Patent ID: 8620611
Filing Date: 2013-12-31
Classification: E21B,G01F

Abstract:
1. A method of estimating a rate of fluid flow with a flow meter comprising: (a) directing a flow stream through the flow meter and estimating a bulk density of the flow stream; (b) estimating respective amounts of gas and liquid flow in the flow stream based on the estimate of bulk density and properties of fluid making up the flow stream; (c) estimate an overreading error in the flow meter based on the amounts of gas and liquid flow of step (b) and properties of fluid making up the flow stream; (d) reestimating amounts of the gas and liquid flow of step (b) using the estimated overreading error; and (e) reestimating amounts of the gas and liquid flow of step (d) using a discharge coefficient of the flow meter based on a gas volume fraction of the reestimated amounts of the gas and liquid flow of step (d); further comprising estimating a Reynolds number for a combination of the gas and liquid flow of step (d), wherein the discharge coefficient of step (e) is based on the Reynolds number; and wherein when the gas volume fraction is greater than 50%, the reestimated gas flow of step (e) is obtained by multiplying the discharge coefficient with the gas flow of step (d), and wherein when the gas volume fraction is less than or equal to 50%, the reestimated gas flow of step (e) is obtained by multiplying the discharge coefficient with the gas flow of step (b).