Abstract
The Dual-Energy Venturi Multiphase Flowmeter (MPFM), has gained acceptance within the Oil and Gas Industry as an accurate and cost-effective solution to multiphase metering. has now been implemented by the Australian Petroleum industry on the Apache Energy Simpson Alpha, Bravo and Gibson remote mini-wellhead platforms.
Eliminating the conventional test separator has led to wide-ranging improvements in engineering, financial and Operations areas. In addition, the field data are being used in a wide range of new and beneficial applications, including new field development, rapid deployment, artificial lift optimization and well-clean up optimization operations.
Integration of the MPFM packages into Customer supervisory control and data acquisition system (SCADA) and the connectivity achievable through these compact metering packages, has shown the benefits the customer may obtain by providing real-time data to operations and reservoir critical management functions. Connectivity for remote fault diagnosis and maintenance actions significantly reduces Field Service Operational Expenditure (OPEX) costs, and nonproductive time for field service personnel, which is particularly beneficial for installations in areas that lack infrastructure.
The applications, and commissioning of the MPFM packages and other low-cost technologies are illustrated in the paper. The straightforward nature of the Vx* multiphase well testing technology installation process brings distinct advantages to these applications, provided that methodical preparation is performed beforehand.
The key to the success of the multiphase flowmeter, as a tool for well performance diagnostics and production optimization, is its high availability and long-term performance stability, underpinned by the local and regional support network available to customers.
In the future, challenges remain in the interpretation of the new information being gathered, which document previously unrecorded inflow and outflow behaviors, with unmatched resolution and dynamics.
