US4884457A
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US
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Means and method for monitoring the flow of a multi-phase petroleum stream
Assignee: Texaco Inc
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Filing: 1989-03-23
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Granted: 1989-12-05
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Expires: 2009-03-23
Abstract
Abstract The multi-phase petroleum stream monitor includes two densitometers which measure the density of the petroleum stream at two locations and provides corresponding signals. The temperature and the pressure of the petroleum stream are also measured and corresponding signals provided. Apparatus provides signals corresponding to the density of the liquid in the petroleum stream and to the density of the gas in the petroleum stream. The liquid flow rate and the gas flow rate of the petroleum stream are determined in accordance with the two sensed density signals, the temperature signal, the pressure signal, the liquid density signal and the gas density signal.
Inventors
- 👤 Gregory J. Hatton
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 16:23
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01F; G01F1/00; G01F1/76; G01F1/86; G01F1/704; G01F1/708; G01N; G01N33/00; G01N33/26; G01N33/28; G01N33/2823
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
175 words
Apparatus for monitoring a multi-phase petroleum stream flowing in a pipe comprising: two density sensing means for sensing the density of the petroleum stream at two locations a known distance apart and providing sensed density signals, corresponding to the sensed densities and which are related to a fluid velocity of the petroleum stream, temperature sensing means for sensing the temperature of the petroleum stream and providing a temperature signal representative of the sensed temperature, pressure sensing means for sensing the pressure of the petroleum stream and providing a pressure signal in accordance with the sensed pressure, and flow rate means connected to both density sensing means, to the pressure sensing means and to the temperature sensing means for entering known values of gas density liquid density and a surface tension of gas and for providing signals corresponding to the liquid flow rate and to the gas flow rate of the petroleum stream in accordance with the sensed density signals, the temperature signal, the pressure signal and entered known values of the gas and the liquid.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
175 words
Apparatus for monitoring a multi-phase petroleum stream flowing in a pipe comprising: two density sensing means for sensing the density of the petroleum stream at two locations a known distance apart and providing sensed density signals, corresponding to the sensed densities and which are related to a fluid velocity of the petroleum stream, temperature sensing means for sensing the temperature of the petroleum stream and providing a temperature signal representative of the sensed temperature, pressure sensing means for sensing the pressure of the petroleum stream and providing a pressure signal in accordance with the sensed pressure, and flow rate means connected to both density sensing means, to the pressure sensing means and to the temperature sensing means for entering known values of gas density liquid density and a surface tension of gas and for providing signals corresponding to the liquid flow rate and to the gas flow rate of the petroleum stream in accordance with the sensed density signals, the temperature signal, the pressure signal and entered known values of the gas and the liquid.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
74 words
Apparatus as described in claim 1 in which the flow rate means includes: correction means connected to the temperature sensing means and the pressure sensing means for providing a corrected liquid density signal and a corrected gas density signal corresponding to the liquid density and the gas density, respectively, corrected for the temperature and the pressure of the petroleum stream in accordance with the entered values, density the temperature signal and the pressure signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
56 words
Apparatus as described in claim 2 in which the flow rate means includes: gas superficial velocity means connected to the correction means and to both density sensing means for providing a signal corresponding to the superficial velocity of the gas in the petroleum stream in accordance with the sensed density signals from both density sensing means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
124 words
Apparatus as described in claim 3 in which the gas superficial velocity means includes: means connected to both density sensing means for deriving the velocity of the petroleum stream in accordance with the sensed density signals from the density sensing means, means connected to both density sensing means for deriving the fraction of gas in a liquid slug and the fraction of gas in a gas bubble in accordance with the sensed density signals, and means connected to at least one of the density sensing means for deriving the distance from the end of one gas bubble to the end of the next gas bubble and the length of a gas bubble in accordance with a sensed density signal from the density sensing means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
82 words
Apparatus as described in claim 4 in which the superficial gas velocity means includes: network means connected to the stream velocity means, to the gas fraction means and to the length means for providing the superficial gas velocity signal in accordance with the stream velocity signal, the gas fraction in a slug signal, the gas fraction of a bubble signal, the length from the point of one bubble to the corresponding point of another bubble, and the length of a bubble signal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
66 words
Apparatus as described in claim 5 in which the flow rate means includes: superficial liquid velocity means connected to the gas superficial velocity means, to the correction means and to the network means for providing a signal corresponding to the superficial liquid velocity in accordance with the stream velocity signal, the corrected liquid density signal, the corrected gas density signal and the superficial gas velocity signal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
68 words
Apparatus as described in claim 6 in which the flow rate means includes: circuit means connected to the network means and to the superficial liquid velocity means for providing signals corresponding to the flow rate of the gas in the petroleum stream and to the flow rate of the liquid in the petroleum stream in accordance with the superficial liquid velocity signal and the superficial gas velocity signal.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
159 words
A method of monitoring a multi-phase petroleum stream flowing in a pipe comprising the steps of: sensing the density of the petroleum stream at two locations a known distance apart, providing sensed density signals corresponding to the sensed densities and which are related to the fluid velocity of the petroleum stream, sensing the temperature of the petroleum stream and providing a temperature signal representative of the sensed temperature, sensing the pressure of the petroleum stream and providing a pressure signal in accordance with the sensed pressure, determining a density of the liquid in the petroleum stream, determining a surface tension of gas in the petroleum stream, determining a density of the gas in the petroleum stream, and providing signals corresponding to the liquid flow rate and to the gas flow rate of the petroleum stream in accordance with the sensed density signals, the temperature signal, the determined liquid density, the determined gas surface tension and the determined gas density.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
159 words
A method of monitoring a multi-phase petroleum stream flowing in a pipe comprising the steps of: sensing the density of the petroleum stream at two locations a known distance apart, providing sensed density signals corresponding to the sensed densities and which are related to the fluid velocity of the petroleum stream, sensing the temperature of the petroleum stream and providing a temperature signal representative of the sensed temperature, sensing the pressure of the petroleum stream and providing a pressure signal in accordance with the sensed pressure, determining a density of the liquid in the petroleum stream, determining a surface tension of gas in the petroleum stream, determining a density of the gas in the petroleum stream, and providing signals corresponding to the liquid flow rate and to the gas flow rate of the petroleum stream in accordance with the sensed density signals, the temperature signal, the determined liquid density, the determined gas surface tension and the determined gas density.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
50 words
A method as described in claim 8 in which the flow rate step includes: providing signals corresponding to the liquid density and the gas density corrected for the temperature and the pressure of the petroleum stream in accordance with the sensed density signals, the temperature signal and the pressure signal.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method as described in claim 9 in which the flow rate step includes: providing a gas superficial velocity signal corresponding to the superficial velocity of the gas in the petroleum stream in accordance with the sensed density signals.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
91 words
A method as described in claim 10 in which the gas superficial velocity step includes: deriving the velocity of the petroleum stream in accordance with the sensed density signals, deriving the fraction of gas in the liquid slug and the fraction of gas in a gas bubble in accordance with the sensed density signals, and deriving the distance from the end of one gas bubble to the end of the next gas bubble and the length of a gas bubble in accordance with at least one of the sensed density signals.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
65 words
A method as described in claim 11 in which the superficial gas velocity step includes: providing the superficial gas velocity signal in accordance with the stream velocity signal, the gas fraction in a slug signal, the gas fraction of a bubble signal, the length from the point of one bubble to the corresponding point of another bubble signal, and the length of a bubble signal.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method as described in claim 12 in which the flow rate step includes: providing a signal corresponding to the superficial liquid velocity in accordance with the stream velocity signal, the corrected density liquid signal, the corrected gas density signal and the superficial gas velocity signal.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
54 words
A method as described in claim 13 in which the flow rate step includes: providing signals corresponding to the flow rate of the gas in the petroleum stream and to the flow rate of the liquid in the petroleum stream in accordance with the superficial liquid velocity signal and the superficial gas velocity signal.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-12-04 | 1993-06-05 | 1993-12-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-12-04 | 1997-06-05 | 1997-12-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-12-04 | 2001-06-05 | 2001-12-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |