This paper presents a performance evaluation of multiphase flow models when using these models on Virtual Flow Meters (VFM). Recently, VFM simulators have been identified as a technology capable of provide metering backup, monitoring for abnormalities of physical multiphase flow meters and also for production well allocation. Nevertheless, there are just a few studies found in the literature analysing the accuracy of different VFM models applied to multiphase flow metering. In the oil and gas industry it is essential to accurately measure the amount of oil, gas and water being produced by individual wells. Prior to the 1980s, single-phase measurements alone were sufficient to meet the industry standards. However, with the advent of deepwater exploration and production, multiple wells comingling to a single production separator is a common practice in petroleum production for offshore systems. Therefore, the use of multiphase flow meters to account for the production of oil, gas and water from individual wells became evident. This investigation uses field data for more than one well to evaluate the performance VFM simulators. The results obtained from this study shows that VFM models can provide accurate predictions for multiphase flow metering. The simulators evaluated in this study could predict flow rates of oil, gas and water within acceptable levels of uncertainty, with an average absolute error of 20%.

A wet gas flowmeter based on field-proven flowmeters and flow computers has been developed. The flowmeter is engineered by integrating the well-established SmartCone meter, a Pitot tube meter and filed mounted Flow Computer technologies in one wet gas metering solution. This combination exploits the characteristics of these two flow metering elements in wet gas flowrate measurement; The Cone measurement in wet gas is characterized by its relatively large gas measurement over-read with increasing liquid-loading, whereas this has a significantly lower impact on the gas flowrate measured by the Pitot tube. The DynaCone wet gas flowmeter has been in development over the past several years with particular emphasis being placed on developing a flexible flowmeter for broad operating conditions and applications including high turndown ratio, minimal pressure loss, measurement quality diagnostic, and performance characterization in industry-recognized wet gas flow loop. The wet gas performance has been demonstrated at CEESI wet gas flow loop yielding gas flowrates better than ±3% in Type I wet gas range, and better than ±5% in Type II without the input of liquid flowrate to correct for over-reading. Furthermore, uncertainties better than 2% and 3% for Type I & II respectively can be achieved if periodic liquid flowrate information is available for input.