Production logging tool and downhole fluid analysis probes deploying method, in particular for deviated and horizontal hydrocarbon well

A method of deploying downhole fluid analysis probes in a hydrocarbon well in which a multiphase fluid mixture flows, comprising the steps of:

• providing a production logging tool having an elongated cylindrical housing shape and comprising a central pressure-resistant rigid housing carrying a centralizer arrangement including a plurality of centralizer arms, circumferentially distributed about said housing and operable from a retracted position into a radially extended position and a deploying arrangement including a plurality of deploying arms circumferentially distributed about said housing, each deploying arm being circumferentially positioned between two centralizer arms and carrying at least one downhole fluid analysis probe, said probe deploying arrangement being coupled to said centralizer arrangement so that radial extension of the centralizer arms results in radial extension of the deploying arms,
• positioning the production logging tool in a section of a hydrocarbon well in which multiphase fluid flow is to be analyzed,
• allowing the centralizer arms to radially extend into engagement with the wall of the well, whereby the deploying arms are extended radially and the downhole fluid analysis probes are deployed in positions circumferentially located between two centralizer arms and radially located in a first circumferential zone of a hydrocarbon well section substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said well.

An apparatus for deploying in a hydrocarbon well a plurality of probes for analyzing at least one property of a multiphase fluid mixture flowing in the hydrocarbon well, having an elongated cylindrical housing shape and comprising a central pressure-resistant rigid housing carrying a centralizer arrangement comprising multiple external centralizer arms circumferentially distributed about said housing and adapted for contact with a production pipe wall of a hydrocarbon well and operable from a retracted configuration into a radially extended configuration, the centralizer arms being coupled at a first side to the housing and at a second side to a first sliding sleeve and a first spring, wherein the apparatus further comprises a deploying arrangement nested within the centralizer arrangement, the deploying arrangement comprising:

• a plurality of deploying arms circumferentially distributed about said housing and being coupled at a first side to the housing and at a second side to the centralizer arrangement by means of at least one second sliding sleeve such that each deploying arm is circumferentially positioned between two centralizer arms whatever the retracted or radially extended configuration of the centralizer arrangement,
• a plurality of probe attachments for respectively securing probes on each deploying arm and each centralizer arm such as to expose a tip of said probes when secured to said probe attachments to the multiphase fluid mixture flowing in the hydrocarbon well,
• wherein the second sliding sleeve comprises a mechanical coupler coupled to the first sliding sleeve such that the deploying arrangement follows radial movements imposed by the centralizer arrangement to radially and/or angularly position the tip of said probes when respectively secured to said probe attachments in a first circumferential zone of a hydrocarbon well section substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said well, and
• wherein the centralizer arrangement is arranged to radially and/or angularly position the tip of said other probes when respectively secured to said probe attachments in a second circumferential zone of the hydrocarbon well section substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the well.