Nederlandse Aardolie Maatschappij (NAM) deployed multiphase flowmeters at its onshore Pernis West facility to obtain oil well performance data without the need for traditional well-test equipment.
According to the well-test service provider, Expro North Sea Ltd., the multiphase meters eliminated the need to depressurize the system and flare hydrocarbons. It says data were collected from three wells, each with different flowrates and conditions, without production disruption.
Expro describes the process as having a minimal pressure drop across the system that allowed the produced fluids to be routed to a nearby production facility without recompression of the hydrocarbons, thereby reducing the hazards associated with this process.
Also, it says the meters eliminated problems associated with foaming and emulsions that can occur in traditional separation processes.
Fluenta AS, Bergen, Norway supplied their mutiphase flowmeter (Model 1900 VI) on short-term rental.
