Microwave system for monitoring water content in a petroleum pipeline
AssigneeChevron Research Company
InventorsBibhas R. De, Paul L. Donoho, David E. Revus, Russell E. Boyer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for determining the water content of crude oil in a pipeline is disclosed. The device consists of S-band tarnsmitting and receiving antennas, and X-band transmitting and receiving antennas. These are used to determine the complex dielectric constant of the fluid in a pipeline. Water salinity and an adjustment to the mixing formula are calculated using X-band and S-band sidewall links. The overall water content of the pipeline can then be determined by using as S-band main link that transmits a wave through a representative portion of the entire pipeline.
Claims12
Apparatus for analyzing a multi-phase liquid comprising:
- pipeline means for containing the liquid;
- a low frequency transmitting antenna substantially in the S-band near a wall of said means for containing a liquid;
- a low frequency receiving antenna substantially in the S-band located within one-half wavelength of said low frequency transmitting antenna;
- means for determining a phase shift of a low frequency wave;
- and
- means for determining an amplitude change of the low frequency wave.
Apparatus for determining the water content of crude oil in a pipeline comprising:
- (A) a first antenna port mounted flush in a wall of the pipeline further comprising:
- (1) an X-band link comprising:
- (a) an X-band transmitting antenna;
- (b) an X-band receiving antenna located with one-half the wavelength of said X-band transmitting antenna;
- (2) a sidewall S-band link comprising:
- (a) a sidewall S-band transmitting antenna;
- (b) a sidewall S-band receiving antennalocated with one-half wavelength of said first S-band transmitting antenna;
- (3) a main link S-band transmitting antenna;
- (B) a second antenna port mounted flush in the wall of the pipeline, said second antenna port containing a main link S-band receiving antenna;
- (C) means for measuring phase shift and attenuation of a signal transmitted through said X-band link;
- (D) means for measuring phase shift and attenuation of a signal transmitted through said sidewall S-band link;
- and
- (E) means for measuring attenuation of a signal transmitted from said main link S-band transmitting antenna to said main link S-band receiving antenna.
A method for determining the relative proportions of two mixed, dielectrically-dissimilar fluids in a container comprising:
- (a) transmitting a low frequency wave substantially in the S-band through said fluids;
- (b) measuring a phase shift and attenuation of the wave to obtain the complex dielectric constant of the mixed fluids;
- and
- (c) calculating the relative proportions of the mixed fluids.
A method for determining the water content of oil in a flowing pipeline comprising:
- (a) transmitting a low frequency signal substantially in the S-band between a low frequency transmitting antenna and a low frequency receiving antenna, said antennas located within one-half wave length;
- (b) transmitting a first high frequency signal substantially in the S-band between a high frequency transmitting antenna and a high frequency receiving antenna, said antennas located within one-half wavelength of each other and in close proximity to said low frequency transmitting and receiving antennas;
- and
- (c) transmitting a second high frequency signal substantially in the X-band between a second high frequency transmitting antenna and a second high frequency receiving antenna.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.