# US 8,464,582 B2 · Variable throat venturi flow meter having a plurality of section-varying elements

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- Number: US 8,464,582 B2
- Document ID: US8464582B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 12/808,203
- Filed: 2008-11-14
- Published: 2011-08-04
- Granted: 2013-06-18
- Earliest claimed: 2007-12-17
- Assignees: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
- Applicants: Gilles Roux; Céline Gabard-Cuoq; Stéphane Chareille; Pierre Mouget
- Inventors: Gilles Roux; Céline Gabard-Cuoq; Stéphane Chareille; Pierre Mouget
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8464582B2

## CPC

- G01F 1/05: by using mechanical effects
- E21B 47/10: Locating fluid leaks, intrusions or movements
- G01F 1/44: Venturi tubes
- G01F: MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME
- E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS

## Abstract

A variable throat Venturi flow meter includes an upstream pipe section having an upstream cross-sectional area, a throat section having a variable throat cross-sectional area that is smaller than the upstream cross-sectional area, and a plurality of section-varying elements adapted to temporarily vary the throat cross-sectional area to allow a downhole tool to pass through the throat section.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of measuring a flow rate in a well bore, the method comprising: deploying a variable throat Venturi flow meter in the wellbore, the variable throat Venturi flow meter comprising a throat section having a throat cross-sectional area that is variable between a first throat cross-sectional area and a second throat cross-sectional area, wherein the first throat cross-sectional area is smaller than the second throat cross-sectional area; determining the flow rate using pressure measurements provided by the variable throat Venturi flow meter when the throat section has the first throat cross-sectional area; and temporarily varying the throat cross-sectional area to have the second throat cross-sectional area to allow a downhole tool to pass through the throat section.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the varying the throat cross-sectional area is in response to an axial force exerted by the downhole tool.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the varying the throat cross-sectional area is in response to a command signal.