Flow sensing apparatus and methods for use in oil and gas wells
AssigneeChevron U.S.A. Inc.
InventorsLuis Phillipe Tosi, William David Norman, David Reuel Underdown, Krystian Maskos
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Abstract
The present invention is directed to methods for assessing flow-induced electrostatic energy in an oil and/or gas well wherein electric current or electrostatic potential or both are measured to produce data correlating to at least one flow characteristic of a tubular segment in the well. In some embodiments, electric current and electrostatic potential are produced separately for a plurality of segments, and measured. The system further may adjust at least one flow characteristic of a segment of the well to increase hydrocarbon production from the well.
Claims15
A method of determining flow characteristics in at least one segment of a hydrocarbon-producing well, the method comprising the steps of:
- a) providing at least one tubular segment electrically connected to a device, the tubular segment comprising:
- i) an electrically-grounded outer upstream membrane electrode;
- ii) an inner downstream membrane electrode;
- and
- iii) a dielectric filter membrane, comprising flow channels, disposed between the inner and outer membrane electrodes;
- b) flowing a substantially non-conductive hydrocarbon-based fluid as a stream through the dielectric filter membrane in at least one segment of the well;
- c) generating an electric current and electrostatic potential between the stream and the dielectric filter membrane;
- and
- d) measuring the electric current or electrostatic potential to produce data correlating to at least one flow characteristic of the segment of the well.
A system for determining flow characteristics in at least one segment of a hydrocarbon-producing well by generation of electrostatic energy in at least one segment of the well, the system comprising:
- a) a plurality of connected tubular segments disposed within the well, wherein the tubular segments are useful in conveying hydrocarbon-based fluids from the well;
- b) at least one tubular segment being electrically connected to a device, the tubular segment comprising:
- i) an electrically-grounded outer upstream membrane electrode;
- ii) an inner downstream membrane electrode;
- iii) a dielectric filter membrane, comprising flow channels, disposed between the inner and outer membrane electrodes;
- c) an electrical lead establishing connectivity between the inner downstream membrane electrode and the device;
- d) a flow of substantially non-conductive hydrocarbon-based fluid, wherein said flow is directed through the plurality of connected tubular segments;
- e) wherein an electrical current and electrostatic potential exists between the electrically-grounded outer upstream membrane electrode and the inner downstream membrane electrode;
- and
- f) further wherein the electric current or electrostatic potential is measured to produce data correlating to at least one flow characteristic of the tubular segment.
A system for determining flow characteristics in at least one segment of a hydrocarbon-producing well by generation of electrostatic energy in at least one segment of the well, the system comprising:
- a) a plurality of connected tubular segments disposed within the well, wherein the tubular segments are configured to convey hydrocarbon-based fluids from the well;
- b) at least one tubular segment being electrically connected to a device, wherein the device comprises one or more of the following:
- electrical storage device, valve, sliding screen, flow meter, and a flow sensing device;
- c) the tubular segment further comprising:
- i) an electrically-grounded outer upstream membrane electrode;
- ii) an inner downstream membrane electrode;
- and
- iii) a dielectric filter membrane, comprising flow channels, disposed between the inner and outer membrane electrodes;
- d) an electrical lead establishing connectivity between the inner downstream membrane electrode and the device;
- e) a flow of substantially non-conductive hydrocarbon-based fluid, wherein said flow is directed through the plurality of connected tubular segments;
- f) wherein an electrical current and electrostatic potential exists between the electrically-grounded outer upstream membrane electrode and the inner downstream membrane electrode for one of the plurality of tubular segments;
- and
- g) wherein the electric current or electrostatic potential is measured to produce data correlating to at least one flow characteristic of the tubular segment, the flow characteristic being either volume of total liquids produced or flow rate, or both.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.