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Project

Multiphase flow metrology in oil and gas production

06/2014 - 05/2017

Funding

  • European Metrology Research Programme (Opens external link in new windowEMRP)

Currently, well over half of the world’s energy demand is satisfied from oil and gas. When oil is extracted from a well it typically exists as a multiphase flow, compromising time-varying ratios of oil, water and gas. Typical multiphase measurement systems can have an uncertainty on component flow rate of 20% or greater under field conditions. The overall aim of the project is to help establish the infrastructure whereby multiphase flowmeters can be more reliably evaluated and/or verified for their application(s) – thereby enabling developers to advance state-of-the-art in flow measurement.To develop an accurate and validated metrological reference network, using test and calibration facilities for multiphase flow.

  • To improve upon current theoretical and experimental determination of flow patterns as a function of field variables such as pressure, temperature and component fluid properties and velocities.
  • To provide an improved basis for determining uncertainty, by combining state-of-the-art computational fluid dynamics modelling techniques with polynomial chaos method.
  • To evaluate and improve experimental methods of flow visualisation using dual modality electrical tomography for vertical multiphase flow pattern determination.
  • To evaluate and improve experimental methods of flow visualisation using dual modality electrical tomography for vertical multiphase flow pattern determination.

Partners

  • 6 Europäische Nationale Metrologieinstitute und Forschungseinrichtungen
  • 4 Industriepartner