Patent ID: 7763474
Filing Date: 2010-07-27
Classification: G01N,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method for performing analysis on a homogeneous sample of a pressurized multi-phase fluid stream flowing in a pipeline, the fluid stream consisting of a majority component of hydrocarbon gas, the minor component consisting of a minor proportion of one or more hydrocarbon liquids and water in the form of vapor, aerosols, droplets and/or liquid streams, the method comprising: a. injecting one or more surface active agents (“saa”) into the fluid stream in an injection zone at a rate that is sufficient to form a stable uniform foam of the gas and the one or more hydrocarbon liquids and water components; b. mixing the one or more saa with the fluid stream in a mixing zone to form a uniform foam composition flowing in the pipeline downstream of the mixing zone; c. withdrawing a portion of the foam composition from the pipeline at a sampling point; d. passing the portion of the foam composition withdrawn from the pipeline through a sampling loop that is in communication with the pipeline; e. removing a homogeneous sample of predetermined volume of the foam from the sampling loop for compositional analysis; and f. performing multiphase analysis on the foam.