Apparatus and tool using tracers and singles point optical probes for measuring characteristics of fluid flow in a hydrocarbon well and methods of processing resulting signals
US6016191A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 7, 1998 |
| Grant date | Jan 18, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 7, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N2021/855
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Single point optical probes for measuring three-phase characteristics of fluid flow in a hydrocarbon well and methods of processing signals generated by the probe are disclosed. A single fiber optic probe is coupled to a light source and apparatus for detecting reflectance and fluorescence. Light is delivered to the tip of the probe where it either exits the probe and illuminates the liquid ambient the probe tip or is internally reflected in the probe when gas is present at the probe tip. If the fluid at the probe tip is oil, the light exits the probe, illuminates the oil, and causes the oil to fluoresce. Signal processing methods for determining holdup are disclosed. According the invention, a method for determining continuous phase velocities includes injecting a fluorescent dye into the fluid at a measured distance upstream of a probe. The time between injection and detection of the dye is used to calculate average continuous phase velocity. A water soluble dye is used to detect the velocity of water, and an oil soluble dye is used to detect the velocity of oil.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.