Well Production Metering via Flow Separator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for determining individual well contributions to a cluster's production are inaccurate and inefficient, especially without a dedicated well test facility, leading to production deferment and high costs due to the complexity and expense of multiphase well effluent meters and well testing facilities.
Innovation Solution
A method using flow meters and well monitoring equipment to measure and model production variations, allowing for real-time estimation of individual well contributions by varying production during tests and iteratively adjusting models to match measured flow patterns, enabling continuous monitoring without interrupting other wells.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiphase well effluent meters are installed on individual well flowlines to measure oil, water and gas components continuously, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a flow separator as an intermediary device that divides the multiphase stream into separate single-phase streams (oil, water, gas) before metering. This allows the use of simpler, more reliable single-phase meters instead of complex multiphase meters, resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the multiphase flow measurement problem into separate single-phase measurements by using a flow separator to divide the mixed stream. Each phase is then measured independently using appropriate meters, avoiding the need for a single complex multiphase meter while achieving accurate individual well production measurement
2Measurement precision
If well testing facilities are made available for direct measurement of individual well production, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the flow separator and metering system to serve all wells in the cluster simultaneously without requiring dedicated well testing facilities. The system uses the existing production infrastructure and allows continuous measurement of individual well contributions through the commingled stream, eliminating the need for expensive, complex well testing facilities
Solution Approach 2:
The flow separator and metering system is designed to handle commingled production from multiple wells simultaneously, providing universal measurement capability for the entire well cluster rather than requiring individual well testing facilities. This multi-functional approach reduces overall system complexity and cost while maintaining measurement precision
3Measurement precision
If individual wells are produced individually in turn for testing, then measurement precision is improved, but productivity decreases due to production deferment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables continuous measurement of individual well production contributions while all wells remain in production simultaneously. The flow separator and metering system continuously monitors the commingled stream, eliminating the need to shut in wells for testing and maintaining continuous productive action across the entire cluster
4Adaptability or versatility
If well effluent composition changes are monitored in real time, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where composition changes detected by the flow separator and meters are used to dynamically adjust allocation calculations. The system continuously monitors flow rates and composition variations, providing real-time feedback that enables adaptive response to changing well effluent characteristics without requiring overly complex monitoring equipment
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a method that allows the determination of the contribution of a well to the production of a cluster of wells, of which the produced streams of well effluents are commingled and routed via a separation assembly in at least nominally separated streams of crude oil, natural gas and water, based on production measurements made on the nominally separated streams of crude oil, natural gas and water downstream of the separation assembly (production and/or bulk separator), and in the absence of a dedicated well test facility for the direct measurement of the production from a tested well.