Session: 11-08-01 Multiphase Flow & Flow Assurance

Paper Number: 108094

108094 - Classification of Sensor Measurements From Non-Newtonian Fluids Using Batch and Online Analysis of Data 

With recent advancements in technology, most industrial processes collect an abundance of data from sensors. Sensible utilization and interpretation of collected data are increasingly important. An objective of this work is to investigate the use of only differential pressure measurements to classify operating flow rates of non-Newtonian fluids for single-phase and multiphase flow conditions using both batch and online methods of data analysis. This is accomplished by monitoring changes in the process mean and variance. Despite the presence of measurement noise, the two sample t-test and the F-test for equality of variance performed well for batch analysis, while statistical hypothesis testing methods such as the generalized and exponential likelihood ratio charts performed well for online analysis. This is advantageous as the redundancy in measurements enables the process engineer to utilize additional sensor measurements, such as differential pressure, in order to determine if there are changes in the flow rate. This redundancy is useful in process monitoring as it enables the process engineer to observe changes in the process when sensors and meters, such as the flow meter are malfunctioning. These results were obtained for an increase in the flow rate of approximately 5%. Although this change is relatively small, one direction of further work is the exploration of the limitations of the different statistical monitoring charts, such as the GLR technique and other control charts.

Presenting Author: Mohammad Rahman Texas A&M University at Qatar

Presenting Author Biography: Dr. Rahman is an Associate Professor in the Petroleum Engineering Program at Texas A&M University - Qatar (TAMUQ) and an Adjunct Professor at Memorial University of Newfoundland, Canada. Dr. Rahman received his Ph.D. from the University of Alberta, Canada, in 2010. Dr. Rahman secured around $2.5 million dollar in research funding from organizations such as Qatar Foundation, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, and Newfoundland Research & Development Corporation. He is a registered Professional Engineer in Alberta, Canada, and an active member of organizations such as SPE and ASME.

Authors:

M. Ziyan Sheriff Texas A&M University
Mohamed Nounou Texas A&M University at Qatar
Mohammad Rahman Texas A&M University at Qatar
Ibrahim Hassan Texas A&M University at Qatar
Hazem Nounou Texas A&M University at Qatar