Multiphase flow meters (MPFMs) provide real-time measurements of oil, gas, and water flow rates, playing a critical role in offshore production monitoring and allocation. Accurate phase measurement is essential, particularly in deep-water operations where fluid properties are complex and variable.

This study presents a case from a West African deep-water field with 12 production wells, demonstrating how an advanced digital solution integrated with subsea MPFMs improved produced water management by identifying sulfur in the oil phase.

Field data was collected and analyzed remotely using the Subsea Live data-driven performance service*. Initial assessments indicated an overestimation of produced water. Further analysis linked this deviation to sulfur presence in the oil phase, detected via solution triangle method during well shut-in conditions. Notably, sulfur had not been reported in the PVT report initially. Sulfur’s mass attenuation properties influenced water readings, leading to inaccurate WLR estimates. To address this, the oil mass attenuation configuration for all 12 meters was updated to reflect actual reservoir fluid properties.

Following reconfiguration, WLR values aligned with expected ranges, improving water rate accuracy and enhancing gas and oil rate estimations. These improvements directly benefited flow assurance, production allocation, and chemical injection strategies. Remote monitoring enabled early anomaly detection and corrective actions without intervention at the subsea installation.

This study underscores the capability of MPFMs, combined with digital solutions, to detect impurities in offshore production streams. The integration of real-time diagnostics and adaptive reconfiguration enhances MPFM reliability, optimizing production efficiency and produced water management in offshore fields.

*Mark of SLB