GB2453456A - System for measuring components of a three-component gas-liquid flow of oil wells - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention can be used in the oil-producing industry for controlling a well flow rate. The inventive system comprises three coaxially mounted high-frequency resonators, each of which is provided with two mutually orthogonal inputs-outputs, short-circuited limiting and short-circuited limiting-dividing coils, a pressure gauge, a temperature sensor, a computing-control unit, a controllable high-frequency generator, a controllable switch, a regime controller, delay units, input amplifiers and six receiving / transmitting paths, each of which comprises two coupling capacitors, an input amplifier and an analog-to-digital converter. The invention is based on a method for a high radio frequency sounding of a controllable flow in two mutually orthogonal directions, which makes it possible to measure the relative content of the components thereof, and uses a speed autocorrelatively measuring method for measuring the flow speed, thereby making it possible to componentwisely calculate the volume flow rate of a gas-liquid medium according to said measurement results. The flow regime of a gas-liquid medium, carried out by means of the controller, makes it possible to reliably determine the componentwise flow rate even at substantially unstable flow conditions and a method for mutually orthogonally sounding a controllable medium, used in the system, makes it possible to measure even at the totally stable flow of a homogeneous medium, when the controllable flow is devoid of local heterogeneities of a compositional analysis. When necessary, the system is able, by using information received from pressure and temperature sensors, to compute and transmit information about the componentwise mass-flow rate of a gas-liquid medium to external systems.

Description

SYSTEM FOR MEASURING COMPONENTS OF A THREE-COMPONENT

GAS-LIQUID FLOW OF OIL WELLS

The claimed invention is related to measuring instruments and may be used in oil mining industry for the control of the output of oil wells.

There is known a system of measurement for component-wise consumption of multiphase flow from oil wells, including oil, gas and water (see Patent of Russian Federation No. 2270981, IPC GO1FI5/08, GO1F1/74, GO1F1/84, E21B47/10).

This system includes a separator, providing for the separation of gas and liquid components of the controlled flow, as well as a microwave moisture meter for identifying the content of water in the liquid component using the method of radio sounding.

This system has a drawback, consisting in the impossibility of identifying the composition of a multiphase flow without its prior separation: mechanical splitting into the liquid and gaseous fractions.

This drawback does not exist in the systems of measurement for component-wise consumption of three-component gas-liquid flow, using a radio wave sensor of component-wise composition of the flow, an ultrahigh frequency oscillator and a calculation and control unit (see Patent of Russian Federation No. 2063615, IPC G01F1156, RU Patent No. 43068, IPC GO1F1/74 and RU Patent No. 2275604, IPC GO1F1/74). Such systems do not require separation of the gas-liquid flow, however they have another drawback consisting in the impossibility of reliable radio sounding of the controlled flow in case of salt water presence in it. This drawback is caused by the fading of microwave radiation originating from ultrahigh frequency oscillators of known designs in substantively electroconductive salt water. Since the content of salts dissolved in the well water makes dozens of grams per liter, well water is highly electroconductive, which makes it largely not radioparent for microwave radiation, thus not providing for a reliable radio control of water content using ultrahigh frequencies.

The closest analogue for the proposed invention in terms of technical subject matter and attained results is a known system of measurement for component-wise consumption -v 2 � a multicomponent gas-liquid flow. Such system incorporates a radio wave sensor equipped with high frequency resonators, each of which is a zigzag-shaped conductor in the form of brass wire winding, as well as an electronic calculation and control device, consisting of a calculation and control unit and a controlled high-frequency oscillator in the form of a controlled frequency synthesizer (see Russian Patent Application No. 2002100228/28, IPC GO1F1/00, GO1F5/00). This system is regarded as the closest analogue (prototype) for the proposed invention.

The functioning of the known system is based on two methods of measurement.

Component-wise flow composition measurement is performed using the method of high-frequency radio sounding of a controlled medium by a high-frequency resonator. This method uses such informative parameters of the signal reflecting the component-wise composition of the controlled medium, as the parameters of resonant absorption of a high-frequency electromagnetic field by this medium, such absorption taking place on several resonance frequencies, for example, on two resonance frequencies F in a high-frequency diapason.

The flow rate of the controlled flow in the known system is measured using the autocorrelated method for rate measurement, based on the measurement of the transit time for a certain basal length of a radio wave sensor by a local inhomogeneity of flow composition. This time is identified judging either by the upper limit of the cross-correlation function (CCF) of temporal realizations of two high-frequency radio wave signals, characterizing this inhomogeneity, or by the lower limit of a discriminatory characteristic, which is a CCF of the first derivative of temporal realization for one of the above signals and of temporal realization of the other one of these signals.

The radio wave sensor of this system consists of successively installed first and second open, cylinder shaped, high-frequency radio wave resonators, each of which is equipped with its own input and output. The electronic calculation and control device of this system consists of a calculation and control unit, controlled high-frequency oscillator, input amplifier, as well as two transmitting sections, each of which is a concatenation of input amplifier, amplitude detector and analog-digital converter.

Each of the outputs of the first and the second open cylinder shaped resonators of the known system is coupled with one of the corresponding inputs of a calculation and control unit via one of the corresponding transmitting sections. The inputs of the first and me second resonator are coupled to the output of the controlled high-frequency oscillator via the input amplifier. The input and the output of each of the above resonators are coupled each with one of the two different diametrically opposite spots on a short-circuited zigzag-shaped conductor of a corresponding resonator. Each of the two open cylinder-shaped high-frequency radio wave resonators in the known system is a brass copper winding, which is laid in the shape of a zigzag on the outer cylindrical surface of the dielectric pipe of said high-frequency resonator. The pipe is mounted coaxially inside the pipe-shaped metallic body of this high-frequency resonator.

Due to the fact, that the known system uses high-frequency electromagnetic field as a radio sounding signal, this system is capable of sounding the gas-liquid flow on a frequency, which is relatively low as compared to microwave radiation. Hence the possibility to reliably control the parameters of a gas-liquid flow even if salt water is present in it.

However, this system still has a drawback, consisting in a low precision of component-wise consumption measurement, such low precision being characteristic for both ultimate modes of the controlled flow -in case of a steady or unsteady flow.

In case of substantially unsteady flow of a gas-liquid medium, which is characteristic for the majority of Russian oil wells, the composition and rate of the flow are abruptly chaotically changing in the course of time, resulting in significant mistakes caused by these abrupt and chaotic flow changes.

As far as steadily functioning oil wells are concerned, the composition and rate of the flow are largely constant, and the controlled medium is a practically homogenous fine-dyspersated mixture of certain components. It is difficult to use the known system in such wells, since the autocorrelated radio wave method of flow rate measurement using the unilateral radio sounding of the controlled medium may be reliable only in case of pronounced local inhomogeneities, which are absent in a steady flow.

The object of the proposed invention is the increase in the reliability and accuracy of the measurement of component-wise consumption in case of both unsteady and steady flows of the controlled medium.

To attain the set object, there is proposed a system of measurement for three-component gas-liquid flow components consumption in oil wells, such system consisting of coaxially installed first and second resonators, each of which is a short-circuited zigzag-shaped conductor in the shape of a rectangular meander, located on the outer cylindrical surface of a dielectric pipe, such pipe being coaxially installed inside a pipe-shaped metallic body; of a controlled high-frequency oscillator; an input amplifier; a calculation and control unit; two transmitting sections; pressure sensor and temperature sensor, located inside the body, the output of each of them being coupled to a corresponding input of a calculation and control unit, each of the two resonators being connected to one of the inputs of a calculation and control unit via its transmitting section, having its output coupled to the input of a controlled high-frequency oscillator, where each of the transmitting sections is a concatenation of an output amplifier, amplitude detector and analog-digital converter.

The invention is distinguished from its prototype by the fact, that the system has an additional third resonator, which is installed coaxially to the first and the second ones on the common dielectric pipe inside the common body; each of the three resonators has the first input-output and orthogonally installed second input-output, the first and the second input-outputs of each resonators being located on mutually diametrally perpendicular planes. Besides that, the system additionally includes four transmitting sections, identical to the two already existing ones, as well as a mode controller and a delay unit, which has its input coupled with the output of a mode controller; an input amplifier and controlled commutator, being coupled with the output of a controlled high-frequency oscillator and having two outputs, each of which is coupled with an input of one of the input amplifiers, such commutator being connected via its controlling input with a calculation and control unit. Each of the six transmitting sections in the system is additionally equipped with an input and two separating condensators, interconnected at a common spot, one of such condensators being coupled with the input of an output amplifier, and the other one -with the input of the corresponding transmitting section, every transmitting section together with its separating condensators being separately shielded and forming a send-receive section. Every input-output of every resonator in the system is connected to only one the send-receive sections -to the common point of its separating condensators. In this case the output of analog-digital converter, coupled with one of the inputs of a calculation and control unit, acts as an output of every send-receive section. Every send-receive section, connected to the first input-output of one of the resonators, is coupled via its input with one of the input amplifiers, and every one of the rest of send-receive ctions is coupled with the other input amplifier. The output of each of the send-receive sections of the third resonator is additionally coupled with one of the inputs of a mode controller, and the output of a delay unit is coupled with a calculation and control unit, the output of the latter being connected with the control unit of a delay unit. For precise spatial confinement of the electromagnetic field, which is excited in each of the resonators, the terminal segments of a dielectric pipe have a restrictive coil, restrictive- separating coils being also present between the resonators. Restrictive coils, restrictive-separating coils and zigzag-shaped conductors of each resonator are rectangularly shaped in cross-section. The following proportions have been set between the size of zigzag-shaped conductors, restrictive and restrictive-separating coils: zigzag-shaped conductor, restrictive coil or restrictive-separating coil rectangular cross-section thickness b is defined using the following inequality: b�=KF2, where Fmax is the upper limit of signal frequency at the output of a controlled high-frequency oscillator; K is a proportionality dimension factor, zigzag-shaped conductor width a equals the width of a gap between its adjacent parallel segments, and is limited by a two-sided inequality lOb�=a�=5b The functioning of the proposed system is elucidated by Figures 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.

Figure 1 displays the functional scheme of the proposed system, Figure 2 shows resonators dissection, Figure 3 -a section of a zigzag-shaped conductor of a resonator, Figure 4 -a cross-section of a resonator, and Figure 5 gives a structural scheme of a send-receive section.

Figures 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 display the following parts: 1 -body, 2 -first resonator, 3 -second resonator, 4 -third resonator, 5 -first resonator input-output, 6 -second resonator input-output, 7 -dielectric pipe, 8 -centering holder, 9 -outer junk-ring, 10 -inner junk-ring, 11 -restrictive coil, 12 -restrictive-separating coil, 13 -dielectric bush, 14 -dielectric substrate, 15 -calculation and control unit, 16 -computer, 17 -control unit, 18 -controlled high-frequency oscillator, 19 - controlled commutator, 20 -mode controller, 21 -delay unit, 22 -input amplifier, 23 -input separating condensator, 24 - output separating condensator, 25 -output amplifier, 26 -amplitude detector, 27 -analog-digital converter, 28 -first send-receive section of the first resonator, 29 -first send-receive section of the second resonator, 30 -first send-receive section of the third resonator, 31 -second send-receive section of the first resonator, 32 -second send-receive section of the second resonator, 33 -second send-receive section of the third resonator, 34 -shielding case, 35 -common shielding case, 36 -pressure sensor, 37 -temperature sensor, 38 -external systems.

The system consists of body 1, which is a piece of metal pipe with flanges on its ends for connecting body 1 to the outer pipeline, and of three concatenated open high-frequency radio wave resonators, which are installed inside body 1: first resonator 2, second resonator 3 and third resonator 4 (see Figure 1). Each of the resonators 2, 3, 4 is a short-circuited zigzag-shaped conductor laid in the shape of a rectangular meander, located on the surface (see Figures 2 and 4).

One point on the zigzag-shaped conductor in each of the resonators 2, 3, 4 is coupled with the first input-output 5, and the other point of the said conductor in each of the resonators 2, 3, 4 is coupled with the second input-output 6. The points of coupling of every first input-output 5 in each of the resonators 2, 3, 4 and the points of coupling of every second input-output in each of these resonators are located on mutually orthogonal planes, the angle between them making 0,5t (see Figure 4). The said points of coupling of the first input-output 5 and the second input-output 6 with the zigzag-shaped conductor may be located either on the opposite ends of each of the resonators 2, 3, 4, as it is shown on Figures 1 and 2, or on the same end of the corresponding resonator 2, 3, 4.

Resonators 2, 3, 4 are successively, one after the other, coaxially located on the outer cylindrical surface of their common dielectric pipe 7, which is axisymmetrically installed inside body I by means of two metallic centering holders 8, each of which has two junk-rings: outer junk-ring 9 and inner junk-ring 10.

Besides resonators 2, 3, 4, the outer surface of dielectric pipe 7 also has two pairs of short-circuited metal coils: two restrictive coils 11 and two restrictive-separating coils 12, one of the restrictive coils 11 being laid near the outer ring of the first resonator 2, and the other -near the outer ring of the third resonator 4, and one of the restrictive-separating coils 12 is between the first and the second resonators 2 and 3, correspondingly, and the other one is between the second and the third resonators 3 and 4.

Each of the first input-outputs 5 and the second input-outputs 6 of each of the resonators 2, 3, 4 goes through its own opening in the wall of body 1 and is isolated from body 1 by the dielectric bush 13. Dielectric bushes 13 and junk-rings 9, 10 provide for the impermeability of the gas-filled inner cavity of the radio wave sensor of component-wise consumption, this cavity being confined by body 1, dielectric pipe 7 and centering holders 8.

The cross-section of each of the short-circuited zigzag-shaped conductors of each of the resonators 2, 3, 4 is rectangular in shape, and in dissection these conductors have a shape of a rectangular meander (see Figure 2, 3); electrotechnical copper may be used as the material for the zigzag-shaped conductor.

The choice of rectangular cross-section shape for the zigzag-shaped short-circuited conductor, where width a is much greater than thickness b a / b >> 1, enables a significant reduction of signal distortion between the adjacent parallel segments of this conductor as compared to the signal distortion between the winding coils in the resonator used in the known system, where brass wire is used, and a/b=l Thus, the quality of the resonator is drastically increased.

Thickness b of the rectangular cross-section of the zigzag-shaped conductor is selected with respect to the depth of penetration of an electromagnetic wave with frequency Fmax into the material of this conductor with specific electroconductivity a: b�= 2C =KFrn2,where C is the velocity of light; Fmax is the upper limit of signal frequency at the output of the controlled high-frequency oscillator; K is the dimension factor of proportionality: K= 2C,where specific electroconductivity a is considered to be equal to aM -specific electroconductivity of copper.

Width a of the rectangular cross-section of the zigzag-shaped conductor is selected as equal to the width d of the gap between two adjacent, parallel to axis 00, segments of this conductor, basing on the conditions of bilateral symmetry (see Figure 3) and is limited by empirically revealed double inequality lOb�=a�=5b, which provides for the trade-off condition of minimizing signal distortions between two parallel lengthwise segments of the said conductor in the high-frequency diapason from Fmin to Fmax, given the maximum density of such segments on the circuit 2irR (where Fmin is the lower limit of the frequency of excitation for resonators 2, 3, 4, such frequency being generated by a controlled high-frequency oscillator 18 in the high-frequency diapason, and R is the outer radius of dielectric pipe 7).

Restrictive and restrictive-separating coils 11, 12, correspondingly, are used in the proposed system for precise spatial confinement of the electromagnetic field at the end of each of the resonators 2, 3, 4 and in order to provide for the independence of the location of the field boundaries from any influence of nearby metal elements of the radio wave sensor.

To provide for the identity and mutual axial and mirror symmetry of the working elements of resonators 2, 3, 4 and restrictive and restrictive-separating coils 11, 12, all these elements are located not on separate dielectric pipes and not in separate bodies, as in the known system, but on one dielectric pipe 7, common for all resonators 2, 3, 4 and all coils 11, 12, this dielectric pipe being installed in one body 1, common for all resonators 2, 3, 4 and coils 11, 12, and centered with respect to the axis 00 of this body by means of centering holders 8.

Secondly, all the above working elements and coils are manufactured using the method, which provides for their mutual identity, for example, by the method of photocopying the pattern of zigzag-shaped conductor of each of the resonators 2, 3, 4 and coils 11, 12 on the metal surface of flexible metal-foil dielectric substrate 14 with 2icR width, such surface being common for all resonators 2, 3, 4 and coils 11, 12 (see Figure 2). After electrochemical processing of the said metal surface, the dielectric substrate 14 with formed patterns of meander-shaped conductors of resonators 2, 3, 4 and coils 11, 12 is laid, with its dielectric layer inward, on the outer cylindrical surface of dielectric pipe 7, and is fixed on it. The mutually corresponding terminal points n of each of the eander-shaped conductors of each resonator 2, 3, 4 and mutually corresponding terminal points rn of each of the coils 11, 12 are galvanically connected in such way, that every connection point n, would correspond to the connection point m,, where i = 1, 2, ... 7 -i.e. the number of the connection point.

It is noteworthy, that the location of all said resonators 2, 3, 4 and coils ii, 12 on their common dielectric pipe 7 inside their common body 1 provides not only for the axial symmetry of resonators 2, 3, 4, but also for the independence of axial distances L0 and L, shown on Figure 1, between geometric centers of the first and the second resonators 2, 3 and the second and the third resonators 3, 4, correspondingly, on the method of connecting the separate dielectric pipes and separate bodies, used in the known system. Since the distances L0 and L between the centers are used in the algorithms of calculation of the component-wise consumption as constant values, it is possible to eliminate the instrumental error, which is characteristic for the known system and is caused by the changes in the said distances between centers due to different conditions of connecting several separate bodies.

It is also noteworthy, that in the proposed system the common input-output of the resonator (instead of a separate input and separate output in the known system) enables a galvanic connection of each of the first input-outputs 5 and each of the second input-outputs 6 to the corresponding resonator 2, 3, 4 only at one point of its zigzag-shaped conductor. This provides for the full mutual identity of the input and output impedances for each of the mentioned input-outputs, while in the known system these impedances differ, as each input and each output of each of the resonators in this system is galvanically connected with a corresponding zigzag-shaped conductor in its two different points, which would inevitably differ.

The proposed system also includes the calculation and control unit 15, in which computer 16 and control unit 17 are highlighted on Figure 1 for a better understanding of the functioning of the proposed system; a controlled high-frequency oscillator 18; controlled commutator 19, mode controller 20, delay unit 21, two input amplifiers 22, six input separating condensators 23, six output separating condensators 24, as well as six transmitting sections, each consisting of concatenated output amplifier 25, amplitude detector 26 and analog-digital converter 27. * 10

To prevent mutual influence, all mentioned transmitting sections together with their input and output separating condensators 23 and 24 are shielded and form send-receive sections; namely the first send-receive section of the first resonator, first send-receive section of the second resonator, first send-receive section of the third resonator, as well as second send-receive section of the first resonator, second send-receive section of the second resonator and second send-receive section of the third resonator.

Input separating condensators 23 and output separating condensators 24 are used to provide for the simultaneous connection of each of the first input-outputs 5 and second input-outputs 6 with two different electric chains: via the input separating condensator 23 -to the excitation chain of resonators 2, 3, 4, including one of the input amplifiers 22, controlled commutator 19 and controlled high-frequency oscillator 18; and via the output separating condensator 24 -to the measurement and calculation chain, including a transmitting section of one of the send-receive sections 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, as well as the calculation and control unit 15.

Each of the first send-receive sections 28, 29, 30 and second send-receive sections 31, 32, 33 includes an input, an output and a common point. Each of the mentioned send-receive sections 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 includes input and output separating condensators 23 and 24 correspondingly, output amplifier 25, amplitude detector 26 and analog-digital converter 27, which are installed inside one of the shielding cases 34, which, in its turn, is galvanically connected with common shielding case 35, which is grounded on body 1.

The common point of each of the first send-receive sections 28, 29 and 30 and the common point of each of the second send-receive sections 31, 32 and 33 is connected with the output of the corresponding section through its corresponding separating condensator 24, output amplifier 25, amplitude detector 26 and analog-digital converter 27. The mentioned common point is also connected with the input of the section through its corresponding separating condensator 23.

Each of the first input-outputs 5 of each of the resonators 2, 3 and 4 is connected with the common point of its corresponding first send-receive section 28, 29 and 30: the first input-output 5 of the first resonator 2 is connected with the common point of the first send-receive section 28; first input-output 5 of the second resonator 3 -with the common point of the first send-receive section 29, and the first input-output 5 of the third resonator 4 -with the common point of the first send-receive section 30. Each of the * . 11 second input-outputs 6 of resonators 2, 3 and 4 is similarly connected with the common point of the second send-receive section 31, second send-receive section 32 and second send-receive section 33.

Each of the outputs of each of the mentioned send-receive sections 28, 29, 30 and 31, 32, 33 is coupled with one of the inputs of computer 16 through its corresponding input of the calculation and control unit 15, and the output of the first send-receive section 30 and the output of the second send-receive section 33, besides that, are coupled with corresponding first or second input of mode controller 20.

The output of mode controller 20 is coupled with delay unit 21. The output of the latter is coupled with the corresponding input of computer 16 through its corresponding input of the calculation and control unit 15. The controlling input of delay unit 21 is coupled with the corresponding output of computer 16 through one of the outputs of the calculation and control unit 15.

One of the outputs of control unit 17 is coupled with the controlling input of the controlled commutator 19 through its corresponding output of the calculation and control unit 15, and the other output of the control unit 17 is coupled with the input of the controlled high-frequency oscillator 18 through the corresponding output of the calculation and control unit 15.

Controlled commutator 19 has two outputs -the first and the second one, the first of them being coupled with the inputs of the first send-receive sections 28, 29, 30 through one of the input amplifiers 22. The mentioned second output is coupled with the inputs of the second send-receive sections 3 1, 32, 33 through the other input amplifier 22.

Control unit 17 is coupled with computer 16 by means of a bilateral information connection.

The system also includes pressure sensor 36 and temperature sensor 37, which are installed in body 1. The output of each of these sensors is coupled with one of the inputs of computer 16 through their corresponding inputs of the calculation and control unit 15, which, if external systems 38 are present, is connected with these systems by a digit transfer trunk.

The proposed consumption measurement system for the components of three-component gas-liquid flow in oil wells works according to the following scheme.

Given the presence in dielectric pipe 7 of controlled gas-liquid medium, which is moving with rate W, a start command is sent to the input of computer 16, for example, from external systems 38 through the digit transfer trunk.

This command is transmitted from computer 16 to control unit 17 by the bilateral information connection, and from one of the outputs of the latter unit through the corresponding output of the calculation and control unit 15 it moves to the input of the controlled high-frequency oscillator 18.

According to the received command the mentioned oscillator produces a high-frequency signal with the frequency, which is gradually changing in the course of time, rising from the value Fmjn to the value Fmax. This signal is necessary for the excitation of a high-frequency electromagnetic field in each of the three resonators 2, 3, 4 of the proposed system.

When the proposed system is working, the third resonator 4 is intended to receive the information on the relative volume fractions V1, V2. V3 of each of the three components of the controlled flow. The first and the second resonators 2 and 3, correspondingly, are intended to receive information on the rate W of the controlled flow.

From the output of the controlled high-frequency oscillator 18 th e excitation signal goes to the input of controlled commutator 19. Given the presence of "first output" command on the control input of the latter, this command being formed in control unit 17 and sent from one of the outputs of this unit through the corresponding output of calculation and control unit 15, the excitation signal is transmitted from the first output of controlled commutator 19 through the corresponding input amplifier 22 to the inputs of the first send-receive sections 28, 29 and 30. Then it is transmitted through the input separating condensator 23 and common point of each of the mentioned sections, correspondingly, to each of the first input-outputs 5 of the first, second and third resonators (positions 2, 3 and 4, correspondingly). A high-frequency electromagnetic field with the frequency changing between Fm,n and Fmax is excited in each of the resonators.

As the dielectric pipe 7 contains a three-component gas-liquid medium, each of the three components being characterized by certain values of complex capactivity c and complex electroconductivity cy, where j = 1, 2, 3 is a number of a component, resonant * 13 absorption of the energy of the excited field at several resonant frequencies Fres will take place in case of excitation of a high-frequency electromagnetic field in each of the resonators 2, 3, 4, where Fmin �= Fr�= Fax, for example, at the first, second and third resonant frequencies Fresi, Fr2, Fr, correspondingly.

Since the informative parameters of the signals, characterizing resonant absorption,

such as for example,

-amplitudes of the output signals on the first, second and the third resonant frequencies ml, res2, res3, correspondingly, -coefficients of the signal transmission on the first, second and third resonant frequencies D,.51, Dr2, D, correspondingly, -resonant frequencies Frest, Fres2, Frej, as well as other informative parameters, essentially depend on the complex characteristics of the controlled medium c, �2, �3 and a, a2, a3 Each of the output signals of the first, second and third resonators (positions 2, 3 and 4, correspondingly), contains information about component-wise content of gas-liquid flow.

Each of the mentioned signals goes via one of the inputs of the calculation and control unit 15 to the corresponding input of the computer 16 in the following way: signal from the first input-output 5 of the first resonator 2 goes through the concatenated output separating condensator 24, output amplifier 25, amplitude detector 26 and analog-digital converter 27 of the first send-receive section 28; signal from the first input-output of the second resonator 3 goes through the same elements 24, 25, 26, 27 of the first send-receive section 29 and signal from the first input-output 5 of the third resonator 4 goes through the elements 24, 25, 26, 27 of the first input-output send-receive section 30.

Besides, the said signal from the output of the first send-receive section 30 goes to the first input of the mode controller 20, in which a primary graded analysis of the informative parameters of the received signal takes place.

The primary graded analysis is aimed at rough attribution of the controlled flow to one of two modes: "steady" or "unsteady"; and then to one of the specifying sub-modes of the defined mode, for example, to one of the following sub-modes: <<steady -oih>, <<steady -waler>>, <<steady -gas>>, <<steady -oil-water>>, <<steady -oil-gas>>, steady -gas-* 14 water>>, <<steady -oil-water-gas>>, or <<unsteady -oil-water>>, <<unsteady -oil-gas>> etc. Coded signal, corresponding to the chosen sub-mode goes from the output of the mode controller 20 to the input of the delay unit 21; given the presence of a non-trivial delay command tht> != 0 at the controlling input of this unit, the signal is delayed there for a time At, after which it is transmitted through one of the inputs of the calculation and control unit 15 to the corresponding input of the computer 16, where an algorithm, appropriate for the received sub-mode code is chosen from the group of algorithms of the component-wise content control.

According to the chosen algorithm, computer 16 analyzes an informative signal, received from the first input-output 5 of the third resonator 4 through the first send-receive section 30, and measures instant values of the relative volume fractions VI, V2 and V3 of each of the three components of the controlled flow.

In this case the mentioned time of the delay is At = W*L, where L is a distance between the centers of the second and the third resonators 3 and 4, correspondingly, which is calculated by computer 16 at non-trial value of the rate W!= 0 of the controlled flow and is sent to the controlling input of the delay unit 21 in the form of the <At command from the output of the computer 16 through the corresponding output of the calculation and control unit 15.

Upon the completion of the described process in unit 17 a command "second input" is formed, going from the one of the outputs of this unit through the corresponding output of the calculation and control unit 15 to the controlling input of the controlled commutator 19. As a result, the high-frequency signal, which is generated by the high-frequency oscillator 18 and goes from its output to the input of the controlled commutator 19, is switched to the second output of this commutator, after which it goes to each of the inputs of the second send-receive sections 31, 32 and 33.

From each of the common points of each of the indicated send-receive sections the high-frequency signal is transmitted through the corresponding input amplifier 22 to the second input-output 6 of each of the resonators 2, 3, 4.

When the high-frequency signal is switched from the first input-outputs 5 of the resonators 2, 3, 4 to their second input-outputs 6, the direction of the high-frequency electromagnetic field in each of the indicated resonators changes orthogonally. This provides for the close-up electromagnetic sounding of the controlled medium, being * 15 orthogonal to the primary sounding, and to obtain additional information on component-wise content of the non-axisymmetric gas-liquid flow.

Signals, giving additional close-up information, are registered on each of the second input-outputs 6 of the resonators 2, 3, 4. Each of these signals goes to the common point of the corresponding second send-receive section (position 31, 32, 33) and from the output of each of them it is transmitted to the corresponding input of computer 16 via one of the inputs of the calculation and control unit 15.

Moreover, from the output of the second send-receive section 33 the said signal goes to the second input of the mode controller 20, where the earlier defined sub-mode of the controlled flow is specified basing on the analysis of informative parameters of the received signal, after which code signal, corresponding to the specified sub-mode, is transmitted through the delay unit 21 (with delay time tt) and via one of the inputs of the calculation and control unit 15 to the corresponding input of the computer 16, where, basing on the analysis of the signal received by the computer 16 through the additional input-output 6 of the third resonator 4 through the second send-receive section 33, if necessary, specification of the chosen algorithm and correction of the earlier calculated instant values of relative volume fractions V1, V2, V3 of each of the three components of the controlled flow takes place.

To measure the rate W in the proposed system, autocorrelation method is used.

Depending on the mode of the controlled flow, the analysis is based either on the information on the movements of the natural flow marker, or on the information on local flow inhomogeneity movement, or on the information on local flow peculiarity movement.

In the first case, when the mode controller 20 defines a mode of the substantially unsteady flow, earlier described informative signals, received to the input of the computer 16 from the first input-outputs 5 and second input-outputs 6 of the first and second resonators 2 and 3 correspondingly, are constantly registered and kept in the memory storage of computer 16 in the form of temporal realizations for each of these signals.

Dependences of signal amplitudes I,1(t), I(t), I(t) on time t, similar to those mentioned above, the first, second and third resonant frequencies Fri, Frea, F, correspondingly, * * 16 may be used as temporal realizations for the informative signals of the resonators 2 and 3.

Taking into consideration the sub-mode of the substantially unsteady flow, defined by the mode controller 20, an algorithm corresponding to the sub-mode code is selected in the computer 16 from the group of algorithms "Rate calculation" and, according to the chosen algorithm, the processing of the above mentioned temporal realizations of the informative signals, which are formed by each of the resonators 2 and 3, is performed.

After the processing of these realizations their mutual correlation function is determined and then one of the realizations is shifted with respect to the other one in time t, until the maximum value of the cross-correlation function is attained.

When the maximum value of the cross-correlation function is attained in the process of such shifting of realizations, computer 16 registers the time of shifting, and, as this time equals time interval At when the natural flow marker, i.e. steady flow fluctuation, runs some fixed length of sensor radio wave, taken for the basic length L0, rate W of the controlled flow is calculated according to the formula W=L0/Ar, where L0 is a basic length, equal to the axial interval between geometric centers of the first and second resonators 2 and 3, correspondingly.

The obtained value of rate W is used by the computer 16 for calculating instant values of the component-wise volume consumptions Q2, Q of each of the three components of the gas-liquid flow, as well as for calculating delay time At and time of transmission of the corresponding command "At" to the controlling input of the delay unit 21. Command "At" is intended for synchronizing the moment when the computer 16 selects the algorithm, corresponding to the code of the controlled flow mode, and the moment t2, when the part of the controlled flow, which at the time moment t1 was at the centre of the third resonator 4 and was undergoing radio wave sounding, comes to the centre of the second resonator 3 At=t2 -t1 =L/W, where L is an axial interval between geometric centers of the second and third resonators 3, 4, correspondingly (see Figure 1).

In the second case, when mode controller 20 defines steady movement of the largely homogeneous controlled flow and in the controlled medium there are no local, pronounced fluctuations of the component content, the measurement of the rate W conducted using the above described method may turn out to be unreliable. In this case not the local fluctuation of the flow component content, but a local flow peculiarity, which is characterized by substantially different, as compared to the average ratio of informative signals of the resonators 2 and 3, obtained during mutually orthogonal radio wave sounding of the controlled medium is used in the proposed system as a characteristic of the flow to be reliably controlled.

The method of the mutually orthogonal sounding allows to register such local peculiarities of the largely homogenous steady flow as, for example, local axial flow asymmetry, local spiral flow vorticity, amassed helicoid flow vorticity, local turbulence and other local peculiarities, which are not identified by unilateral sounding.

In case when mode controller 20 identifies almost homogeneous controlled flow and specifies its corresponding sub-mode, a code corresponding to the specified sub-mode is transmitted into the computer 16, and an algorithm, corresponding to the obtained code is selected in the computer from the group of algorithms "Rate calculation".

In accordance with the chosen algorithm, temporal realizations of the correlation of each of the signals, which are formed at the first input-output 5 of the first resonator 2 and at the first input-output 5 of the second resonator 3 correspondingly, with signal, formed at the second input-output 6 of the second resonator, are processed.

After the processing of the signals, which significantly differ from the average of these signals, computer 16 defines, the same way as in the previous case, mutual correlation function of their temporal realizations and time of realizations shifting, at which this function reaches its maximum. As in the case of substantially unsteady flow, this time equals to the interval frr when the natural marker runs through the flow (its local peculiarity), characterized by the significantly differing from the average value ratio of signals, obtained by mutually orthogonal sounding of the controlled medium, of the basic length L0.

The flow rate in this case, as above, equals W = L0 / i The measured values of the rate W and the relative volume fractions VI, V2 and V3 of the components of the controlled flow allow to calculate component-wise consumption Q, Q2, Q of each of the three components of gas-liquid medium: Q = S.WV1, Q2 S.W.V2, Q S*W*V3, where S = 7tR2 is the area of the dielectric pipe 7 cross-section.

If it is necessary to define mass component-wise consumption Qmi, Qm2, Qm.3 Of each of three components of the gas-liquid medium, computer 16 additionally to the described process analyzes the signals of the instant values of pressure and temperature of the controlled medium, going to the corresponding inputs of the computer 16 from the output of the pressure sensor 36 and the output of the temperature sensor 37, and also the date on nominal density Pi P2, P3 of each of the three above mentioned components, which are kept in the memory storage of the computer 16.

Information on the component-wise volume consumption and, if necessary, on component-wise mass consumption of the controlled flow may be transmitted from the computer 16 through the digit transfer trunk to the external systems 38.

Thus the task to increase the reliability and accuracy of the measurement of component-wise consumption in case of two ultimate modes of flow of the controlled medium, i.e. unsteady or steady flow, is accomplished due to the application of the following new techniques in the proposed system: firstly, conducting preliminary analysis of the flow mode in the mode controller 20 using resonator 3; secondly, the application of two different directions of radio wave sounding with the help of two mutually orthogonal inputs-outputs 5 and 6 and controlled commutator 19; and thirdly, the identity and mutual symmetry of resonators 2, 3, 4 and their working elements, such as restrictive and restrictive-separating coils 11 and 12. * 19

Claims (2)

1. I. A consumption measurement system for the components of three-component gas-liquid flow in oil wells, which comprises coaxially installed first and second resonators, each of which is a short-circuited zigzag-shaped conductor in the shape of a rectangular meander, located on the outer cylindrical surface of a dielectric pipe, such pipe being coaxially installed inside a pipe-shaped metallic body; a controlled high-frequency oscillator; an input amplifier; a calculation and control unit; two transmitting sections, each containing an output amplifier, amplitude detector and analog-digital converter; pressure sensor and temperature sensor, located inside the body, the output of each of them being coupled with a corresponding input of a calculation and control unit, each of the two resonators being connected to one of the inputs of a calculation and control unit via its transmitting section, having its output coupled with the input of a controlled high-frequency oscillator; the system is distinguished by the fact that according to the invention is includes an additional third resonator, which is installed coaxially to the first and the second ones on the common dielectric pipe inside the common body; each of the three resonators has the first input-output and orthogonally installed second input-output, the first and the second input-outputs of each resonators being located on mutually diametrically perpendicular planes; additionally the system comprises an input amplifier and controlled commutator, being coupled with the output of a controlled high-frequency oscillator and having two outputs, each of which is coupled with an input of one of the input amplifiers, such commutator being connected via its controlling input with a calculation and control unit; besides, the system additionally includes a mode controller and a delay unit, which has its input coupled with the output of a mode controller, and four transmitting sections, identical to the two already existing ones; each of the six transmitting sections in the system is additionally equipped with an input and two separating condensators, interconnected at a common spot, one of such condensators being coupled with the input of an output amplifier, and the other one -with the input of the corresponding transmitting section, every transmitting section together with its separating condensators being separately shielded and forming a send-receive section; the first or second input-output of every resonator in the system is connected with only one the send-receive sections -with the common spot of its separating condensators; in * 20 this case the output of analog-digital converter, coupled with one of the inputs of a calculation and control unit, acts as an output of each of the send-receive sections; each send-receive section, connected to the first input-output of one of the resonators, is coupled via its input with one of the input amplifiers, and every one of the rest of send- receive sections is coupled with the other input amplifier; the output of each of the send-receive sections of the third resonator is additionally coupled with one of the inputs of the mode controller, and the output of the delay unit is coupled with calculation and control unit, the output of the latter being connected with the controlling input of the delay unit; the terminal segments of a dielectric pipe have a restrictive coil, restrictive- separating coils being also present between the resonators; restrictive coils, restrictive-separating coils and zigzag-shaped conductors of each resonator are rectangularly shaped in cross-section; zigzag-shaped conductor, restrictive coil or restrictive-separating coil rectangular cross-section thickness b is defined using the following inequality: b �= KFrn2, where Fmax is the upper limit of signal frequency at the output of a controlled high-frequency oscillator; K is a proportionality dimension factor, zigzag-shaped conductor width a equals the width of a gap between its adjacent parallel segments, and is limited by a two-sided inequality lOb�=a�=5b
2. 2. A consumption measurement system for the components of three-component gas-liquid flow in oil wells substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.