Title: Simultaneous real-time measurement of composition, flow, attenuation, density, and pipe-wallthickness in multiphase fluids

Abstract

Apparatus (10) and methods for making simultaneous measurements of composition (water-cut), fluid flow, and sound attenuation in a multiphase fluid flowing (15) through a pipe (12) in real-time, using the same apparatus (10) are described. Additionally, the apparatus (10) provides real-time pipe wall thickness monitoring for observing pipe corrosion or internal deposition. Knowledge of wall thickness is necessary to correct for water-cut (oil-water composition) automatically by adjusting the liquid path length internal to the pipe (spool). The use of short duration frequency chirp excitation signals (24) enables the apparatus to provide information that can be used to extract multiple levels of information from the same measurement in multiphase fluids including the presence of a significant quantity of gas (˜60% gas volume fraction) in different flow regimes. Besides measuring steady flow, this device is useful for measurements during fast changing flows, such as for a rod-pumped well. Measurements up to about 1000 times a second can reliably be made.

Inventors:

Sinha, Dipen N.; Chaudhuri, Anirban

Issue Date:

2020-11-10

Research Org.:

Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:

USDOE

OSTI Identifier:

1771610

Patent Number(s):

10830735

Application Number:

16/495,612

Assignee:

Triad National Security, LLC (Los Alamos, NM)

Patent Classifications (CPCs):

G - PHYSICS G01 - MEASURING G01F - MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL

G - PHYSICS G01 - MEASURING G01N - INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES

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G - PHYSICS G01 - MEASURING G01F - MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL

G01F1/66 - by measuring frequency, phaseshift, or propagation time of electromagnetic or other waves, e.g. ultrasonic flowmeters
G01F1/7082 - {using acoustic detecting arrangements}
G01F1/712 - using auto-correlation or cross-correlation detection means
G01F1/74 - Devices for measuring flow of a fluid or flow of a fluent solid material in suspension in another fluid

G - PHYSICS G01 - MEASURING G01N - INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES

G01N2291/015 - Attenuation, scattering
G01N2291/0226 - Oils, e.g. engine oils
G01N2291/02433 - Gases in liquids, e.g. bubbles, foams
G01N2291/105 - two or more emitters, two or more receivers
G01N29/024 - by measuring propagation velocity or propagation time of acoustic waves
G01N29/032 - by measuring attenuation of acoustic waves
G01N29/036 - by measuring frequency or resonance of acoustic waves
G01N29/2412 - {using the magnetostrictive properties of the material to be examined, e.g. electromagnetic acoustic transducers [EMAT]
G01N29/348 - {with frequency characteristics, e.g. single frequency signals, chirp signals
G01N29/42 - by frequency filtering {or by tuning to resonant frequency}
G01N29/46 - by spectral analysis, e.g. Fourier analysis {or wavelet analysis
G01N9/24 - by observing the transmission of wave or particle radiation through the material

G - PHYSICS G01 - MEASURING G01P - MEASURING LINEAR OR ANGULAR SPEED, ACCELERATION, DECELERATION, OR SHOCK

G01P5/18 - by measuring the time taken to traverse a fixed distance
G01P5/24 - by measuring the direct influence of the streaming fluid on the properties of a detecting acoustical wave

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DOE Contract Number:  

AC52-06NA25396

Resource Type:

Patent

Resource Relation:

Patent File Date: 03/20/2018

Country of Publication:

United States

Language:

English