Method and apparatus for characterizing flows based on attenuation of in-wall propagating wave modes
AssigneeSchlumberger Technology Corporation
InventorsSongming Huang, Yan Kuhn de Chizelle
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus are described that characterize flows within a conduit by generating acoustic waves, and receiving acoustic energy representing at least one in-wall leaky acoustic wave mode. Attenuation of acoustic energy that has entirely propagated within the wall of the conduit is measured and evaluated in order to derive parameters relating to the fluid or fluids flowing in the conduit. The wave modes described include bulk waves and lamb waves and propagate in axial and circumferential directions.
Claims19
An apparatus for measuring one or more parameters related to a fluid flowing in a conduit, the apparatus comprising:
- at least one transmitter to generate acoustic waves;
- at least one receiver to receive acoustic energy, the at least one transmitter and at least one receiver being mounted on an outside surface of the conduit;
- and
- additional electronic components wherein the transmitter is positioned and directed so as to generate at least one in-wall leaky acoustic wave mode and said receiver is positioned and directed and electronic components are adapted so as to receive and to determine the attenuation of waves having said mode and having propagated entirely within the wall of the conduit from the transmitter to receiver, and wherein at least some of said attenuation is caused by leaking of acoustic energy out of the wall of the conduit into fluid flowing inside the conduit, and wherein said one or more parameters related to the fluid flowing in the conduit are derived at least in part from said attenuation.
Method of measuring parameters characteristic of a fluid flow in a conduit, comprising the steps of
- engaging at least one transducer to generate acoustic waves and at least one transducer to receive acoustic energy with an outside surface of a conduit carrying the fluid to be measured;
- generating and receiving signals representing at least one in-wall leaky acoustic wave mode;
- evaluating the attenuation of the at least one wave mode that has entirely propagated within the wall of the conduit from the generating to the receiving transducer, wherein at least some of said attenuation is caused by leaking of acoustic energy out of the wall of the conduit into fluid flowing inside the conduit;
- and
- deriving at least one of said parameters characteristic of the fluid flow in the conduit at least in party by using the result of said step of evaluating.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.