Multiphase Fluid Characterization via Dual-Method Validation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for determining the water content in crude petroleum oil, such as Coriolis meters and microwave analyzers, face uncertainties due to variations in hydrocarbon composition, salinity, and phase behavior, leading to inaccuracies in water cut measurements, especially in multiphase fluid mixtures.

Innovation Solution

A multiphase fluid characterization system that combines densitometry and electrical characterization using a coaxial transmission line with a low dielectric loss tangent sheath, allowing for accurate measurement of water content by correcting for variable densities and phase states, and validating results through dual-method validation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of time

If Coriolis meters or microwave analyzers are used to measure water content in crude petroleum oil, then real-time measurement capability is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to uncertainties from hydrocarbon composition variations, salinity, and phase behavior

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveanalysis timeVSAvoidwater content measurement accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines two different measurement methods (density measurement via Coriolis meter and electrical property measurement via microwave analyzer) into a single integrated system. By merging these complementary techniques, the system achieves both real-time measurement capability and improved accuracy through cross-validation, resolving the contradiction between speed and precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback by using the density measurement results to correct and validate the microwave analyzer readings, and vice versa. This mutual feedback mechanism allows the system to compensate for individual method limitations and uncertainties, maintaining high measurement precision while operating in real-time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Measurement precision

If offline sampling and laboratory analysis methods (distillation, titration) are used, then measurement precision is improved, but productivity deteriorates due to long analysis times and inability to provide real-time data

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewater content measurement accuracyVSAvoidanalysis throughput

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical/chemical laboratory processes (distillation, centrifugation, titration) with electromagnetic field-based measurement methods (microwave analysis and density measurement). This substitution enables real-time, in-line measurement without the time-consuming physical separation and chemical analysis steps, thereby improving productivity while maintaining precision through validated measurement algorithms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Reliability

If composite samplers are used to collect representative samples, then measurement reliability is improved, but loss of time increases due to sampling duration and transport to laboratory

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesample representativenessVSAvoidsampling and analysis time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the measurement function from the sampling process entirely. Instead of collecting physical samples that require transport and processing, the system performs direct in-line measurements on the flowing crude oil stream. This extraction eliminates the time loss associated with sampling operations while maintaining measurement reliability through continuous monitoring and validation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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

This system provides more accurate and reliable water content measurements, reducing errors and uncertainties, enabling real-time decision-making and automatic flow diversion without the need for offline sampling, thus improving operational efficiency and safety.

Implementation Method 1

a coaxial transmission line with a low dielectric loss tangent sheath

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDielectric loss tangent: Dielectric Permittivity

Implementation Method 2

a densitometer which measures the density of an oily and aqueous multiphase fluid flow stream

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDensity measurement:

Implementation Method 3

As crude petroleum oil is held over time, gravitationally-induced separation of water-continuous and oil-continuous phases can occur

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravitationally-induced separation: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentUS7523647B2Multiphase fluid characterization

Publication Date: 2009.04.28 PHASE DYNAMICS INC

AI summary

Methods for determining and validating a first phase fraction of a gravitationally-separated multiphase fluid by conducting physical and electrical property measurements on samples of the fluid. The water content of crude petroleum oil is determined after the oil and water have begun to separate into phase layers such as occurs during un-agitated holding of the crude petroleum oil. A series of measurements of electrical properties such as permittivity and physical properties such as density is collected. The density minima can be used to generate hindsight determinations of average properties, such as the dry oil phase density, which in turn can be used to increase the accuracy of the water percentage in the oil determined by the permittivity and density methods. Flow weighted averages of water percentages by each method can be used to determine and validate the water content of the crude petroleum oil.