Patent · US Expired

Electromagnetic wave method and apparatus for downhole measurement of fluid conductivity and hydrocarbon volume during formation testing

US5341100A · kind A · utility

36Cited by
5References
13Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateDec 22, 1992
Grant dateAug 23, 1994
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 22, 2012

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02A90/30
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

There is disclosed in the present specification a method and apparatus for use of a downhole formation multi-tester instrument in the characterization of formation fluids, including measurement of the conductivity of water, often in the presence of hydrocarbons under dynamic flow conditions and determining the hydrocarbon volume of the formation fluid. Utilizing a coaxial transmission line as a flow tube within the formation multi-tester instrument an electromagnetic wave is generated which propagates through the formation fluid in a transverse electromagnetic mode. Measurement of the phase shift and attenuation of the electromagnetic wave at points within the flow tube allow characterization of the fluid inside the cavity of the flow tube for dielectric constant and conductivity. Dielectric constant and conductivity can then be related to fluid conductivity and hydrocarbon volume.

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