A positive displacement piston pump that can pump multiphase fluids by separating the fluid into its different components inside the pump before pumping the fluids. A reciprocating piston mounted inside the pump barrel divides the barrel into two chambers, with each chamber having an opening. Accumulators located above the chambers and below the pump inlet provide a space for the multiphase fluids entering the pump to separate before entering the chamber. As the multiphase enters each accumulator, gravity causes the liquid to sink and the gas to rise separating the different phases, preferably allowing liquid to enter the chambers before the gas. When the piston moves through the chambers forcing the fluid through outlet valves located on the top side of the chamber the gas will exit the chamber, the accumulator, and the pump before the liquids. The piston moves through the pump barrel in one direction causing the chamber in that direction to decrease in volume thereby forcing the multiphase fluid in that chamber out through an outlet valve and into the pipeline. Simultaneously, fluid from the source pipeline is drawn into the other chamber comprised of the part of the pump barrel in a direction opposite the movement of the piston.
The present invention provides apparatus and methods for handling fluids returning from a well. The fluids are introduced into a separator and a separated gas stream is recovered or recycled. The gas stream may comprise more than one phase. The separated gas stream is urged through a multiphase pump before it is recovered. Alternatively, the return fluids may pass through a multiphase pump before it is introduced into the separator.
A method and device for transferring a multiphase flow to a predetermined location through a pipe. The multiphase flow is comprised of at least a liquid phase and a gas phase. The multiphase flow is provided to a flow divider that diverts a gas portion from the multiphase flow. A compressor and a pump are in fluid communication with the flow divider. The main gas portion is boosted by the compressor, and the residual liquid/gas portion is boosted by the pump. A recombination manifold then recombines the gas portion and the residual liquid portion. A single pipe receives the recombined multiphase flow and transfers it to a predetermined location.
The present invention includes a method for multiphase metering of multiphase flow. the method begins with reducing gas volume to about 20% or less, then pumping the flow stream through two meters, a cut meter and a mass flow meter, arranged in series. Computations may be made on the flow stream to determine net oil rate, water cut, and gas fraction in the flow stream.
A method and device for transferring a multiphase flow to a predetermined location through a pipe. The multiphase flow is comprised of at least a liquid phase and a gas phase. The multiphase flow is provided to a flow divider that diverts a gas portion from the multiphase flow. A compressor and a pump are in fluid communication with the flow divider. The main gas portion is boosted by the compressor, and the residual liquid/gas portion is boosted by the pump. A recombination manifold then recombines the gas portion and the residual liquid portion. A single pipe receives the recombined multiphase flow and transfers it to a predetermined location.
