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Software Overview
VPM-Virtual Pipeline Manager
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Pipeline Integrity Management System
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Virtual Metering System
Virtual Production Planner
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multiphase, multiphase flow, flow assurance, deepwater, pipeline management, asset management, leak detection, multiphase metering, inference metering, Virtual Pipeline Manager, Virtual Asset Manager, Virtual Operator, operator training, gas lift optimization, pipeline integrity, slug control, slugging, gas blending, wax, paraffin,hydrate, asphaltene, wet gas, gas condensate Contact Us




Virtual Metering System™

Virtual Metering System™ (VMS) is used to estimate multiphase flowrates based on the measured parameters in and around the well. VMS is an advanced monitoring software package designed and configured for both real-time, on-line and off-line application.

VMS can use several predictive models to determine flowrate. It approximates the uncertainty of each estimate and then combines these values to achieve the lowest overall uncertainty. VMS is designed to be fully functional and robust, operating even if there is a failure of several measurement points per well. VMS is designed for unattended operation and automatically gets process data and sends back values for flowrates and alarm information. The custom VMS user interface allows the user to diagnose faults and to tune the system.

Field-Proven Technology


Shell Malampaya
Virtual Metering System™

MSi developed the first version of the VMS in 1996. The VMS software was originally developed and integrated with MSi's Virtual Operator™ package. Virtual Operator™ provides robust, fully-automated, 24/7 control of multiphase production operations, which includes control of well flowrates for slugging control and blending management, and thus needs accurate & reliable estimates of the production flowrate.

Based on several years of operating experience, VMS provides a reliable and cost-effective alternative, supplement or backup to physical multiphase metering.

Virtual Metering System™ is designed to provide accurate estimates of multiphase flowrates for subsea wells, given the extensive set of measured variables for the production system continuously provided by the SCADA/DCS system via commonly employed protocol for communications like OPC.

In addition, VMS provides off-line functionality to enable the users to train, tune the system & conduct "what-if" simulations on various
production scenarios.

VMS is offered as part of our Virtual Pipeline Manager™ system or as a stand-alone application running on Windows NT/2000/XP.

Measurements Used by VMS

Virtual Metering System™ retrieves real-time data for the following items via a SCADA/DCS interface.

  • Bottomhole Pressure
  • Pressure Before & After Choke
  • Manifold Pressure
  • Bottomhole Temperature
  • Temperature Before & After Choke
  • Manifold Temperature
  • Choke Position
  • Wing Valve Position
  • Master Valve Position

After retrieval, the system also employs fuzzy-logic algorithms to perform a comprehensive data integrity checking & filtering. The system displays the filtered value along with the data quality for each item listed above.

The VMS Real-Time prediction provides an online estimate of the multiphase flowrates, gas & liquids/hydrocarbons. At the heart of the VMS package is MSi's field-proven PIMS multiphase technology. PIMS is used to calculate flowrates based on different combinations of the input data. VMS generates a measure of uncertainty for each estimate & applies a rigorous methodology of weighting the uncertainty in each value to yield the best result.

Information VMS Provides

VMS provides a real-time indication of the following:

  • Best estimate of the multiphase flowrates, gas & liquids
  • Well profiles (mass rates, temperatures, pressures, densities, quality)
  • Possible water production indication
  • Individual flowrate estimates & their uncertainties

MSi provides fit-for-purpose configurations, installation, testing & maintenance support for our suite of Pipeline & Asset Management Systems.

VMS has a Forecast function to provide a means for the user to tune the model. The user can load in historical data from either a file or the trend database. The user then runs a simulation on up to 3,000 time stamps. After the calculation is finished, the user can compare the measured flowrate at the manifold to the calculated one. The user can also compare the measured parameters vs. predicted values. The GUI allows the user to view the predictions via trend plots or on a point-by-point basis.

Cost-Effective Alternative or Back-up to Physical Multiphase Meters

VMS is cost-effective and designed to be more reliable than actual physical metering. Typical VMS accuracies for multiphase applications have been in the 2 to 5% range for well-instrumented systems. VMS is more robust and is designed to accommodate a much wider range of gas volume fractions (GVFs) than its physical counterparts.

Typical costs for a physical multiphase meter per well, including installation and software, can be very prohibitive, so VMS has a major advantage on the cost-effectiveness side.

 
 
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