Coriolis Flowmeter Gas Detection for Wellhead Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current direct wellhead measurement technologies are costly, require significant maintenance, and fail to provide reliable, accurate, and frequent data on well performance, especially during intermittent slugging conditions, which hinders effective reservoir management decisions.
Innovation Solution
A Coriolis direct wellhead measurement device and method that uses a Coriolis flowmeter to determine drive gain thresholds, calculate entrained gas severity, and output flow variable measurements with confidence levels, enabling continuous and accurate monitoring of well performance with reduced maintenance and costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a permanent separator or multiphase flow meter is used at each wellhead, then measurement accuracy and reliability are improved, but device cost and maintenance requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the gas detection and measurement functionality from complex multiphase flow meters and permanent separators, implementing it instead through a Coriolis flow meter with gas detection capabilities. This extraction approach maintains measurement reliability for liquid flow while avoiding the complexity and cost of full multiphase measurement systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a Coriolis flow meter that can detect gas presence and characteristics as a simplified copy of the measurement functionality provided by expensive multiphase flow meters. Instead of implementing full multiphase measurement, it copies the essential capability of detecting gas in liquid flow, achieving reliable measurement at lower cost and complexity.
2Device complexity
If test separator methods are used to measure well performance, then device cost is reduced, but measurement frequency and timeliness deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous measurement capability using the Coriolis flow meter with gas detection, eliminating the intermittent nature of test separator methods. The system continuously monitors well performance parameters including liquid flow rate, water cut, and gas presence, providing timely data for operational decisions without the need for periodic testing.
3Device complexity
If traditional measurement methods are used during intermittent slugging conditions, then device simplicity is maintained, but measurement precision deteriorates due to gas interference
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback through gas detection capabilities that monitor the presence and characteristics of gas in the liquid flow. When gas is detected, the system can identify slugging conditions and adjust measurements accordingly, providing accurate flow rate and water cut data even during intermittent slugging where traditional methods would fail.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the measurement parameters by using drive gain as a diagnostic parameter to detect gas presence and characteristics. By monitoring drive gain variations, the system can identify when gas is present in the liquid flow and adjust its measurement and output behavior accordingly, maintaining precision during slugging conditions.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides more frequent and reliable data on well performance, including water cut and flow rate, allowing for better operational decisions and reducing the need for expensive and time-consuming testing methods.
Implementation Method 1
Coriolis flow metering based wellhead measurement method and device
Implementation Method 2
detecting drive gain, drive gain, void fraction, and pick-off amplitude to detect air bubbles or particles in a fluid
Data Source
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AI summary
Coriolis direct wellhead measurement devices and methods are provided. The devices and methods allow for continuous monitoring, more frequent data, and greater accuracy in quantitative and qualitative measurements of well performance. In an embodiment: an entrained gas severity of a wellhead is determined based on a determined drive gain threshold, at least one variable is output based on the determined entrained gas severity, and a respective confidence indicator correlating to the at least one variable is output. One mode of operation includes continually averaging the at least one variable over a predetermined time interval and outputting a respective single averaged data value. Another mode of operation includes outputting at least one instantaneous variable at predetermined and uniform time intervals. Diagnostic information and user alerts are also output to provide reliable decision making information to an operator.