Method and apparatus for use in determining a property of a multiphase fluid

Abstract

A method and an apparatus for determining at least one property of a multiphase fluid. The method includes the steps of directing the multiphase fluid through a first flow passage, monitoring the multiphase fluid as it passes through the first flow passage to obtain a first signal representing a first flow characteristic of the multiphase fluid as a function of time, directing the multiphase fluid through a second flow passage, monitoring the multiphase fluid as it passes through the second flow passage to obtain a second signal representing a second flow characteristic of the multiphase fluid as a function of time, and then determining the property of the multiphase fluid by comparing the first signal and the second signal with a set of calibration maps. The second flow passage has a geometry different from the first flow passage which relates either to the cross section of the two flow passages or to the direction in which the multiphase fluid passes through the flow passages relative to gravity.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:  
     
         1 . A method for determining a property of a multiphase fluid, comprising the following steps: 
 (a) directing the multiphase fluid through a first flow passage;    (b) monitoring the multiphase fluid as it passes through the first flow passage to obtain a first signal representing a first flow characteristic of the multiphase fluid as a function of time;    (c) directing the multiphase fluid through a second flow passage, wherein the second flow passage has a geometry different from the first flow passage;    (d) monitoring the multiphase fluid as it passes through the second flow passage to obtain a second signal representing a second flow characteristic of the multiphase fluid as a function of time; and    (e) determining the property of the multiphase fluid by comparing the first signal and the second signal with a set of calibration maps.    
     
     
         2 . The method as claimed in    claim 1    wherein the multiphase fluid is monitored as it passes through the first flow passage by a first transducer which is in communication with the first flow passage, and wherein the multiphase fluid is monitored as it passes through the second flow passage by a second transducer which is in communication with the second flow passage.  
     
     
         3 . The method as claimed in    claim 2    wherein the first signal is a first electrical signal generated by the first transducer and wherein the second signal is a second electrical signal generated by the second transducer.  
     
     
         4 . The method as claimed in    claim 3    wherein the first transducer is a pressure transducer, wherein the first flow characteristic is a variation in a first pressure, and wherein the first signal represents the variation in the first pressure as a function of time.  
     
     
         5 . The method as claimed in    claim 4    wherein the second transducer is a pressure transducer, wherein the second flow characteristic is a variation in a second pressure, and wherein the second signal represents the variation in the second pressure as a function of time.  
     
     
         6 . The method as claimed in    claim 5    wherein the multiphase fluid passes through the first flow passage and passes through the second flow passage in different directions relative to gravity.  
     
     
         7 . The method as claimed in    claim 6    wherein the multiphase fluid passes through one of the first flow passage and the second flow passage in a substantially vertical direction and wherein the multiphase fluid passes through the other of the first flow passage and the second flow passage in a substantially horizontal direction.  
     
     
         8 . The method as claimed in    claim 7    wherein the first flow passage terminates with a first elbow for changing the direction of the multiphase fluid and wherein the first transducer is positioned at the first elbow.  
     
     
         9 . The method as claimed in    claim 8    wherein the second flow passage terminates with a second elbow for changing the direction of the multiphase fluid and wherein the second transducer is positioned at the second elbow.  
     
     
         10 . The method as claimed in    claim 6    wherein the multiphase fluid comprises a gas phase and a liquid phase and wherein the property of the multiphase fluid to be determined is a measure of the relative proportions of the gas phase and the liquid phase contained in the multiphase fluid.  
     
     
         11 . The method as claimed in    claim 6    further comprising the steps of deriving a value for a first parameter from the first signal and deriving a value for a second parameter from the second signal and wherein the property determining step comprises comparing the values of the first parameter and the second parameter with the set of calibration maps.  
     
     
         12 . The method as claimed in    claim 11    wherein the step of deriving a value for a first parameter from the first signal comprises the steps of creating a first set of data points from the first signal, developing a first probability density function of the first signal, and obtaining the value for the first parameter from the first probability density function.  
     
     
         13 . The method as claimed in    claim 12    wherein the step of deriving a value for a second parameter from the second signal comprises the steps of creating a second set of data points from the second signal, developing a second probability density function of the second signal, and obtaining the value of the second parameter from the second probability density function.  
     
     
         14 . The method as claimed in    claim 13    wherein the first parameter is selected from a group of parameters consisting of P 1   (max) , (X 1   P12 −X 1   P11 ) and X 1   P11 , wherein: 
 P 1   (max) =a maximum value of probability in the first probability density function;  
 X 1   P12 =a value of the first signal at a probability of P 12  in the first probability density function;  
 X 1   P11 =a value of the first signal at a probability of P 11  in the first probability density function.  
 
     
     
         15 . The method as claimed in    claim 14    wherein the second parameter is selected from a group of parameters consisting of P 2   (max) , (X 2   P22 −X 2   P21 ) and X 2   P21 , wherein: 
 P 2   (max) =a maximum value of probability in the second probability density function;  
 X 2   P22 =a value of the second signal at a probability of P 22  in the second probability density function;  
 X 2   P21 =a value of the second signal at a probability of P 21  in the second probability density function.  
 
     
     
         16 . The method as claimed in    claim 15    wherein the set of calibration maps comprises at least one map of the first parameter as a function of the property and at least one map of the second parameter as a function of the property.  
     
     
         17 . The method as claimed in    claim 16    further comprising the steps of obtaining a value for a third parameter from the first probability density function and determining the property of the multiphase fluid by comparing the values of the first parameter, the second parameter and the third parameter with a set of calibration maps.  
     
     
         18 . The method as claimed in    claim 17    further comprising the steps of obtaining a value for a fourth parameter from the second probability density function and determining the property of the multiphase fluid by comparing the values of the first parameter, the second parameter, the third parameter and the fourth parameter with a set of calibration maps.  
     
     
         19 . The method as claimed in    claim 18    wherein the third parameter is selected from a group of parameters consisting of P 1   (max) , (X 1   P32 −X 1   P31 ) and X 1   P31 , wherein: 
 P 1   (max) =a maximum value of probability in the first probability density function;  
 X 1   P32 =a value of the first signal at a probability of P 32  in the first probability density function;  
 X 1   P31 =a value of the first signal at a probability of P 31  in the first probability density function.  
 
     
     
         20 . The method as claimed in    claim 19    wherein the fourth parameter is selected from a group of parameters consisting of P 2   (max) , (X 2   P42 −X 2   P41 ) and X 2   P41 , wherein: 
 P 2   (max) =a maximum value of probability in the second probability density function;  
 X 2   P42 =a value of the second signal at a probability of P 42  in the second probability density function;  
 X 2   P41 =a value of the second signal at a probability of P 41  in the second probability density function.  
 
     
     
         21 . The method as claimed in    claim 20    wherein the set of calibration maps further comprise at least one map of the third parameter as a function of the property and at least one map of the fourth parameter as a function of the property.  
     
     
         22 . An apparatus for use in determining a property of a multiphase fluid comprising: 
 (a) a first flow passage for the multiphase fluid;    (b) a first monitoring device in communication with the first flow passage for obtaining a first signal representing a first flow characteristic of the multiphase fluid as a function of time;    (c) a second flow passage for the multiphase fluid having a geometry different from the first flow passage; and    (d) a second monitoring device in communication with the second flow passage for obtaining a second signal representing a second flow characteristic of the multiphase fluid as a function of time.    
     
     
         23 . The apparatus as claimed in    claim 22    wherein the first monitoring device is a first transducer and wherein the second monitoring device is a second transducer.  
     
     
         24 . The apparatus as claimed in    claim 23    wherein the first signal is a first electrical signal generated by the first transducer and wherein the second signal is a second electrical signal generated by the second transducer.  
     
     
         25 . The apparatus as claimed in    claim 24    further comprising means for recording the first signal for further processing and further comprising means for recording the second signal for further processing.  
     
     
         26 . The apparatus as claimed in    claim 25    wherein the first flow characteristic is a variation in a first pressure, wherein the first transducer is a pressure transducer capable of monitoring the variation in the first pressure, wherein the second flow characteristic is a variation in a second pressure, and wherein the second transducer is a pressure transducer capable of monitoring the variation in the second pressure.  
     
     
         27 . The apparatus as claimed in    claim 23    wherein the first flow passage and the second flow passage are oriented so that the multiphase fluid passes through them in different directions relative to gravity.  
     
     
         28 . The apparatus as claimed in    claim 27    wherein the first flow passage and the second flow passage are oriented so that the multiphase fluid passes through one of the first flow passage and the second flow passage in a substantially vertical direction and the multiphase fluid passes through the other of the first flow passage and the second flow passage in a substantially horizontal direction.  
     
     
         29 . The apparatus as claimed in    claim 28    wherein the first flow passage has an entrance end and an exit end and wherein the exit end of the first flow passage further comprises a first elbow for changing the direction of the multiphase fluid as it exits the first flow passage.  
     
     
         30 . The apparatus as claimed in    claim 29    wherein the first transducer is located at the first elbow.  
     
     
         31 . The apparatus as claimed in    claim 30    wherein the second flow passage has an entrance end and an exit end and wherein the exit end of the second flow passage further comprises a second elbow for changing the direction of the multiphase fluid as it exits the second flow passage.  
     
     
         32 . The apparatus as claimed in    claim 31    wherein the second transducer is located at the second elbow.  
     
     
         33 . The apparatus as claimed in    claim 32    wherein the first flow passage is connected to the second flow passage by the first elbow or by the second elbow.  
     
     
         34 . The apparatus as claimed in    claim 33    further comprising a third flow passage for the multiphase fluid, wherein the first flow passage, the second flow passage and the third flow passage are connected to each other by the first elbow and the second elbow to form a measuring loop.  
     
     
         35 . The apparatus as claimed in    claim 34    wherein the first elbow is substantially a ninety degree elbow and wherein the second elbow is substantially a ninety degree elbow.  
     
     
         36 . The apparatus as claimed in    claim 35    wherein the first flow passage is a first closed conduit, wherein the second flow passage is a second closed conduit, and wherein the third flow passage is a third closed conduit.  
     
     
         37 . The apparatus as claimed in    claim 27    further comprising means for processing the first signal to facilitate the derivation from the first signal of a first parameter.  
     
     
         38 . The apparatus as claimed in    claim 37    further comprising means for processing the second signal to facilitate the derivation from the second signal of a second parameter.