21st Southern California Nonlinear Control
Workshop
Control of
Multiphase Flow on Oil Production Facilities Florent Di Meglio,
UCSD
Postdoctoral Advisor:
Miroslav Krstic
We investigate
feedback control solutions to the slugging problem
occuring on oil wells and flowlines. This gas-liquid
flow instability, characterized by large oscillations of
the pressures and flow rates inside the transport pipes,
causes production losses and may damage the facilities.
Using pressure sensors in feedback loops, the flow can
be stabilized using the outlet valve as the actuator.
Both finite and infinite dimensional models allow us to
build observers and design control laws better suited to
this underactuated system than the PI controllers
commonly used in this industry.