US4215567A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for testing a production stream
Assignee: Mobil Oil AS
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Filing: 1979-06-18
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Granted: 1980-08-05
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Expires: 1999-06-18
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for testing a production stream comprised of oil, water, and gas flowing through a conduit to determine the percentages of oil, water, and gas in the stream. A sample portion of the production stream is pumped through a sample line into a sample chamber where it is heated and allowed to set for a retention period to substantially separate the sample portion into oil and water layers. Gas that evolves from the sample portion is vented from the chamber. At the end of the retention period, the sample portion is pumped back through the sample line into the conduit. As the sample portion flows through the sample line the oil and water content of the sample and the volume of the sample are measured to determine the oil and water percentages in the sample portion. Also, the volume of the sample portion is measured as it is pumped through the sample line into the sample chamber and by comparing this volume with the volume of the sample portion pumped back into the conduit, the gas-liquid ratio of the sample portion can be determined.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard J. Vlcek
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 05:24
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N33/00; G01N33/26; G01N33/28; G01N33/2823; G01N1/00; G01N1/02; G01N1/10; G01N1/20; G01N1/2035
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
129 words
A unit for testing a production stream flowing through a conduit wherein said production stream is comprised of crude oil, water, and gas, said unit comprising: a sample line; a sample chamber connected to one end of said sample line; means adapted to be positioned in said conduit to divert a sample portion of said production stream from said conduit into said sample line; pump means for pumping said sample portion from said conduit into said sample chamber when operated in one direction and for pumping said sample portion from said sample chamber back into said conduit when operated in a second direction; and means for measuring the oil and the water contents of said sample portion as it is pumped from said sample line back into said conduit.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
129 words
A unit for testing a production stream flowing through a conduit wherein said production stream is comprised of crude oil, water, and gas, said unit comprising: a sample line; a sample chamber connected to one end of said sample line; means adapted to be positioned in said conduit to divert a sample portion of said production stream from said conduit into said sample line; pump means for pumping said sample portion from said conduit into said sample chamber when operated in one direction and for pumping said sample portion from said sample chamber back into said conduit when operated in a second direction; and means for measuring the oil and the water contents of said sample portion as it is pumped from said sample line back into said conduit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The unit of claim 1 including: means associated with said sample chamber for heating said sample portion while said sample portion is in said sample chamber.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The unit of claim 1 including: means for venting gas from the top of said sample chamber.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The unit of claim 3 wherein said means for pumping said sample portion comprises: a reversible, progressing cavity rotary pump.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
110 words
The unit of claim 4 wherein said means for measuring the oil and the water contents of said sample portion comprises: a capacitance probe positioned in said sample line which allocates signals representative of the oil and the water contents of the sample portion as it passes said probe; means for measuring the volume of the sample portion as it is pumped back into said conduit and generating signals representative of said measured volume; and means for combining said probe signals representative of said oil and said water contents and said signal representative of said measured volume to determine the oil and the water percentages, respectively, of said production stream.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
46 words
The unit of claim 5 wherein: said capacitance probe comprises: a basic sediment and water monitor; and wherein said means for measuring the volume of sample portion comprises: a magnetic pulse unit associated with said rotary pump adapted to count the revolutions of said rotary pump.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
The unit of claim 6 including: a solenoid-operated valve position in said sample line downstream of said pump for opening and closing said sample line to flow in response to a programmed signal and sample line pressure.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
The unit of claim 7 including: an upper level switch means positioned near the top of said sample chamber for stopping said pump and closing said solenoid-operated valve when the volume of said sample portion in said sample chamber exceeds a desired volume.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
41 words
The unit of claim 8 including: a lower level switch means positioned below the bottom of said sample chamber for stopping said pump and closing said solenoid-operated valve when all of said sample portion has been pumped from said sample chamber.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
106 words
A method for testing a production stream comprised of crude oil, water, and gas flowing through a conduit, said method comprising: pumping a sample portion of said production stream from said conduit through a sample line and into a sample chamber; allowing said sample portion to set in said sample chamber for a defined period of time; pumping said sample portion from said sample chamber, through said sample line, and back into said conduit after said defined period of time has elapsed; and measuring the water and the oil content of said sample portion as it is pumped from said sample chamber back into said conduit.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
106 words
A method for testing a production stream comprised of crude oil, water, and gas flowing through a conduit, said method comprising: pumping a sample portion of said production stream from said conduit through a sample line and into a sample chamber; allowing said sample portion to set in said sample chamber for a defined period of time; pumping said sample portion from said sample chamber, through said sample line, and back into said conduit after said defined period of time has elapsed; and measuring the water and the oil content of said sample portion as it is pumped from said sample chamber back into said conduit.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 10 including: heating said sample portion to a defined temperature while the sample portion is setting in said sample chamber.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 11 including: venting gas from said sample chamber that may separate from sample portion while said sample portion is setting in said sample chamber.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 12 including: removing free gas from said production stream before said sample portion is pumped into said sample chamber.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
114 words
The method of claim 12 wherein said step of measuring the water and the oil content of said sample portion comprises: passing said sample portion by a capacitance probe which measured the oil and the water content of the sample portion adjacent said probe and generating data representative of said oil and said water contents; accumulating said oil and said water content data; measuring the volume of said sample portion as it is pumped from said sample chamber back into said conduit and generating data representative of said volume; and combining said oil and said water content data with said volume data to determine the oil and the water content of said sample portion.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
74 words
The method of claim 14 including: measuring the volume of said sample portion as it is pumped from said conduit into said chamber and generating data representative of said volume; and combining said volume data generated as the sample portion is pumped into said sample chamber with said volume data generated as said sample portion is pumped from said sample chamber back into said conduit to determine the gas-liquid ratio of said sample portion.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1983-08-05 | 1984-02-04 | 1984-08-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-08-05 | 1988-02-04 | 1988-08-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-08-05 | 1992-02-04 | 1992-08-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |