Modelling of transit-time ultrasonic flow meters under multi-phase flow conditions

A numerical model for a clamp-on transit-time ultrasonic flowmeter (TTUF) under multi-phase flow conditions is presented. The method solves equations of linear elasticity for isotropic heterogeneous materials with background flow where acoustic media are modeled by setting shear modulus to zero. Spatial derivatives are calculated by a Fourier collocation method allowing the use of the fast Fourier transform (FFT) and time derivatives are approximated by a finite difference (FD) scheme. This approach is sometimes referred to as a pseudospectral time-domain method. Perfectly matched layers (PML) are used to avoid wave-wrapping and staggered grids are implemented to improve stability and efficiency. The method is verified against exact analytical solutions and the effect of the time-staggering and associated lowest number of points per minimum wavelengths value is discussed. The method is then employed to model a complete TTUF measurement setup to simulate the effect of a flow profile on the flowmeter accuracy and a study of an impact of inclusions in flowing media on received signals is carried out.

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Multi-Phase Flow Metering in Offshore Oil and Gas Transportation Pipelines: Trends and Perspectives

Sensors ◽

10.3390/s19092184 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 19 (9) ◽

pp. 2184 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Lærke Skov Hansen ◽

Simon Pedersen ◽

Petar Durdevic

Keyword(s):

Oil And Gas ◽

Review Paper ◽

Phase Flow ◽

Flow Measurements ◽

Wrong Decision ◽

Flow Meters ◽

Multi Phase Flow ◽

Offshore Oil And Gas ◽

Multi Phase ◽

Offshore Oil

Multi-phase flow meters are of huge importance to the offshore oil and gas industry. Unreliable measurements can lead to many disadvantages and even wrong decision-making. It is especially important for mature reservoirs as the gas volume fraction and water cut is increasing during the lifetime of a well. Hence, it is essential to accurately monitor the multi-phase flow of oil, water and gas inside the transportation pipelines. The objective of this review paper is to present the current trends and technologies within multi-phase flow measurements and to introduce the most promising methods based on parameters such as accuracy, footprint, safety, maintenance and calibration. Typical meters, such as tomography, gamma densitometry and virtual flow meters are described and compared based on their performance with respect to multi-phase flow measurements. Both experimental prototypes and commercial solutions are presented and evaluated. For a non-intrusive, non-invasive and inexpensive meter solution, this review paper predicts a progress for virtual flow meters in the near future. The application of multi-phase flows meters are expected to further expand in the future as fields are maturing, thus, efficient utilization of existing fields are in focus, to decide if a field is still financially profitable.

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Validation Of Coriolis And V-Cone Meters Using Multi Phase Flow Meters (MPFM) in ADCO's North East BAB (NEB) Field - A Case History

10.2118/162200-ms ◽

2012 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Ibrahim Thani Al Hammadi ◽

Samir Handak Aly ◽

Muhammad Navaid Khan ◽

Hakan Gurses ◽

Abdullah Baslaib

Keyword(s):

Case History ◽

Phase Flow ◽

Flow Meters ◽

North East ◽

Multi Phase Flow ◽

Multi Phase

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The Flowback Behavior of Salt in Hydraulically Fractured Shale under Multi-Phase Flow Conditions: Modelling, Simulation and Application

Journal of Natural Gas Science and Engineering ◽

10.1016/j.jngse.2021.103985 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 103985

Author(s):

Qiaoyun Chen ◽

Fei Wang

Keyword(s):

Phase Flow ◽

Flow Conditions ◽

Multi Phase Flow ◽

Multi Phase ◽

Modelling Simulation

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Assessment of Computational Fluid Dynamics for Predicting Possible Cavitation and Choked Flow Inside Excess Flow Valves

Volume 3: Computational Fluid Dynamics; Micro and Nano Fluid Dynamics ◽

10.1115/fedsm2020-20172 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Nafiseh Banazadeh-Neishabouri ◽

Siamack A. Shirazi ◽

Jud Smalley ◽

Mike Lybarger

Keyword(s):

Fluid Dynamics ◽

Computational Fluid Dynamics ◽

Stokes Equations ◽

Critical Conditions ◽

Vapor Flow ◽

Phase Flow ◽

Flow Conditions ◽

Choked Flow ◽

Multi Phase Flow ◽

Multi Phase

Abstract Cavitation and choked flow conditions can occur when high-pressure drops are encounters in various types of valves, which prevent them to work properly and may cause severe erosion damage inside the valves that decrease their lifetime. Prediction of these critical conditions leads to the prevention of cavitation and helps to improve the design of the valve geometries to delay and prevent these critical flow conditions. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) is a powerful tool that can be used to simulate flow conditions and to predict the incipient of cavitation and consequently choked flow in the valve through solving the Time Averaged Navier-Stokes equations under multi-phase flow conditions. Therefore, CFD simulations have been conducted for two types of excess flow valves. The mixture multi-phase flow solution method along with the k-ε realizable turbulence model has been utilized to solve the behavior of vapor flow inside the valve and simulate the cavitation phenomenon. It was observed that CFD could capture the inception of cavitation and choked flow inside the valve successfully. Simulated CFD results also indicated a good agreement with experimental data that were obtained under lower pressure drop conditions. The effects of various inlet pressures on the cavitation intensity have been also studied, and it was concluded that at higher inlet pressure with constant pressure outlet the cavitation strength is greater than lower inlet pressures.

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Multi-Phase Flow Meters for Well Testing-Field Experiences in an ADMA-OPCO Offshore Field, Abu Dhabi

10.2118/138240-ms ◽

2010 ◽

Author(s):

Kalakad Santhanam ◽

Faisal Hassan M. Al-Marri ◽

Ali Attas ◽

Nabeel Al Zarooni ◽

Ayyaz Khan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Field Experiences ◽

Abu Dhabi ◽

Well Testing ◽

Phase Flow ◽

Flow Meters ◽

Multi Phase Flow ◽

Testing Field ◽

Multi Phase ◽

Offshore Field

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Flow-Induced Vibrations of Subsea Jumpers due to Internal Multi-Phase Flow

Volume 7: CFD and VIV; Offshore Geotechnics ◽

10.1115/omae2011-50062 ◽

2011 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Juan P. Pontaza ◽

Raghu G. Menon

Keyword(s):

Structural Response ◽

Phase Flow ◽

Flow Conditions ◽

Flow Induced Vibration ◽

Flow Induced Vibrations ◽

Weld Fatigue ◽

Multi Phase Flow ◽

Temperature And Pressure ◽

Multi Phase ◽

Dominant Frequencies

Subsea jumpers are steel pipe sections that connect hardware components on the seafloor (e.g. trees, manifolds, and sleds) and typically operate in multi-phase flow. They are designed with bends to accommodate limited expansion due to variations in temperature and pressure. Under certain conditions significant fluctuating forces can be induced in flow-turning elements like bends and tees. These fluctuating forces may cause severe piping vibrations and weld fatigue damage. This paper presents a flow-induced vibration screening procedure based on the 3-D numerical simulation of unsteady internal multi-phase flow in subsea well jumpers, the prediction of associated flow-induced forces in flow-turning elements, and the prediction of structural response, including fatigue life estimates. We consider a 6 inch (nominal) diameter well jumper with six turning elements (i.e. six blind Tees), having 70 feet of suspended span, and perform simulations for two different flow conditions representative of early- and mid-life production. We find that the dominant frequencies of flow-induced vibration are those associated with modes 1 through 4 and that stresses are highest in mid-life flow conditions when the gas volumetric void fraction is 55%.

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