Production • Processing • Handling
Multiport flow selectors optimise oil and gas production testing
Using multiport flow selectors in oil and gas applications improves production testing and reservoir management. Coos van Minnen reports.
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ultiport flow selectors (MPFS) facilitate cost-effective and compact selection and diversion of fluids from individual wells for testing, without disrupting the
production from all other wells. Testing of constituent flows is a crucial part
of the production process. Oil, water, brine, condensate, gas, and other fluids must be monitored and measured regularly. Historically, wells were connected to a complex piping network. One manifold connects all wells to production. A second manifold connects the well selected for testing to a shared multi-phase flow meter or separator plus single phase flow meter set. While this conventional approach uses common valves, actuators, and piping components - it is more expensive and electrically complex than a multiport system. Fig. 1 illustrates a typical well test manifold.
During normal operation, all the wells are connected to the common production and test lines. For instance, if Well 1 needs to be tested, close valve ‘B’ and open valve ‘C’. Te flow of Well 1 is then directed to the test facility while all other wells would continue to the production line. Regardless of the test technology, individual well
flow must be diverted for testing. Typical onshore oil and gas production has wells scattered over a large area, such that it is not practical to manually open and close the manifold on/off valves. Te oil field may be in remote deserts, deep jungles, or in sub-zero environments such that local 24 x7 human intervention means additional infrastructure. Any scattered network of wells requires high investment during the green field stage of the project (CAPEX) and more maintenance (OPEX) during the operation stage. A multiport flow selector typically has eight inlet and two outlet connections. INLETS - Seven inlets connect to seven wells, while often the eighth connection is used as a parking location for the selector plug. Tis allows for an observation port for temporary maintenance, flushing and allows production of all seven wells if the test system is offline. Te internal plug diverts one well’s fluid
stream to the test port at a time. Te plug is rotated to align with the well inlet to be tested. OUTLETS - MPFS test outlet connects to the test system and the group outlet carries the flow of all other wells together to the production header. Normally the pressure drop across a MPFS is
very small, as the flow streams are only diverted, not restricted. In some applications, flow velocity will limit the maximum flow or maximum number of connected wells, but this condition is not different from using the conventional dual manifold system.
Operation can be done remotely and locally as an MPFS actuator supports numerous communication protocols. Well test systems that use multiport flow selectors
have significant advantages in construction and operations compared with traditional conventional manifold system. A single MPFS commonly replaces 14 valves and actuators and significantly reduces piping and wiring. Tese benefits are larger in offshore and sour field production. ●
Coos van Minnen, Industry Specialist, Oil & Gas/ Pipelines, is with Emerson Process Management, Dubai.
www.EmersonProcess.com/Bettis
www.engineerlive.com 69
Fig. 1. A compact and automated well test manifold.
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