公开(公告)号：US10927667B2

公开(公告)日：2021-02-23

申请号：US15877588

申请日：2018-01-23

Applicant: Silixa Ltd. ,  CHEVRON U.S.A. INC.

Inventor： Mahmoud Farhadiroushan ,  Tom Parker ,  Daniel Finfer ,  Veronique Mahue

IPC: E21B47/135 ,  G01P5/24 ,  G01N29/46 ,  E21B47/0224 ,  G01F1/708 ,  G01N29/024

Abstract: Externally generated noise can be coupled into a fluid carrying structure such as a pipe, well, or borehole so as to artificially acoustically “illuminate” the pipe, well, or borehole, and allow fluid flow in the structure or structural integrity to be determined. In the disclosed system, externally generated noise is coupled into the structure being monitored at the same time as data logging required to undertake the monitoring is performed. This has three effects. First, the externally generated sound is coupled into the structure so as to “illuminate” acoustically the structure to allow data to be collected from which fluid flow may be determined, and secondly the amount of data that need be collected is reduced, as there is no need to log data when the structure is not being illuminated. Thirdly, there are signal processing advantages in having the data logging being undertaken only when the acoustic illumination occurs.

公开(公告)号：US20190331523A1

公开(公告)日：2019-10-31

申请号：US16508522

申请日：2019-07-11

Applicant: Silixa Ltd.

Inventor： Mahmoud Farhadiroushan ,  Tom Richard Parker ,  Sergey Shatalin

IPC: G01H9/00 ,  G01D5/353 ,  G01V1/40 ,  G01F1/66 ,  E21B47/00 ,  G01M11/00 ,  E21B47/10

Abstract: The present invention provides novel apparatus and methods for fast quantitative measurement of perturbation of optical fields transmitted, reflected and/or scattered along a length of an optical fibre. The present invention can be used for point sensors as well as distributed sensors or the combination of both. In particular this technique can be applied to distributed sensors while extending dramatically the speed and sensitivity to allow the detection of acoustic perturbations anywhere along a length of an optical fibre while achieving fine spatial resolution. The present invention offers unique advantages in a broad range of acoustic sensing and imaging applications. Typical uses are for monitoring oil and gas wells such as for distributed flow metering and/or imaging, seismic imaging, monitoring long cables and pipelines, imaging within large vessel as well as for security applications.

公开(公告)号：US10175384B2

公开(公告)日：2019-01-08

申请号：US15784586

申请日：2017-10-16

Applicant: SILIXA LTD.

Inventor： Mahmoud Farhadiroushan ,  Tom Parker

IPC: G01N21/00 ,  G01V11/00 ,  G01N21/68 ,  G01N21/64

Abstract: A probe is provided that contacts the inner surface of the casing or other production tubing and imparts energy to the surface at the contact point, for example as heat energy or mechanical energy. Energy is imparted around the circumference of the casing, and a fiber optic distributed sensor located on the outer surface of the casing is used to measure and record the energy that it receives while the probe is moved to impart energy around the circumference. A record of energy versus position of the probe around the circumference can be obtained, from which maxima in the detected energy measurements can then be found. The position around the circumference which gave the maximum measurement should be the position at which the optical fiber of the fiber optic distributed sensor is located. In addition, an ultrasonic arrangement is also described, that relies on ultrasonic sound to provide detection.

公开(公告)号：US20180058916A1

公开(公告)日：2018-03-01

申请号：US15804657

申请日：2017-11-06

Applicant: Silixa Ltd.

Inventor： Mahmoud Farhadiroushan ,  Daniel Finfer ,  Dmitry Strusevich ,  Sergey Shatalin ,  Tom Parker

IPC: G01H9/00 ,  G02B6/44 ,  G01M7/00 ,  G01L1/24

CPC classification number: G01H9/004 ,  G01L1/242 ,  G01M7/00 ,  G02B6/4405 ,  G02B6/4415

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention address aliasing problems by providing a plurality of discrete acoustic sensors along a cable whereby acoustic signals may be measured in situations where the fibre optic cable has not been secured to a structure or area by a series of clamps. Acoustic sampling points are achieved by selectively enhancing the acoustic coupling between the outer layer and the at least one optical fibre arrangement, such that acoustic energy may be transmitted selectively from the outer layer to the at least one optical fibre arrangement. The resulting regions of acoustic coupling along the cable allow the optical fibre to detect acoustic signals. Regions between the outer layer and the at least one optical fibre arrangement that contain material which is acoustically insulating further this enhancement since acoustic waves are unable to travel through such mediums, or at least travel through such mediums at a reduced rate.

公开(公告)号：US20170343389A1

公开(公告)日：2017-11-30

申请号：US15532812

申请日：2015-12-02

Applicant: Silixa Ltd. ,  Chevron U.S.A. Inc.

Inventor： Tom Parker ,  Mahmoud Farhadiroushan ,  Arran Gillies

IPC: G01D5/353 ,  G01H9/00 ,  G01K11/32 ,  G01M11/00

Abstract: An optical fiber sensing system includes a sensing optical fiber and one or more optical amplifiers in series with the sensing fiber and arranged to increase the power of sensing pulses travelling along the fiber to thereby increase the range of the sensing system. The optical fiber sensing system is one selected from the group including an optical fiber distributed acoustic sensor (DAS), an optical fiber distributed temperature sensor (DTS), or an optical time domain reflectometry (OTDR) system.

公开(公告)号：US09823114B2

公开(公告)日：2017-11-21

申请号：US15021319

申请日：2014-09-04

Applicant: Silixa Ltd.

Inventor： Mahmoud Farhadiroushan ,  Daniel Finfer ,  Dmitry Strusevich ,  Sergey Shatalin ,  Tom Parker

IPC: G02B6/00 ,  G01H9/00 ,  G01L1/24 ,  G01M7/00 ,  G02B6/44

CPC classification number: G01H9/004 ,  G01L1/242 ,  G01M7/00 ,  G02B6/4405 ,  G02B6/4415

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention address aliasing problems by providing a plurality of discrete acoustic sensors along a cable whereby acoustic signals may be measured in situations where the fiber optic cable has not been secured to a structure or area by a series of clamps, as described in the prior art. Acoustic sampling points are achieved by selectively enhancing the acoustic coupling between the outer layer and the at least one optical fiber arrangement, such that acoustic energy may be transmitted selectively from the outer layer to the at least one optical fiber arrangement. The resulting regions of acoustic coupling along the cable allow the optical fiber to detect acoustic signals. Regions between the outer layer and the at least one optical fiber arrangement that contain material which is acoustically insulating further this enhancement since acoustic waves are unable to travel through such mediums, or at least travel through such mediums at a reduced rate.

公开(公告)号：US09810809B2

公开(公告)日：2017-11-07

申请号：US15114496

申请日：2015-01-30

Applicant: SILIXA LTD.

Inventor： Mahmoud Farhadiroushan ,  Tom Parker

IPC: G01N21/00 ,  G01V11/00 ,  G01N21/68 ,  G01N21/64

CPC classification number: G01V11/005 ,  G01N21/64 ,  G01N21/68

Abstract: A probe is provided that contacts the inner surface of the casing or other production tubing and imparts energy to the surface at the contact point, for example as heat energy or mechanical energy. Energy is imparted around the circumference of the casing, and a fiber optic distributed sensor located on the outer surface of the casing is used to measure and record the energy that it receives whilst the probe is moved to impart energy around the circumference. A record of energy versus position of the probe around the circumference can be obtained, from which maxima in the detected energy measurements can then be found. The position around the circumference which gave the maximum measurement should be the position at which the optical fiber of the fiber optic distributed sensor is located. In addition, an ultrasonic arrangement is also described, that relies on ultrasonic sound to provide detection.

公开(公告)号：US20170082465A1

公开(公告)日：2017-03-23

申请号：US15277347

申请日：2016-09-27

Applicant: Silixa Ltd.

Inventor： Mahmoud Farhadiroushan ,  Tom Richard Parker ,  Sergey Shatalin

IPC: G01D5/353 ,  G01V1/40 ,  G01F1/66

CPC classification number: G01H9/004 ,  E21B47/0002 ,  E21B47/101 ,  G01D5/35303 ,  G01D5/35306 ,  G01D5/35325 ,  G01D5/35335 ,  G01D5/35358 ,  G01D5/35364 ,  G01D5/35377 ,  G01D5/35383 ,  G01F1/66 ,  G01F1/661 ,  G01M11/331 ,  G01V1/40

Abstract: An interferometer apparatus for an optical fibre system and method of use is described. The interferometer comprises an optical coupler and optical fibres which define first and second optical paths. Light propagating in the first and second optical paths is reflected back to the optical coupler to generate an interference signal. First, second and third interference signal components are directed towards respective first, second and third photodetectors. The third photodetector is connected to the coupler via a non-reciprocal optical device and is configured to measure the intensity of the third interference signal component directed back towards the input fibre. Methods of use in applications to monitoring acoustic perturbations and a calibration method are described.

公开(公告)号：US20160349403A1

公开(公告)日：2016-12-01

申请号：US15114496

申请日：2015-01-30

Applicant: SILIXA LTD.

Inventor： Mahmoud Farhadiroushan ,  Tom Parker

IPC: G01V11/00

CPC classification number: G01V11/005 ,  G01N21/64 ,  G01N21/68

Abstract: A probe is provided that contacts the inner surface of the casing or other production tubing and imparts energy to the surface at the contact point, for example as heat energy or mechanical energy. Energy is imparted around the circumference of the casing, and a fiber optic distributed sensor located on the outer surface of the casing is used to measure and record the energy that it receives whilst the probe is moved to impart energy around the circumference. A record of energy versus position of the probe around the circumference can be obtained, from which maxima in the detected energy measurements can then be found. The position around the circumference which gave the maximum measurement should be the position at which the optical fiber of the fiber optic distributed sensor is located. In addition, an ultrasonic arrangement is also described, that relies on ultrasonic sound to provide detection.

Abstract translation: 提供了一种探针，该探针接触壳体或其他生产管道的内表面，并将能量传递到接触点处的表面，例如作为热能或机械能。 能量被施加在壳体的圆周周围，并且位于壳体的外表面上的光纤分布式传感器用于测量和记录当探头被移动以接收围绕周围的能量时所接收的能量。 可以获得围绕圆周的探头的能量与位置的记录，从而可以从中检测出能量测量中的最大值。 给出最大测量值的围绕圆周的位置应该是光纤分布式传感器的光纤所处的位置。 此外，还描述了依靠超声波提供检测的超声波布置。

公开(公告)号：US20150192436A1

公开(公告)日：2015-07-09

申请号：US14662940

申请日：2015-03-19

Applicant: Silixa Ltd.

Inventor： Mahmoud Farhadiroushan ,  Tom Richard Parker ,  Sergey Shatalin

IPC: G01D5/353 ,  G01M11/00

CPC classification number: G01H9/004 ,  E21B47/0002 ,  E21B47/101 ,  G01D5/35303 ,  G01D5/35306 ,  G01D5/35325 ,  G01D5/35335 ,  G01D5/35358 ,  G01D5/35364 ,  G01D5/35377 ,  G01D5/35383 ,  G01F1/66 ,  G01F1/661 ,  G01M11/331 ,  G01V1/40

Abstract: An interferometer apparatus for an optical fibre system and method of use is described. The interferometer comprises an optical coupler and optical fibres which define first and second optical paths. Light propagating in the first and second optical paths is reflected back to the optical coupler to generate an interference signal. First, second and third interference signal components are directed towards respective first, second and third photodetectors. The third photodetector is connected to the coupler via a non-reciprocal optical device and is configured to measure the intensity of the third interference signal component directed back towards the input fibre. Methods of use in applications to monitoring acoustic perturbations and a calibration method are described.

Abstract translation: 描述了一种用于光纤系统的干涉仪装置及其使用方法。 干涉仪包括光耦合器和限定第一和第二光路的光纤。 在第一和第二光路中传播的光被反射回到光耦合器以产生干涉信号。 首先，第二和第三干扰信号分量指向相应的第一，第二和第三光电探测器。 第三光电检测器通过不可逆的光学装置连接到耦合器，并且被配置成测量指向输入光纤的第三干涉信号分量的强度。 描述了用于监测声学扰动的应用的方法和校准方法。