Radial Sensor Assembly for Multiphase Flow Temperature Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Accurate measurement of flowline temperature is challenging due to multiphase flow conditions in wellbore drilling, affecting thermal modeling and influx event detection.
Innovation Solution
Radially positioned sensors, including temperature and thermal conductivity sensors, embedded in high thermal conductivity materials, measure each phase of multiphase fluids in the flowline, allowing for accurate determination of phase properties and improved thermal modeling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If temperature sensors are positioned on the flowline to measure flowline temperature, then thermal modeling accuracy is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates under multiphase flow conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The flowline temperature measurement is segmented into multiple phase-specific measurements. Temperature sensors measure the temperature of each phase (gas, liquid, solid) separately as they flow through the flowline. These individual phase temperature measurements are then combined through thermal modeling to determine the overall flowline temperature, resolving the measurement precision issue under multiphase conditions
Solution Approach 2:
A computational model acts as an intermediary between the temperature sensor measurements and the final flowline temperature determination. The model processes the phase-specific temperature measurements along with flow rate and composition data to calculate the weighted average flowline temperature, thereby improving measurement precision while maintaining reliability for thermal modeling
2Reliability
If temperature measurements are taken frequently for influx event detection, then detection capability is improved, but data processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A feedback mechanism continuously monitors phase temperature measurements and compares them against expected thermal profiles. When deviations exceed predetermined thresholds, the system triggers an influx event alert. This feedback loop enables reliable real-time detection without requiring complex processing of all measurement data, as only significant deviations are flagged for further analysis
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
Enhances thermal modeling and influx detection by providing precise temperature and pressure measurements of each phase, enabling better drilling optimization and downhole pressure management.
Implementation Method 1
one or more temperature sensors radially disposed on a flowline... each of the respective sensors configured to obtain a respective measurement of the fluid flowing through the flowline
Implementation Method 2
including temperature and thermal conductivity sensors, embedded in high thermal conductivity materials
Data Source
AI summary
A sensor assembly comprising one or more sensors configured to be radially positioned about a flowline, each of the respective sensors configured to obtain a respective measurement of a fluid flowing through the flowline at a respective position, wherein one or more phase properties of the fluid in the flowline are determined based on the measurements.