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CEESI is now in the process of completing the initial installation of small scale multiphase research loop. It is expected that this research loop will begin initial operation in July 2004. After the initial evaluation of the small scale loop is complete, additional capacity is planned to extend the capabilities of multiphase loop.
The test pressure within the multiphase research loop will be between 100 and 1150 psi (6.5 and 80 bar). The temperature will be between 60ºF and 150ºF (15ºC and 65ºC). The gaseous fluid will be natural gas with a methane mole fraction near 0.94. Initially, the liquids will be water (pure) and gas condensate. A detailed analysis of the liquids will be provided for each test conducted. At some time in the future, consideration will be given to testing with water that has a salt content.
The multiphase research loop is designed as a single pass liquid system. The gas is circulated around the loop, but the liquid is passed through the multiphase meter only once. The liquids (water and oil) will be individually measured and injected into the gas stream upstream of the multiphase meter. The gas stream will convey the liquids through the test meter and then into a large separator. The gas from the separator will be returned to the compressors and recirculated around the loop. Our history with these separators shows that very little or no liquid carry-over occurs at the proposed gas velocities.
The liquid collected in the separator will be conveyed to holding tanks where liquid separation can occur over time. The water will be discarded; and if the purity of the condensate is good, it will be reused.
The following tables are intended to show the gas velocities and GVF (gas volume fraction) capabilities for three different pipe sizes. The tables are for 2", 4", and 8" schedule 80 pipes. The tables contain "X" at those conditions that can be obtained now. The "-" are those conditions that can be obtained when additional capacity is added.
Since no calibration or test facility will ever be able to obtain all conditions where the petroleum producers operate, we think that the scaling (sizing) effects need to be studied and/or confirmed. Therefore if a 2" multiphase meter could be tested over a broad range of conditions, and the same type of meter tested over limited conditions in larger pipe sizes, the scaling properties can be established or verified.
2" Schedule 80 Pipe
ID = 1.939"
|
Gas Velocity m/s (ft/s) |
GVF
0.0 |
GVF
0.99 |
GVF
0.98 |
GVF
0.96 |
GVF
0.94 |
GVF
0.92 |
GVF
0.90 |
|
1.5
(4.9) |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
|
3.0
(9.8) |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
|
4.5
(15) |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
|
6.0
(20) |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
|
7.5
(25) |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
- |
|
9.0
(30) |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
- |
- |
|
10.5
(35) |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
- |
- |
|
12.0
(40) |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
- |
- |
|
13.5
(45) |
X |
X |
X |
X |
- |
- |
- |
|
15.0
(50) |
X |
X |
X |
X |
- |
- |
|
|
16.5
(55) |
X |
X |
X |
X |
- |
- |
|
|
18.0
(60) |
X |
X |
X |
X |
- |
- |
|
|
19.5
(65) |
X |
X |
X |
X |
- |
|
|
|
21.0
(70) |
X |
X |
X |
- |
- |
|
|
4" Schedule 80 Pipe
ID = 3.826"
|
Gas Velocity m/s (ft/s) |
GVF
0.0 |
GVF
0.99 |
GVF
0.98 |
GVF
0.96 |
GVF
0.94 |
GVF
0.92 |
GVF
0.90 |
|
1.5
(4.9) |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
|
3.0
(9.8) |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
- |
- |
|
4.5
(15) |
X |
X |
X |
X |
- |
- |
|
|
6.0
(20) |
X |
X |
X |
- |
- |
|
|
|
7.5
(25) |
X |
X |
X |
- |
|
|
|
|
9.0
(30) |
X |
X |
X |
- |
|
|
|
|
10.5
(35) |
X |
X |
- |
- |
|
|
|
|
12.0
(40) |
X |
X |
- |
|
|
|
|
|
13.5
(45) |
X |
X |
- |
|
|
|
|
|
15.0
(50) |
X |
X |
- |
|