Offshore Flow Meter Rig Motion Compensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing flow meter technologies for offshore drilling rigs are inaccurate and costly, failing to effectively compensate for rig motion and provide precise fluid flow measurements due to their design requirements and environmental challenges.
Innovation Solution
The use of multiple sensors positioned at different angles to detect fluid flow data, combined with advanced data processing techniques such as pattern recognition, cross-correlation, and machine learning, to calculate fluid flow rates while accounting for rig motion, including heave, pitch, and roll, using equations for mass and momentum balance to improve measurement accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional flow meters are used in offshore drilling rigs, then fluid flow measurement is provided, but measurement precision deteriorates due to rig motion (heave, pitch, roll) and environmental challenges
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical flow meters with a computational approach using sensors (accelerometers, pressure sensors, flow sensors) combined with data processing algorithms. The system uses machine learning models and cross-correlation techniques to calculate fluid flow rates while compensating for rig motion effects, substituting mechanical measurement with an integrated sensor-computation system that can adapt to dynamic offshore conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts measurement parameters by collecting data from multiple sensors positioned at different locations and orientations. The computational model processes varying parameters including sensor readings, rig motion data, and environmental conditions to compensate for motion effects and maintain accurate flow measurements despite changing operational conditions
2Measurement precision
If traditional flow meters are installed in offshore drilling rigs, then fluid flow measurement is achieved, but device complexity and cost increase due to modification requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system integrates multiple sensor types (accelerometers, pressure sensors, flow sensors) into a unified measurement platform that serves multiple functions: measuring fluid flow rate, monitoring rig motion, and compensating for environmental effects. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for specialized flow meter installations and modifications to existing flow lines, as the system can operate with sensors positioned at various locations throughout the rig
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces computational algorithms and data processing systems as intermediaries between the physical sensors and the final flow measurement output. The computational model acts as a mediator that processes raw sensor data, compensates for motion effects, and produces accurate flow rate calculations, thereby eliminating the need for complex mechanical flow meter installations and flow line modifications
Data Source
AI summary
A system is disclosed for measuring fluid flow. The system may include a plurality of sensors and a computing device. The plurality of sensors may be positionable at different angles in a container of an offshore drilling rig to sense data about drilling fluid flow in the container. The computing device may be communicatively couplable to the plurality of sensors for receiving the data about the drilling fluid flow in the container and using the data to determine a calculated fluid flow rate compensating for movement of the offshore drilling rig.