Immersed lens downhole refractometer
AssigneeBaker Hughes Oilfield Operations LLC
InventorsRocco DiFoggio, Helene C. Climent
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for detecting one or more properties of a downhole fluid includes a housing. The apparatus also includes a location-sensitive optical detector, arranged within a chamber formed by the housing. The apparatus further includes a light source, arranged within the chamber. The apparatus also includes a lens, positioned at an end of the housing, the lens preferably having a flat side and a curved side, the flat side positioned proximate the chamber to position the flat side closer to the light source than the curved side. The apparatus further includes a mirror, arranged outside the housing.
Claims20
A system for determining one or more fluid properties, comprising:
- a tool component adapted to be secured to a tool string for use in a downhole environment;
- and
- a sensor associated with the tool component, comprising:
- a pressure housing having a chamber;
- a lens, forming at least a portion of the pressure housing;
- a detector, arranged within the chamber formed by the housing;
- a light source, arranged within the chamber;
- and
- a mirror positioned outside the housing.
A method for determining one or more fluid properties in a downhole environment, comprising:
- emitting a beam, from a light source positioned in a chamber formed in a pressure housing, toward a lens;
- directing, through the lens, the beam toward a mirror, at least a portion of the lens and the mirror being immersed in a fluid;
- receiving, from the mirror and through the lens, a reflected beam at a detector;
- and
- determining, based at least in part on the reflected beam, the one or more fluid properties.
A system for determining one or more fluid properties, comprising:
- a tool component adapted to be secured to a tool string for use in a downhole environment;
- a sensor associated with the tool component, comprising:
- a pressure housing having a chamber;
- a lens, forming at least a portion of the pressure housing;
- a detector, arranged within the chamber formed by the housing;
- a light source, arranged within the chamber;
- and
- a mirror positioned outside the housing;
- a control system including at least one memory and at least one processor, wherein instructions are stored on the at least one memory that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to:
- emit a beam, from the light source positioned in the chamber formed in the pressure housing, toward the lens;
- direct, through the lens, the beam toward the mirror, at least a portion of the lens and the mirror being immersed in a fluid;
- receive, from the mirror and through the lens, a reflected beam at the detector;
- and
- determine, based at least in part on the reflected beam, the one or more fluid properties.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.