US 4,535,851 A · Fluid flow measurement system

Abstract

A system, or apparatus combination, and apparatus components, for the measurement of fluid flow. Such system, or apparatus can be used, e.g., for measuring the amount or flow of drilling fluid, or mud, introduced into a well bore, the amount or flow of mud returned from the well bore, and differences in flow rate and density between the mud introduced into the well bore and the mud returned from the well bore. The system measures or calculates, inter alia, flow rates, viscosity, temperature, density and gas content and compensates for variations; and in marine installations the system additionally measures vessel motion and compensates for wave and tide motions. The system includes on the mud input side one or more measurement primaries for the measurement or calculation, inter alia, of flow rates, viscosity, temperature and density, and on the mud return side a gas monitor is provided for the measurement and compensation of gas contained within a multiphase mud slurry returned from down-hole, and one or more measurement primaries for the measurement or calculation, inter alia, of flow rates, viscosity, temperature and density. For semi-submersible or floating marine installations vessel motion is measured. The system includes one or more computers. For example, the system can include a mud in-flow computer which receives and calculates inputs from the one or more mud input measurement primaries, a return mud flow computer which receives and calculates inputs from the one or more mud return measurement primaries and the gas content monitor and central computer with which the mud in-flow computer and return flow computer are in constant two way data communication. In marine installations, motion measurements are input directly to the central computer.

Claims16

Dependent claims

Apparatus for the measurement or control, or both, of the flow of a fluid over a wide range of flow conditions and compositions, which comprises:

a measurement primary device through which said fluid is passed, the primary measuring device being provided with a variable orifice primary, means for measuring density, and rate of flow of the fluid via differential pressure means located on opposite sides of said variable orifice, these measurements being input to a computer which calculates the density, viscosity and the compensated flow of the fluid, the computer controlling the variable orifice of the measurement primary in relation to input signals received from the measurement primary device.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Fluid flow measurement system

Life of this patent

Fluid flow measurement system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims16