US4656869A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of measuring the amount of water flowing in a crude oil pipeline
Assignee: Mesa Laboratories Inc
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Filing: 1985-06-24
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Granted: 1987-04-14
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Expires: 2005-06-24
Abstract
Abstract A method of measuring the composition of an oil and water mixture flowing in a pipeline includes the steps of extracting a sample of the mixture from the pipeline, measuring the speed of sound transmission of the mixture which may be carried out either in the pipeline or in a portion of the extracted sample, separating the water from at least a portion of the extracted sample, measuring the speed of sound transmission of the sample of the mixture having the water separated therefrom, and comparing the determined speed of sound transmission of the mixture and the speed of sound transmission of the sample having water separated therefrom to determine the ratio of oil and water in the mixture.
Inventors
- 👤 Ellis M. Zacharias
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 18:37
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N33/00; G01N33/26; G01N33/28; G01N33/2823; G01N29/00; G01N29/02; G01N29/024; G01N2291/00; G01N2291/02; G01N2291/028; G01N2291/02881
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
120 words
A method of measuring the composition of an oil and water mixture flowing in a pipeline comprising: (1) extracting a sample of mixture from the pipeline; (2) measuring the speed of sound transmission of the mixture; (3) measuring the temperature of the mixture; (4) separating the water from the sample; (5) measuring the speed of sound transmission of a sample having the water separated therefrom; (6) measuring the temperature of the sample having the water separated therefrom; and (7) comparing the determined speed of sound transmission of the mixture and the speed of sound transmission of the sample having the water separated therefrom as corrected for the detected temperatures to determine the ratio of oil and water in the mixture.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
120 words
A method of measuring the composition of an oil and water mixture flowing in a pipeline comprising: (1) extracting a sample of mixture from the pipeline; (2) measuring the speed of sound transmission of the mixture; (3) measuring the temperature of the mixture; (4) separating the water from the sample; (5) measuring the speed of sound transmission of a sample having the water separated therefrom; (6) measuring the temperature of the sample having the water separated therefrom; and (7) comparing the determined speed of sound transmission of the mixture and the speed of sound transmission of the sample having the water separated therefrom as corrected for the detected temperatures to determine the ratio of oil and water in the mixture.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said sample is taken on a periodic basis and wherein steps (2), (3), (5) and (6) are carried out substantially concurrently.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 including, after step (6), returning the sample having the water separated therefrom to the pipeline.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 3 wherein the step of returning the sample having the water separated from the pipeline includes returning the sample having the water separated therefrom to the pipeline downstream of the location wherein steps (1) and (2) are carried out.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 wherein step (2) is carried out in the pipeline.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 wherein steps (2) and (3) are carried out in the pipeline.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 wherein step (2) is carried out in at least a portion of the extracted sample of the mixture.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
105 words
A method of measuring the composition of an oil and water fluid mixture flowing in a pipeline comprising: (1) extracting a sample of the mixture; (2) separating the water from the sample; (3) separately and substantially simultaneously measuring the speed of sound transmission of the fluid mixture flowing in the pipeline and in the sample having the water separated therefrom obtained in step (2); and (4) comparing the determined speed of sound transmission of the mixture flowing in the pipeline with that of the sample having the water separated therefrom to determine the ratio of oil and water in the mixture flowing in the pipeline.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
105 words
A method of measuring the composition of an oil and water fluid mixture flowing in a pipeline comprising: (1) extracting a sample of the mixture; (2) separating the water from the sample; (3) separately and substantially simultaneously measuring the speed of sound transmission of the fluid mixture flowing in the pipeline and in the sample having the water separated therefrom obtained in step (2); and (4) comparing the determined speed of sound transmission of the mixture flowing in the pipeline with that of the sample having the water separated therefrom to determine the ratio of oil and water in the mixture flowing in the pipeline.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 8 including: (5) in step (3) measuring the temperature of the fluid mixture in the pipeline and of the sample having the water separated therefrom; (6) employing the detected temperatures in step (4).
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) | 1990-04-13 | 1990-10-13 | 1991-04-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-04-13 | 1994-10-13 | 1995-04-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-04-13 | 1998-10-13 | 1999-04-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |