Measurement of in-situ component concentrations and flow regimes in multiphase pipelines using electrical resistance tomography

在加拿大西部的重油和沥青储量的开采和加工过程中，经常会遇到重油、水和砂的混合物。这些混合物可以在地下、水平生产线、厂内输送管道和厂间管道中找到。许多因素会显著影响这些管线的吞吐量、可操作性和控制，包括：油温、流速和每种组分的量。例如，混合物中含有的任何沙子都难以运输。事实上，沙子越多，管道的操作就越困难，管道流速降低甚至完全停止的可能性就越大。有趣的是，经验表明，额外的水使石油更容易运输，但更难运输沙子。运营商总是在这两个条件之间寻求平衡。用这些资金购买的设备使我们能够“看到”管道内部的油-水-砂混合物流过。我们将能够知道管道中每种成分的含量，以及管道中哪种成分的浓度最高。我们将使用该设备进行的研究将帮助我们了解固体、水和油在管道中流动时相互作用的方式。这将有助于公司设计更好，更有效的石油生产方法和运输流程。

Mixtures of heavy oil, water and sand are often encountered during the recovery and processing of western Canada's heavy oil and bitumen reserves. These mixtures can be found in underground, horizontal production lines, in-plant transfer pipes and intersite pipelines. Many factors can significantly impact the throughput, operability and control of these lines, including: oil temperature, flow velocity, and the amount of each component. For example, any sand contained in the mixture is difficult to transport. In fact, the more sand there is, the more difficult the pipeline is to operate and the more likely it is that the pipeline flow rate will be reduced or even stopped altogether. Interestingly, experience has shown that extra water makes it easier to transport the oil but more difficult to transport the sand. Operators are always looking for a balance between these two conditions. The equipment purchased with these funds allows us to "see" inside the pipe as oil-water-sand mixtures flow past. We will be able to tell how much of each component is in the pipe, and where in the pipe has the highest concentrations of each component. Studies that we will conduct with this equipment will help us understand the ways that solids, water and oil interact as they flow in a pipeline. This will help companies design better, more efficient oil production methods and transport processes.