Daniel Industries, Inc.

Daniel Measurement and Control, Inc.

Anadrill, Inc.

Schlumberger Technology Corporation

Agar Corporation N.v.

Klaus Joachim Zanker

William R Freund, Jr

Jacques J Orban

Gail Paulin Murray

Winsor Letton

John Lansing

Andre E Orban

John Williams

Andre Orban

Vassilios Kalessidis

Trevor Burgess

Eli Tannenbaum

Joram Agar

A method and ultrasonic meter system for determining pipe roughness. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are ultrasonic meters comprising a spool piece that couples within a flow of fluids, and a first transducer pair mechanically mounted to the spool piece and acoustically coupled to the flow of fluids (wherein the first transducer pair comprises an upstream transducer and a downstream transducer in operational relationship to the upstream transducer and defines a first chord there between). The ultrasonic meter is configured to determine diagnostic data based on acoustic signals transmitted between the first transducer pair (wherein the diagnostic data comprises an asymmetry of the flow of fluids in the spool piece, a cross flow of the flow of fluids in the spool piece, and a profile factor of the flow of fluids in the spool piece). The ultrasonic meter is configured to determine changes in the roughness of a pipe mechanically coupled to the ultrasonic meter based on a trend of the diagnostic data (wherein the trend comprises a substantially constant value of about unity for both the asymmetry and the cross flow and a substantially changing value for the profile factor).

Method and ultrasonic meter system for determining pipe roughness

Methods and related systems for determining transducer delay time and transducer separation in ultrasonic flow meters. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are a method comprising measuring a delay time for a first transducer pair, measuring a total measured time for ultrasonic signals transmitted between a second transducer pair in an ultrasonic meter in which both the first and second transducer pairs are installed, calculating a parameter associated with the second transducer pair using the delay time of the first transducer pair and the total measured time for said second transducer pair.

Methods for determining transducer delay time and transducer separation in ultrasonic flow meters

A method and related ultrasonic meter identify and correct for transit time errors such as peak switch errors. The method includes calculating values for a set of diagnostics from measurements of the fluid flow, including transit time measurements. Based on the values for the diagnostics, and whether and how they fall outside of their respective ranges, the meter can identify a variety of problems with the meter or fluid flow, such as whether there has been an intermittent peak switch, a permanent peak switch, or the presence of noise, velocity pulsation in the fluid flow, temperature stratification, of other problem. In the event there is a problem with the meter, the meter self-tunes in order to minimize the chances of the problem happening again.

Self-tuning ultrasonic meter

A method is disclosed to identify peak switching errors in an ultrasonic meter and how to correct for them. The method compares transit time measurements from two chords having different lengths to establish an error value. Depending on the magnitude and sign of the error value, any peak switching error can be identified and consequently corrected.

Peak switch detector for transit time ultrasonic meters

An apparatus and related method for measuring the presence or degree of stratified flow in a two-phase flow is disclosed. A first speed of sound for the fluid flowing through the pipeline is measured for an ultrasonic signal that would reflect from stratified flow, if present. A second speed of sound is measured at a location that would not reflect off the stratified flow. A difference in these two measurements indicates the presence of stratified flow. The level of stratified flow can be determined based on the magnitude of the difference.

Detection of liquid in gas pipeline

A measurement system is described that includes a flow conditioner for performing the dual functions of conditioning the flow stream and acting as a check meter to the primary meter. Various flow stream characteristics are calculated from the measured differential pressure across the flow conditioner. These calculated values are compared to measurements made by the primary meter for the purpose of identifying performance or accuracy problems in the measurement equipment.

Dual function flow conditioner and check meter

Noise silencer and method for use with an ultrasonic meter

An apparatus and related method for measuring the degree of stratified flow in a two-phase flow is disclosed. Alternate embodiments include a single transducer level detector and a multiple transducer level detector. Further, these level detectors may be either integrated into or used in conjunction with an ultrasonic flow meter, or may be used in conjunction with some other meter that determines speed of sound for the flowing gas.

Ultrasonic 2-phase flow apparatus and stratified level detector

An apparatus and related method for measuring the properties and individual flow rates of a two-phase flow comprising a gas and a liquid is disclosed. This apparatus and related method also can determine whether the liquid is travelling in primarily a mist or stratified flow. More precisely, one embodiment of the disclosed invention uses measured parameters such as gain, standard deviation in upstream and downstream travel times for an ultrasonic signal, measured speed of sound, noise, signal quality, batch failure rate, and velocity profile to infer the amount of liquid in the gas flow, and in what form the liquid is travelling. For a horizontal two-phase flow, an internal measurement can be used as a dry gas reference, although the invention is also applicable to a vertical flow. For increased confidence, these determinations may be corroborated by the disclosed liquid level measurement device.

Ultrasonic 2-phase flow apparatus and method

Improved methods and systems are provided for determining a volumetric flow rate of mud in a return line without the aid of a velocity probe. A mud level sensor is located in a return line chimney preferably in close proximity to the bell nipple. The sensor senses the height of the mud flowing in the return line. Where an ultraonsic transceiver is used as the sensor, temperature sensors in the chimney and return line determine a temperature gradient in the return line which provides a speed of sound correction as does a target at a known distance from the transceiver. A computer receives the uncorrected mud height and the speed of sound information, and determines the flow-out volume of the mud. Flow-out volume is related to the mud height, the geometry of the return line, and mud parameters. In a more complete system, the computer calibrates the determined flow-out volume with the flow-in volume, and provides a correction factor which is used to provide a corrected flow-out determination. The computer also monitors delta flow (flow-out minus flow-in), and based on the rate of change of delta flow determines when an undesirable condition such as a kick or fluid loss occurs. Where the system is to be used on rig which is subject to movement (e.g. a floating rig), an angle sensor is employed to help determine instantaneous flow-out, and the flow-out determinations are averaged over the movement cycle of the rig as determined by heave position sensors available on the rig.

Method and system for measurement of fluid flow in a drilling rig return

A system for the quantitative analysis of one or more evolving gases exiting a borehole includes a Venturi ejector for substantially capturing liberated gases in the bell nipple and return line, a rotating disk extractor for substantially extracting gases entrained and dissolved in drilling mud, and a gas analyzer system for analyzing and quantifying the captured and extracted gases. The Venturi ejector preferably is operatively coupled to the return line, and a pipe wiper may be arranged to partially cover the bell nipple. The ejector sucks liberated gases out of the return line and causes a negative pressure to occur at the bell nipple such that air is sucked into the bell nipple rather than exiting the same. The rotating disk extractor has air flowing countercurrent to the mud flow. As the disks rotate, they pick up a thin liquid film of mud which is exposed to the air stream. Dissolved hydrocarbon gas in the thin film evaporates, and entrained bubbles break resulting in the gases entering the air stream which is passed through a liquid trap out to a gas analyzer. By knowing the rate of air flow through the ejector and the extractor, the rate of mud flow through the system and through the extractor, and the gas compositions as determined by the gas analyzer, the quantitative components of the different gases in the mud are found. Also, with known rates, the gas flows may be combined in a proper ratio to provide a single representative gas stream.

Measurement system and method for quantitatively determining the

An improved method and apparatus is disclosed for use in a return line system of a drilling rig to determine a volumetric fluid flow rate and, therefore, to aid in detecting a kick in a well. The apparatus comprises an ultrasonic level sensor, an ultrasonic Doppler velocity sensor and a digital computer electrically coupled to the level sensor and the Doppler velocity sensor to determine the fluid flow regime in the return line system. The flow regime is determined by the programmed computer to accurately determine the volumetric fluid flow rate in the return line system in real time, during drilling operations.

Method and apparatus for measurement of fluid flow in a drilling rig

A device for detecting an interface between two fluids of differing electrical properties, said device having an electrical circuit comprising transmitting means for transmitting electrical impulses to said fluids, a detector of electrical impulses, and at least one probe which is adapted to extend into said fluids; said probe comprising an electrically conductive probe member and a grounded electrically conductive shield, the probe member being mounted within the shield and being spaced from the latter by an air core, the probe member adjacent its distal end portion, being sealed to the shield by a dielectric seal which prevents the ingress of said fluid into the space between the shield and the probe member.

Growing community of inventors

Houston, TX, United States of America

Klaus Joachim Zanker