Method and apparatus for flow measurement
US6826954B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 23, 2002 |
| Grant date | Dec 7, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 15, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01F1/7084
- WIPO fieldCivil engineering
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
A method and apparatus is disclosed for measuring the flow of fluid in the conduit, giving the example of oil in a well bore (12). A heat exchanger such as a cooling station (66) is placed in the well bore (12) and caused to create a slug of cooled oil whose passage, through the well (12) can be monitored by a temperature sensor in the form of a continuous fiber optic loop (62). Knowledge of the movement of the cooled slug of oil and of the free cross-section of the conduit (54) wherein the oil is flowing permits the volume flow-rate of oil to be calculated. Cooling stations (66) are cooled by Joule-Thompson cooling employing high pressure nitrogen gas. Cooling stations (66) may be placed at plural locations within the well bore (12) to monitor individual flows (68) from multiple flow sources.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.