Product sampling system within subsea tree

摘要

A method and system for producing fluid from a subsea wellbore. An amount of fluid is sampled from fluid being produced and retained for a period of time until constituents in the fluid stratify. A fluid characteristic is sensed at spaced apart vertical locations in the sampled fluid. A water fraction as well as gas content can be ascertained from sensing the sampled fluid. The fluid characteristic is used for calibrating a multi-phase flowmeter that measures flow of the fluid being produced from the wellbore.

主权项

1. A method of producing fluid from a subsea wellbore through a subsea production tree mounted over the subsea wellbore and out a production flow line extending from the tree, comprising:
a. connecting an inlet of a sampling conduit into the flow line and an outlet of the sampling conduit into the flow line at a location downstream from the inlet; b. providing the sampling conduit with an inlet valve and an outlet valve downstream from the inlet valve, defining a container between the inlet valve and the outlet valve that has sensors at vertically spaced apart locations inside the container; c. opening the inlet and outlet valves, thereby diverting some of the fluid flowing through the flow line into the sampling conduit, then closing the inlet and outlet valves, thereby isolating an amount of sampled fluid in the container from the fluid flowing through the flow line; d. sensing the sampled fluid with the sensors over a period of time; e. identifying a constituent of the sampled fluid based on the step of sensing; then f. opening the inlet and outlet valves to allow the sampled fluid to flow through the outlet valve into the flow line.