Downhole deposition monitoring system
AssigneeSchlumberger Technology Corporation
InventorsBenoit Couet, Timothy Gareth John Jones
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Described is a downhole apparatus for detecting and removing deposits from a surface exposed to wellbore fluids. The apparatus can monitor the rate of deposition and subsequently remove the deposited material. The combination of detection apparatus and removal apparatus provides a downhole instrument with self-cleaning operation mode.
Claims29
A deposit monitoring apparatus located in a hydrocarbon wellbore comprising:
- an acoustic device for operating in a resonance mode which is longitudinal including a monitoring surface directly exposed to fluids in a hydrocarbon wellbore, wherein the deposition of material on the monitoring surface is monitored by measuring a change in resonance frequency of the acoustic device;
- and
- a power supply for supplying said acoustic device with electrical energy.
A monitoring apparatus located in a hydrocarbon wellbore comprising:
- a monitor for measuring characteristics of fluids in the hydrocarbon wellbore, the monitor having a monitoring surface that is directly exposed to fluids in the hydrocarbon wellbore;
- a deposit removal system including an acoustic device for exerting a physical force on the monitoring surface to at least partially remove a deposition of material from the monitoring surface;
- and
- a power supply for supplying said acoustic device with electrical energy, wherein the monitor further uses the acoustic device, said acoustic device to be operated in a resonance mode, wherein the monitor measures deposition of the material on the monitoring surface by measuring a change in resonance frequency of the acoustic device and wherein the acoustic device operates in a longitudinal mode.
A monitoring apparatus located in a hydrocarbon wellbore comprising:
- a monitor for measuring characteristics of fluids in the hydrocarbon wellbore, the monitor having a monitoring surface that is directly exposed to fluids in the hydrocarbon wellbore;
- a deposit removal system including an acoustic device for exerting a physical force on the monitoring surface to at least partially remove a deposition of material from the monitoring surface;
- and
- a power supply for supplying said acoustic device with electrical energy, wherein the monitor is selected from a group comprising optical sensors, electro-chemical sensors, nuclear sensors, separation membranes, or acoustic sensors separate from the force exerting acoustic device.
A deposit monitoring apparatus located in a hydrocarbon wellbore comprising:
- an acoustic device for operating in a resonance mode including a monitoring surface directly exposed to fluids in a hydrocarbon wellbore, wherein the deposition of material on the monitoring surface is monitored by measuring a change in resonance frequency of the acoustic device, and wherein by measuring said change in resonance frequency of the acoustic device a thickness of deposited material of 600 microns can be distinguished from a thickness of deposited material of 1050 microns;
- and
- a power supply for supplying said acoustic device with electrical energy, wherein the acoustic device operates in a longitudinal mode.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.