Patent · US Active

Annulus vortex flowmeter

US8234932B2 · kind B2 · utility

8Cited by
75References
24Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJul 20, 2010
Grant dateAug 7, 2012
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 12, 2030

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01F1/3209
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An annulus vortex flowmeter for use in conjunction with a subterranean well. A flowmeter includes a housing, a vortex responsive structure which vibrates in response to vortices produced external to the housing and a sensor which senses vibration of the structure and produces a signal indicative of a flow rate. A method of measuring fluid flow rate between a tubular string and a zone intersected by a wellbore includes utilizing a flowmeter having a vortex shedding device external to a housing for interconnection in the tubular string, the flowmeter including a vortex responsive structure which vibrates in response to vortices produced by the vortex shedding device as the fluid flows through an annulus external to the housing, and a sensor which senses vibration of the structure and produces a signal indicative of the rate of flow of the fluid; and determining the flow rate based on the sensor signal.

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