Multiphase Flow Analysis Using Piezoelectric Leaf-Cell Sensor Array

Abstract

The composition of the multiphase flow rates from hydrocarbon reservoirs has direct impact on the programs to optimize hydrocarbon production and for identification of problems with production. However, accurate measurement of the flow rates of oil, brine, and gas in three-phase regimes remains an intractable problem for current state-of-the-art sensor technologies. Here we describe a piezoelectric acoustic leaf-cell sensor array providing an in situ real-time measurement of the distribution in three-phase flow fluid density over the wellbore cross-section. The sensor array measurements are evaluated from experimental three-phase flow loop test data under a range of flow regimes comprised of 0%-95% GVF and water/liquid volume ratio between 0-100%. The experimental data includes 3-phase flow transitions well into the nonlinear gas-subsonic velocity region predicted by the Wood equation and show an average absolute error in 3-phase fluid density prediction less than 0.05 g/cc over the entire test regimen.