Abstract:
A multiphase flowmeter for determining at least one characteristic of a first phase flowing in a pipe with at least a second phase being also present in the pipe is disclosed. The multiphase flowmeter includes a processor configured to determine the at least one characteristic of the first phase, a first transducer configured to emit a first pulse signal into the first phase at a first incident angle with respect to a straight line that is perpendicular to an interior pipe wall; the first pulse signal is in an ultrasonic range and is configured to be coupled to an exterior pipe wall; and the absolute value of the first incident angle in the first phase is configured to be at least 10 degrees and at most 80 degrees and a second transducer configured to emit a second pulse signal into the first phase at a substantially normal incidence.
Abstract:
A pressure-balanced electromechanical converter is described including a structure that converts displacement into electrical energy or electrical energy into displacement, said structure designed to separate an enclosed volume for an outside pressure wave channel, wherein said enclosed volume has a filtering pressure transparent connection to said outside pressure wave channel with said filtering connection be pressure transparent to static pressure or low frequency pressure waves and filtering pressure waves at higher frequencies.
Abstract:
A technique is provided by which energy is physically/mechanically transmitted down through a wellbore. The transmitted energy is directed downhole along a fluid channel and impinges on an energy converter positioned in the wellbore or at another subterranean location. The energy converter converts the physical energy into electrical energy that can be supplied to a downhole device.
Abstract:
There is provided an apparatus for measuring flow rates of multi-phase flows in metal pipes, the apparatus comprising a transceiver generating a pulsed Doppler signal in the range 100 KHz to 10 microHz and an impedance device adapted to be coupled to a pipe so as to reduce or prevent reflections occurring from a pipe wall in response to the pulsed signal. The apparatus includes signal processor for analysing reflected signals received by the transceiver and for calculating the energy contained in a received signal. The pulsed signal is a shear wave which assists analysis of the reflected signals. The impedance device comprises a sound absorbing block made from plastics material with tungsten particles embedded therein. Different embodiments using various arrangements of transceivers are described, and also a related method of using the apparatus.
Abstract:
A cross correlation fluid flow meter including a body having first and second sensor devices positioned such that in use they are spaced apart a known distance in the direction of fluid flow, each sensor device having a signal transmitter and a signal receiver. According to one embodiment of the flow meter, the signal transmitter of the first sensor device is operable to transmit signals at first phase of a first frequency and the signal receiver of the first sensor device is arranged to receive signals at the first phase of the first frequency. The signal transmitter of the second sensor device is operable to transmit a second signal at a second phase of the first frequency and the signal receiver of the second device is operable to receive signals at the second phase of the first frequency, the first and second phases being out of phase with one another. The first sensor is non-responsive to the second phase and the second sensor is non-responsive to the first phase. In another embodiment, the signal transmitter of the first sensor transmits a signal at a first frequency and the signal transmitter of the second sensor transmits a signal a second frequency different that the first frequency. First and second receivers are adapted to receive signals at the respective first and second frequencies, but not to respond to the other of the frequencies. In either embodiment, cross correlation of the received signals provides an indication of the fluid flow rate.
Abstract:
Apparatuses and methods to power and communicate with downhole sensors are presented. Preferred embodiments of the present invention includes energizing a downhole sensor with a surface pressure wave generator and a downhole mechanical to electrical energy converter. Preferred embodiments of the present invention also include transmitting data measured from a downhole sensor to a surface unit through modulation of surface-generated pressure waves.
Abstract:
A method and system for measuring a property of a multiphase fluid comprising a mixture of at least an oil phase and a water phase travelling through a conduit, the method comprising measuring the thickness of the liquid mixture, measuring the permittivity of a portion of the multiphase fluid, combining the thickness measurement with the permittivity measurement to obtain a derived value for the permittivity of the liquid mixture, and using at least the derived permittivity of the liquid mixture and a relationship between a single phase liquid property and a corresponding two-phase property of the liquid mixture, to obtain a calculated water-to-liquid ratio of the liquid mixture.
Abstract:
Methods of measuring flow properties and flowmeters having an upstream transceiver and a downstream wave transceiver, each positioned with a wave emitting surface exposed to a fluid flowing in a conduit are described, the transceiver being separated by a length L along the conduit and adapted to receive wave signals traveling in flow direction and opposite to the flow direction, respectively, and an electronic processor for extracting from travel time measurements of the wave signals flow characterizing parameters, the transceivers being adapted to generate tube waves, particularly in the audible frequency range, in the conduit and used to determine the travel time of the tube waves between the upstream transceiver and the downstream wave transceiver.
Abstract:
Embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for reliable and accurate flow assurance and pipeline monitoring. More specifically but not by way of limitation, systems and methods of the present invention provide for using Doppler profiles through a pipeline section to monitor and/or measure depositing on and corrosion of a pipeline configured for flowing one or more hydrocarbons. In other embodiments of the present invention, thermal probe sensors may be used to monitor the depositing on and corrosion of the section of the pipeline. And in still further embodiments, combinations of Doppler sensors, thermal sensors and/or acoustic impedance sensors are provided with outputs from one or more of the sensors used to control one or more of the sensors or to provide for determination of flow assurance or pipeline monitoring.
Abstract:
Embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for reliable and accurate flow assurance and pipeline monitoring. More specifically but not by way of limitation, systems and methods of the present invention provide for using Doppler profiles through a pipeline section to monitor and/or measure depositing on and corrosion of a pipeline configured for flowing one or more hydrocarbons. In other embodiments of the present invention, thermal probe sensors may be used to monitor the depositing on and corrosion of the section of the pipeline. And in still further embodiments, combinations of Doppler sensors, thermal sensors and/or acoustic impedance sensors are provided with outputs from one or more of the sensors used to control one or more of the sensors or to provide for determination of flow assurance or pipeline monitoring.