Their smart flow meter is designed to help industry professionals make better decisions
MLCan is on a mission to revolutionize the oil and gas industry with their flow measurement solution.
Dr. Mohammad Abbaspour (PhD’23, Schulich School of Engineering) and Dr. Mohammad Mansouri (PhD’22) first developed their smart flow meter back in 2020.
Powered by AI, their smart flow meter is designed to help oil and gas producers access real-time data to make better decisions.
“Oil wells contain a mixture of oil, water, and gas. For oil and gas producers, it’s important to know how much of each component is extracted from the wells. Current technologies typically don’t provide real-time measurement,” Dr. Abbaspour says.
Their smart flow meter provides accurate and efficient data measurement, in real-time.
“Leveraging AI, we’re able to provide a way to give clients accurate measurements of each individual phase within the wells,” he says.
Generally, test separators are used. One test separator is allocated to several wells. Further, wells are only tested periodically rather than on a regular basis. “They’re very expensive, and for that reason, aren’t used on each well and are instead used to glean approximate data from multiple wells,” he says.
The smart flow meters are installed within well pipelines and equipped with several built-in sensors. These sensors acquire data from the well; that data is then sent to an AI-based processing unit.
“One of the main benefits of our technology is that it can be used on each well, ensuring the accuracy of the data it extracts.” Further, their smart flow meter provides continuous feedback, keeping guesswork and approximations minimal.
The cost savings are a primary benefit to MLCan’s smart flow meter. “For nearly the same cost as each test separator, you can equip each well with a smart flow meter.”
Accurate data allows users to make better decisions in the long-term. “You can’t manage what you can’t measure,” says Dr. Abbaspour. Further, their technology helps oil producers reduce emissions, benefiting the planet.
Moving forward, Dr. Abbaspour and his team are preparing themselves for their first field test. They credit their growth to the support from the Hunter Hub for Entrepreneurial Thinking at the University of Calgary.
“We knew how to solve a technical problem. But engaging with the Hunter Hub, we learned so much about the business side of running a startup,” he says.
After participating in the Hunter Hub’s Launchpad program in 2022, the team later continued with Ascent and Summer Accelerator the following year. Dr. Abbaspour and his team also had support from the Hunter Hub’s former program, Aeir. “We greatly benefited from the mentorship provided by the Hunter Hub. We have made a lot of important decisions with the support of our mentors.”
Next, MLCan will be heading to Web Summit in Vancouver this May. Web Summit is North America’s fastest growing tech conference.
“Our first objective is to expand our network. We also hope to find new potential partners and potential investors,” Dr. Abbaspour says.
The Hunter Hub for Entrepreneurial Thinking is proud to support ten of the University of Calgary’s most promising startups at Web Summit. These ventures, founded by students, researchers and alumni, have been supported by the Hunter Hub through various programming, mentorship, hands-on learning opportunities, and a rich community driven by entrepreneurial thinking and creative innovation.
Planning to attend Web Summit? Visit the Hunter Hub’s booth to connect with MLCan and the nine other ventures making waves in UCalgary’s innovation ecosystem.
Ready to take your first (or tenth) step into entrepreneurship at the University of Calgary? The Hunter Hub for Entrepreneurial Thinking is here to support you as you embark on your entrepreneurial journey, whatever form that may take. Through a variety of programs, services, and year-round community events, the Hunter Hub is here to meet you where you are — whether you’re looking to pitch a startup, develop your business, or simply dive deep into an issue that ignites you. Visit the Hunter Hub website to learn more.
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