Slug Flow Control in an S-shape Pipeline-Riser System using an Ultrasonic Sensor

Slugging flow poses significant challenges to the offshore multiphase flowline and riser systems. Slug is characterized by an uneven regime whereby pipeline pressures, temperatures, or volume rates fluctuate. One of most common causes severe slugging low pressures which buildup fluid over time, consequentially pressure oscillations. This mostly occurs in vertical risers wells. The negative effects have prompted numerous studies, investments, efforts reduce eliminate flow. Several active control techniques been investigated oil gas industries for decades. However, many these still run risk limiting hydrocarbon production due inappropriate choking. Other slug include fact that some systems rely mainly on subsea measurements such as base pressure, are costly, difficult maintain, not always available, can be unreliable. As a result, achieve efficient performance, reliable, robust, more sensitive required, motivation this work. using non-radioactive, non-invasive, non-intrusive Continuous-wave Doppler ultrasound has work, provides good performance. It achieved larger valve opening than open-loop unstable system. outperforms manual choking, maintains stability at much lower opening.