Offshore staff
EAST KILBRIDE, UK – Flow measurement specialist TÜV SÜD National Engineering Laboratory has opened its new £16-million ($19.6-million) advanced multiphase facility (AMF).
The AMF’s test range for operating pressures, temperatures, flowrates, and metrology is said to be broader than at any other laboratory.
It can operate at pressures of up to 140 bar (2,031 psi), with a working envelope claimed to be 20 times larger than any multiphase or wet gas facility, and is said to offer the highest flow rate anywhere for both gas and liquid within one multiphase complex.
Equipment at the 1,600-sq m (17,222-sq ft) facility include a full production-scale separator with an operating weight of 270 metric tons and an integrated subsea choke, with a capability to test a comprehensive range of flow meters.
Its 2D, three-phase, x-ray tomography and sensors are said to deliver high definition images of complex flows to assist understanding of fluid behaviors and their impact on measurement.
The AMF’s main focus will be the global subsea sector and wet gas industries, supporting company-led industrial projects and product development, also providing training and academic research.
Dr. Brian Millington, Managing Director of TÜV SÜD National Engineering Laboratory, said: “While significant production opportunities exist in extreme environments, higher operating pressures and temperatures can impact the performance of multiphase flow measurement devices.
“The AMF will increase the viability of well exploitation by helping operators to more accurately measure multiphase flow and better understand the performance of production operations in these challenging but potentially profitable environments.”
10/10/2019
