Methods for determining velocities and flow rates of fluids flowing in a well bore

Claim 1

A method for determining the actual velocity of a fluid flowing in a well bore interval with a flowmeter having a rotatable spinner adapted to turn in a rotational direction and at a rotational speed respectively representative of both the relative direction and the relative velocity of said flowing fluid with respect to said flowmeter and comprising the steps of: passing said flowmeter upwardly along said well bore interval at a selected travel speed for obtaining at least one measurement representative of the corresponding rotational speed of said spinner in one of its rotational directions in said flowing fluid; passing said flowmeter downwardly along said well bore interval at a selected travel speed for obtaining at least one measurement representative of the corresponding rotational speed of said spinner in the other of its rotational directions in said flowing fluid; repeating at least one of the aforespecified steps at a different selected travel speed for obtaining at least another measurement representative of the corresponding rotational speed of said spinner in said flowing fluid; correlating said measurements for determining the upper and lower limits of the range of relative fluid velocities which are respectively ineffective for inducing rotation of said spinner in either of its said rotational directions; and, thereafter, averaging said upper and lower velocity limits for determining the actual velocity of said flowing fluid in said well bore interval.

Claim 2

A method for determining the actual velocity of a fluid flowing in a well bore interval with a flowmeter having a rotatable spinner adapted to turn in a rotational direction and at a rotational speed respectively representative of both the relative direction and the relative velocity of said flowing fluid with respect to said flowmeter and comprising the steps of: passing said flowmeter upwardly along said well bore interval at a selected travel speed for obtaining at least one measurement representative of the corresponding rotational speed of said spinner in one of its rotational directions in said flowing fluid; passing said flowmeter downwardly along said well bore interval at a selected travel speed for obtaining at least one measurement representative of the corresponding rotational speed of said spinner in the other of its rotational directions in said flowing fluid; repeating at least one of the aforespecified steps at a different selected travel speed for obtaining at least another measurement representative of the corresponding rotational speed of said spinner in said flowing fluid; correlating said measurements for determining the upper and lower limits of the range of relative fluid velocities which are respectively ineffective for inducing rotation of said spinner in either of its said rotational directions; and, thereafter, averaging said upper and lower velocity limits for determining the actual velocity of said flowing fluid in said well bore interval.

Claim 6

A method for determining the actual velocity of a fluid flowing in a well bore interval with a flowmeter having a rotatable spinner adapted to turn in a rotational direction and at a rotational speed respectively representative of both the relative direction and the relative velocity of said flowing fluid with respect to said flowmeter and comprising the steps of: passing said flowmeter upwardly along said well bore interval at a selected travel speed for obtaining at least one measurement representative of the corresponding rotational speed of said spinner in one of its rotational directions in said flowing fluid; passing said flowmeter downwardly along said well bore interval at a selected travel speed for obtaining at least one measurement representative of the corresponding rotational speed of said spinner in the other of its rotational directions in said flowing fluid; halting said flowmeter in said well bore interval for obtaining at least another measurement representative of the corresponding rotational speed and rotational direction of said spinner in said flowing fluid; correlating said measurements for determining the upper and lower limits of the range of relative fluid velocities which are respectively ineffective for inducing rotation of said spinner in either of its said rotational directions; and, thereafter, averaging said upper and lower velocity limits for determining the actual velocity of said flowing fluid in said well bore interval.

Claim 7

A method for determining the actual velocity of a fluid flowing in a well bore interval with a flowmeter having a rotatable spinner adapted to turn in a rotational direction and at a rotational speed respectively representative of both the relative direction and the relative velocity of said flowing fluid with respect to said flowmeter and comprising the steps of: passing said flowmeter upwardly along said well bore interval at a selected travel speed for obtaining at least one measurement representative of the corresponding rotational speed of said spinner in one of its rotational directions in said flowing fluid; passing said flowmeter downwardly along said well bore interval at a selected travel speed for obtaining at least one measurement representative of the corresponding rotational speed of said spinner in the other of its rotational directions in said flowing fluid; halting said flowmeter in said well bore interval for obtaining at least another measurement representative of the corresponding rotational speed and rotational direction of said spinner in said flowing fluid; correlating said measurements for determining the upper and lower limits of the range of relative fluid velocities which are respectively ineffective for inducing rotation of said spinner in either of its said rotational directions; and, thereafter, averaging said upper and lower velocity limits for determining the actual velocity of said flowing fluid in said well bore interval.

Claim 9

A method for determining the actual velocity of a fluid flowing in a well bore interval with a flowmeter having a rotatable spinner adapted to turn in a rotational direction and at a rotational speed respectively representative of both the relative direction and the relative velocity of said flowing fluid with respect to said flowmeter and comprising the steps of: successively passing said flowmeter at least twice along said well bore interval counter to said flowing fluid and at at least two different travel speeds for obtaining one series of measurements representative of the corresponding rotational speeds of said spinner when rotating in one direction in said flowing fluid; successively passing said flowmeter at least twice along said well bore interval along with said flowing fluid and at at least two different travel speeds for obtaining another series of measurements representative of the corresponding rotational speeds of said spinner when rotating in the opposite direction in said flowing fluid; correlating said one series of measurements for determining the relative velocity across said spinner at which said spinner will discontinue rotation in said one direction in said flowing fluid; correlating said other series of measurements for determining the relative velocity across said spinner at which said spinner will discontinue rotation in said opposite direction in said flowing fluid; and computing the mid-point of said relative velocities for determining the actual velocity of said flowing fluid in said well bore interval along the rotational axis of said spinner.

Claim 10

A method for determining the actual velocity of a fluid flowing in a well bore interval with a flowmeter having a rotatable spinner adapted to turn in a rotational direction and at a rotational speed respectively representative of both the relative direction and the relative velocity of said flowing fluid with respect to said flowmeter and comprising the steps of: successively passing said flowmeter at least twice along said well bore interval counter to said flowing fluid and at at least two different travel speeds for obtaining one series of measurements representative of the corresponding rotational speeds of said spinner when rotating in one direction in said flowing fluid; successively passing said flowmeter at least twice along said well bore interval along with said flowing fluid and at at least two different travel speeds for obtaining another series of measurements representative of the corresponding rotational speeds of said spinner when rotating in the opposite direction in said flowing fluid; correlating said one series of measurements for determining the relative velocity across said spinner at which said spinner will discontinue rotation in said one direction in said flowing fluid; correlating said other series of measurements for determining the relative velocity across said spinner at which said spinner will discontinue rotation in said opposite direction in said flowing fluid; and computing the mid-point of said relative velocities for determining the actual velocity of said flowing fluid in said well bore interval along the rotational axis of said spinner.

Claim 14

A method for respectively determining the actual velocities of at least a first fluid flowing alone in a lower interval of a well bore and a second fluid flowing together in a mixture with said first fluid in an upper interval of said well bore by means of a flowmeter having a rotatable spinner adapted to turn in a rotational direction and at a rotational speed respectively representative of both the relative direction and the relative velocity of said flowing fluids with respect to said flowmeter and comprising the steps of: passing said flowmeter upwardly along said well bore intervals at a selected travel speed for successively obtaining first and second measurements respectively representative of the corresponding rotational speeds of said spinner in one of its rotational directions in both of said well bore intervals; passing said flowmeter downwardly along said well bore intervals at a selected travel speed for successively obtaining third and fourth measurements respectively representative of the corresponding rotational speeds of said spinner in the other of its rotational directions in both of said well bore intervals; repeating at least one of the aforespecified steps at a different selected travel speed for successively obtaining at least fifth and sixth measurements representative of the corresponding rotational speeds of said spinner in both of said well bore intervals; correlating said measurements for determining the upper and lower limits of the individual ranges of relative fluid velocities in each of said well bore intervals which are respectively ineffective for inducing rotation of said spinner in either of its said rotational directions; and, thereafter, averaging said upper and lower velocity limits for each of said well bore intervals for determining the actual velocities of said first and second fluids in said well bore intervals.

Claim 15

A method for respectively determining the actual velocities of at least a first fluid flowing alone in a lower interval of a well bore and a second fluid flowing together in a mixture with said first fluid in an upper interval of said well bore by means of a flowmeter having a rotatable spinner adapted to turn in a rotational direction and at a rotational speed respectively representative of both the relative direction and the relative velocity of said flowing fluids with respect to said flowmeter and comprising the steps of: passing said flowmeter upwardly along said well bore intervals at a selected travel speed for successively obtaining first and second measurements respectively representative of the corresponding rotational speeds of said spinner in one of its rotational directions in both of said well bore intervals; passing said flowmeter downwardly along said well bore intervals at a selected travel speed for successively obtaining third and fourth measurements respectively representative of the corresponding rotational speeds of said spinner in the other of its rotational directions in both of said well bore intervals; repeating at least one of the aforespecified steps at a different selected travel speed for successively obtaining at least fifth and sixth measurements representative of the corresponding rotational speeds of said spinner in both of said well bore intervals; correlating said measurements for determining the upper and lower limits of the individual ranges of relative fluid velocities in each of said well bore intervals which are respectively ineffective for inducing rotation of said spinner in either of its said rotational directions; and, thereafter, averaging said upper and lower velocity limits for each of said well bore intervals for determining the actual velocities of said first and second fluids in said well bore intervals.

Claim 19

A method for respectively determining the actual velocities of at least a first fluid flowing alone in a lower interval of a well bore and a second fluid flowing together in a mixture with said first fluid in an upper interval of said well bore by means of a flowmeter having a rotatable spinner adapted to turn in a rotational direction and at a rotational speed respectively representative of both the relative direction and the relative velocity of said flowing fluids with respect to said flowmeter and comprising the steps of: successively passing said flowmeter at at least two different travel speeds along said well bore intervals counter to said flowing fluids for obtaining first and second measurements respectively representative of the corresponding rotational speeds of said spinner when rotating in one direction in said first fluid and in said mixture; successively passing said flowmeter at at least two different travel speeds along said well bore intervals with said flowing fluids for obtaining third and fourth measurements respectively representative of the corresponding rotational speeds of said spinner when rotating in the opposite direction in said first fluid and in said mixture; correlating said first and second measurements for respectively determining the relative fluid velocities across said spinner at which said spinner will discontinue rotating in said one direction in said first fluid and in said mixture; correlating said third and fourth measurements for respectively determining the relative fluid velocities across said spinner at which said spinner will discontinue rotating in said opposite direction in said first fluid and in said mixture; and computing the mid-points of each set of said relative velocities in each of said well bore intervals for respectively determining the actual velocities of said first fluid and of said mixture along the rotational axis of said spinner.

Claim 20

A method for respectively determining the actual velocities of at least a first fluid flowing alone in a lower interval of a well bore and a second fluid flowing together in a mixture with said first fluid in an upper interval of said well bore by means of a flowmeter having a rotatable spinner adapted to turn in a rotational direction and at a rotational speed respectively representative of both the relative direction and the relative velocity of said flowing fluids with respect to said flowmeter and comprising the steps of: successively passing said flowmeter at at least two different travel speeds along said well bore intervals counter to said flowing fluids for obtaining first and second measurements respectively representative of the corresponding rotational speeds of said spinner when rotating in one direction in said first fluid and in said mixture; successively passing said flowmeter at at least two different travel speeds along said well bore intervals with said flowing fluids for obtaining third and fourth measurements respectively representative of the corresponding rotational speeds of said spinner when rotating in the opposite direction in said first fluid and in said mixture; correlating said first and second measurements for respectively determining the relative fluid velocities across said spinner at which said spinner will discontinue rotating in said one direction in said first fluid and in said mixture; correlating said third and fourth measurements for respectively determining the relative fluid velocities across said spinner at which said spinner will discontinue rotating in said opposite direction in said first fluid and in said mixture; and computing the mid-points of each set of said relative velocities in each of said well bore intervals for respectively determining the actual velocities of said first fluid and of said mixture along the rotational axis of said spinner.

Claim 25

A method for respectively determining the actual velocities of at least a first fluid flowing alone in a lower interval of a well bore and a second fluid flowing together in a mixture with said first fluid in an upper interval of said well bore by means of a flowmeter having a rotatable spinner adapted to turn in a rotational direction and at a rotational speed respectively representative of both the relative direction and the relative velocity of said flowing fluids with respect to said flowmeter and comprising the steps of: alternately raising and lowering said flowmeter back and forth in said upper and lower well bore intervals at a sufficient number of different travel speeds in each travel direction for determining the relative fluid velocity across said spinner in each of said well bore intervals where said spinner will respectively stop rotating in each of its said rotational directions; and, thereafter, averaging said relative fluid velocities determined with respect to each of said well bore intervals for respectively deriving the actual fluid velocities of said flowing fluids in each of said well bore intervals along the rotational axis of said spinner.

Claim 26

A method for respectively determining the actual velocities of at least a first fluid flowing alone in a lower interval of a well bore and a second fluid flowing together in a mixture with said first fluid in an upper interval of said well bore by means of a flowmeter having a rotatable spinner adapted to turn in a rotational direction and at a rotational speed respectively representative of both the relative direction and the relative velocity of said flowing fluids with respect to said flowmeter and comprising the steps of: alternately raising and lowering said flowmeter back and forth in said upper and lower well bore intervals at a sufficient number of different travel speeds in each travel direction for determining the relative fluid velocity across said spinner in each of said well bore intervals where said spinner will respectively stop rotating in each of its said rotational directions; and, thereafter, averaging said relative fluid velocities determined with respect to each of said well bore intervals for respectively deriving the actual fluid velocities of said flowing fluids in each of said well bore intervals along the rotational axis of said spinner.