Selection, Operation, and Evaluation of High Temperature Oil in Water Monitor for Two-Phase Extra Heavy Oil (Bitumen) Test Separator Service at Peace River

摘要

Since 1986, Shell Canada has been using two-phase separatorsfor well test application in bitumen production service. Asbitumen (8 to 10 API) at Peace River has a density similar tothat of produced water, depending on operating temperature,the use of three-phase test separators is not practical. Inbitumen service, a three-phase separator requires eitherheating or cooling plus diluent to reduce the bitumen densityso that classical gravity separation can be achieved.With a two-phase system, a means is required to determine theamount of oil in the produced emulsion. This is oftenachieved by either obtaining a representative fluid samplefrom the separator and determining the water cut in the lab, orby an online instrument. The two-phase well test systemoperates at temperatures ranging from 80 to 200 oC at anoperating pressure of 1500 kPa. The water cuts from the wellsrange from 10 to 90 percent with an average of 40 percent.Agar's OW-201 water-cut monitors, in conjunction withCoriolis mass flow meters, were selected for test separatorsystems at Peace River.This paper describes the field tests performed to verify theAgar OW-201 meter operation for Peace River service, Shell'soperating experience to date and the performance achievedduring one year of operation.