Non-contact flow rate measurement of fluid using surface feature image analysis
AssigneeHalliburton Energy Services, Inc.
InventorsLiang Zhao, Michael L. Fripp, Thomas J. Frosell, Zachary R. Murphree
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Abstract
Comparative image analysis is utilized to determine the flow rate of fluids, such as, for example, drilling fluid, completion fluid or hydrocarbons. As fluid flows through a conduit or open trough, a flow rate measurement device illuminates the surface of the fluid. Images of common surface features are then acquired at some time interval. Thereafter, the displacement of the common surface features in the images is analyzed to determine the flow rate of the fluid. Thus, non-contact flow rate measurements of opaque and non-opaque fluids are obtained.
Claims21
A flow rate measurement method to determine a flow rate of wellbore fluid, the method comprising:
- allowing wellbore fluid to flow through an annulus alongside a downhole tubular past an image capture device and an illumination device, wherein the image capture device and illumination device are housed in a cavity of a tool body such that images of the wellbore fluid are captured as the wellbore fluid flows through the annulus;
- using the image capture device to capture a first image of a surface of the wellbore fluid;
- using the image capture device to capture a second image of the surface of the wellbore fluid, the first and second images having a common surface feature;
- using a processor to analyze a displacement of the common surface feature in the first and second images, wherein the processor is coupled to the image capture device and illumination device;
- using the processor to determine a flow rate of the wellbore fluid based on the displacement of the common feature;
- and
- controlling the flow rate of the wellbore fluid based on the determined flow rate.
A flow rate measurement device to determine a flow rate of fluid, the device comprising:
- a downhole drilling tool;
- a flow path in fluid communication with a wellbore;
- an illumination device to illuminate a fluid flowing through the flow path;
- an image capture device to capture a first and second image of a common surface characteristic of the fluid, wherein the image capture device and illumination device are housed in a cavity of a tool body such that images of the fluid are captured as the fluid flows through an annulus alongside the downhole tool;
- and
- a processor coupled to the image capture device to thereby process a displacement of the common surface characteristic in the first and second images, and thereby determine the flow rate of the fluid, wherein the processor is configured to control the flow rate of the fluid during a downhole operation.
A flow rate measurement method to determine a flow rate of fluid, the method comprising:
- allowing wellbore fluid to flow through an annulus alongside a downhole tool past an image capture device and an illumination device, wherein the image capture device and illumination device are housed in a cavity of a tool such that images of the wellbore fluid are captured as the wellbore fluid flows through the annulus;
- using the image capture device to capture a first and second image of a common surface feature of the fluid;
- using a processor to analyze a displacement of the common surface feature between the first and second images, wherein the processor is coupled to the image capture device and illumination device;
- using the processor to determine a flow rate of the fluid;
- and
- controlling the flow rate of the fluid during a downhole operation based on the determined flow rate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.