Detection of impurities in fluid flowing in refinery pipeline or oil production operations using nuclear techniques
AssigneeTexaco Inc.
InventorsDan M. Arnold, Harold E. Peelman, Obie M. Langford, Hans J. Paap, Irwin R. Supernaw
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Abstract
Fluid in a pipeline or container at a refinery or at any of various petroleum producing operations is bombarded with neutrons, and high energy gamma rays resulting from capture of thermal neutrons are detected. The spectra of the detected gamma rays are then analyzed to determine the concentration of the element chlorine, which gives an indication of the presence and concentration of salt water in the fluid. The concentration of sulfur and the percentage gas in the fluid may be determined simultaneously with the concentration of chlorine.
Claims23
A method for analysis of a fluid flowing in a conduit to determine the presence of low concentrations of salt water and gas in the fluid comprising the steps of:
- (a) bombarding the fluid with fast neutrons, which are slowed down and thereafter engage in thermal neutron capture reactions with materials in the fluid;
- (b) obtaining gamma ray energy spectra of the materials in response to the capture of thermal neutrons by the materials in the fluid;
- (c) obtaining a measure of the concentration of chlorine in the fluid from the gamma ray energy spectra;
- (d) obtaining from the measure of the concentration of chlorine a measure of the concentration of salt water in the fluid;
- (e) obtaining a measure of the concentration of sulfur in the fluid from the gamma ray spectra simultaneously with said step of obtaining a measure of the concentration of chlorine;
- and
- (f) obtaining from the measure of the concentration of chlorine a measure of the percent gas content of the fluid.
An apparatus for analysis of a fluid flowing in a conduit to determine the presence of low concentrations of salt water and gas in the fluid, comprising:
- (a) means for bombarding the fluid with fast neutrons, which are slowed down and thereafter engage in thermal neutron capture reactions with materials in the fluid;
- (b) means for obtaining gamma ray energy spectra of the materials in response to the capture of the thermal neutrons by the materials in the fluid;
- (c) means for obtaining a measure of the concentration of chlorine in the fluid from the gamma ray energy spectra;
- (d) means for obtaining from the measure of the concentration of chlorine a measure of the concentration of salt water in the fluid;
- and
- (e) means for obtaining from the measure of the concentration of chlorine a measure of the percent gas content of the fluid.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.