Over the last quarter, there has been significant growth in the number of projects going through NEL’s multiphase test facility.
“There are two main reasons for the increase in multiphase research,” says Phil Mark, Group Manager for Testing Services. “We have been enhancing our service flexibility and have improved our profile, expertise and approach to meet customer needs.”
According to Phil, a key contributing factor has been the recruitment of Dr Bruno Pinguet. “Bruno’s connections in the industry and his strong advocacy of our expertise and world-class test facilities has helped attract clients from all over the world,” says Phil.
Dr Pinguet joined NEL earlier in the year to help the lab remain at the cutting edge of multiphase flow measurement. He has extensive international experience in multiphase flow measurement and is recognised as a world authority on this topic.
“We have always worked in a flexible, client-centred way,” Phil says, elaborating on the approach that has helped boost NEL’s multiphase research. “However, over 2017 we have given an even stronger focus to this aspect of our service delivery. Rather than being rigid in terms of the service we supply, we ask our clients what they are trying to achieve and then work to accommodate their requests.”
Phil highlights a recent project as one example of this flexible approach. This project involved a programme of meter testing for a leading oil exploration and production company from the Middle East.
“We were asked by the client’s team to use of sodium chloride salts in the test reference fluids, as they wanted to recreate the conditions that their meters would see in the field,” Phil explains. “Sodium chloride salts are not usually used because they can be corrosive and we usually employ magnesium sulphate salts, however, we considered our operating and cleaning procedures, rejigged them and were able to meet the client’s requirements.”