US 12,326,353 B2
Measuring flow rates of multiphase fluids
Vijay Ramakrishnan, Houston, TX (US)
Assigned to Saudi Arabian Oil Company, Dhahran (SA)
Filed by Saudi Arabian Oil Company, Dhahran (SA)
Filed on Jul. 19, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/813,540.
Prior Publication US 2024/0027242 A1, Jan. 25, 2024
Int. Cl. G01F 1/37 (2006.01); G01F 1/74 (2006.01)
CPC G01F 1/372 (2013.01) [G01F 1/74 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system comprising:
a U-bend configured to flow a multiphase fluid, the U-bend comprising:
a first conduit;
a second conduit, wherein a cross-sectional flow area of the first conduit is substantially the same as a cross-sectional flow area of the second conduit; and
a connecting conduit connecting the first conduit to the second conduit;
a third conduit configured to flow the multiphase fluid, the third conduit having a cross-sectional flow area that is different from the cross-sectional flow area of the first conduit;
a first bend connecting the third conduit to the first conduit;
a fourth conduit configured to flow the multiphase fluid, the fourth conduit parallel to and in-line with the third conduit, the fourth conduit having a cross-sectional flow area that is substantially the same as the cross-sectional flow area of the third conduit;
a second bend connecting the fourth conduit to the second conduit;
a first differential pressure sensor coupled to the third conduit and to the first conduit, wherein the first differential pressure sensor is configured to measure a first differential pressure of the multiphase fluid across the first bend;
a second differential pressure sensor coupled to the second conduit and to the fourth conduit, wherein the second differential pressure sensor is configured to measure a second differential pressure of the multiphase fluid across the second bend; and
a computer, comprising:
a processor communicatively coupled to the first differential pressure sensor and to the second differential pressure sensor; and
a computer-readable storage medium coupled to the processor and storing programming instructions for execution by the processor, the programming instructions instructing the processor to perform operations comprising:
receiving a first differential pressure signal from the first differential pressure sensor, the first differential pressure signal representing the first differential pressure of the multiphase fluid;
receiving a second differential pressure signal from the second differential pressure sensor, the second differential pressure signal representing the second differential pressure of the multiphase fluid;
receiving, as input, a mixture density of the multiphase fluid; and
determining a total flow rate of the multiphase fluid at least based on the first differential pressure, the second differential pressure, and the mixture density of the multiphase fluid.