'Shale Gas Water Flow-Back Metering' ( SGWFBM )

The key aims and objectives will involve the integration of M-Flows existing microwave flow sensor technology with novel complimentary sensing techniques for use in shale gas extraction. Focus areas will be targeted at understanding ‘real time’ measurement of water fractions in ‘chaotic’ hydraulic fracturing ‘flow-back’, namely:
1) Assembly of a pilot demonstrator water flow-back meter to incorporate multi-parameter sensors;
2) Establishing new interpretational algorithms and models;
3) Design and execution of a flow rig test plan to validate actual against modelled performance.
The innovation and novel aspects of the proposal include:
1) The use of multi-parameter sensors integrated within a PEEK/Carbon monolithic assembly;
2) Innovative combinations of sensing techniques to measure rapidly varying water fractions in gas;
3) High speed data acquisition and processing of fracture pipeline flow-back; and
4) Characterisation and modelling of flow regimes to allow calibration of the unique sensor.