Radiant energy – Geological testing or irradiation – Well testing apparatus and methods
Reexamination Certificate
1998-05-14
2001-07-24
Hannaher, Constantine (Department: 2878)
Radiant energy
Geological testing or irradiation
Well testing apparatus and methods
C250S269100, C073S061440, C073S861040
Reexamination Certificate
active
06265713
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates in general to measurements for determining at least one characteristic of oil well effluent constituted by multiphase fluid which typically comprises three phases: two liquid phases, crude oil and water, plus a hydrocarbon gas phase. In particular, the characteristics in question are the proportions of the component phases, including the water content of the liquid phase, and the flow-rate values—the total flow rate and the flow rates of the various phases.
In the oil industry, the traditional practice is to separate the effluent into its component phases and to perform measurements on the phases separated in this way. However that technique requires separators to be installed on site, which separators are bulky and expensive items of equipment, and when testing wells, it also requires additional pipes to be put into place.
Numerous proposals have been put forward for developing techniques that would make it possible to avoid using such separators. A description of these developments is to be found in SPE publication 28515 (SPE Annual Technical Conference, New Orleans, Sep. 25-28, 1994) by J. Williams, “Status of multiphase flow measurement research”.
Amongst such proposals, U.S. Pat. No. 4,788,852 describes apparatus including a device for measuring gamma ray attenuation, that device being associated with a Venturi total flow rate sensor and being situated at the constriction of the Venturi. Apparatus of that type is also described in patent application WO 94/25859 and in SPE publication 36593 dated Oct. 6, 1996, “Multiphase flow measurement using multiple energy gamma ray absorption (MEGRA) composition measurement” by A. M. Scheers and W. F. J. Slijkerman.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention seeks to provide gamma ray attenuation measurements, either alone or combined with total flow rate measurements, in advantageous conditions from an operational standpoint.
In one aspect, the invention provides a flow section adapted for measurements of oil well effluent, the section comprising a pipe in parallel with a pipe connected to the well head, elements of material having low gamma ray attenuation fixed in recesses formed on the internal wall of the pipe, and protection members disposed in housings connecting said recesses respectively to the outside, said housings being suitable for receiving gamma ray attenuation measuring means after the protection members have been removed.
In appropriate manner, sealing means are provided in association with said elements.
The invention will be well understood on reading the following description given with reference to the accompanying drawings. The list of drawings is as follows:
REFERENCES:
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patent: 4266188 (1981-05-01), Thompson
patent: 4675527 (1987-06-01), Asher et al.
patent: 4788852 (1988-12-01), Martin et al.
patent: 4858652 (1989-08-01), Bobichon
patent: 5251488 (1993-10-01), Haberman et al.
patent: 5646354 (1997-07-01), Lovejoy
patent: EP 0 236 623 (1987-09-01), None
patent: 0 269 432 A (1987-11-01), None
patent: WO93/10439 (1993-05-01), None
patent: WO 84/25859 (1994-11-01), None
J. Williams,Status of Multiphase Flow Measurement Research, SPE 28515, SPE Annual Technical Conference, New Orleans (Sep. 25-28, 1994).
A. M. Scheers and W. F. J. Slijkerman,Multiphase Flow Measurement Using Multiple Energy Gamma Ray Absorption(MEGRA) Composition Measurement, SPE 36593 (Oct. 6, 1996).
Berard Michel
Segeral Gerard
Batzer William B.
Gagliardi Albert
Hannaher Constantine
Schlumberger Technology Corporation
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