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Integrated acoustic phase separator and multiphase fluid composition monitoring apparatus and method

Patent ·
OSTI ID:1118275
An apparatus and method for down hole gas separation from the multiphase fluid flowing in a wellbore or a pipe, for determining the quantities of the individual components of the liquid and the flow rate of the liquid, and for remixing the component parts of the fluid after which the gas volume may be measured, without affecting the flow stream, are described. Acoustic radiation force is employed to separate gas from the liquid, thereby permitting measurements to be separately made for these two components; the liquid (oil/water) composition is determined from ultrasonic resonances; and the gas volume is determined from capacitance measurements. Since the fluid flows around and through the component parts of the apparatus, there is little pressure difference, and no protection is required from high pressure differentials.
Research Organization:
LANL (Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States))
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
DOE Contract Number:
AC52-06NA25396
Assignee:
Los Alamos National Security, LLC (Los Alamos, NM)
Patent Number(s):
8,640,529
Application Number:
13/225,734
OSTI ID:
1118275
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

References (1)

The determination of the speed of sound in liquids using acoustic resonance in piezoelectric tubes journal September 1999

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