Temperature model benchmarking in flowline environments

Abstract

A system for benchmarking a flowline temperature model using acoustic detection techniques is disclosed. A predicted velocity of a pressure wave introduced into the flowline by an acoustic detection subsystem can be determined using temperature data from a known temperature model, and an expected time of flight of the pressure wave to a flowline target feature can be calculated using the predicted velocity. An actual time of flight of the pressure wave to the target feature can also be observed from received pressure data, and when the system detects a difference between the actual and predicted times of flight, an actual pressure wave velocity may be calculated based on the actual time of flight. A corrected temperature value corresponding to the actual pressure wave velocity may be subsequently calculated, and the known temperature model can be revised by substituting the corrected temperature value for the predicted temperature value.