Use of Multiphase Meters in Process Control for Oil Field Well Testing: Performance Enhancement Through GVF Control

First oil production from a deep-water oil field is to be achieved by the installation of an Initial Development System (IDS). Well testing is required for field development and reservoir management. The well testing system requires high accuracy oil and water rates to provide the data needed for decision analysis in ongoing drilling programs. The well testing system must also be integrated with other platform operations such as well clean up after drilling. The concept of a certain type of multiphase meter in a feedback control loop with conventional separation technology for process control is simulated to extend the capabilities of both technologies. The principle of GVF control as a supplementary to level control system has been developed for performance enhancement of oil field well testing. Concepts demonstrated here can also be easily applied as retro-fits to existing separation facilities which show accuracy or upset problems because of the simplicity and compact size of the additional multiphase meter component and non-disruptive supplementary integration with existing level control systems.Copyright © 2002 by ASME