Water-cut meters measure the water content in a crude-oil stream and can use different sensor technologies and approaches to achieve this measurement. Each of these technology types has advantages and limitations for use in certain operating conditions. Current industry knowledge about the performance and limitations of the different technology meters for measuring a wide range of water cuts has not been extensively quantified. This testing effort was initiated to determine the stability and accuracy of different water-cut meters by flowing a crude-oil stream of water content through these meters....
Water-cut meters measure the water content in a crude-oil stream and can use different sensor technologies and approaches to achieve this measurement. Each of these technology types has advantages and limitations for use in certain operating conditions. Current industry knowledge about the performance and limitations of the different technology meters for measuring a wide range of water cuts has not been extensively quantified. This testing effort was initiated to determine the stability and accuracy of different water-cut meters by flowing a crude-oil stream of water content through these meters. The performance of the different water-cut meters was assessed at a constant 100-gpm flow rate, two sweeps of water-cut ranges from 0% to 5% and 0% to 20%, and two different crude oils. To provide a reference water content, fluid samples were manually drawn from the flow loop upstream of the meters for each test point following API MPMS Ch. 8.1 (2019). The fluid samples were handled and mixed in accordance with API MPMS Ch. 8.3 (2019), and were assessed using two different analysis methods: a Karl Fisher Titration method using ASTM D4928 (2018) for the nominal 0% to 5% water-cut tests, and a centrifuge method using ASTM D4007 (2016) for the nominal 0% to 20% water-cut tests. The results from this testing effort will allow the PRCI members to assess the accuracy and stability of different water-cut meters and to select a water-cut metering technology that is most compatible with their operating conditions.