Patent Application
20160306069
X- and γ-ray radiation sources are used in a wide variety of applications. For example, they can be used to calibrate equipment, or used in energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) analyzers or in multiphase fluid flow analyzers.
A fluorescent X-ray is created when a photon of sufficient energy strikes an atom in the sample, dislodging an electron from one of the atom's inner orbital shells (lower quantum energy states). The atom regains stability, filling the vacancy left in the inner orbital shell with an electron from one of the atom's higher quantum energy orbital shells. The electron drops to the lower energy state by releasing a fluorescent X-ray, and the energy of this fluorescent X-ray (often measured in electron volts, eV) is equal to the specific difference in energy between two quantum states of the dropping electron. The high energy photons (X-rays or γ-rays) are provided by an X-ray or γ-particle source.
Presently, small X- and γ-ray sources often comprise a metal shell (e.g., stainless steel) with an open end into which a holder is inserted. The holder has a front face which carries the radiation source. The radiation source is a radioactive foil or other material. In front of the same foil, to seal off the open end of the metal shell is a radiolucent window, such as beryllium, which is brazed in place to seal it off.
In multiphase fluid analysis, photons interact with the multiphase fluid which absorbs a portion of the photons depending on the multiphase fluid composition. Initial emitted photons are absorbed, or attenuated, by the multiphase fluid and received by a detector. Attenuations are calculated by counting the photons of the specified energy levels impacting a detector after interacting with the multiphase fluid. Flow rates of three phases of the multiphase fluid may be obtained from phase fractions calculated using the attenuations. However, the number of X-rays and γ-rays emitted by a radioactive source in a time interval is not constant. Radioactive decay follows the Poisson statistical model, stating that the number of photons per second with energy E nE averaged over a time interval t is known with an uncertainty ±√{square root over (nEt)}. Therefore, attenuations and phase fractions are also affected by statistical uncertainties which can be reduced by increasing the acquisition time t. However, increasing acquisition time, from an operational point of view, reduces a number of tests able to be performed during a predetermined time period.
This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts that are further described in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in limiting the scope of the claimed subject matter.
In one embodiment, a radiation source device is described. The radiation source device has a radiolucent window portion, a shielding portion, a radioactive material, and a fluorescent material. The shielding portion has a window portion cavity, and the radiolucent window portion extends across and encompasses the window portion cavity. The radioactive material is positioned within the window portion cavity of the shielding portion so as to emit photons through the window portion cavity and the radiolucent window portion. The fluorescent material is positioned between the radioactive element and the radiolucent window portion. For example, if the radioactive material is 133Ba, then the fluorescent material receives the photons from the radioactive element and generates photons having an energy level less than 32 keV.
In another embodiment, a measuring device is described. The measuring device is provided with a fluid passage tube, a radiation source device, and a photon detector. The fluid passage tube has a first end, a second end, and a cavity extending between the first end and the second end. The radiation source device has a radioactive material and a fluorescent material and is positioned and able to emit photons across the cavity. The photon detector receives the photons passing across the cavity interacting with a multiphase fluid passing through the fluid passage tube and generates photon signals indicative of the number and energy level of the photons.
In yet another embodiment, a method is described. The method is performed by installing a measuring device in a fluid flow sampled from a downhole formation, generating photon signals via a photon detector indicative of the number and energy level of the photons, and logging data indicative of the photon signals onto a non-transitory computer readable medium. The measuring device has a fluid passage tube having a cavity, and a radiation source device having a radioactive material and fluorescent material positioned and able to emit photons across the cavity. In one embodiment, the measuring device may be a multiphase flow meter. In this embodiment, the fluid passage tube may be a venturi tube having a venturi tube throat, and the multiphase flow meter may have a device for measuring the total flow rate through the venturi tube, such as at least one pressure sensor sensing a differential pressure between a first pressure within the venturi tube throat and a second pressure outside of the venturi tube throat. The photon detector may receive the photons passing across the cavity at the venturi tube throat, for example, and interacting with a multiphase fluid passing through the venturi tube.
Certain embodiments of the present inventive concepts will hereafter be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like elements, and:
Specific embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Further, in the following detailed description of embodiments of the present disclosure, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding of the disclosure. However, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments disclosed herein may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known features have not been described in detail to avoid unnecessarily complicating the description.
Unless expressly stated to the contrary, “or” refers to an inclusive or and not to an exclusive or. For example, a condition A or B is satisfied by anyone of the following: A is true (or present) and B is false (or not present), A is false (or not present) and B is true (or present), and both A and B are true (or present).
In addition, use of the “a” or “an” are employed to describe elements and components of the embodiments herein. This is done merely for convenience and to give a general sense of the inventive concept. This description should be read to include one or at least one and the singular also includes the plural unless otherwise stated.
The terminology and phraseology used herein is for descriptive purposes and should not be construed as limiting in scope. Language such as “including,” “comprising,” “having,” “containing,” or “involving,” and variations thereof, is intended to be broad and encompass the subject matter listed thereafter, equivalents, and additional subject matter not recited.
Finally, as used herein any references to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular element, feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment.
Referring now to the figures, as shown in
The capsule portion 22 may be made of a radiopaque material such as stainless steel, nickel-copper alloys, such as Monel® metals, and other suitable radiopaque materials. The capsule portion 22 may be provided with a first side 24, a second side 26, an exterior portion 28 extending between the first side 24 and the second side 26, and an interior portion 30 extending between the first side 24 and the second side 26 opposite the exterior portion 28. The first side 24 may form an open front 32 of the capsule portion 22. The open front 32 may be provided with an outer rim 34 with an inner seating rim 36. The exterior portion 28 may form an outer cylindrical surface of the capsule portion 22 having a diameter of between 3 mm and 10 mm and a height between 3 mm and 10 mm. The interior portion 30 may form a cylindrical inner surface that defines a generally cylindrical space therein. The inner seating rim 36 may project inwardly within the interior portion 30 and may serve to support or contact the radiolucent window portion 12. The interior portion 30 may serve to encapsulate the shielding portion 14. The window portion cavity 16 of the shielding portion 14 may be sized and shaped to receive the radioactive material 18. The shielding portion 14 with its carried radioactive material 18 may be inserted into the capsule portion 22 and seated against the radiolucent window portion 12 such that radiation emitted from the radioactive material 18 emanates from the radiolucent window portion 12, but not from other directions of the radiation source device 10. The shielding portion 14 may be affixed to the capsule portion 22, e.g., by fusion welding. In one embodiment, the shielding portion 14 is affixed to the capsule portion 22 via a cap 38 fitting within a portion of the interior portion 30 of the capsule portion 22, opposite the radiolucent window portion 12, and welded to the capsule portion 22.
The radiolucent window portion 12 may be provided with a first side 40 and a second side 42 opposite the first side 40. The radiolucent window portion 12 may be sized and shaped such that the first side 40 of the radiolucent window portion 12 may be positioned against the inner seating rim 36 within the interior portion 30 of the capsule portion 22. The radiolucent window portion 12 may be affixed in place, e.g., by brazing, adhesive, or other suitable mechanisms. The radiolucent window portion 12 may be formed of radiolucent material such as beryllium or fiber reinforced polymers, for example.
The shielding portion 14 may be provided with a first side 44 and a second side 46 opposite the first side 44, with the window portion cavity 16 defined within the first side 44 of the shielding portion 14. The shielding portion 14 may be sized and shaped to fit inside the interior portion 30 of the capsule portion 22. The shielding portion 14 may be positioned within the interior portion 30 such that the first side 44 of the shielding portion 14 may be adjacent to the second side 42 of the radiolucent window portion 12 and so that the radioactive material 18 seated within the window portion cavity 16 may be adjacent to the radiolucent window portion 12. The shielding portion 14 may be constructed from a radiopaque material, such as stainless steel, zirconium, molybdenum, palladium, or silver, nickel-copper alloys, such as Monel®, and the like.
The radioactive material 18 may be configured to fit within the window portion cavity 16 of the shielding portion 14 and adjacent to the radiolucent window portion 12. In one embodiment, the radioactive material 18 is made of a 133Ba-based ceramic matrix to generate photons having energy levels of 32 keV and 81 keV, where the 32 keV energy level is made by 31 keV and 35 keV X-rays naturally emitted by the 133Ba radioisotope. The radioactive material 18 may also be formed from 109Cd, 153Gd, 139Ce, 152Eu, or other suitable radioactive materials. In some embodiments, the radioactive material 18 may be formed from radioactive materials having a single γ-ray emissions with energy between 40 and 100 keV, such as 241Am, for example and in this embodiment two different fluorescent materials 20 can be used to generate two different levels of X-ray fluorescent photons to provide three different levels of photon emissions.
The fluorescent material 20 is positioned between the radioactive material 18 and the radiolucent window portion 12. The fluorescent material 20 may be composed of a metallic material and may be selected from a group consisting of zirconium, molybdenum, palladium, and silver. The fluorescent material 20 may have a thickness in a range from 40 μm to 200 μm. In one embodiment, as shown in
When assembled within the radiation source device 10 the photons with several energy levels emitted from the radioactive material 18 are received by the fluorescent material 20 and cause the fluorescent material 20 to generate extra photons. In one embodiment, where the radioactive material 18 is 133Ba, the extra (or X-fluorescence) photons generated by the fluorescent material 20 have an energy level less than 32 keV and may be within a range between 15 keV and 25 keV.
Referring now to
Referring now to
Referring now to
The radiation source device 10 may be used in applications such as, for example, measuring devices, multiphase flow meters, phase fraction measuring devices, equipment calibration operations, thickness and density devices, and other applications. Although a few applications are mentioned or discussed at length in the present disclosure, one skilled in the art will understand that the radiation source device 10 may be suitable for use in applications not specifically referenced.
The radiation source device 10 may be used within a measuring device, in one embodiment characterized as a phase fraction measuring device, a multiphase flow meter, or other measurement devices. In general, the measuring device, when characterized as a phase fraction measuring device, may be provided with a fluid passage tube having a first end, a second end, and a cavity extending between the first end and the second end, the radiation source device 10 capable of generating first photons from the radioactive material 18 and second photons from the fluorescent material 20, a photon detector, and a computer. The photon detector may receive the first and second photons passing across the cavity and generate photon signals indicative of a number and energy levels of the first and second photons. The computer may receive the photon signals and calculate the phase fractions of the multiphase fluid with information obtained from the photon signals.
Through photons at (at least) two energy levels, (at least) three phase fractions can be calculated, thus indicating the fluid composition. In order to measure flow rates of each phase of the multiphase fluid, the total flow rate should be known. Thus, when the measuring device 50 includes components to measure the total flow rate, the measuring device 50 can be characterized as a multiphase flow meter. Referring now to
The venturi tube 52 is provided with a first end 64, a second end 66, and a cavity 68 extending between the first end 64 and the second end 66. The first end 64 and the second end 66 may be configured to connect to piping through which a fluid flow sampled from a downhole formation is passed. For example, the first and second ends 64 and 66 may be threaded, flanged and configured to accept bolts, or may have clamps configured to connect to piping, such that the venturi tube 52 may be installed in the fluid flow and allow the sample to pass through the venturi tube 52. The venturi tube 52 has a protrusion 72 adjacent to an inner surface 70 to define a venturi tube throat 74. The venturi tube throat 74 causes a pressure drop when a multiphase fluid, such as a combination of liquid and gas, flows through the venturi tube 52 and thereby through the venturi tube throat 74. The venturi tube 52 may have a ratio between an interior diameter of the venturi tube throat 74 and the interior diameter of the venturi tube 52 of 0.5. The venturi tube 52 may be constructed as a tube of 38 mm, 80 mm, 130 mm, or any other suitable diameter. In one embodiment, the venturi tube 52 may be constructed of radiopaque material, having window portions constructed from radiolucent materials, such that the radiation source device 10 may be positioned to emit photons through a first window portion at the venturi tube throat 74 so that the photons pass through the first window portion and a second window portion, opposite and facing the first window portion relative to the venturi tube 52, to be received by the photon detector 60.
In one embodiment, the radiation source device 10 may be positioned and configured to emit photons across the cavity 68 at the venturi tube throat 74. However, the radiation source device 10 may be positioned at varying places along the venturi tube 52, including outside of the venturi tube throat 74. In one embodiment, where the radioactive material 18 is 133Ba, the photons may have energy levels greater than or equal to 32 keV and extra photons generated by the fluorescent material 20 may have an energy level less than 32 keV. As shown in
The first pressure sensor 56 may sense a first pressure within the venturi tube throat 74 and generate first pressure signals indicative of the first pressure. The first pressure sensor 56 may transmit the first pressure signals to the computer system 62 for use in determining the multiphase flow of a fluid traveling through the venturi tube 52. The first pressure sensor 56 may be implemented as any type of pressure sensor capable of sensing pressure within the venturi tube throat 74 and transmitting the first pressure signals indicative of that pressure to the computer system 62.
The second pressure sensor 58 may sense a second pressure outside of the venturi tube throat 74 and generate second pressure signals indicative of the second pressure. The second pressure sensor 58 may transmit the second pressure signals to the computer system 62 for use in determining the multiphase flow of the fluid traveling through the venturi tube 52. The second pressure sensor 58 may be implemented as any suitable pressure sensor capable of sensing pressure within venturi tube 52 outside of the venturi tube throat 74 and transmitting the second pressure signals indicative of that pressure to the computer system 62.
In one embodiment, as shown in
Although shown in
The photon detector 60 may receive the photons passing across the cavity 68 at the venturi tube throat 74 and generate photon signals indicative of the number and energy level of the photons. The photon detector 60 may transmit the photon signals to the computer system 62 for use in determining the multiphase flow of the fluid traveling through the venturi tube 52. The photon detector 60 may be positioned opposite the radiation source device 10 and may be at least partially supported by a recess within the venturi tube 52. The photon detector 60 may be implemented as any suitable photon detector capable of generating electrical signals indicative of photons that are received from the radiation source device 10. For example, the photon detector 60 can be a scintillator detector, capable of detecting γ-rays and X-rays. The scintillator may be composed of YAP(Ce), NaI(TI), or CeBr3, for example. The detector may be completed with a photomultiplier tube and a power supply.
The computer system 62 may be provided with a processor, a non-transitory computer readable medium, processor executable instructions stored on the non-transitory computer readable medium, an input device, an output device, and a communications device. The processor may be implemented as a single processor or multiple processors working together or independently to execute the processor executable instructions. The processor is coupled to the non-transitory computer readable medium which may be implemented as RAM, ROM, flash memory or the like, and may take the form of a magnetic device, optical device, or the like. The input device may transmit data to the processor and may be implemented as a keyboard, a mouse, a touch-screen, a camera, a cellular phone, a tablet, a smart phone, a PDA, a microphone, a network adapter, cable adapter such as a USB port, a scanner, and combinations thereof. The output device transmits information from the processor to a user and may be implemented as a server, a computer monitor, a cell phone, a tablet, a speaker, a website, a PDA, a fax, a printer, a projector, a laptop monitor, and combinations thereof. The network communications device may facilitate communications between a network and the processor. Stored on the non-transitory computer readable medium, the processor executable instructions, when executed by the processor, may cause the processor to receive the at least one pressure signal and photon signals from the first and second pressure sensors 56 and 58 and the photon detector 60 and calculate a composition of the multiphase fluid traveling through the venturi tube 52. The composition of the multiphase fluid, i.e. the phase fractions, may be given by the photon signals from the photon detector 60. The flow rate of each individual phase of the multiphase fluid may be calculated using a pressure difference between the first pressure signals and the second pressure signals, generating a total flow rate, and the photon signals. In the embodiment having the differential pressure sensor 76, the flow rate of the individual phases of the multiphase fluid may be calculated using the at least one pressure signal indicative of the differential pressure and the photon signal from the photon detector.
A method for using a measuring device 50, generally, may include installing the phase fraction measuring device 50 in a fluid flow sampled from a downhole formation. The phase fraction measuring device 50 may have the fluid passage tube 52 with a cavity, a radiation source device 10 with the radioactive material 18 and the fluorescent material 20. The radioactive material 18 generates first photons and the fluorescent material 20 receives the first photons from the radioactive material and generates second photons. The radiation source device 10 is positioned and configured to emit the first and second photons across the cavity to interact with a multiphase fluid passing through the fluid passage tube. The photon detector 60 may receive the photons passing across the cavity and interacting with the multiphase fluid passing through the fluid passage tube 52. After installation of the radiation source device 10, photon signals may be generated via the photon detector 60 indicative of a number and energy levels of the first and second photons. Data indicative of the photon signal may be logged onto a non-transitory computer readable medium.
Referring now to
At block 114, the measuring device 50 logs data indicative of the first pressure signal, the second pressure signal, and the photon signal 102, 106, and 110 onto the non-transitory computer readable medium of the computer system 62. As will be described in further detail below in relation to
Installing the measuring device 50 may further involve calibrating the measuring device 50. Calculating the phase fraction of the multiphase fluid may be based on Beer-Lambert law using equation 1: nE=nE,0 exp (−Σi=w,0,g αiλE,id). In equation 1, nE is a number of photons per second with energy E averaged over a time interval t, nE,0 is a number of photons per second with energy E detected when the venturi tube 52 is empty, λE,i are linear attenuation coefficients, in cm−1, for the energy E for phases (water, oil, gas) of the multiphase fluid, d is a photon beam propagation distance through the multiphase fluid. A calibration process may be used to determine the linear attenuation coefficients λE,i. The calibration process may be performed prior to or after taking samples from the fluid flow sampled from the downhole formation.
The calibration process may be performed by filling the venturi tube 52 with 100% water, generating the photon signal 110 for water. The venturi tube 52 may then be filled with 100% oil and the phase fraction measuring device 50 may then generate the photon signal 110 for oil. The venturi tube 52 may then be filled with 100% gas and the measuring device 50 may then generate the photon signal 110 for gas. The computer system 62 may then be used to generate a graph, represented by
The phase fractions 120 of the multiphase fluid traveling through the phase fraction measuring device 50 may be calculated using the photon signals 110. The low energy fluorescent emission below 25 keV, in addition to the natural emissions of 32 keV and 81 keV, in the embodiment using 133Ba, enable an additional low energy photon beam. The additional low energy photon beam may be used in conjunction with the natural emissions to calculate the phase fractions of the multiphase fluid with a shorter measurement time for a predetermined accuracy or with increased accuracy for the same measurement time. Entering the three energy levels (<25 keV, 32 keV, and keV for 133Ba), into equation 1 may generate equation 2:
which may be solved to calculate the phase fractions. In equation 2, λE
As shown in
For example, let M be the attenuation matrix. A system of equation 2 has a unique solution when det(M)≠0, e.g., rows are linearly independent. It may be noted that the attenuation triangles areas 130 and 138, of
The same technique described above can be used with different couples of low and high energies by choosing different radioisotopes from 133Ba, such as 109Cd, 153Gd, 139Ce, and 152Eu, for example. In another example, radioisotopes emitting a single γ-ray with energy between 40 keV and 100 keV can be used, such as 241Am. In order to generate two extra energies for the attenuation matrix through X-ray fluorescence, the fluorescent material may be formed by a two-layer assembly of sheets or by an alloy of two metals, such that each of the metals within the alloy produce a differing fluorescent energy.
Although the preceding description has been described herein with reference to particular means, materials and embodiments, it is not intended to be limited to the particulars disclosed herein; rather, it extends to all functionally equivalent structures, methods, and uses, such as are within the scope of the appended claims.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/US14/31187 | 3/19/2014 | WO | 00 |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61803608 | Mar 2013 | US |
