Apparatus for a Fluid Transport Pipeline, Related Method and System

• US 20140041463A1
• Filed: 01/24/2012
• Published: 02/13/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Original Assignee: Framo Engineering AS, Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Inventors: Pinguet, Bruno, Theron, Bernard E., Vethe, Eivind, Sjurseth, Erik
• Granted Patent: US 10,408,714 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/863.51
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 41/04 Manipulators for underwater operations, e.g. temporarily connected to well heads
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 49/08 Obtaining fluid samples or testing fluids, in boreholes or wells
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 41/021 T- or cross-pieces F16L41/025, F16L41/026, F16L41/028 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/2035 by deviating part of a fluid stream, e.g. by drawing-off or tapping
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/205 using a valve
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/2064 using a by-pass loop

Abstract

Apparatus for use in sampling multiphase fluid in a fluid transport pipeline, the apparatus comprising: a process fluid conduit comprising a blind leg connected to an upstream section and a downstream section; and wherein a fluid sampling port is provided in the blind leg.

Claims

1. Apparatus for use in sampling multiphase fluid in a fluid transport pipeline, the apparatus comprising:

a process fluid conduit comprising a blind leg connected to an upstream section and a downstream section; and

wherein at least one fluid sampling port is provided in the blind leg.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the conduit further comprises a second sampling port.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 comprising means for circulating fluid from the at least one sampling port to the second sampling port.

4. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the second sampling port is in the upstream section.

5. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the second sampling port is in the downstream section.

6. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the means for circulating fluid is arranged to circulate fluid from a sampling port which is at a higher pressure to a sampling port at a lower pressure.

7. Apparatus according to claim 1 comprising at least one sampling conduit connected to the at least one sampling port.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the least one sampling conduit is in thermal communication with the process fluid conduit.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the process fluid conduit and the least one sampling conduit are integrally formed in a block of material.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the block of material comprises a block of thermally conductive material.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the thermally conductive material is metal.

12. Apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the thermally conductive material is steel.

13. Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the block is a solid block and the process fluid conduit or the least one sampling conduit are bored into the material.

14. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, when the process fluid conduit is in a first configuration, the downstream section extends substantially vertically upwards from said process fluid conduit and said second sampling port is located in an uppermost part of the wall of the process fluid conduit in said upstream section.

15. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, when the process fluid conduit is in a second configuration, the downstream section extends substantially vertically downwards from said process fluid conduit and said second sampling port is located in an uppermost part of the wall of the process fluid conduit in the said upstream section.

16. Apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising means for heating at least one sampling conduit.

17. Apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a heat conductive material at least partially surrounding at least one sampling conduit.

18. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the at least one sampling conduit is arranged in a non-horizontal orientation.

19. Apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a multiphase flow meter.

20. Apparatus according to claim 1 comprising a sampling tool, which is attachable to and detachable from the at least one fluid sampling port.

21. Apparatus according to claim 20 wherein the sampling tool comprises circulating means.

22. Apparatus according to claim 21 wherein the circulating means is operated remotely.

27. A system for sampling fluid from a multi-phase hydrocarbon stream comprising apparatus according to claim 1 and a remotely operated system comprising means to connect the first sampling port to a second sampling port and to circulate fluid from the first port to the second port at substantially isothermal and isobaric conditions.

28. A system according to claim 27 wherein the remotely operated system comprises means to perform at least one measurement on the circulating fluid at substantially isothermic and isobaric conditions.

29. A system according to claim 27 or 28 comprising means to capture a sample of fluid in at least one sealable container.

23. A method of sampling fluid from a multiphase hydrocarbon stream in a conduit, comprising:

connecting a first sampling port in a blind leg of the conduit to a second sampling port upstream of the blind leg and maintaining substantially isobaric and isothermic conditions in the fluid flowing from the first sampling port to the second sampling port before taking at least one measurement of a sample.

24. A method according to claim 23, further comprising connecting the first sampling port to the second sampling port via a sampling tool.

25. A method according to claim 24, further comprising performing measurements on the sample in the sampling tool.

26. A method according to claim 24 or 25, wherein the sampling tool is operated by a remotely operated vehicle.

30. Apparatus for use in sampling multiphase fluid in a fluid transport pipeline, the apparatus comprising:

a process fluid conduit comprising a blind leg connected to an upstream section and a downstream section;

a first fluid sampling port provided in the blind leg; and

wherein the conduit further comprises a second sampling port.

31. Apparatus according to claim 30 comprising means for circulating fluid from the first sampling port to the second sampling port.

32. Apparatus according to claim 30 or 31 wherein the second sampling port is in the upstream section.

33. Apparatus according to claim 30 or 31 wherein the second sampling port is in the downstream section.

34. Apparatus for use in sampling multiphase fluid in a fluid transport pipeline, the apparatus comprising:

a process fluid conduit comprising a blind leg section connected to an upstream section and a downstream section;

a first and a second fluid sampling ports, the first fluid sampling port being located in the blind leg section; and

at least one fluid sampling conduit which is arranged to be in thermal communication with the process fluid conduit.

35. Apparatus according to claim 34 wherein the process fluid conduit and at least one sampling conduit are integrally formed in a solid block of thermally conductive material and at least one process fluid or sampling conduit is bored into the material.