Wellhead valve system for adjusting the flow with integrated multiphase flow rate measuring ability

Abstract

The present invention refers to a wellhead valve system for adjusting the flow, for example, of hydrocarbon, comprising a hydraulic control valve ( 10 ) for opening the wellhead made up of a valve body ( 11 ) provided with a pipe ( 14,15 ) for the passage of a flow (F) of fluids, having an inlet opening ( 12 ) and an outlet opening ( 13 ), interposed between the inlet opening ( 12 ) and the outlet opening ( 13 ) being an adjustable orifice ( 16 ); an actuator ( 24 ) adapted to command the valve ( 10 ) to close and open, in which the actuator ( 24 ) operates on opening and closing means ( 20 ) of the adjustable orifice ( 16 ); and a position gauge ( 17 ) adapted to determine the degree of opening of the adjustable orifice ( 16 ), and is characterized in that the position gauge ( 17 ) is integral with the opening and closing means ( 20 ) of the adjustable orifice ( 16 ). Thanks to the accurate measurements carried out by the position gauge ( 17 ), it is possible to determine the gas/liquid monophase and/or biphase flow rate value accurately and instantly, based upon data measured by a plurality of fluid and/or flow parameters sensors ( 22, 23 ), comprising pressure sensors ( 22 ) and temperature sensors ( 23 ), preferably positioned integral with the valve body ( 11 ).

1 . Wellhead valve system ( 100 ) comprising
 a hydraulic control valve ( 10 ) for opening the wellhead made up of a valve body ( 11 ) provided with a pipe ( 14 , 15 ) for the passage of a flow (F) of fluids, having an inlet opening ( 12 ) and an outlet opening ( 13 ), interposed between said inlet opening ( 12 ) and said outlet opening ( 13 ) being an adjustable orifice ( 16 );   an actuator ( 24 ) adapted to command said valve ( 10 ) to close and open, said actuator ( 24 ) operating on opening and closing means ( 20 ) of said adjustable orifice ( 16 );   a position gauge ( 17 ) adapted to determine the degree of opening of said adjustable orifice ( 16 ), characterised in that said position gauge ( 17 ) is integral with said opening and closing means ( 20 ) of said adjustable orifice ( 16 ).   
     
     
         2 . Wellhead valve system ( 100 ) according to  claim 1  characterised in that it comprises a plurality of fluid and/or flow parameters sensors ( 22 , 23 ) integral with said valve body ( 11 ). 
     
     
         3 . Wellhead valve system ( 100 ) according to  claim 2  characterised in that said plurality of fluid and/or flow parameters sensors ( 22 , 23 ) are arranged both upstream, and downstream of said adjustable orifice ( 16 ) with respect to the direction of said flow (F). 
     
     
         4 . Wellhead valve system ( 100 ) according to  claim 2  or characterised in that said valve body comprises a first flange ( 11   a ) arranged at said inlet opening ( 12 ) and a second flange ( 11   b ) arranged at said outlet opening ( 13 ), said plurality of fluid and/or flow parameters sensors ( 22 , 23 ) being constrained to said flanges ( 11   a , 11   b ). 
     
     
         5 . Wellhead valve system ( 100 ) according to one of  claims 2 - 4  characterised in that said plurality of fluid and/or flow parameters sensors ( 22 , 23 ) comprises at least pressure sensors ( 22 ) and/or temperature sensors ( 23 ). 
     
     
         6 . Wellhead valve system ( 100 ) according to  claim 5  characterised in that said pressure sensors ( 22 ) have a sampling rate greater or equivalent to 100 samples per second, and in that said temperature sensors ( 23 ) have a sampling rate greater or equivalent to one sample per second. 
     
     
         7 . Wellhead valve system ( 100 ) according to any one of the preceding claims characterised in that it comprises means ( 25 ) for controlling said valve ( 10 ) adapted to command said actuator ( 24 ) at least according to data detected by said plurality of fluid and/or flow parameters sensors ( 22 , 23 ) and data measured by said position gauge ( 17 ). 
     
     
         8 . Wellhead valve system ( 100 ) according to any one of the preceding claims characterised in that it comprises at least one gauge ( 21 ), for measuring the concentration of water in liquid state, integral with said valve body ( 11 ). 
     
     
         9 . Wellhead valve system ( 100 ) according to  claim 8  characterised in that said at least one gauge ( 21 ) for measuring the concentration of water in liquid state is arranged upstream and/or downstream of said adjustable orifice ( 16 ) with respect to the direction of said flow (F). 
     
     
         10 . Wellhead valve system ( 100 ) according to  claim 8  or characterised in that said at least one gauge ( 21 ) for measuring the concentration of water in liquid state is constrained to said flange ( 11   a , 11   b ) of said valve body ( 11 ). 
     
     
         11 . Wellhead valve system ( 100 ) according to any one of the preceding claims characterised in that said pipe ( 14 , 15 ) is L-shaped. 
     
     
         12 . Wellhead valve system ( 100 ) according to  claim 11  characterised in that said plug element ( 16 ) is arranged at the elbow joint of said L-shaped pipe ( 14 , 15 ). 
     
     
         13 . Wellhead valve system ( 100 ) according to any one of the preceding claims characterised in that said adjustable orifice ( 16 ) is an element with disks comprising a first fixed disk ( 18 ) provided with a first opening and a second moveable disk ( 19 ) provided with a second opening, the degree of opening of said adjustable orifice ( 16 ) with disks being determined by the degree of overlapping of said first and second opening. 
     
     
         14 . Wellhead valve system ( 100 ) according to  claim 13  characterised in that said second moveable disk ( 19 ) is integral with a stem ( 20 ) rotated by said actuator ( 24 ). 
     
     
         15 . Wellhead valve system ( 100 ) according to any one of the preceding claims characterised in that said position gauge ( 17 ) is an encoder.