Patent · US Expired

Method and apparatus for determining two-phase flow in rock fracture

US5311766A · kind A · utility

8Cited by
7References
9Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJul 7, 1992
Grant dateMay 17, 1994
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 7, 2012

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01N15/0826
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An improved method and apparatus as disclosed for measuring the permeability of multiple phases through a rock fracture. The improvement in the method comprises delivering the respective phases through manifolds to uniformly deliver and collect the respective phases to and from opposite edges of the rock fracture in a distributed manner across the edge of the fracture. The improved apparatus comprises first and second manifolds comprising bores extending within porous blocks parallel to the rock fracture for distributing and collecting the wetting phase to and from surfaces of the porous blocks, which respectively face the opposite edges of the rock fracture. The improved apparatus further comprises other manifolds in the form of plenums located adjacent the respective porous blocks for uniform delivery of the non-wetting phase to parallel grooves disposed on the respective surfaces of the porous blocks facing the opposite edges of the rock fracture and generally perpendicular to the rock fracture.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.