Integration of impedance measurements with acoustic measurements for accurate two phase flow metering in case of high water-cut

Abstract

Previous studies have yielded promising results as to the use of impedance measurements in two phase flow metering in estimating the flow rate of individual flows in oil fields (i.e. water and oil flows). However, most of these approaches are not accurate in the case of high water-cut or within the water-cut range 40% to 60%, where the mixed liquid is neither a good conductor, nor a good insulator. With the increased out-aging of the oil fields, these two ranges are usually dominant which require the usage of new methods. This paper presents a new non-radioactive probe which combines acoustic measurements with the impedance measurements to accurately provide in real-time the flow rate of each individual flow within the whole water-cut range. A dedicated pattern recognition algorithm using a neural network and relying on the physical properties of the fluid dynamic has been implemented. Experimental measurements performed on a laboratory scale two phase flow loop show that the proposed flow meter can in fact become a competitive two phase flow meter, since less than 5% relative error could be achieved for the whole water-cut range.