# US 10,620,227 B1 · Automatic liquid sampling system and method of use thereof > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,620,227 B1 - Document ID: US10620227B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 16/583,960 - Filed: 2019-09-26 - Granted: 2020-04-14 - Earliest claimed: 2019-09-26 - Assignees: Process Instruments, Inc. - Applicants: Paul Wade - Inventors: Paul Wade - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10620227B1 ## CPC - G01N 35/025: {having a carousel or turntable for reaction cells or cuvettes} - G01N 1/18: with provision for splitting samples into portions (G01N1/12, G01N1/14 take precedence; fraction-collection apparatus for chromatography B01D15/08) - G01N 1/2035: {by deviating part of a fluid stream, e.g. by drawing-off or tapping} - G01N 1/40: Concentrating samples - G01N 33/2823: {Raw oil, drilling fluid or polyphasic mixtures} - G01N 2001/1093: {Composite sampling; Cumulative sampling} - G01N 2001/205: {using a valve} - G01N 2001/2071: {Removable sample bottle} - G01N 2035/00465: {Separating and mixing arrangements} - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) ## Abstract An automatic fluid sampler works in conjunction with a conventional oil well test system. The sampler utilizes a rotating platter which aligns the mouth of a sampling container with a conduit for delivery of a composite sample which is provided in incremental volumes over the duration of a well test event. Upon completion of the well test, a fresh container is rotated to be in position to receive a composite sample for a new well test event. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An automatic liquid sampling system utilized in conjunction with an oil well test system, the oil well test system of the type comprising a fluid separation vessel, a flow meter, and a well test controller, the well test controller configured to route a fluid flow from an oil well to the fluid separation vessel, wherein the fluid separation vessel separates the fluid flow into a liquid phase and a gas phase, the automatic liquid sampling system comprising: a carousel unit, the carousel unit comprising a housing, an inner cylinder disposed within the housing, a platter attached to an upward facing surface of the inner cylinder, and a motor configured to rotate the inner cylinder a fixed angular displacement upon receipt of an electrical current, wherein the platter comprises a plurality of open mouth containers; a conduit connected to the fluid separation vessel, wherein the conduit delivers a portion of the liquid phase into an open mouth container of the plurality of open mouth containers upon alignment of the open mouth container with the conduit; and a controller which activates a switch to provide the electrical current to the motor. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The automatic liquid sampling system of claim 1 wherein the platter comprises a plurality of radially adjacent openings, wherein an open mouth container of the plurality of open mouth containers is disposed within each of the plurality of radially adjacent openings. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The automatic liquid sampling system of claim 2 wherein each of the plurality of open mouth containers comprises a funnel having a bottom end with a valve which seals the bottom end. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The automatic liquid sampling system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of open mouth containers comprises a total of six open mouth containers. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The automatic liquid sampling system of claim 4 wherein each of the open mouth containers of the plurality of open mouth containers is equally spaced on the platter. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The automatic liquid sampling system of claim 5 wherein the fixed angular displacement is 60 degrees. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The automatic liquid sampling system of claim 1 wherein the portion of the liquid phase delivered into the open mouth container is delivered in a plurality of increments spaced over a period of time of a well test to provide a composite liquid sample for the well test. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The automatic liquid sampling system of claim 7 wherein a programmable controller provides a signal to an automated valve to open and close over the period of time of the well test to provide the composite liquid sample through the conduit. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The automatic liquid sampling system of claim 8 wherein each increment ranges from 1.0 to 1.5 milliliters. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The automatic liquid sampling system of claim 9 wherein each container of the plurality of containers has a storage volume ranging from 500 to 2000 milliliters. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The automatic liquid sampling system of claim 10 wherein the programmable controller receives a signal from a flow meter and determines a total volume of the portion of the liquid phase delivered into the open mouth container. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The automatic liquid sampling system of claim 11 wherein the programmable controller tracks the volume of the increments delivered to the container and instructs the well test controller to stop the well test when the volume of the increments is equivalent to the container volume. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The automatic liquid sampling system of claim 12 further comprising a position switch which senses the position of each of the plurality of open mouth containers. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The automatic liquid sampling system of claim 13 wherein at the conclusion of a first well test the programmable controller causes a next radially adjacent open mouth container to be placed in a position to be filled by the conduit over the course of a second well test. ### Claim 15 A method of obtaining a composite sample from an oil well during a well test comprising the steps of: directing a flow of fluid from an oil well to a test separator over a well test period, wherein the test separator separates the fluid flow delivered into the test separator into a liquid phase and a gas phase; directing a portion of the liquid phase through a flow meter to a conduit connected to an automatic liquid sampling system, the automatic liquid sampling system comprising a plurality of open mouth containers, the automatic liquid sampling system further comprising a motor which positions a single open mouth container of the plurality of open mouth containers to receive the portion of the liquid phase in a plurality of increments over the well test period to provide a composite liquid sample into the single open mouth container; and analyzing the composite liquid sample to ascertain a percentage of total water contained in the composite liquid sample. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15 wherein the automatic liquid sampling system comprises a carousel unit, the carousel unit comprising a platter comprising the plurality of open mouth containers and the motor is configured to rotate the platter. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15 wherein each of the plurality of open mouth containers comprises a funnel having a bottom end with a valve which seals the bottom end. ### Claim 18 An automatic liquid sampling system utilized in conjunction with an oil well test unit, the oil well test unit of the type comprising a fluid separation vessel, a flow meter, and a well test controller, the well test controller configured to route a fluid flow from an oil well to the fluid separation vessel, wherein the fluid separation vessel separates the fluid flow into a liquid phase and a gas phase, the automatic liquid sampling system comprising: a conduit which receives a portion of the liquid phase; a platter connected to a motor, the motor configured to rotate the platter a fixed angular displacement upon receipt of an electrical current; a plurality of open mouth containers disposed upon the platter, wherein an open mouth container is positioned beneath the conduit when the platter is rotated the fixed angular displacement; and a controller which activates a switch to provide the electrical current to the motor. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The automatic liquid sampling system of claim 18 wherein the portion of the liquid phase is delivered through the conduit into the open mouth container in a plurality of increments spaced over a period of time of a well test to provide a composite liquid sample for the well test. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The automatic liquid sampling system of claim 19 wherein a programmable controller provides a signal to an automated valve to open and close over the period of time of the well test to provide the composite liquid sample through the conduit into the open mouth container.