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:
Mar. 12, 2002
Filed:
Mar. 31, 1999
Neal G. Skinner, Lewisville, TX (US);
Gerald Gardner, Richmond, TX (US);
Margaret Waid, Houston, TX (US);
Wallace R. Gardner, Houston, TX (US);
John Minear, Houston, TX (US);
Abstract
This invention provides a method and an apparatus for fiber optic tomographic analysis and imaging of fluids. This invention includes a method for providing information on downhole fluid flowing in a hydrocarbon well, utilizing at least one downhole tomograph chamber ( ). Light is introduced into the tomograph chamber ( ) by an optical fiber bundle ( ), and portions of the light are collected in other optical fiber bundles ( ). The collected portions of light are conveyed through the optical fiber bundles ( ) to a surface system ( ), where the light is detected to produce signals proportional to the portions of light to provide information on optical properties of downhole fluid flowing in the well. This invention allows the generation of two or three dimensional images of multiple phase flow in the wellbore and allows determination of production parameters of multiple zones on an individual zone basis.