Patent ID: 6591700
Filing Date: 2003-07-15
Classification: B09C,E21B,G01F

Abstract:
A method for retrofitting a Baroball valve having an upper chamber, lower riser pipe, and a ball valve mechanism positioned therebetween, to provide for mass flow measurements at low pressure differentials from a subsurface area, said method comprising:a. forming a first static pressure port in the chamber housing above said valve mechanism, said chamber being in communication with the atmosphere through an exhaust pipe; b. forming a second static pressure port in the riser pipe in fluid communication with the chamber; c. connecting the first and the second pressure ports to a pressure measuring device to measure the pressure drop due to flow from the lower riser pipe to the upper chamber across said ball valve; d. positioning said riser pipe so that it is in fluid communication with a well formed in said subsurface area; e. developing a standard curve that relates measuring device positions to flow rate through said valve; and f. reading the pressure measuring device and comparing the reading to said standard curve for determining the mass flow through the mass flow through the valve.