Other

Cidra Corporation

Pruett Industries, Inc.

Phillip E Pruett

Arthur D Hay

Alan D Kersey

Robert J Maron

Guy A Daigle

Mitchell Findlay

Mark R Fernald

Michael A Davis

Timothy J Bailey

James R Dunphy

Jian-Qun Wu

Allen R Davis

F Kevin Didden

Kevin F Didden

Douglas W Pruett

A quartz sensing system includes a quartz sensor, an electromechanical converter, an optical source, an optical fiber and a signal processor. The quartz sensor responds to a pressure, and further responds to an electrical power signal, for providing a quartz sensor electrical signal containing information about the pressure. The electromechanical converter responds to the quartz sensor signal, for providing an electromechanical converter force containing information about the sensed voltage or current signal. The optical source for provides an optical source signal. The optical fiber responds to the electromechanical converter force, for changing an optical parameter or characteristic of the optical source signal depending on the change in length of the optical fiber and providing an electromechanical converter optical signal containing information about the electromechanical converter force. The signal processor responds to the electromechanical converter optical signal, for providing a signal processor signal containing information about the pressure. In one embodiment, the electromechanical converter includes a piezoelectric or magnetostrictive transducer that responds to the quartz sensor signal, for providing an piezoelectric or magnetostrictive transducer force containing information about the quartz sensor signal. In another embodiment, the electromechanical converter includes an acoustic transducer and a piezoelectric or magnetostrictive transducer. The acoustic transducer responds to the quartz sensor signal, for providing an acoustic transducer wave containing information about the quartz sensor signal. The piezoelectric or magnetostrictive transducer responds to the acoustic transducer wave, for providing a piezoelectric or magnetostrictive transducer force containing information about the acoustic transducer wave.

Sensing systems using quartz sensors and fiber optics

A fiber optic Bragg grating pressure sensor particularly suited for measuring ambient pressure of a fluid includes a pressuring detecting device,such as a glass element whose elastic deformation is proportional to applied pressure. An optical fiber,with an integral first grating,is wrapped at least once around the device and has at least a portion of its length fused to the device,such that elastic deformation of the device,generates a corresponding axial strain in the fiber,and/or the grating,and thus a corresponding change of the fiber length and/or characteristic reflectance wavelength of the grating,. A second grating,may be formed near the pressure detecting device,so as to sense ambient temperature but not be affected by deformation of the device,for temperature compensation. Also, the fiber,may have more than one grating or be doped at least between a pair of gratings,, to form a fiber laser or a DFB fiber laser which lasing wavelength changes with changing pressure.

Fiber optic bragg grating pressure sensor

A reversible spray nozzle for use in a fluid dispersing system which consists of a nozzle portion defining a cylindrical channel therewithin, the nozzle portion having opposing ends, the opposing ends threaded for communicating with the fluid dispersing system, the cylindrical channel extending the length of the nozzle portion, the cylindrical channel for receiving a cylindrical flow tube; and the flow tube defining a delivery channel, the delivery channel extending the length of the flow tube, the delivery channel for providing a flow path for a fluid. The spray nozzle can be configured such that the flow tube is slideably disposed within the nozzle portion, and where the length of the flow tube is less than half of the length of the cylindrical channel of the nozzle portion.

Reversible spray nozzle

The present invention describes a method and apparatus for inserting a cable, in a duct, tube, or other hollow, elongated structure which can be sealed at the point of insertion of the cable to create a pressure housing. The invention comprises positioning a tube in the well, positioning a source of cable adjacent the well, and inserting the cable through a pressure housing into the tubing by means of polymer foam mixture under pressure. A mechanical force may be employed on the fiber optic to overcome any resistance created by the lubrication fitting at the pressure housing. The foam is in the form of a concentrate, which, when mixed with a liquid source and air, expands significantly when injected into the capillary. Due to such expansion, the foam adheres to the surface of the cable, creating a viscous drag against the cable in the direction of pressure flow.

Method for inserting a cable in a duct

Lengths of coiled tubing have sensor carrier elements mounted therebetween such that a plurality of sensor carrier elements are positioned along a length of coiled tubing. Each sensor carrier element carriers a sensor implemented with one or more intrinsic fiber optic sensor elements positioned therein for measuring one or more parameters in an environment. The intrinsic fiber optic sensor elements are multiplexed on one or more optical fibers along the length of the coiled tubing thereby forming a length of coiled tubing having a plurality of spaced apart sensors. The optical fiber or fibers positioned along the length of the coiled tubing are positioned in a fiber carrier which protects the fiber or fibers from the harsh environment. The fiber carrier may be interconnected to each of the sensors to isolate the fibers from the harsh environment. Each sensor carrier element provides the desired transmission of environmental conditions to the sensor carried therein, such as fluid communication, heat transmission, acoustic signal transmission, etc., such that the sensor contained in the sensor carrier element is responsive to a parameter of interest. A plurality of sensors may be serially connected to one another for distributed sensing of one or more parameters at multiple locations along the length of the coiled tubing. The sensor carrier elements are interconnected to the coiled tubing to provide a reliable and secure seal therebetween. The sensor carrier elements are configured to maintain the structural integrity of the coiled tubing while at the same time carrying a sensor implemented with an intrinsic fiber optic sensor element. The sensor carrier elements may be interconnected to the coiled tubing by press fit engagement, welding, fusion, and/or any other suitable method for providing a secure connection between the coiled tubing and the sensor carrier elements.

Coiled tubing sensor system for delivery of distributed multiplexed

A cable for recording conditions in a well bore, the cable including a tube having a generally smooth outer surface and an inner surface defining an elongated, uninterrupted opening extending throughout the length of the tube, at least one fiber optic, disposed within the opening of the tube, the fiber optic extending the length of the tube, an electrical conductor disposed within the opening of the tube, the electrical conductor extending the length of the tube, and insulating material disposed within the tube, the insulating material encapsulating the fiber optic and electrical conductor so as to form a core, wherein the core is of substantially smaller diameter than the opening to permit thermal expansion of the fiber optic, the conductor and the insulating material. The size of the tube and the core may be selected such that there is an annulus between the inside surface of the tube and the outside surface of the core, the annulus providing a flowpath extending the length of the tube.

Smooth surfaced fiber optic logging cable for well bores

A Bourdon tube pressure gauge is mounted for sensing the pressure of a system. The Bourdon tube is connected to at least one optical strain sensor mounted to be strained by movement of the Bourdon tube such that when the Bourdon tube is exposed to the pressure of the system, movement of the tube in response to system pressure causes a strain in the optical sensor. The optical sensor is responsive to the strain and to an input optical signal for providing a strain optical signal which is directly proportional to the pressure. A reference or temperature compensation optical sensor is isolated from the strain associated with the pressure of the system and is responsive to temperature of the system for causing a temperature-induced strain. The reference optical sensor is responsive to the temperature induced strain and the input optical signal for providing a temperature optical signal which is directly proportional to the temperature of the system. The temperature optical signal is provided for temperature compensation of the strain optical signal. The optical sensors include an optical fiber having intrinsic Bragg grating sensors formed in the optical fiber. The optical fiber is attached to a reference point and to the Bourdon tube such that changes in the position of the tube changes the strain on the optical fiber resulting in a wavelength shift of light reflected by the Bragg grating. The magnitude of the wavelength shift is directly proportional to a change in pressure.

Bourdon tube pressure gauge with integral optical strain sensors for

The present invention generally pertains to apparatus and a method for continuously injecting a tracer in a borehole to thereby enable continuously measuring the flow of effluents in the borehole, i.e. either in an injection well or production well, of an oil, gas or geothermal field. The apparatus and method comprises positioning capillary tubing within the borehole, the tubing having a flowpath extending continuously from the surface to a desired depth, the capillary tubing having at least one sensor suspended in the borehole at the desired depth, injecting a tracer element into the tube from a pressurized source at the surface, releasing the tracer element at the desired depth and detecting the presence of the tracer.

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Bakersfield, CA, United States of America

Phillip E Pruett