The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 07, 1998
Filed:
Dec. 11, 1996
Adam Bednarczyk, Carrollton, TX (US);
Robert E Maute, Richardson, TX (US);
Laird B Thompson, Dallas, TX (US);
Mobil Oil Corporation, Fairfax, VA (US);
Abstract
A method and apparatus is disclosed to identify fluid hydrocarbon flow rates in a flow line such as a pipeline or a producing oil well having a unidirectional fluid flow including moving an acoustic tool through a flow line. Acoustic energy is transmitted into the fluid flow. The acoustic energy is then received when it is reflected back by interfaces within the fluid flow. The reflected acoustic energy is transformed into electrical signals. The electrical signals are rectified. The amplitude peaks of the rectified electrical signals are determined. The travel times of the amplitude peaks are also determined. The amplitude peaks and the time values are used to determine hydrocarbon gas and the hydrocarbon liquid in the hydrocarbon fluid flow in the oil well. A transducer within the acoustic tool rotates three hundred sixty degrees six times per second. This enables us to obtain holdup and velocities for the total flow around the tool even in non ideal operating conditions such as deviated wells.