Downhole gas breakout sensor

A downhole fluid analysis tool for downhole fluid having a variable refractive index, the tool comprising:

• a tool housing deployable downhole and having a flow passage for the downhole fluid,
• a bubble director disposed in the flow passage and directing the downhole fluid flowing in the flow passage;
• and
• a fluid analysis device disposed in the tool housing relative to the flow passage, the fluid analysis device at least including:
• a first source generating a first input signal;
• a first sensing optic having a first refractive index and having a first surface, the first surface optically coupled to the first source and interfacing with the downhole fluid having the variable refractive index;
• and
• a first measurement detector optically coupled to the first sensing optic and detecting a first reflected signal from the first surface, the detection of the first reflected signal resulting from a first defined relationship between the first refractive index and the variable refractive index and being indicative of gas breakout in the downhole fluid.

A downhole fluid analysis method for downhole fluid in a flow passage of a downhole tool, the downhole fluid having a variable refractive index, the method comprising:

• generating a first input signal;
• directing the input signal into a sensing optic;
• interacting the first input signal in the first sensing optic with a first interface between the first sensing optic and the downhole fluid in the flow passage, the first sensing optic have a first refractive index, the variable refractive index of the downhole fluid being variable relative to the first refractive index;
• directing any bubbles in the downhole fluid relative to the first sensing optic by directing the downhole fluid flowing in the flow passage with a bubble director disposed in the flow passage;
• and detecting a first reflected signal from the first interface indicative of gas breakout in the downhole fluid.

A downhole fluid analysis method for downhole fluid, the downhole fluid having a second refractive index, the method comprising:

• deploying a tool downhole, the tool having a flow passage for the downhole fluid;
• and
• analyzing the downhole fluid by:
• generating an input signal;
• directing the input signal into a sensing optic;
• interacting the input signal in the sensing optic with an interface between the sensing optic and the downhole fluid in the flow passage, the sensing optic have a first refractive index, the second refractive index of the downhole fluid being variable relative to the first refractive index;
• directing any bubbles in the downhole fluid relative to the sensing optic by directing the downhole fluid flowing in the flow passage with a bubble director disposed in the flow passage;
• and
• detecting a reflected signal from the interface indicative of gas breakout in the downhole fluid.