Fiber optic tomographic imaging of borehole fluids
US6355928B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 31, 1999 |
| Grant date | Mar 12, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 31, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
- CPC primaryE21B49/08
- WIPO fieldCivil engineering
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
This invention provides a method and an apparatus for fiber optic tomographic analysis and imaging of fluids. This invention includes a method for providing information on downhole fluid flowing in a hydrocarbon well, utilizing at least one downhole tomograph chamber (10). Light is introduced into the tomograph chamber (10) by an optical fiber bundle (24), and portions of the light are collected in other optical fiber bundles (32, 34). The collected portions of light are conveyed through the optical fiber bundles (32, 34) to a surface system (14), where the light is detected to produce signals proportional to the portions of light to provide information on optical properties of downhole fluid flowing in the well. This invention allows the generation of two or three dimensional images of multiple phase flow in the wellbore and allows determination of production parameters of multiple zones on an individual zone basis.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.