VIRTUAL MULTIPHASE FLOW METERING AND SAND DETECTION

摘要

Virtual and non-invasive multiphase metering is performed for recognition of multiphase flow regimes of hydrocarbons and other fluids, flow rate, presence of sand, and other multiphase flow parameters. A passive acoustical detector system receives acoustical flow information in the form of acoustic emission signals, and a data processor processes and classifies the acoustical patterns. A statistical signal processing methodology is used. Acoustic models are provided for various flow regimes and flow patterns, using Artificial Intelligence methods including Hidden Markov Models and Artificial Neural Networks along with automated learning procedures. The metering can be used for downhole, top side and surface applications.

主权项

1. An apparatus for determining flow parameters of multiphase flow of fluids in a flow conduit, comprising:
(a) a transducer sensing acoustic emissions from the multiphase flow in the flow conduit; (b) a converter transforming the sensed acoustic emissions into digital acoustic emission signals; (c) a computer comprising a data memory storing a database of acoustic models of flow regime data in the flow conduit; and (d) the computer further comprising a processor forming measures of the flow parameters from the digital acoustic emission signals and the acoustic models of the flow regime data to determine an acoustic model of the flow parameters of the multiphase flow, the processor performing the computer implemented steps of:
(1) segmenting the sensed acoustic emission signals into a sequence of digital acoustic emission segments;(2) determining a feature vector for the digital acoustic emission segments of the sequence of digital acoustic emission segments;(3) processing the feature vectors to determine a model of flow parameters of the multiphase flow.