Chevron U.s.a. Inc.

Silixa Limited

Other

Roy Lester Kutlik

Mahmoud Farhadiroushan

Daniel Finfer

Huping Luo

Tom Richard Parker

Yousif Kamil

John Redvers Clowes

Malcolm Paul Varnham

Charles M Crawley

Charles Milton Crawley

Steve M Moca

Erhard L E Kluth

A method and apparatus for monitoring a structure using an optical fiber based distributed acoustic sensor (DAS) extending along the length of the structure. The DAS is able to resolve a separate acoustic signal with a spatial resolution of 1 m along the length of the fibre, and hence is able to operate with an acoustic positioning system to determine the position of the riser with the same spatial resolution. In addition, the fiber can at the same time also detect much lower frequency mechanical vibrations in the riser, for example such as resonant mode vibrations induced by movement in the surrounding medium. By using vibration detection in combination with acoustic positioning then overall structure shape monitoring can be undertaken, which is useful for vortex induced vibration (VIV) visualisation, fatigue analysis, and a variety of other advanced purposes. The structure may be a sub-sea riser.

Structure monitoring

Exemplary embodiments include an apparatus for imaging a volume of material contained inside a vessel. The apparatus includes a plurality of synchronized acoustic sensors positioned at a periphery of an inner volume of the vessel. A processor combines the outputs of the acoustic sensors to identify at least one ambient noise source of the industrial process generating a noise field that illuminates an internal volume of the vessel and to provide an image of the material by temporal and spatial coherent processing of the transmission and reflection of the noise field generated by the noise source.

Industrial process monitoring and imaging

A method and apparatus are useful for determining the flowrate of fluid flowing within a passage. The method comprises the step of measuring the equilibrium temperature of a location of interest within or proximate to the passage within which fluid flows. The temperature of the location of interest is perturbed to a second temperature, and the temperature of the location of interest is then allowed to return to its equilibrium temperature. The temperature of the location of interest is monitored as it transitions between the second temperature and the equilibrium temperature. The monitored temperature transition is then used to determine the flowrate of the fluid flowing within the passage.

Fluid flowrate determination

Apparatus and methods for sensing one or more physical parameters at a remote location while minimizing or eliminating contact between reservoir fluids and the like at the remote location and the sensor used to sense the physical parameters. In one example arrangement, the apparatus includes a tubing containing a communication cable and a sensor in communication with the cable, the sensor being located within the tubing proximate the remote location. The apparatus is configured to impose a barrier of a fluid between the sensor and the environment at the remote location. A fluid barrier reservoir containing the barrier fluid is also provided in some example arrangements.

Apparatus and method for enhancing remote sensor performance and utility

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San Ramon, CA, United States of America

Roy Lester Kutlik