System and method of determining reservoir fluid flow condition and composition downhole

A system, comprising:

• a fluid conduit;
• an at least one fluid flow rate sensor installed in an interior of the fluid conduit, wherein each fluid flow rate sensor comprises
• an elongated structure,
• a heating element installed into a first end of the elongated structure,
• a first temperature transducer coupled to an outside of the elongated structure at a first location,
• a second temperature transducer coupled to the outside of the elongated structure at a second location, and
• a control unit that is configured to turn the heating element on and off, to analyze a first temperature indication received from the first temperature transducer, to analyze a second temperature indication received from the second temperature transducer, and to determine a flow rate of a fluid flowing in the fluid conduit based on analyzing the first temperature indication and the second temperature indication;
• a fluid flow rate transmitter operable to transmit the flow rate sensed by the at least one fluid flow rate sensor and to transmit an identity of the at least one fluid flow rate sensor;
• and
• a receiver operable to receive the transmission of the flow rate of the at least one fluid flow rate sensor.

A method of sensing a rate of a fluid flow, comprising:

• heating a first end of an elongated structure for a period of time and then stopping the heating, wherein the elongated structure is disposed in the fluid flow and wherein the thermal properties of the elongated structure are known;
• receiving an indication of a first temperature by a sensor controller from a first temperature transducer coupled to an outside of the elongated structure;
• receiving an indication of a second temperature by the sensor controller from a second temperature transducer coupled to an outside of the elongated structure;
• analyzing the indication of the first temperature over time in combination with the indication of the second temperature over time, based on the known thermal properties of the elongated structure, and based on presumed values of thermal properties of the fluid;
• and
• determining the flow rate of the fluid based on the analyzing.

A downhole tool assembly, comprising:

• a downhole tool;
• an extended probe coupled at an uphole end of the extended probe to a downhole end of the downhole tool;
• a plurality of centralizing vanes coupled to the extended probe;
• and
• a plurality of fluid flow rate sensors, wherein each fluid flow rate sensor is disposed between two of the centralizing vanes, and wherein each fluid flow rate sensor comprises an elongated structure, at least one temperature transducer coupled to the elongated structure, a heater configured to heat the elongated structure, and a control unit configured to turn the heater on and off and to analyze an indication of temperature from the at least one temperature transducer to determine a flow rate of fluid in intimate contact with the elongated structure.