INSTRUMENTATION & MEASUREMENT FLOW MEASUREMENT MULTIPHASE

The next generation of multiphase flow

measurement
Multiphase flowmeter software is taking resolution and automation to new heights.
Kelda Dinsdale, Michael Samaha

From the impact of COVID-19 to the digitalization of the modern oilfield, there can be no
doubt that the oil and gas market is changing. For producers wanting to stay ahead of the
curve, embracing advancements in automation and data-driven technology is essential.
One key area of innovation taking place is multiphase flow measurement. With the oil and
gas industry poised to exploit more challenging reservoirs, advances in flow measurement
software architecture will ensure operators are supported with the reliable insights they
need to ensure efficient and optimized production — even in the most demanding field
conditions.

The go-to solution for multiphase flow measurement

In the past, operators most often targeted “straightforward” reservoirs with fewer geologic
anomalies, resulting in more stable flow conditions. Typically, the flow profiles of these
wells would sit in the so-called “sweet spot” of multiphase flow, which is 25% to 85% gas
volume fraction (GVF). Multiphase flowmeters excel at analyzing within this range,
providing accurate and reliable measurement. Today, however, oil and gas pioneers are
able to tackle reservoirs they could only dream about even 10 years ago. Reservoirs that
would have remained untouched previously are being developed now. Fortunately,
multiphase flow measurement technology has evolved along with the industry, and it
consistently proves itself up to the task.

Multiphase flowmeters are a popular choice for the modern oilfield for many reasons. A
flexible option that adapts to changing well conditions, these meters allow for the
replacement of expensive and bulky legacy equipment. With a footprint that is up to four
times smaller than older meters, producers save on space, weight and installation costs,
while reducing the number of instruments required. Measurements taken directly from the
wellhead that do not require moving parts decrease downtime and maintenance
requirements. With a number of meter sizes and replaceable venturi sleeves, one meter can
last the entire lifetime of a well, as well as cutting down on capital investments at the well
pad.

The industrial internet of things (IIoT) revolution has arrived in oil and gas, leading to
digital improvements in these metering solutions, as well. Remote connectivity grants
operators full access to their well data from anywhere in the world, as well as access to
remote supplier expertise. That means no more traveling all the way out to each site if an
issue is detected or waiting until there is a production issue downstream, since much can be
achieved remotely. Fewer hours on the road also dramatically improves safety for workers.
Pairing this remote access with real-time data analytics enables insight into production that
allows for faster process improvements and remarkable optimization efforts across the
field. Instantaneous awareness of changes in production or detection of layer buildup, for
example, means that discovering optimum choke settings and injection rates is quicker,
easier and more informed. When optimizing an entire field, real-time data like this saves
countless hours and resources.

Because it is a fully agile solution, multiphase flowmeters are capable of adapting with
these advancements in technology, making them virtually future-proof. New modules can
be developed and added to tackle unique and emerging applications. The latest
developments in embedded software mean even better performance in rapidly fluctuating
flow profiles, all in a simple and easy-to-use package.
A lot can happen in a tenth of a second

When wells produce at a smooth and steady pace, flow measurement devices can give
operators the insight they need with lower data resolution. Steady streams of oil and gas
mixtures can be relatively consistent from one interval to the next. However, significantly
more demanding conditions mean varied and dynamic flow regimes that require higher
resolution data to truly understand what is happening in the pipework. The ability to
capture data in intervals of a tenth of a second establishes a much more accurate
representation of the flow composition and rates.

So, what can happen in pipework within a

tenth of a second?
Advances in multiphase embedded software
have seen pressure changes of 5 bar in less
than a second. Slugs exploding through the
pipework, shifts from predominately liquid to
predominately gas and back again, and Figure 2: Trustworthy real-time measurement supports
automation in dynamic multiphase flow.
minuscule quantities of water bursting
through — can all occur in fractions of a second.

These changes correspond to a change in all of the reference densities used in flow
calculations, affecting the final rate calculations. If it happens enough over time, without
extremely high-resolution measurement, these dramatic swings could jeopardize an entire
operation.

Producers may not even realize these fluctuations are happening in their pipelines, so this
real-time knowledge is extremely valuable. When it is understood what detailed events are
occurring, operators can achieve better performance and accuracy with their measurement
devices.

Better performance leads to more confidence in production data while also being able to
utilize this information to optimize well performance.
How software is changing the game

Now that it is possible to capture this level of data, a software solution is needed that is able
to draw actionable information from it. This is where advanced, adaptive module selection
comes into play. The latest software platform for multiphase flowmeters is now able to
synchronize sensor signals, run multiple calculation modules with parallel computation,
self-verify each module’s suitability, and then automatically select the best-suited
measurement modules at any given moment. From this, a producer can derive the most
accurate data possible, no matter how unstable or demanding multiphase flow conditions
are.

Not only does this trailblazing technology

allow for better production optimization
across an oilfield, but also its performance
does not necessitate manual intervention
from experts in order to function. Automated
configuration takes place at 10 Hz speed, and
the meter self-selects the right calculation Figure 3: The embedded software for multiphase
flowmeters offers adaptive configuration through
module for each fraction of time. An intuitive
automatic and real-time module selection.
user interface streamlines interactions with
the meter, making it simple and easy to harness the power of this revolutionary technology.
These significant yet straightforward enhancements support further adoption of
multiphase flow metering in any application around the world. Operators are empowered
to achieve reliable, robust performance without the need for manual intervention or
expertise.
This software platform has already been tested in multiple sites with significant results. An
operator in the Marcellus basin in North America adopted automation enhancements in its
multiphase flowmeters. Because the Marcellus application is challenging, with 90% to
99.9% GVF, typically a reference test separator was used to perform in-line calibration on
the meter during installation. Despite the challenging nature of this gas asset, once
measurements were initially aligned, the multiphase flowmeter was perfectly repeatable.
However, when its software was upgraded with the new rapidly adaptive capabilities, all
previous adjustments to reference instrumentation became superfluous. The meter
performed well and matched reference instrumentation straight out of the box.

In the Eagle Ford and Denver-Julesburg basins in North America, layer detection and
correction features that are available in the software platform have led to significant cost
savings related to maintenance and cleaning. Now the multiphase flowmeters automatically
compensate for both conductive and insulating layers, wax or scale buildup, which results
in maintaining high-quality, reliable measurement with reduced cleaning cycles.

An embedded PVT engine

Previously, multiphase flowmeter suppliers have relied on PVT (pressure, volume and
temperature) tables to support conversion of actual conditions to standard. These tables
were prepared in a separate software and then uploaded to the flow computer. New
adaptive measurement functionality now includes an embedded PVT engine within the flow
computer of the multiphase flowmeter, which has two equations of state and two property
libraries available. Operators can apply their own equations of state to the engine. The PVT
engine inside the flow computer allows for more robust and seamless calculations as flow
conditions change. Using separate software to calculate PVT variables is no longer
necessary, which eliminates additional meter configuration changes. These streamlined
calculations are no longer limited by the edges of PVT tables but can handle the true range
of these dynamic multiphase environments.

Additional capabilities are possible for multistage flashing, allowing operators to compare
data with test and bulk separators at different pressures and temperatures and to verify the
metering process. Advanced PVT capability makes gas lift integration easier than ever, too.
The engine can take a hydrocarbon ratio of produced gas to lift gas and blend the
compositions, so the meter uses a correct hydrocarbon composition and PVT data for its
calculations — all within the automated functionality of the flowmeter.

The future of flow in software innovation

Demands on flow metering instrumentation are only going to increase over time. The
future of multiphase flowmeter technology lies in digitalization and software innovations
that push past these barriers and make possible what used to be impossible. The latest
leaps ahead in embedded software in multiphase flowmeters are enabling new levels of
reliability, functionality and efficiency in formidable reservoirs worldwide.

Kelda Dinsdale is a customer adoption

manager for Emerson’s Roxar Flow
Measurement product line. She has held
various roles across a number of departments
since she joined the company in 2008. For
the past 10 years, Dinsdale has been working
predominantly to support the Roxar 2600
Multiphase Flow Meter in commercial and
product management positions.

Michael Samaha is a product specialist for

Emerson’s Roxar multiphase flow meters in
North America. He has a Bachelor of Science
in electrical engineering from Louisiana Tech
University and has been working with
multiphase metering in Emerson for the past
16 years.

Source URL: https://www.piprocessinstrumentation.com/instrumentation/flow-

measurement/multiphase/article/21214866/the-next-generation-of-multiphase-flow-measurement