Experimental Study of a Complex Method for Measuring Mass Flow Rate of Gas-Liquid Media

About the authors:

Valeriy N. Mamonov, Cand. Sci. (Tech.), Research Associate, Kutateladze Institute of Thermophysics of the Siberian Branch of the RAS (Novosibirsk); mamonovvn@mail.ru

Anatoliy F. Serov, Dr. Sci. (Tech.), Professor, Senior Research Associate, Kutateladze Institute of Thermophysics of the Siberian Branch of the RAS (Novosibirsk); serov@itp.nsc.ru

Vitor I. Terekhov, Dr. Sci. (Tech.), Professor, Scientific Director of the Department, Kutateladze Institute of Thermophysics of the Siberian Branch of the RAS (Novosibirsk); terekhov@itp.nsc.ru

Abstract:

Currently, there is the problem of fast, reliable and inexpensive integrated method for separate measurement of flow (mass) component of the multiphase product derived from oil or gas-condensate wells.

Having considered a complex task, one may allocate a few more simple tasks, which allow to develop the required technique of separate measurement of the multiphase flow component of the product. This paper describes four such tasks:

— measuring the flow of oil or water-oil mixture (including non-Newtonian properties) in a wide range of changes in viscosity;

— measuring the effective viscosity of oil-water mixture moving through the pipeline;

— measuring the percentage mass or volume of water content in oil-water mixture;

— measuring the percentage mass or volume contents of the gas components in two-phase gas-liquid flow.

To solve the first three problems, the authors suggest a solution, which allows developing and producing working models and prototypes of instrumentation. They include an ultrasonic meter for the average flow speed of the fluid (which works with no errors related to the viscosity of the fluid); a meter for the viscosity of Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids (based on a narrowing device); and an in-line microwave moisture meter (which allows to measure the instantaneous concentration of water in multiphase mixtures of type oil–water–gas). The results of the calibration tests of the developed devices are present in the paper.

The authors propose basic approaches and experiments, which confirm the possibility of measuring the content of gas components in gas-liquid flow with a volumetric content of up to 10%.

The layout of the developed instruments were combined into one set — “Kvarta”, with a single software. The complex has a connecting diameter DN50 mm, designed to work with water-oil mixture at the well. It also allows to account the current values of volumetric and mass flow rate of the mixture oil-water and its components. The “Kvarta” complex was tested on a working oil well, which has confirmed its declared characteristics.

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