Research and Development: Joint Industry Projects

For information on the recently launched JIPs click here

Joint Industry Project
A joint industry project (JIP) is a route by which the expense of the research and development can be spread over a number of interested parties.

Typically, NEL will initiate the JIP and then act as the facilitator and the supplier, carrying out the necessary investigative, development or design work.

Building Networks
NEL has developed an excellent reputation in initiating and managing JIPs. The role requires intimate knowledge of the technology and the industry. It is vital that commercial sensitivities are recognised and conflicting requirements within the members of the JIP can be reconciled.

Independence and Impartiality
The most significant benefit which members gain from a NEL JIP is the independence combined with technical expertise. Since we are not linked to any product, equipment manufacturer or supplier we are able to form an unbiased view on the capabilities and performance of equipment and systems.

JIP Programme
The programme of proposed JIPs is under continual development. Please contact us to make suggestions for future projects and for details of existing projects.

Recently Launched Joint Industry Projects

Flare Gas and Venting (more info)
Testing of subsea water quality measurement devices (more info)
Differential Pressure flow metering for high viscosity fluids (more info)
Fluctuating Flow (more info)
Carbon Capture & Storage (more info)
Heavy Oil (more info)
MULTIFLOW (more info)

Active Joint Industry Projects

Sampling (more info)
Non-invasive flow measurement
Multiflow3
Wind turbine telemetry project

Recently completed JIPs

High viscosity flow metering
Guidance for testing of subsea water quality devices
Densitometer performance
Remote Wind Speed Measurement Intercomparison
Energy recovery from electric vehicles

SAMPLING JIP

Complex fluids are an integral part of the energy chain. Knowledge of the composition and being able to accurately quantify components is key for allocation, monetary value determination, and environmental compliance. Representative sampling is a critical step for accurately determining the composition of complex fluids. NEL is embarking upon a widescale investigation into the problems and issues associated with the sampling of complex fluids. Our research aims to investigate:

Using CFD to predict mixing conditions for water in oil sampling
Experimental testing of conditions for mixing to validate CFD and ISO 3171 standard
Sampling devices for water in oil
Sampling devices for wet gas, multiphase flows and LNG
Potential for in-line/on-line subsea sampling

To find out more about oil sampling and how to participate in this project, please click here.

MULTIFLOW JIP

Over the last 20 years, multiphase flow measurement technology has developed dramatically. The JIPs can help accelerate the development of multiphase meters that meet the industry's needs and help unlock future oil production. This new project will address key elements of research such as:

using higher viscosity fluids to meet the growing operational demands placed upon multiphase meters
investigate simulation software and its place in the measurement of complex fluids
measurement at higher pressures to reflect increasing use of multiphase meters subsea
proving multiphase meters under in-situ conditions
multiphase meter evaluations under test conditions 65 to 80% water cut.

To find out how to participate in this project, please click here.

HEAVY OIL JIP

Building on the success of the heavy oil joint industry project, NEL is planning the next stage of research into the challenges of measuring heavy oil. The remaining massive global reserves are classed as "unconventional"; heavy or high viscous oil falls into this category. To develop and ultimately trade in this field, measurement technology has to be developed to cope with the fluids behaviour, temperature effects, viscosity fluctuations and the costly issue of air/gas entrainment. The project will consider further research into the areas of:

Higher viscous oil up to 1500 cSt
Continued investigation of ultrasonic and Coriolis measurement devices
Air entrainment and its costly effects on the $25 billion bunkering industry
Installation effects, and in particular vertical installation
Differential Pressure devices
Computational Fluid Dynamic Modelling of high viscosity flow

To find out how to participate in this project, please click here.

CARBON CAPTURE & STORAGE JIP

CCS is seen as a major contributor to reducing man-made CO₂ emissions as part of a secure and sustainable energy supply. Accurate measurement throughout the CCS process will be essential for the operation of CCS schemes. It is expected that measurement uncertainty will be within +/- 1.5% of mass flow. The race is on to find products that can meet stringent criteria:

NEL will look at physical properties of CO₂ with mixtures up to 5% and the effect on the measurement device
Investigate the popular traditional measurement devices such as orifice plates and venturis, along with the newer technologies such as coriolis and ultrasonic, by flowing high concentration of CO₂ through them
Continuous Emissions Monitoring (CEMS) will be an integral part of the flow metering chain, due to the temperature and pressure complexities faced in many pipeline systems; this will be researched as part of the JIP
Conduct CFD studies to look at fluid behaviours and potential impacts on measurement technologies

To find out how to participate in this project, please click here.

FLUCTUATING FLOW JIP

In oil producing regions, maintaining stable flow can be problematic for a variety of reasons. Sources of unstable flow can range from declining oil production to increased water content or even under or over sized test separators. These sources can manifest themselves into variable flow with relatively large frequency fluctuations. Stable flow is believed to be crucial for accurate flow measurement. Where stable flow conditions are not present, the effect on different measurement technologies is not fully understood. To improve upon this situation, NEL is currently formulating an investigation into the effects of fluctuating flow on a host of flow meter technologies, including Coriolis and ultrasonic flow meters. Preliminary aims of the project are to:

Recreate fluctuating flow conditions in the NEL's Flow Measurement Facility using a variety of frequencies and mean flow rates
Evaluate the measurement performance of both ultrasonic and Coriolis flow meters when applied to fluctuating flow
Investigate the effect of both cyclic and asymmetric fluctuations as well as hold times and random pulsations
Incorporate advanced flow meter diagnostics in the evaluation

To find out more about fluctuating flow or how to participate in this project, please click here.

DIFFERENTIAL PRESSURE JIP

Differential pressure (DP) devices such as Venturi tubes or orifice plates make up a considerable proportion of the flow meters currently used in the world. These meters have been in operation for many years, and have been widely studied and characterised by correlations such as the Reader-Harris/Gallagher equation. The correlations and standards generally assume turbulent flow. However, when applied to ‘heavy oil’, the effects on DP devices are generally not known nor are they currently governed by any industry standard.

To improve upon this situation, NEL is currently formulating an investigation into the effects of complex fluids on differential pressure devices such as Venturi tubes, orifice plates, cone and wedge meters. Preliminary aims of the project are to:

Evaluate the measurement performance of a host of DP devices across a wide (low) Reynolds number range using a range of fluid viscosities
Investigate the effect of gas entrainment
Evaluate installation effects

To find out how to participate in this project, please click here.

SUBSEA WATER QUALITY MEASUREMENT DEVICES JIP

Seabed processing will play a very important role in maximising oil recoveries for offshore oil and gas fields. Subsea separation and produced water re-injection or discharge, together with subsea raw sea water injection forms crucial parts of the seabed processing strategy. However the lack of subsea water quality measurement devices has prevented a wide take-up of such seabed processing systems. This is because without such a device, the only way to find out water quality (for discharge or re-injection subsea) is by manually taking a sample and then bringing the sample to surface using a remotely operating vehicle (ROV). This is an extremely expensive and time-consuming operation and more importantly it does not serve well with production operations.

Following a recent Measurement for Innovators project on the subject, NEL is embarking upon a research project to accelerate the development of subsea water quality measurement devices.

The project aims to:

Establish requirements, develop operating envelopes and review potential technologies for water quality measurements related to subsea raw sea water injection
Recommend testing and a way forward for developing subsea raw sea water injection water quality measurement devices
Conduct a further review on potential technologies that can be used for water quality measurements related subsea separation and produced water re-injection and or discharge
Provide assistance to selected technology providers in further developing their subsea water quality measurement devices
Carry out performance evaluation tests under laboratory, offshore surface environment
Conduct additional environment tests and provide recommendations for subsea field trials

Please click here to express an interest in joining this project.

FLARE GAS AND VENTING JIP

An improvement in the quality of measurements and therefore the integrity of data reported to CO₂ emissions trading schemes, will ensure that emissions reductions will be both real and verifiable.
This project will examine the techniques used to measure both flare gas flow and quality (i.e. composition, density, emission factor etc). Data analysis identifying the impact of uncertainty across a range of flow rates on the overall reported flare gas figures, and review of validation and verification techniques used for flare gas meters, will also be key project deliverables.

For further information on Flare Gas and Venting or how to participate in this project, please click here.