2
Application number	US-202117462834-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 31, 2021
Priority date	Aug 31, 2020
Publication date	Nov 14, 2023
Grant date	Nov 14, 2023

Abstract

System and methods for analyzing a multiphase production fluid include a fluidic supply and analysis unit configured to transition the fluidic separation chamber to a static state after a complete gaseous phase column and a complete oil phase column are formed within the fluidic separation chamber; communicate with the fluidic separation detector to measure the absolute or relative sizes of the complete gaseous phase column and the complete oil phase column; and calculate an oil/gas volume fraction as a function of the measured sizes of the gaseous phase and oil phase columns in the fluidic separation chamber.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for analyzing a multiphase production fluid, the system comprising fluidic piping, a production fluid supply valve configured to supply multiphase production fluid, an inert gas supply valve configured to supply an inert gas, the inert gas being separate from and comprising a lower density than a gaseous phase of the multiphase production fluid, a vertically orientated fluidic separation chamber comprising an optically transparent pipe, an inert gas exhaust valve, a separation chamber pressure sensor, a fluidic separation detector comprising a vision system, and a fluidic supply and analysis unit, in which:
the fluidic piping is configured to supply multiphase production fluid from the production fluid supply valve and the inert gas from the inert gas supply valve to the vertically oriented fluidic separation chamber;
the inert gas exhaust valve is configured to exhaust inert gas from the vertically oriented fluidic separation chamber;
the separation chamber pressure sensor is configured to provide an indication of gas pressure in the vertically oriented fluidic separation chamber; and
the fluidic supply and analysis unit is in communication with the production fluid supply valve, the inert gas supply valve, the inert gas exhaust valve, the separation chamber pressure sensor, and the fluidic separation detector, and is configured to
supply the inert gas to the vertically oriented fluidic separation chamber,
communicate with the production fluid supply valve to supply the multiphase production fluid to the vertically oriented fluidic separation chamber after supplying the inert gas,
communicate with the separation chamber pressure sensor to stabilize the gas pressure within the vertically oriented fluidic separation chamber by exhausting the inert gas through the inert gas exhaust valve as the multiphase production fluid is supplied,
communicate with the fluidic separation detector to monitor a growth rate Q C of a gaseous phase column of the multiphase production fluid in the vertically oriented fluidic separation chamber through the fluidic separation detector,
convert the growth rate Q C of the gaseous phase column to a production fluid gas flow rate Q G ,
transition the vertically oriented fluidic separation chamber to a static state after a completely separated gaseous phase column and a completely separated oil phase column are formed within the vertically oriented fluidic separation chamber,
communicate with the fluidic separation detector to measure the absolute or relative sizes of the completely separated gaseous phase column and the completely separated oil phase column through the fluidic separation detector, and
calculate an oil/gas volume fraction V O /V G as a function of the measured sizes of the gaseous phase and oil phase columns in the vertically oriented fluidic separation chamber.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the fluidic supply and analysis unit is configured to calculate the oil/gas volume fraction after a growth rate of the gaseous phase column, the oil phase column, or both, drops below a growth rate threshold.

3. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the fluidic supply and analysis unit is configured to calculate the oil/gas volume fraction after a threshold separation time has elapsed.

4. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the fluidic supply and analysis unit is configured to calculate the oil/gas volume fraction after the oil phase column and the gaseous phase column have reached between about 50% and about 80% of their fully separated sizes.

5. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the oil/gas volume fraction represents absolute or proportional volumes of oil and gas in the vertically oriented fluidic separation chamber.

6. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the oil/gas volume fraction represents respective oil and gas volumes relative to each other, or relative to a total volume of the multiphase production fluid in the vertically oriented fluidic separation chamber.

7. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the fluidic supply and analysis unit is further configured to calculate a production fluid oil flow rate Q O as a function of at least the production fluid gas flow rate Q G and the volume fraction V O /V G .

8. The system as claimed in claim 7 wherein the production fluid oil flow rate Q O is calculated as follows:
Q O = Q G ( V O / V G )

9. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the fluidic supply and analysis unit is further configured to transition the vertically oriented fluidic separation chamber to a static state by stopping the supply of the multiphase production fluid via the production fluid supply valve.

10. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein:
the system further comprises a baseline liquid supply valve configured to supply a baseline liquid comprising water;
the fluidic piping is configured to supply the baseline liquid from the baseline liquid supply valve to the vertically oriented fluidic separation chamber;
the fluidic supply and analysis unit is additionally in communication with the baseline liquid supply valve and is further configured to transition the vertically oriented fluidic separation chamber to the static state by replacing the supply of the multiphase production fluid with the baseline liquid and subsequently stopping the supply of the baseline liquid.

11. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the fluidic supply and analysis unit is further configured to:
transition the vertically oriented fluidic separation chamber to the static state after the completely separated gaseous phase column, the completely separated oil phase column, and a completely separated water phase column are formed within the vertically oriented fluidic separation chamber;
communicate with the fluidic separation detector to measure the absolute or relative sizes of the completely separated gaseous phase column, the completely separated oil phase column, and the completely separated water phase column; and
calculate an oil/gas/water volume fraction V O /V G /V H2O as a function of the measured sizes of the gaseous phase, oil phase, and water phase columns in the vertically oriented fluidic separation chamber.

12. The system as claimed in claim 11 wherein the fluidic supply and analysis unit is configured to calculate a production fluid oil flow rate Q O and a production fluid water flow rate Q H2O as a function of at least the production fluid gas flow rate Q G and the volume fraction V O /V G /V H2O .

13. The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein:
the growth rate Q C comprises a change in height Δh of the gaseous phase column over a time Δt; and
converting the growth rate Q C of the gaseous phase column to a production fluid gas flow rate Q G further comprises
converting the change in height Δh to a change in gaseous volume ΔH by multiplying Δh by a cross-sectional area of the vertically oriented fluidic separation chamber, and
converting Q C to Q G utilising equation Q G =Q C −Q S , wherein Q S is a predetermined value expressing the volumetric growth of the gaseous phase column resulting from gravitational forces in the vertically oriented fluidic separation chamber.

14. The system as claim in claim 1 , wherein the vision system defines a field of view that encompasses the optically transparent portion of the vertically oriented fluidic separation chamber.

15. A method for analyzing a multiphase production fluid in a system comprising a production fluid supply valve that is configured to supply multiphase production fluid, an inert gas supply valve

Assignees

• Saudi Arabian Oil Co

Inventors

• Alvarez Jose Oliverio

Classifications

• F17D3/18 Primary

  for measuring the quantity of conveyed product (measuring volume or volume flow, in general G01F) · CPC title

• F17D3/05

  the different products not being separated (separation of contaminants by distillation B01D3/00) · CPC title

• F17D5/00

  Protection or supervision of installations (arrangements for protecting foundations E02D31/00; protecting pipes from damage or internal or external wear F16L57/00, against corrosion and scale F16L58/00; investigation of the fluid-tightness of structures G01M3/00) · CPC title

• G01N33/2841

  Gas in oils, e.g. hydrogen in insulating oils · CPC title

• G01F15/08 Primary

  Air or gas separators in combination with liquid meters; Liquid separators in combination with gas-meters · CPC title