# US 2017/0284952 A1 · Hydrocarbon salinity measurement system at bottom of well at extreme conditions of pressure and temperature by means of time domain reflectometry

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- Number: US 2017/0284952 A1
- Document ID: US20170284952A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/476,442
- Filed: 2017-03-31
- Published: 2017-10-05
- Earliest claimed: 2016-03-31
- Assignees: Instituto Mexicano Del Petroleo
- Applicants: Instituto Mexicano Del Petroleo
- Inventors: Ernesto ORDUNA REYES; Jose Manuel DOMINGUEZ ESQUIVEL; Jose GARCIA Y GARCIA
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170284952A1

## CPC

- G01N 27/06: of a liquid (involving electrolysis G01N27/26)
- G01N 27/028: {Circuits therefor (measuring impedance per se G01R27/02)}
- G01N 33/2835: {Specific substances contained in the oils or fuels}
- 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

The object of the present invention relates to a system for measuring the salinity of hydrocarbons at the bottom of an oil well, using the technique of time domain reflectometry (TDR). The system comprises an electromagnetic pulse generator, an oscilloscope for displaying and measuring the frequency, amplitude and wavelength of the signal, a signal amplifier, a computer for processing and storing the information, and a metal wire that functions as a waveguide To transmit the signal from the signal generator to the hydrocarbon to which its salinity is to be determined at the bottom of the well. The signal returns from the bottom of the well to the oscilloscope where the difference between the sent signal and the return signal is measured. This difference allows us to infer the salinity of the hydrocarbon. The guide wire is attached to the production line by means of a strap or other fastening device from the surface to the bottom of the well, where the tip of the cable is inserted into the pipe to contact the hydrocarbon and in this way detect its salinity. It is possible to use the same pipe as a waveguide to transmit the test signal to the bottom of the well. In addition, the salinity of the hydrocarbon can be determined at different points along the well.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system for measuring salinity at a bottom of a hydrocarbon well by means of a time domain reflectometry technique, comprising a waveguide or cable that is attached to a hydrocarbon production line to the bottom of the well, an electromagnetic pulse generator to send a test signal, an oscilloscope to measure the signal produced by the pulse generator and the signal reflected by the hydrocarbon at the bottom of the well, indicating the difference between the two signals, this difference indicating a salinity value of the hydrocarbon, a signal amplifier and a signal adapter to control the signal characteristics in order to obtain the best sharpness for greater accuracy of the measurement, and a computer to analyze the information, infer the salinity from the return signal through the waveguide and store the information.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A sensor system for measuring salinity at a bottom of a hydrocarbon well, according to claim 1, with materials suitable to withstand temperatures above 500° C.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1, 2)

A sensor system for measuring salinity at a bottom of a hydrocarbon well, according to claims 1 and 2, with materials suitable to withstand pressures greater than 10 000 psi.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1, 2, 3)

A sensor system to measure salinity at a bottom of a hydrocarbon well, according to claims 1 to 3, with materials suitable to withstand a corrosive and abrasive environment.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1, 2, 3, 4)

A sensor system for measuring salinity at a bottom of a hydrocarbon well, according to claims 1 to 4, with a pulse generator for generating signals with different voltage, frequency and wavelength ranges, as well as an amplifier And signal adapter to be able to make measurements at lengths greater than 5000 meters without loss of signal and with the correct accuracy and reliability.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1, 2, 3, 4, 5)

A sensor system to measure salinity at a bottom of a hydrocarbon well, according to claims 1 to 5, that can use as a waveguide the hydrocarbon production line.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)

A sensor system to measure salinity at a bottom of a well, according to claims 1 to 6, the sensor system able to measure salinity of hydrocarbons and brines in oil and geothermal wells.

### Claim 8

A computer program that compiles, analyzes and evaluates characteristics of a test signal and a return signal, such as: amplitude, voltage and frequency, and transforms the signals, by means of correlations in time, distance and salinity values.