Multiphase Flow Feedback Control Using Gas Injection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems struggle to maintain stable multiphase fluid flow in production networks, leading to instability and inefficiencies in fluid transportation and processing.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that utilize sensor measurements to detect instability in multiphase fluid flow and adjust gas injection to stabilize the flow by increasing gas injection until a variation metric indicates stable flow, using processor-executable instructions and computer-readable media to implement this process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If gas injection is increased to stabilize multiphase fluid flow, then flow stability improves, but energy consumption and operational complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflow stabilityVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously monitors flow characteristics using sensors and automatically adjusts gas injection rates based on detected instability, creating a closed-loop control system that maintains flow stability while minimizing energy consumption through responsive rather than continuous high-level injection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The gas injection rate is dynamically adjusted in real-time based on changing flow conditions and instability detection, allowing the system to adapt injection levels to actual needs rather than maintaining constant high injection, thereby improving stability while managing energy use

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Stability of the object's composition

If gas injection is increased to stabilize multiphase fluid flow, then flow stability improves, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflow stabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control system uses sensor feedback to automatically detect flow instability and trigger appropriate gas injection responses, reducing the need for complex manual monitoring and intervention while maintaining flow stability through automated closed-loop control

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system monitors its own flow conditions and self-regulates gas injection to maintain stability, enabling autonomous operation that reduces operational complexity while ensuring continuous flow stabilization through real-time self-adjustment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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

Stabilizes multiphase fluid flow, enhancing the efficiency and stability of fluid transportation and processing in production systems.

Implementation Method 1

increasing gas injection into the multiphase fluid production system until a variation metric of the sensor measurements decreases to a level indicative of stable multiphase fluid flow

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGas lift: Gas Lift

Data Source

PatentUS12529452B2Multiphase flow instability control

Publication Date: 2026.01.20 SCHLUMBERGER TECH CORP

AI summary

A method can include detecting instability of multiphase fluid flow in a multiphase fluid production system using sensor measurements from the multiphase fluid production system; and, responsive to the detection of instability, increasing gas injection into the multiphase fluid production system until a variation metric of the sensor measurements decreases to a level indicative of stable multiphase fluid flow in the multiphase fluid production system.