Abstract: A method for monitoring fluid flow in a conduit comprises: acoustically coupling an optical fiber to the conduit adjacent one or more flow restrictions (R1-R4) in the conduit; inducing a Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) assembly to measure an acoustic noise signature (SNR1-4) generated in the fiber by the fluid flowing through each flow restriction (R1-R4); deriving the fluid flow rate of the fluid (QI, QI+II) flowing through each flow restriction (R1-R4) from the measured acoustic noise signature (SNR1-4); and displaying the derived fluid flow rate (QI, QI+II) at a fluid flow rate monitoring display.

Abstract: A method for monitoring fluid flow in a conduit comprises: acoustically coupling an optical fiber to the conduit adjacent one or more flow restrictions (R1-R4) in the conduit; inducing a Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) assembly to measure an acoustic noise signature (SNR1-4) generated in the fiber by the fluid flowing through each flow restriction (R1-R4); deriving the fluid flow rate of the fluid (QI, QI+II) flowing through each flow restriction (R1-R4) from the measured acoustic noise signature (SNR1-4); and displaying the derived fluid flow rate (QI, QI+II) at a fluid flow rate monitoring display.

Abstract: A method is provided for measuring fluid flow characteristics in a multiphase fluid stream which passes through a venturi flow meter. The liquid holdup (&agr;1,I) is measured at or near the inlet of the venturi and a slip factor (S) is determined. The slip factor expresses the difference between the gas and liquid velocity at a selected location in the venturi and is based on the measured level of liquid holdup. The fluid flow characteristics are calculated on the basis of an algorithm which takes into account the measured liquid holdup (&agr;1,I) at the inlet of the venturi and different slip factors at the inlet (Si) and in the throat of the venturi (St).