Co-innovate: Multiphase flow measurement

It is always a pleasure to work with different customers, from different backgrounds and countries. In this case, we had the chance to co-innovate together with METISAfrica and a major oil production service company. METISAfrica is a distributor and system […]

multiphase flow

It is always a pleasure to work with different customers, from different backgrounds and countries. In this case, we had the chance to co-innovate together with METISAfrica and a major oil production service company.

METISAfrica is a distributor and system integrator of Yokogawa products, such as our ROTAMASS Coriolis flow meters. They created a multiphase flow measurement skid that measures in line the composition of mixtures of oil, water, and gas. It is called SKID M.

When drilling in an oil well, a mixture of oil, gas, and water comes out. Several wells are feeding into one big production separator, which separates the crude oil, the produced water, and the gas for further processing. For the well management, it is important to have a clear picture of the composition of each individual well. These are checked periodically by the use of test separators.

multiphase flow

An ideal separator works like this:

mulitiphase flow

The use of test separators is well known, but also expensive and they are rather big for moving from one well to another. Oil producers are looking for more efficient solutions.

How can you measure all three fluids at once without separating them? This is not an easy task. Integrated multiphase flow meters are very complex devices and usually very specialized in terms of application range. A very good solution is to combine standard field instruments and a computer to a multiphase measurement skid.

 

Benefits of SKID M

Multiphase flow SKID M

With SKID M, developed by METISAfrica with Yokogawa components, it’s possible to measure oil, gas, and water individually without phase separation and without any radioactive source. SKID M uses the Yokogawa Coriolis ROTAMASS TI mass flowmeter, the pressure transmitter Yokogawa EJX530A and the paperless recorder Yokogawa SMARTDAQ+ GX20, which has excellent computing power and a very secure data storage. Rotamass TI has an excellent performance with entrained gas, which is the number one concern in the upstream flow measurement.

In this video, Ludovic Gelly shows and explains the SKID M:

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METISAfrica and Rota Yokogawa joining forces

During Offshore Europe in Aberdeen, Scotland, attention was drawn towards the benefits of Rotamass TI performance in Upstream and in multiphase flow measurement applications.

Here the global technical advisor for multiphase flow measurement of a major oil and gas service company heard about the SKID M and asked to witness a test on the METISAfrica flow bench in France. The company has a division for well testing for oil & gas fields all over the world and is always looking to improve its operation.

METISAfrica workshop is in Besancon/FR, which is very close to Rota Yokogawa, home of Rotamass and a date for a demonstration was quickly arranged. A SKID M was in preparation for a FAT by Perenco and this was a great opportunity to show its performance.

The multiphase flow bench at METISAfrica in France consists of a three-phase separator filled with water and diesel, and a big capacity air compressor. The three phases of oil, water, and gas are controlled and measured by Coriolis Mass Flowmeter in single-phase lines. The three fluids are well mixed before run through in SKID M.  The measurement of the SKID M is compared to the single-phase measurement and displayed and recorded on the GX20.

multiphase flow

Flow ranges up to 4000 bbl/d of liquid were tested, with GVF (Gas Volume Fraction) from 0 to 98,5%. The accuracy on oil, water and gas flows was better than +/-5% on each of the 50 points tested- without using separation or gamma source in the SKID M.

 

multiphase flow

SKID M can be designed for well tests up to 20 000 bbl/d of liquid, with GVF up to 99%. It measures continuously the water cut from 0 to 100%. The measurement is instantaneous and accurate. Due to the use of Rotamass TI in the SKID M the coverage such a high GVF and water cut is possible. This makes the SKID M a very versatile. Usually, MPFM are designed for a specific range of GVF and water cut. With Skid M, all the user needs to do is to enter the density taken by a sample and the unit is ready to go.

A huge advantage is that there is no specific maintenance necessary as standard Rotamass TI and standard pressure transmitters EJX are used.

multiphase flow

It was a real pleasure to see the SKID M in action and the obvious appreciation by an experienced user of multiphase flow measurement. As a product manager for our Yokogawa flow meters, it was amazing to see our ROTAMASS Coriolis flow meters integrated in a system, being part of the whole.  The measurement is working perfectly, as you could see instant results on the GX20 screen. The SKID M is a real user and maintenance-friendly skid, which will for sure bring benefits to the oil producer.

It’s great to see what you can create when you work together and join forces. Do you have an idea for another co-innovation with us? Don’t hesitate to contact us!


Picture credits:

Thissatan/ stock.adobe.com

METISAfrica

Peter Weidemann

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