Flow-Regime Identification in Oil-Water Multiphase Flow
Identify flow regimes inside oil-gas-water pipelines and measure water cut and interface position online, providing a basis for long-distance pipeline processing and metering.
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Background
In oilfield produced fluids and long-distance pipelines, the oil-gas-water multiphase flow regime changes markedly with production rate, water cut and inclination. Accurate identification of flow regime and water cut is the foundation of oil-gas metering and process optimisation.
Measurement challenges
- The oil-water conductivity contrast is large, so pure ECT loses sensitivity at high water cut
- Pipe material (metal / non-metal) affects the electrode-packaging scheme
- Long-distance pipeline sites demand long-term stable operation
Our solution
Choose ECT or ERT flexibly according to medium properties: the low-water-cut section is handled mainly by pico-ECT (non-contact electrodes, outer-wall mounting); the medium-to-high-water-cut section mainly by TJUERT (contact electrodes, direct conductance measurement), with both systems’ data fed into a unified host.
Results
- Online discrimination of typical regimes such as stratified, slug and annular flow
- Water-cut measurement accuracy meets process-monitoring needs
- The data interface connects to the existing DCS with no control-system modification
