Nmr sensor for monitoring multi-phase fluid settling
AssigneeM-I L.L.C.
InventorsReda Karoum, Yiqiao Tang, Shin Utsuzawa
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An NMR sensor is configured to make NMR measurements of a fluid and includes a housing defining a chamber. A nonmagnetic cap is deployed in the chamber and divides the chamber into first and second regions. The cap is sized and shaped to define a fluid collector in the first region. A magnet assembly is deployed in the second region and is configured to generate a static magnetic field in the fluid collector. A radio frequency (RF) coil is interposed between the magnet assembly and the cap and is configured to generate an RF magnetic field in the fluid collector. Methods include using the sensor to make NMR measurements of multi-phase fluids such as drilling fluid.
Claims31
A nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) sensor configured for making NMR measurements of a fluid, the sensor comprising:
- a housing defining a chamber;
- a nonmagnetic cap deployed in the chamber and dividing the chamber into first and second regions, the cap sized and shaped to define a fluid collector in the first region;
- a magnet assembly deployed in the second region, the magnet assembly configured to generate a static magnetic field in the fluid collector;
- and
- a radio frequency (RF) coil interposed between the magnet assembly and the cap, the coil configured to generate an RF magnetic field in the fluid collector.
A method for evaluating a fluid, the method comprising:
- (a) deploying at least one nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) sensor in fluid communication with a multi-phase fluid at a surface location in a drilling rig, the NMR sensor including (i) a sensor housing defining a chamber, the chamber in fluid communication with the fluid, (ii) a magnet assembly deployed in the chamber and configured to generate a static magnetic field in at least a portion of the chamber, (iii) a radio frequency (RF) coil deployed in the chamber and configured to generate an RF magnetic field in at least the portion of the chamber, and (iv) a nonmagnetic cap deployed in the chamber and configured to provide a fluid tight seal between the fluid and the magnet assembly and the RF coil;
- (b) causing the NMR sensor to make a plurality of NMR measurements of the fluid at a corresponding plurality of times during operation of the drilling rig;
- and
- (c) processing the NMR measurements made in (b) to determine at least one property of the fluid and to monitor changes in the drilling fluid over the plurality of times.
A method for evaluating a fluid, the method comprising:
- (a) obtaining a sample of a multi-phase fluid;
- (b) causing a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurement sensor to make a plurality of an NMR measurements of the sample at a corresponding plurality of times while the sample ages, the NMR sensor including (i) a housing defining a chamber, (ii) a nonmagnetic cap deployed in the chamber and dividing the chamber into first and second regions, the cap sized and shaped to define a fluid collector in the first region, (iii) a magnet assembly deployed in the second region, the magnet assembly configured to generate a static magnetic field in the fluid collector, and (iv) a radio frequency (RF) coil interposed between the magnet assembly and the cap, the coil configured to generate an RF magnetic field in the fluid collector;
- and
- (c) processing the NMR measurements made in (b) to determine at least one property of the fluid and to monitor changes in the fluid over the plurality of times.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.