Salinity independent measurement of gas volume fraction in oil/gas/water pipe flows

Dual mode densitometry is presented as a novel method of measuring the gas volume fraction in gas/oil/water pipe flows independent of the salinity of the water component. The different response in photoelectric attenuation and Compton scattering to changes in salinity is utilized. The total attenuation coefficient is found through traditional transmission measurements with a detector positioned outside the pipe wall diametrically opposite the source. The scatter response is measured with a second detector positioned somewhere between the source and the transmission detector, The feasibility of the method is demonstrated for homogeneously mixed flows. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.