Patent ID: 6134951
Filing Date: 2000-10-24
Classification: G01F

Abstract:
A method of determining the water content of an oil stream, comprising the steps of:measuring the mass flow of the oil stream at a first location while the stream is under backpressure;diverting from the stream at a second location downstream of the first location, a known sample portion of the stream;separating water from the sample and measuring the water content of the sample;returning the sample to the oil stream; and,calculating the water content of the oil stream from said water content of the sample and the known portion of the oil stream represented by the sample;wherein the oil stream includes gas and wherein the step of separating water from the sample and measuring the proportion of the water in the sample is performed by delivering the sample to a vessel, heating the vessel to cause water and gas to evaporate, separating the water and gas, measuring the flow volume of gas and the flow volume of water, removing oil from a lower region of said vessel, measuring the flow volume of the oil, and comparing the measured flow volumes for water, oil and gas to determine the proportion of water in the sample.