Results from First Campaign of Field Testing of Multiphase Flow Meters Conducted in Saudi Arabian Wet Gas-Condensate Producers

Abstract Proper testing and measuring of a gas-condensate well is essential to ascertain the state of the hydrocarbon system at reservoir conditions and to plan the best production and recovery program for the reservoir. At surface, the volumetric measurement of three phase flow of a wet gas well has been considered challenging. Existing conventional metering devices and ordinary multiphase flow meters (MPFMs) are usually incapable of providing accurate measurement of flow rates in a dominating high gas volume fraction. Portable separators equipped with liquid gauge tanks are still considered accurate, but are bulky and expensive. This paper discusses the results obtained from tests conducted using multiphase flow meters in wet gas-condensate producers at a wide range of flowing conditions. The meters were installed in conjunction with a regular three-phase test separator, and the objective of the tests was to measure meter accuracy in comparison with the data obtained from the conventional test separator. Obtaining accurate three-phase data in wet gas producers poses a significant challenge for the majority of conventional multiphase flow meters, because of the high-gas volume fraction (95 % and above) nature of the wells. The paper also discusses some lessons learned, challenges and uncertainties associated with accurate flow measurement of a wet gas well encountered throughout the testing, as well as other important observations. The tests were conducted by Saudi Aramco over a four-month period using two MPFMs (A and B) in five different wells, spread out throughout the Ghawar field.The tests were conducted in wells producing at rates ranging from 10 to 40 MMSCFD, and condensate-gas ratios ranging from 30 to 320 Bbls/MMSCFD. Three tests were conducted in each gas producer, totaling 15 tests. The testing concluded that both meters require technological upgrading to meet the acceptance criteria in measuring the three phase flow with acceptable accuracy.