Abstract: Embodiments of the invention identify a plurality of operating points for oil and/or gas producing systems, each operating point being characterised by a set of operating parameters which can be used to control components of the actual oil and/or gas producing system. These generated operating points may be collectively presented in a graphical manner to an operator of the oil and/or gas producing system, who can systematically configure the components of the oil and/or gas producing system to move, in an informed manner, through a path of operating points in order to reach what appears from the generated operating point data to be an optimal operating region. The oil and/or gas producing system may also be referred to as a hydrocarbon production system.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for mitigating slug formation in a multiphase fluid stream flowing through a conduit. The method includes (a) determining the pressure in the conduit upstream of a slugging zone, (b) determining the pressure in the conduit downstream of the slugging zone, (c) determining the actual pressure difference across the slugging zone by subtracting the downstream pressure from step (b) from the upstream pressure from step (a), (d) determining the error between a target pressure difference and the actual pressure difference, (e) producing a signal having a first component which is proportional to the error and a second component which is proportional to the rate of change of the error over time, and (f) using the signal produced in step (e) to control the position of an adjustable choke valve located downstream of the slugging zone so as to stabilize variations arising in the actual pressure difference over time.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for mitigating slug formation in a multiphase fluid stream that is flowing through a conduit wherein the conduit comprises a first portion and a second portion which is upwardly inclined to the first portion and wherein the multiphase fluid stream comprises a gaseous phase and a liquid phase, the method comprising the steps of: (a) determining the pressure in the conduit upstream of a slugging zone; (b) determining the pressure in the conduit downstream of the slugging zone; (c) determining the actual pressure difference across the slugging zone by subtracting the downstream pressure from step (b) from the upstream pressure from step (a); (d) determining the error between a target pressure difference and the actual pressure difference; (e) producing a signal comprising a first component which is proportional to the error and a second component which is proportional to the rate of change of the error over time; and (f) using the signal produced in step (e) to control the position of an a

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention identify a plurality of operating points for oil and/or gas producing systems, each operating point being characterised by a set of operating parameters which can be used to control components of the actual oil and/or gas producing system. These generated operating points may be collectively presented in a graphical manner to an operator of the oil and/or gas producing system, who can systemically configure the components of the oil and/or gas producing system to move, in an informal manner, through a path of operating points in order to reach what appears from the generated operating point data to be an optimal operating region. The oil and/or gas producing system may also be referred to as a hydrocarbon producing system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for mitigating slug formation in a multiphase fluid stream that is flowing through a conduit wherein the conduit comprises a first portion and a second portion which is upwardly inclined to the first portion and wherein the multiphase fluid stream comprises a gaseous phase and a liquid phase, the method comprising the steps of: (a) determining the pressure in the conduit upstream of a slugging zone; (b) determining the pressure in the conduit downstream of the slugging zone; (c) determining the actual pressure difference across the slugging zone by subtracting the downstream pressure from step (b) from the upstream pressure from step (a); (d) determining the error between a target pressure difference and the actual pressure difference; (e) producing a signal comprising a first component which is proportional to the error and a second component which is proportional to the rate of change of the error over time; and (f) using the signal produced in step (e) to control the position of an a