Petrozuata - An Application of Multiphase Metering Technology

Bortolin, Luigi; Mehdizadeh, Parviz; Stobie, Gordon

doi:10.2118/89870-ms

Cited by 9 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…This multiphase meter can measure oil, water and gas in production streams with gas volume fraction of less than 25%. These low gas volume fraction streams can be found at well heads in mature fields as noted in Table 1, the liquid legs of inefficient or under-sized separators (7), and in heavy oil fields (8). …”

Section: Multiphase Metering Techniquesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Multiphase Meter Production Well Testing Applied to Low-GOR Mature Fields

Mehdizadeh¹,

Farchy²,

Suarez³

2009

SPE Production and Operations Symposium

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In many mature fields production well testing is limited by the availability of test separator. Prior industry attempts to utilize the new technology of multiphase metering to fill this gap has been hampered by the cost of multiphase meters. This paper describes the development and field tests of a low cost portable multiphase meter. The meter utilizes the Coriolis flow meter technology combined with a microwave based water cut meter that can measure WC in the 0-100% range. The combination of these techniques provides a light weight metering package that can be mounted on trailer for portable well testing. This multiphase meter can measure oil, water and gas without separation of the production stream at low GOR. These applications can be found in mature fields with low GOR and in heavy oil fields.The multiphase meter was subjected to field qualification tests prior to deployment in a West Texas field. The paper describes the results from the qualification tests and the performance history during the 18 months of deployment in the field. Well test data from the multiphase meter is compared to conventional test separator and grab samples. Comparison between the test separator and the multiphase meter shows average liquid flow deviation of about ±7%. The water cut was measured within 1-2 points of the water cut from the test separator.

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Section: Multiphase Metering Techniquesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Multiphase Meter Production Well Testing Applied to Low-GOR Mature Fields

Mehdizadeh¹,

Farchy²,

Suarez³

2009

SPE Production and Operations Symposium

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“…For the majority of wells, accuracies of ±1% FS ± 3% R were obtained. Field testing, New Mexico [Mehdizadeh et al 2009]: More than five low-GVF (< 30%) wells underwent qualification testing, indexed against a three-phase separator with single-phase meters on the outlet. Liquid rates of the MPFM were found to be within ±7% of reference measurements, while water-cut values were within ±1%.…”

Section: Mpfm-50 -300 and -400 Seriesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Challenges of Multiphase Flow Metering in Heavy Oil Applications

Viana

Mehdizadeh²,

Owston

et al. 2013

All Days

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Multiphase flow metering has become very important to the development of marginal oil and gas fields, since the economics of producing these fields do not justify the construction of new platforms; instead, they are tied back to existing infrastructure. In such cases, several fields are tied back to common facilities requiring each unprocessed stream to be measured prior to comingling. Multiphase flow metering is also a promising alternative to traditional test separators in those cases where having a large vessel is not feasible, and in the production of heavy oils where separation represents a big challenge.The increasing need for energy, combined with depleting worldwide light oil resources, has generated substantial interest in heavy oil reserves. Heavy oil applications involve low API gravity oils which are also very viscous. The production, transport, metering, and processing of heavy oils present a number of challenges associated with the increased resistance to flowing given the high-viscosity characteristics of heavy oils and the tendency to form emulsions. The hydrodynamics of high-viscosity oils presents various challenges in multiphase flow metering, including dependence of the discharge coefficient on the viscosity of the oil at low Reynolds numbers on Venturi-type meters used in commercially-available multiphase flow meters (MPFMs). Other issues are also related to the tendency of heavy oils of forming emulsion and the effect of complex fluids on the performance of the meters. This paper presents a review on heavy oil, multiphase flow metering, and the challenges faced by multiphase flow meters in heavy oil applications. The purpose of this review paper is to provide relevant information that can be used in the selection of multiphase flow meters for heavy oil applications. While other studies on the subject have focused on one specific problem or flow metering technology, this paper provides a general overview of the various issues across existing flow metering technologies. Special focus is given to in-line multiphase flow meters, since they provide some advantages over other types of MPFMs in heavy oil applications. In-line MPFMs have the ability to measure the oil, water, and gas flow rates directly in the multiphase flow stream without separation of the phases. The inherent characteristics and physical properties of heavy oils impose additional constraints to MPFMs, as well as the enhanced recovery methods employed for the production of heavy oils. The main issue is associated with the tendency of heavy oil to form complex mixtures (emulsions, foam, etc.) as they can lead to inaccurate measurement of phase fraction and flow rates. The additional water or steam added to the reservoir to increase recovery rates can result in flow instabilities, high water cuts, and changes on the continuous phase. Thermal production methods can also cause inaccurate readings and compromise the integrity of the meters.

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“…First, the precision of the MPFM shown in catalogues was reviewed [17][18][19][20][21][22][23] . The precision of the liquid rate, water cut, gas rate, and temperature presented by most important MPFM manufacturers are shown on table 6.…”

Section: Fig 17 Typical Z Type Behaviormentioning

confidence: 99%

Water-Production Diagnosis Using Transient Test With Multiphase Flowmeter

Gasbarri

Herrera

Farina³

et al. 2008

SPE Eastern Regional/Aapg Eastern Section Joint Meeting

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Accurate determination of oil, water, and gas production rates is an important element of oilfield management and optimization. Multiphase flow meters (MPFM) are being accepted more and more for well testing, reservoir management, production allocation, production monitoring, and fiscal metering. In addition to common MPFM applications, this study shows how a multiphase flow meter may be used as a valuable tool to evaluate water production problems of the well by imposing transient flowing conditions to the well and tracking characteristic parameters such as flowrates, water cut and gas oil ratio with the equipment during the test. Representative curves are shown in this study in order to identify some common wellbore problems associated with water conformance. The curves were obtained through numerical reservoir simulation using a number of cases related to the most important problems: water channeling in stratified formations, mechanical wellbore integrity, water conning, and oil-water contact advance. The flowrate at the well should be shortened to a half of the current flowrate with a choke for several hours then, the dimensionless pattern curves of the water cut and gas oil ratio gathered in this study should be matched with the measurement of the MPFM on site in order to characterize the nature of the water problem. This application represents a new tool used to identify the sources of water production. The tool is easy and quick to apply, and complements other analytical techniques being used like diagnostics plots based on production history, water-oil ratio performance and production logs. All of them are used to differentiate between the different mechanisms of water invasion, so that an appropriate treatment may be selected to control undesirable water production. IntroductionDuring the petroleum exploitation, the production of water can come from an aquifer or from injector wells in a waterflooding process. When excess of water production exists, the costs associated to surface facilities, artificial lift systems, corrosion and scale problems increases. Besides, the recovery factor decreases as oil is left behind the displacement front. These factors reduce the economic indicators. The drastic influence of water production must be soon detected and the source of such problem must be identified in order to apply effective and suitable techniques to control this production.

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Petrozuata - An Application of Multiphase Metering Technology

Cited by 9 publications

References 7 publications

Multiphase Meter Production Well Testing Applied to Low-GOR Mature Fields

Multiphase Meter Production Well Testing Applied to Low-GOR Mature Fields

Challenges of Multiphase Flow Metering in Heavy Oil Applications

Water-Production Diagnosis Using Transient Test With Multiphase Flowmeter

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