Steam quality acoustic monitoring system and method
Determination of the quality of steam is an important aspect of steam injection in secondary recovery operations for petroleum oil wells. The steam quality of concern is the degree of dryness of the steam. This may be defined as the mass fraction of dry saturated steam relative to the steam mixture, at the measuring point. The sonic signals generated by the steam escaping through an orifice may be monitored at a predetermined sonic frequency and will produce a variable amplitude of sound energy at that predetermined sonic frequency. Furthermore, such amplitude varies directly in accordance with the quality of steam. A steam quality monitoring system for use with steam injection wells or the like is described. It comprises a conduit for delivering steam to be used, and an orifice connected to the conduit for permitting the steam to escape therethrough. It also comprises a sound transducer physically coupled adjacent to the orifice for generating sonic range frequency signals in accordance with sonic vibrations created by the steam flow through the orifice, and a device for measuring the amplitude of the sonic signals at a predetermined frequency thereof to indicate the quality of the steam. 6 claims.
- Assignee:
- Texaco Inc.
- Patent Number(s):
- US 4193290
- OSTI ID:
- 6274939
- Resource Relation:
- Patent File Date: Filed date 17 Jul 1978
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Apparatus and method for acoustic monitoring of steam quality and flow
Apparatus and method for acoustic monitoring of steam quality and flow
Related Subjects
OIL WELLS
STEAM INJECTION
STEAM
QUALITY CONTROL
ACOUSTIC MONITORING
AMPLITUDES
DRYING
ENHANCED RECOVERY
ORIFICES
PETROLEUM
SOUND WAVES
TRANSDUCERS
WATER VAPOR
CONTROL
ENERGY SOURCES
FLUID INJECTION
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GASES
MONITORING
OPENINGS
RECOVERY
THERMAL RECOVERY
VAPORS
WELLS
020300* - Petroleum- Drilling & Production