System and method for qualitative and quantitative analysis of gaseous components of multiphase hydrocarbon mixtures
AssigneeSchlumberger Technology Corporation
InventorsJimmy Lawrence, Nathan Lawrence, Kay Robinson
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Abstract
Embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for detection and/or measurement of gaseous components of multiphase mixtures containing one or more hydrocarbons that may be retrieved down a wellbore or may be being transported in a pipeline. More specifically, but not by way of limitation, embodiments of the present invention may provide for separation of the gaseous components from the multiphase mixtures and detection and/or measurement of the separated gaseous components by direct oxidation or reduction.
Claims44
A gas sensor for detecting or measuring a gas component of a multiphase mixture containing one or more hydrocarbons, comprising:
- a sensing volume;
- a nonsolid conductive material disposed within the sensing volume;
- a sensing surface in gaseous communication with the sensing volume and configured to contact the multiphase mixture and prevent entry of a fluid phase of the multiphase mixture into the sensing volume;
- a plurality of electrodes disposed within the sensing volume coupled with a potential source and configured to provide a potential sweep across the nonsolid conductive material, wherein one of the plurality of electrodes comprises a working electrode, and wherein composition of the working electrode is selected to provide for detection or measurement of a specific gas in the multiphase mixture;
- and
- a device for measuring a current flowing through the nonsolid conductive material.
A system for downhole analysis of fluid mixtures in a wellbore configured for producing hydrocarbons, comprising:
- a wellbore tool having a body and being configured for disposal within the wellbore;
- a sampling probe coupled with the wellbore tool and configured to collect a fluid sample down the wellbore;
- a sampling conduit coupled with the wellbore tool and the sampling probe and configured to provide a flow path for a fluid sample, wherein the flow path provides a path for the fluid sample to flow from the sampling probe into the body of the wellbore tool;
- a sensing volume disposed within the body of the wellbore tool in gaseous communication with the sampling conduit and configured to receive at least a portion of a gas component of the fluid sample in the body of the downhole tool;
- a solution disposed within the sensing volume;
- a plurality of electrodes electronically coupled together and configured to pass a current through the solution to provide for direct electrochemical oxidation of the gas component of the fluid sample received in the sensing volume;
- and
- a current sensor configured to detect or measure the oxidation current.
A method for downhole analysis of a fluid sample in a wellbore, comprising:
- collecting a sample of a fluid mixture at a downhole location;
- separating a gas component from the sample of the fluid mixture;
- directly oxidizing the gas component separated from the sample of the fluid mixture;
- and
- sensing an output resulting from the direct oxidization of the gas component;
- and
- determining a presence the gas component or an amount of the gas component from the sensed output.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.