Multiphase Meters -- Operational Experience in the Asia-Pacific

Abstract In recent years, oil field operators in the Asia Pacific region have installed and made operational a significant number of multiphase flow meters. During the 1990's a few test meters were installed at various locations in the Asia – Pacific. The first commercially supplied multiphase meters were installed in 1998, and since then a large number of meters have been supplied for various projects and operators. Most of the installations in this area are on small, unmanned wellhead platforms with very limited power and communication. The multiphase metering technology has proven to be a very cost-effective and attractive solution for these types of fields. The paper describes and discusses some of the particular challenges and solutions for multiphase meters used on unmanned wellhead platforms. One of the main challenges is how to build confidence in the measurements, as there is normally no alternative method for verification of the measurements on the platform. Suitable operating concepts for multiphase metering at remote wellhead platforms are presented. Roxar has now supplied around 40 multiphase meters to this region, and as a consequence, a substantial amount of experience has been acquired. Operational experience and data from several installations is presented and discussed.