Measuring and testing – Instrument proving or calibrating – Volume of flow – speed of flow – volume rate of flow – or mass...
Patent
1995-01-17
1996-12-10
Chilcot, Richard
Measuring and testing
Instrument proving or calibrating
Volume of flow, speed of flow, volume rate of flow, or mass...
175 50, 166 66, 7315251, E21B 2108, E21B 4700, G01L 700
Patent
active
055820646
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
In many instances, it is necessary to measure a physical parameter at some point in a harsh environment, often a considerable distance from where the information is needed. Such an example is the measurement of pressure at the bottom of an oil well which presents significant problems for the deployment of pressure sensors.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
There are three main problems associated with the deployment of sensors in harsh environments. Firstly, there are the practical difficulties in getting the sensor to the correct position in the first instance and then, possibly, retrieving it later. Secondly, either the sensor must have a means of storing information, or it must have a means of communicating between the sensor itself and the information processing system. Thirdly, the sensor must be robust enough, not only to take the rigours of deployment, but also be able to function successfully for significant periods of time under harsh conditions. These three aspects are of particular importance in the oil extraction industry. The measurement of pressure at the bottom of an oil well is important for the efficient extraction of the oil reserves. The industry takes two different approaches. In the one case, a measurement system is lowered down the production tube of the well to take and record measurements for a short period before being returned to the surface. Although convenient for use with existing wells and only requiring short term stability of calibration, this approach gives limited information and interferes with the production of oil. In the other case, a measurement system is permanently installed during the construction of the oil well. This has the advantage of giving continuous measurements without interfering with oil production but places very severe requirements on the measurement stability of the sensor and its ability to withstand the high pressures and temperatures in the well for many years. Should such a sensor fail, or doubts be cast upon its accuracy, then the current practice would be to abandon it since it would be too expensive to replace. The permanent installation of a measurement system at the bottom of the oil well also requires significant technical problems to be solved in transferring information via metal or optical fiber cables, or radio links, up to the surface.
The present invention describes a pressure sensor which may be either temporarily or permanently deployed in a convenient fashion, using existing technology familiar to industries such as the oil industry.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An aim of the present invention is to provide apparatus for the measurement in a hostile environment preferably at a remote location.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention there is provided apparatus for measuring pressure, which apparatus comprises pressure communicating means for location at a point at which pressure is to be measured, a primary tube containing a fluid for linking the pressure communicating means to a control point where the pressure information is required, sealing means for sealing the primary tube so as to form a closed system when the pressure communicating means is closed, pressure control means for changing the pressure of the fluid within the primary tube, volume measuring means for measuring changes in the volume of the fluid within the primary tube as the pressure of the fluid is varied, pressure measuring means for measuring the pressure of the fluid at some point within the fluid, and remote from the control point, and transmitter means for transmitting pressure information from the pressure measuring means to the control point.
The pressure communicating means may be a device which may exist in a number of states according to the relative pressure difference between an external and an internal pressure, and whose volume depends upon this pressure difference. The external pressure is that which surrounds the pressure communicating means and is usually the pressure to be measured. The interna
REFERENCES:
patent: 3895527 (1975-07-01), McArthur
patent: 4052903 (1977-10-01), Thordarson
patent: 4712430 (1987-12-01), Wareham
patent: 5163321 (1992-11-01), Perales
Chilcot Richard
Felber Joseph L.
Sensor Dynamics Limited
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