Non-Destructive Monitoring of Multiphase Hydrocarbon Flow by High-Speed Gamma-Ray Tomography

摘要

An important application of computed tomography (CT) is that of non-destructive measurements of multiphase flows; an application area with high priority especially within the petroleum industry. Fourth generation CT scanners equipped with a rotating X-ray source are not sufficiently rapid to capture the flow dynamics typically present in multiphase flows. This is due to flow velocities of several m/s in multiphase pipe flows, as well as the fact that the flow regime, i.e. the distribution of the flow components, may change within a few milliseconds. To address this issue, the University of Bergen has initiated research towards the development of an industrial high-speed gamma-ray tomography system. This paper gives a brief introduction to the pertinent tomography system, and presents some of its applications related to multiphase hydrocarbon flow measurements. Also, the paper introduces the notion of tomometry as a means of non-destructive measurement technique to be used in conjunction with hydrocarbon flow measurements.