Detect and characterize water in multiphase and wet gas flows
The OneSubsea® AquaWatcher™ Water Analysis Sensor uniquely detects minuscule quantities of water in multiphase and wet gas flows, plus determines the salinity of that water. The patent-pending technology can also measure the concentration of chemicals in water to determine accurate dosage requirements, thus enabling significant risk reduction and reduced costs.
The OneSubsea AquaWatcher™ Water Analysis Sensor has the unique capability to detect minuscule quantities of water in multiphase and wet gas flows, and determine the salinity of that water. It can also determine the ratio of injected chemicals to water.
The AquaWatcher can measure the conductivity of produced water at any gas volume fraction (GVF) and most water cuts, including in the transition zone from oil to water continuous mixtures. Breakthrough of injected water in water flood applications can be detected at very low concentrations, and crucial information about the origin of produced water can be provided. The precise water property measurements by the AquaWatcher can also be used to improve the accuracy of multiphase meters.
OneSubsea AquaWatcher
The AquaWatcher has the potential to revolutionize management of water in wet gas production with its patent-pending measurement-based approach. This unique technology allows dosage of chemicals to be based on a measurement of the ratio of chemicals to water downstream of the injection. This provides significant risk reduction and reduced costs for chemical injection and reclamation, as well as allowing additional production to be brought on-line due to improved utilization of the available injection and reclamation capacity.
The AquaWatcher can be installed stand-alone or integrated with a multiphase or wet gas flowmeter. It uses the reflection of a microwave signal to measure the permittivity and conductivity of the fluid mixture locally, for example near the pipe wall in a process pipe. It can be installed anywhere in a subsea production system, including at the wellhead or in a subsea tree.
Features and benefits
Water detection at fractions down to a few parts per million
Measurement of water conductivity
Calculation of water salinity and ratio of injected chemicals to water
Measurements can be sent directly to a subsea control system, a multiphase flow meter, or any suitable communications unit
Process pressures up to 20,000 psi, temperatures up to 250° F, and water depths to 10,000 ft.
Applications
- Oil production: Determine the origin of the water, e.g., the formation, injected water, or a mixture of the two, and adjust water properties for multiphase metering applications
- Wet gas production: Detect the onset of formation water production, measure the rate of formation water, and manage the injection of chemicals for flow assurance and other purposes