Electromagnetic Technique for Hydrocarbon and Sand Transport Monitoring: Proof of Concept

Electromagnetic metering offers significant promise in the measurement of low-conductivity medium like in multiphase flow. Such measurements rely on the measurement of conductivity contrasts formed by two medium of substances, one substance being conductive and the other being non-conductive. In these conditions, it is assumed that the permittivity-induced displacement current is small compared to eddy current induced by conductivity, therefore the displacement current is usually ignored. The present study demonstrates, through solution of the electromagnetic forward problem and pilot tests, that the temporal, spatial and frequency related permittivity and conductivity changes are all captured by the induced electrical voltage measurement. Permittivity reflects in the amplitude and the conductivity reflects both in the amplitude and the phase angle of the voltage. The weight of each parameter to the voltage measurement is studied here. The findings of the study disclose that an electromagnetic metering system may offer advantages in continuously monitoring and measuring hydrocarbon contents and solid concentrations via both the amplitude and phase shift changes.