Claims
- 1. A method comprising:
transmitting an acoustic signal a known distance through a fluid in a conduit and receiving the transmitted signal; using the received signal to calculate the speed of sound in the fluid; and measuring the attenuation of the signal in the fluid.
- 2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:
measuring the density of the fluid; and using the speed of sound in the fluid and the density of the fluid to calculate the compressibility of the fluid.
- 3. The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of using the speed of sound, attenuation, and density values obtained to assess the solids content of the fluid.
- 4. The method of claim 3 further comprising the step of using the speed of sound, attenuation, and density values obtained to assess the fluid composition.
- 5. The method of claim 4 further comprising the step of using the speed of sound, attenuation, and density values obtained to assess the bubble point of the fluid.
- 6. The method according to claim 4, further including measuring the attenuation of the signal in the fluid at multiple frequencies.
- 7. The method according to claim 4, further measuring the attenuation of the signal in the fluid at multiple frequencies and calculating the frequency dependence of the attenuation.
- 8. The method according to claim 4, further including measuring the attenuation of the signal in the fluid at multiple pressures.
- 9. The method according to claim 4, further including measuring the attenuation of the signal in the fluid at multiple pressures and calculating the pressure dependence of the attenuation.
- 10. The method according to claim 4 wherein the attenuation is calculated using at least one transducer operated at multiple frequencies.
- 11. The method according to claim 4 further comprising the step of correcting the attenuation value for transmission loss associated with impedance mismatch.
- 12. An apparatus comprising
a tool body comprising end connections for attachment to a conduit and allowing axial flow of fluids; a housing disposed within said tool body and having a fluid path; and at least two pairs of acoustic transducers located in said housing, each pair having a transmitter element and a receiver element.
- 13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said transmitter element and receiver element are oriented perpendicular to the axis of said fluid path and are located on opposite sides of said fluid path.
- 14. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said fluid path is at least 0.5 mm wide between said transmitter element and said receiver element.
- 15. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said fluid path is at between 3.0 mm and 3.5 mm wide between said transmitter element and said receiver element.
- 16. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein each of said pair of acoustic transducers operates at a different fundamental harmonic frequency.
- 17. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said acoustic transducers operate between 2 MHz and 20 MHz.
- 18. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said housing is constructed of a tetrafluoroethylene polymer.
- 19. An apparatus comprising
a tool body with end connections for attachment to a conduit and allowing axial flow of fluids; a housing disposed within said tool body and having a fluid path; and two pairs of acoustic transducers, the first pair being low frequency acoustic transducers and the second pair being high frequency acoustic transducers.
- 20. The apparatus of claim 19 further comprising an third pair of acoustic transducers operating at a frequency between said first pair and said second pair.
- 21. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said low frequency transducer has a fundamental harmonic frequency above 2 MHz.
- 22. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said high frequency transducer has a fundamental harmonic frequency below 20 MHZ.
- 23. A method comprising:
(a) transmitting an acoustic signal a known distance through a medium of known acoustic impedance and through a fluid in a conduit and receiving the transmitted signal; (b) using the received signal to calculate the speed of sound in the fluid and the acoustic impedance of the fluid; (c) using the speed of sound in the fluid and acoustic impedance of the fluid to calculate the compressibility of the fluid; (d) measuring the attenuation of the signal in the fluid; and (e) using the values obtained in steps (a) through (d) to assess the solids content, number of phases and bubble point of the fluid.
- 24. The method according to claim 23, further including repeating step (e) at multiple frequencies.
- 25. The method according to claim 23, further including repeating step (e) at multiple frequencies and calculating the frequency dependence of the attenuation.
- 26. The method according to claim 23, further including repeating step (e) at multiple pressures.
- 27. The method according to claim 23, further including repeating step (e) at multiple pressures and calculating the pressure dependence of the attenuation.
- 28. The method according to claim 23 wherein the attenuation is calculated using at least one transducer operated at multiple frequencies.
- 29. The method according to claim 23 further comprising the step of correcting the attenuation value for transmission loss associated with impedance mismatch.
- 30. A method comprising the steps of:
attaching an acoustic tool to a conduit; lowering said tool into a wellbore; circulating wellbore fluid through said tool; transmitting an acoustic signal through said fluid receiving the transmitted signal; and using the received signal to assess the solids content, fluid composition and bubble point of the fluid.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 60/189,254, filed Mar. 14, 2000, entitled Acoustic Sensor for Fluid Characterization, which is incorporated herein by reference.
Provisional Applications (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60189254 |
Mar 2000 |
US |