FLOWATCH MULTI PHASE FLOW METER

Inputs & Outputs

 FLOWATCH MULTI PHASE FLOW METER HGVF version
(Inputs & Outputs))

•The system required a certain number of input parameters used on the

calculation of the results, some parameters are used for the flow calculations
some others for the conversion from Process (actual) conditions to Standard
conditions.
•Conversion from actual to standard conditions are not straightforward and
requires knowledge of fluid properties and reservoir parameters
•Some values come from PVT studies
•Other values can be measured on field
•Those inputs are mainly divided in two groups, Fluids properties and PVT
parameters.
Fluids properties PVT parameters
•Oil density •Oil shrinkage factor
•Water density •Gas compressibility
•Oil permittivity •Gas in solution
•Water conductivity •Reference pressure
•Gas specific gravity. &Temperature
 FLOWATCH MULTI PHASE FLOW METER HGVF version
(Inputs & Outputs))

Mainly all parameters mentioned are available on PVT studies/reports provided from the oil
companies.
• Often samples for PVT analysis are taken in the beginning
of the well production, not always coincident with the
commissioning of the MPFM.
• It typically happened that PVT reports are 10 years older
that MPFM commissioning date or even more.
• Oil density, Gas SG may change during the life of the well,
due to production.
• This doesn’t means that the PVT report is/are hopples but
it need to be used to extrapolate only some information.
• It is important to know which are the right parameter to
take into consideration and which not.
• Oil and water density can be easily measured from
portable analyzer, by taking samples.
• Oil permittivity is typically a parameter difficult to get, but
it is also a parameter not very critical.
 FLOWATCH MULTI PHASE FLOW METER HGVF version
(Inputs & Outputs))
The MPFM is measuring at certain pressure and temperature which are different from
reservoir or Standard (stock tank) condition.
This is a very important starting point, especially when the measuring pressure is going to be
high. Pressure and temperature effects all fluid properties and this must be taken into
consideration.

Here gas begin

to evolve

Above bubble Below bubble

point point
 FLOWATCH MULTI PHASE FLOW METER HGVF version
(Inputs & Outputs))

Fluid properties description:

Based on previous exposed reasons all fluid properties parameters in use on MPFM
configuration should be given at
ACTUAL condition and not at STD.

Here to the side is reported an

abstract from Flowatch Fluid and
PVT properties manual.
Due to the pressure and
temperature effect all fluid
properties should be entered
together with related parameters
reported here below:
•Reference Pressure
•Reference Temperature
•Correction gradients for pressure
and temperature.
 FLOWATCH MULTI PHASE FLOW METER HGVF version
(Inputs & Outputs))
From fluid properties parameters oil density input and related coefficients.
Oil density change function of pressure and temperature, therefore density from API is not a good value to
be used as input for the calculation if no gradients are available, especially in case of high pressure
application.
Value and coefficient can be extrapolated from PVT report if available or oil density measured from sample
can be used in combination with correction gradients calculated from PVT report.
In extreme cases if nothing is available Historical data or black oil standard calculation can be used to
determine oil density at ACT condition.

Overestimation of oil density will

generate underestimation of liquid
flow rate either mass or volumetric,
especially at low WC.
Pressure and temperature gradients
are always negative on our range of
application.
 FLOWATCH MULTI PHASE FLOW METER HGVF version
(Inputs & Outputs))
From fluid properties parameters oil permittivity input and related coefficients.

Oil permittivity is a parameter difficult to measure in the field and also most oil companies don’t even know
what this parameter is.
The oil permittivity value can be extrapolated using mathematical correlation starting from oil density.
It is not much effected from temperature and pressure variation this is why normally the correction gradients
are always not entered, means we use zero.

Normally default value is 2.35

Oil permittivity normal range is
within 2.2 and 2.45.
A possible solution to measure it is
to fill the sensor with pure crude is
available and possible.
Have accurate permittivity value is
especially important when GVF is
High and or when WC is very low,
2-5% as example.
 FLOWATCH MULTI PHASE FLOW METER HGVF version
(Inputs & Outputs)

From fluid properties parameters water density input and related coefficients.
Water density change mainly function of process temperature on our range of application, it is
also changing function of water salinity.
Water density can be measured from water sample in the same way we measure oil density
from sample or it can be estimated by measuring the water conductivity/salinity in combination
with well know mathematical correlation. From the correlation we also calculate the
temperature correction gradients.

Overestimation of water density will

generate underestimation of liquid
flow rate either mass or volumetric,
especially at high WC.
Temperature gradients
are always negative on our range of
application.
 FLOWATCH MULTI PHASE FLOW METER HGVF version
(Inputs & Outputs))
From fluid properties parameters water conductivity.
Water conductivity change function of salinity and fluid temperature.
This parameter can be measured from a (oil free) water sample by using portable conductivity meter.
It can also be calculated starting from salt concentration which can be either measured in the filed or from
lab analysis.
For this parameter is not required to input any temperature and pressure coefficient because Flowatch
calculation SW have a built-in conductivity correlation.

Over or under estimation of this parameter

will produce under or over estimation of
WC.
Is in any case better to enter water
conductivity as close as possible to the
operating condition to minimize the effect
of correction gradients.
Also in case of use of a conductivity meter it
Is important to set the reading mode
to ACT not compensated.
 FLOWATCH MULTI PHASE FLOW METER HGVF version
(Inputs & Outputs))
From fluid properties parameters Gas specific gravity.
Gas SG can easily be measured from a gas sample using portable SG meter (Ranarex for
example).
For this parameter is not required to input any temperature and pressure coefficient because
Flowatch calculation SW have a built-in correlation, just enter gas SG at STD condition.
In case of SG value is extrapolated from PVT report is important to use SG from DIFFERENTIAL
VAPORIZATION test or from SEPRATOR TEST, which are the mostly representative of the free gas
condition at MPFM.
Also select a pressure range as
close as possible to the MPFM
operating condition.
 FLOWATCH MULTI PHASE FLOW METER HGVF version
(Inputs & Outputs))
PVT Parameters description:
As per fluid properties parameter also PVT parameters in use on MPFM configuration should be
given at ACTUAL condition and not at STD.

Here to the side is reported an

abstract from Flowatch Fluid and PVT
properties manual.
Due to the pressure and temperature
effect all PVT parameters should be
entered together with related
parameters:

•Reference Pressure
•Reference Temperature
•Correction gradients for pressure
and temperature.
 FLOWATCH MULTI PHASE FLOW METER HGVF version
(Inputs & Outputs))
From PVT parameters menu oil shrinkage factor input and related coefficients.
Shrinkage factor change function of pressure an temperature of the fluid. The value and the
related pressure and temperature gradients can be extrapolated from a PVT report, suggested
test to be used are DIFFERENTIAL VAPORIZATION and SEPARATOR TEST. It is typically difficult to
calculate a temperature correction coefficient doe to the fact that not always on PVT report are
available plots related to temperature variation.

For that reason mainly we only use pressure

correction gradient.
Entered value must be always bigger that 1, (>1).
Typically on our range of application correction
gradients are always positive.
If no PVT report is available is possible to use black
oil formula to determine a value to enter.
Other possibility is to take a pure oil sample under
operating pressure and temperature and determine
an experimental shrinkage factor.
 FLOWATCH MULTI PHASE FLOW METER HGVF version
(Inputs & Outputs))
From PVT parameters menu Gas compressibility input and related coefficients.
Gas compressibility (Z), change function of pressure and temperature of the gas. This parameter
is used to calculate the gas flow at STD condition and his effect is visible especially at high
pressure application. For low pressure application the effect can be consider negligible.
Value for Z can be extrapolated from PVT report or from gas sample analysis with a GC. In case
of PVT report is preferable to use values from DIFFERENTIAL VAPORIZATION or SEPARATOR TEST.
As per the other parameter is important to select the right range of pressure for the calculation
of the gradients.

The value entered on the SW must be

always bigger than 1, (>1) because on the
SW we are using 1/Z.
For this reason is important to correctly
calculate the pressure and temperature
gradients.
Pressure gradients typically positive
Temperature gradients typically negative
 FLOWATCH MULTI PHASE FLOW METER HGVF version
(Inputs & Outputs))
From PVT parameters menu Gas in solution input and related coefficients.
Gas in solution is used to calculate the gas that will flash out of the oil when pressure will go
from ACT to STD condition. For obvious reason the effect of this parameter is visible only on the
STD gas flow rate and not on ACT. The value and the related pressure and temperature gradients
can be extrapolated only from a PVT report, suggested test to be used are DIFFERENTIAL
VAPORIZATION and SEPARATOR TEST. It is typically difficult to calculate a temperature
correction coefficient doe to the fact that not always on PVT report are available plots related to
temperature variation.

For that reason mainly we only use pressure

correction gradient.
If no PVT report is available is possible to use
black oil formula to determine a value to enter.
 FLOWATCH MULTI PHASE FLOW METER HGVF version
(Inputs & Outputs))
From PVT parameters menu reference Pressure.
Those are the value used as reference STD pressure and temperature for the conversion from
ACT to STD condition.
 FLOWATCH MULTI PHASE FLOW METER HGVF version
(Inputs & Outputs))

Outputs/results from the MPFM are reported here below:

ACTUAL VALUES: STANDARD VALUES:
•Oil flow rate •Oil flow rate
•Water flow rate •Water flow rate
•Liquid flow rate •Liquid flow rate
•Gas flow rate •Gas flow rate
•WC •WC
•GVF •GOR
•Pressure
•Temperature
 FLOWATCH MULTI PHASE FLOW METER HGVF version
(Inputs & Outputs))
RESULTS FROM ACTUAL TO STANDARD:
•Oil flow rate @ STD= Oil Flow Rate @ ACT / Shrinkage factor

•Water flow rate @ STD= Water Flow Rate @ ACT

•Liquid flow rate @ STD= Oil Flow rate @ STD + Water flow rate

•TOT Gas flow rate @ STD= Gas flow rate FREE @ STD + Gas flow rate from Rs (GOR in solution)

GAS flow rate FREE @ STD= Gas flow rate @ ACT * K factor
Kfactor= (Pline ABS/Pstd ABS) * (Tstd ABS/Tline ABS) *(Zfactor ACT / Z STD)

Gas flow rate from Rs= GOR in Solution (@ P&T)* Oil flow rate @ STD

•WC @ STD= Water flow rate @ STD/ Liquid flow rate @ STD

•GOR= Gas flow rate @ STD/ Oil flow rate @ STD

 FLOWATCH MULTI PHASE FLOW METER HGVF version
(Inputs & Outputs))

GOR in Solution:

From reservoir condition to

measuring condition.
This GOR represent the Gas flow
rate in FREE state (gas) that
MPFM will measure

Rs= GOR in Solution represent gas

that can not be measured. STD Operating Reservoir
pressure pressure pressure
 FLOWATCH MULTI PHASE FLOW METER HGVF version
(Inputs & Outputs))

RESULTS FROM ACTUAL TO STANDARD:

•Oil flow rate @ STD always smaller than Oil Flow Rate @ ACT (because oil shrink effect)

•Liquid flow rate @ STD always smaller that = Liquid Flow rate @ ACT (because oil shrink)

•Gas flow rate @ STD always bigger than Gas flow rate @ ACT (because gas expansion and gas
flashing effect)

•WC @ STD= always bigger than WC @ ACT (because oil shrink effect on the oil)
 FLOWATCH MULTI PHASE FLOW METER HGVF version
(Inputs & Outputs))

Gas Flow rate calculation on HGVF skid:

•Gas flow rate TOT @ ACT=Gas flow rate @ ACT from MPFM + Gas flow rate @ ACT from (V-
cone or Vortex) (reported @ MPFM pressure)

Gas flow rate @ STD=Gas flow rate TOT @ ACT * Kfactor

Kfactor= (Pline ABS/Pref ABS) * (Tref ABS/Tline ABS) *(Zfactor ACT / Z STD)

•Gas flow rate TOT @ STD=Gas flow rate @ STD+ (Oil Flow Rate @ STD * GOR in Solution)
Thank you!

Questions are welcome