US4628725A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus and method for analyzing a fluid that includes a liquid phase, contained in a tubular conduit
Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corp
•
Filing: 1985-03-29
•
Granted: 1986-12-16
•
Expires: 2005-03-29
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus and methods for the flow analysis of multiphase fluids including a liquid phase in a tubular conduit use Stoneley waves by exciting and detecting sonic wave energy in the tubular conduit. Information about the Stoneley mode component is obtained in one approach by using techniques that excite only the Stoneley mode together with certain other well behaved wave types, and then compensating for the latter. Alternatively the Stoneley arrival is specifically identified in the detected waveforms. Embodiments are described for: determining the flow rate of a liquid; detecting the presence or absence of gas in a liquid; determining the composition by volume of the dispersed phases in a multiphase fluid; determining the size distribution of bubbles in a multiphase fluid; and determining the velocity of slugs in a multiphase fluid.
Inventors
- 👤 Michel M. A. Gouilloud
- 👤 Thomas J. Plona
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 08:36
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01F; G01F1/00; G01F1/66; E; E21; E21B; E21B47/00; E21B47/10; E21B47/107; E21B49/00; E21B49/005; G01N; G01N29/00; G01N29/02; G01N29/024; G01N29/032; G01N2291/00; G01N2291/02; G01N2291/028; G01N2291/02836
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
116 words
An apparatus for use in measuring a characteristic of a fluid that includes a liquid phase, contained in a tubular conduit, comprising: means for exciting acoustic energy in said conduit, the frequency of excitation being selected to avoid significant excitation of higher order modes in said conduit section; means for detecting acoustic energy excited in said tubular conduit, whereby a detection signal is provided; means coupled to said detection means for compensating said detection signal for a fast arrival, whereby a compensated signal is provided; means coupled to said compensating means for determining a property of said detected acoustic energy from said compensated signal; and means for determining a characteristic of said fluid from said property.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
116 words
An apparatus for use in measuring a characteristic of a fluid that includes a liquid phase, contained in a tubular conduit, comprising: means for exciting acoustic energy in said conduit, the frequency of excitation being selected to avoid significant excitation of higher order modes in said conduit section; means for detecting acoustic energy excited in said tubular conduit, whereby a detection signal is provided; means coupled to said detection means for compensating said detection signal for a fast arrival, whereby a compensated signal is provided; means coupled to said compensating means for determining a property of said detected acoustic energy from said compensated signal; and means for determining a characteristic of said fluid from said property.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
12 words
An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said property is Stoneley velocity.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
An apparatus as in claim 2, wherein said characteristic is fluid velocity.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
An apparatus as in claim 2, wherein said characteristic is presence of gas.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
12 words
An apparatus as in claim 2, wherein said characteristic is slug velocity.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
12 words
An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said property is Stoneley attenuation.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
An apparatus as in claim 6, wherein said characteristic is presence of gas.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
An apparatus as in claim 6, wherein said characteristic is size distribution of bubbles.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
80 words
An apparatus for use in measuring a characteristic of a fluid that includes a liquid phase, contained in a tubular conduit, comprising: means for exciting acoustic energy in said conduit; means for detecting acoustic energy excited in said tubular conduit, whereby a detection signal is provided; means coupled to said detection means for determining from said detection signal a property of Stoneley energy propagating in said tubular conduit; and means for determining a characteristic of said fluid from said property.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
80 words
An apparatus for use in measuring a characteristic of a fluid that includes a liquid phase, contained in a tubular conduit, comprising: means for exciting acoustic energy in said conduit; means for detecting acoustic energy excited in said tubular conduit, whereby a detection signal is provided; means coupled to said detection means for determining from said detection signal a property of Stoneley energy propagating in said tubular conduit; and means for determining a characteristic of said fluid from said property.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
12 words
An apparatus as in claim 9, wherein said property is Stoneley velocity.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
12 words
An apparatus as in claim 10, wherein said characteristic is fluid velocity.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
13 words
An apparatus as in claim 10, wherein said characteristic is presence of gas.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
12 words
An apparatus as in claim 10, wherein said characteristic is slug velocity.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
12 words
An apparatus as in claim 9, wherein said property is Stoneley attenuation.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
13 words
An apparatus as in claim 14, wherein said characteristic is presence of gas.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
14 words
An apparatus as in claim 14, wherein said characteristic is size distribution of bubbles.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
157 words
An apparatus for use in measuring a characteristic of a fluid that includes a liquid phase, contained in a tubular conduit, comprising: an elongated, generally tubular conduit section adapted for inclusion in said tubular conduit; first and second acoustic transducers conformably mounted in said tubular section at a preselected axial distance from one another; means coupled to said first transducer for exciting acoustic energy in said conduit section, the frequency of excitation being selected to avoid significant excitation of higher order modes in said conduit section; means coupled to said second transducer for detecting acoustic energy excited in said tubular conduit, whereby a detection signal is provided; means coupled to said detection means for compensating said detection signal for an extensional arrival, whereby a compensated signal is provided; means coupled to said compensating means for determining an acoustic velocity from said compensated signal; and means for determining a characteristic of said flowing fluid from said acoustic velocity.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
157 words
An apparatus for use in measuring a characteristic of a fluid that includes a liquid phase, contained in a tubular conduit, comprising: an elongated, generally tubular conduit section adapted for inclusion in said tubular conduit; first and second acoustic transducers conformably mounted in said tubular section at a preselected axial distance from one another; means coupled to said first transducer for exciting acoustic energy in said conduit section, the frequency of excitation being selected to avoid significant excitation of higher order modes in said conduit section; means coupled to said second transducer for detecting acoustic energy excited in said tubular conduit, whereby a detection signal is provided; means coupled to said detection means for compensating said detection signal for an extensional arrival, whereby a compensated signal is provided; means coupled to said compensating means for determining an acoustic velocity from said compensated signal; and means for determining a characteristic of said flowing fluid from said acoustic velocity.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
39 words
An apparatus as in claim 17, wherein said first and second transducers are generally annular and operable in a radial vibration mode, said transducers being conformably mounted within an annular channel in the inside wall of said tubular section.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
146 words
An apparatus for use in measuring a characteristic of a fluid that includes a liquid phase, contained in a well traversing earth formations, comprising: an elongated tubular body; first and second acoustic transducers conformably mounted on said tubular body at a preselected axial distance from one another; means coupled to said first transducer for exciting acoustic energy in said well, the frequency of excitation being selected to avoid significant excitation of higher order modes in said well; means coupled to said second transducer for detecting acoustic energy excited in said well, whereby a detection signal is provided; means coupled to said detection means for compensating said detection signal for headwave arrivals, whereby a compensated signal is provided; means coupled to said compensating means for determining an acoustic velocity from said compensated signal; and means for determining a characteristic of said flowing fluid from said acoustic velocity.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
146 words
An apparatus for use in measuring a characteristic of a fluid that includes a liquid phase, contained in a well traversing earth formations, comprising: an elongated tubular body; first and second acoustic transducers conformably mounted on said tubular body at a preselected axial distance from one another; means coupled to said first transducer for exciting acoustic energy in said well, the frequency of excitation being selected to avoid significant excitation of higher order modes in said well; means coupled to said second transducer for detecting acoustic energy excited in said well, whereby a detection signal is provided; means coupled to said detection means for compensating said detection signal for headwave arrivals, whereby a compensated signal is provided; means coupled to said compensating means for determining an acoustic velocity from said compensated signal; and means for determining a characteristic of said flowing fluid from said acoustic velocity.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
39 words
An apparatus as in claim 19, wherein said first and second transducers are generally annular and operable in a radial vibration mode, said transducers being conformably mounted within an annular channel in the outside wall of said tubular section.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
94 words
A method for measuring a characteristic of a fluid that includes a liquid phase, contained in a tubular conduit, comprising: exciting acoustic energy in said conduit, the frequency of excitation being selected to avoid significant excitation of higher order modes in said conduit; detecting acoustic energy excited in said conduit, whereby a detection signal is provided; compensating said detection signal for a fast arrival, whereby a compensated signal is provided; determining a property of said detected acoustic energy from said compensated signal; and determining a characteristic of said flowing fluid from said acoustic velocity.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
94 words
A method for measuring a characteristic of a fluid that includes a liquid phase, contained in a tubular conduit, comprising: exciting acoustic energy in said conduit, the frequency of excitation being selected to avoid significant excitation of higher order modes in said conduit; detecting acoustic energy excited in said conduit, whereby a detection signal is provided; compensating said detection signal for a fast arrival, whereby a compensated signal is provided; determining a property of said detected acoustic energy from said compensated signal; and determining a characteristic of said flowing fluid from said acoustic velocity.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method as in claim 21, wherein: said fast arrival consists of extensional modes; and said compensating step comprises the step of time filtering the components of said detection signal attributable to said extensional modes from said detection signal.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method as in claim 21, wherein: said fast arrival consists of compressional waves; and said compensating step comprises the step of time filtering the components of said detection signal attributable to said compressional waves from said detection signal.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method as in claim 21, wherein: said fast arrival consists of compressional and shear waves; and said compensating step comprises the step of time filtering the components of said detection signal attributable to said compressional and shear waves from said detection signal.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
64 words
A method for measuring a characteristic of a fluid that includes a liquid phase, contained in a tubular conduit, comprising: exciting acoustic energy in said conduit; detecting acoustic energy excited in said conduit, whereby a detection signal is provided; determining from said detection signal a property of Stoneley energy propagating in said tubular conduit; and determining a characteristic of said fluid from said property.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
64 words
A method for measuring a characteristic of a fluid that includes a liquid phase, contained in a tubular conduit, comprising: exciting acoustic energy in said conduit; detecting acoustic energy excited in said conduit, whereby a detection signal is provided; determining from said detection signal a property of Stoneley energy propagating in said tubular conduit; and determining a characteristic of said fluid from said property.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method as in claim 25, wherein said determining step comprises the steps of: identifying a Stoneley arrival in said detection signal; and determining an acoustic velocity in accordance with said identified Stoneley arrival.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1881543A
Cited
US2151203A
Cited
US2274262A
Cited
US2534712A
Cited
US2573390A
Cited
US2991650A
Cited
US3127950A
Cited
US3130808A
Cited
US3283562A
Cited
US4003252A
Cited
US4131875A
Cited
US4164865A
Cited
US4130010A
Cited
US4236406A
Cited
US4432077A
Cited
US4445389A
Cited
US4490609A
Cited
US4452077A
Cited
EP0131351A2
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-12-15 | 1990-06-16 | 1990-12-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-12-15 | 1994-06-16 | 1994-12-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-12-15 | 1998-06-16 | 1998-12-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |