Gas/oil/water flow measurement by electrical capacitance tomography

In the oil industry, it is important to measure gas/oil/water flows produced from oil wells. To determine gas and oil production, it is necessary to measure the water-in-liquid ratio (WLR), liquid fraction and some other flow-rate related parameters. A research team from The University of Manchester and Schlumberger Cambridge Research Ltd have developed a non-radioactive gas/oil/water flow experimental apparatus based on a flow conditioning device, multi-modality electrical capacitance tomography (ECT) and microwave sensors. This paper presents a model-based image reconstruction algorithm for the ECT system, which is used to derive WLR and the thickness of liquid layer of oil-continuous annular flows formed by the flow conditioning device. The experimental results of the ECT sensor tested on TUV-NEL's Multiphase Flow Facility are presented.