FLUID LEVEL SENSOR
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Abstract
A sensor used to determine the height of one or more fluids in a fluid column and to determine a location of an interface or boundary between a plurality of fluids in a fluid column is disclosed. The sensor includes a plurality of sensing elements comprising a capacitor and other components, such as resistors and inductors. The sensor also includes an oscillator that alters a frequency of an electrical current applied to the sensor, from which the dielectric constant of the fluid in which each sensing element is disposed can be determined. Methods of using such a sensor to determine the relative heights of various fluids in a fluid column are disclosed. In particular, methods of using embodiments of the invention in a well, such as water and petroleum wells, are described.
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Citations
56 Claims
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1-37. -37. (canceled)
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38. A sensor system configured to measure an electrical characteristic of a first fluid and a second fluid of a plurality of fluids in a well bore, said sensor system comprising:
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an electrical power supply coupled to and configured to supply electrical power having a voltage and a current alternating at a frequency to the sensor system; at least one sensing element connected to said electrical power supply to receive electrical power therefrom, the sensing element including an inner conductive element, a dielectric fixed to and at least partially covering the inner conductive element, and an outer conductive element spaced apart from the dialectic such that the dielectric and the outer conductive element are configured to define a volume, the at least one sensing element further including at least one opening for two of the plurality of fluids to communicate with the volume therein; and
,a processor electrically coupled to the power supply and the at least one sensing element, the processor being configured to generate an interface signal representative of a location of an interface between the first fluid and the second fluid. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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51. A sensor system configured to measure an electrical characteristic of a first fluid and a second fluid of a plurality of fluids in a well bore, said sensor system comprising:
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an electrical power supply coupled to and configured to supply electrical power having a voltage and a current alternating at a frequency to the sensor system; a frequency modulator coupled to the electrical power supply and configured to modulate the frequency of the current supplied by the electrical power supply; at least one sensing element connected to said electrical power supply to receive electrical power therefrom, the sensing element including an inner conductive element, a dielectric fixed to and at least partially covering the inner conductive element, and an outer conductive element, the at least one sensing element further including at least one opening for two of the plurality of fluids to communicate with the volume therein; and
,a processor electrically coupled to the power supply, the frequency modulator and the at least one sensing element, the processor being configured to generate an interface signal representative of a location of an interface between the first fluid and the second fluid. - View Dependent Claims (52, 53)
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54. A sensor system configured to measure an electrical characteristic of a first fluid and a second fluid of a plurality of fluids in a well bore, said sensor system comprising:
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an electrical power supply coupled to and configured to supply electrical power having a voltage and a current alternating at a frequency to the sensor system; an analog-to-digital converter electrically configured to convert an analog signal representative of the an electrical characteristic of the first fluid to a digital signal representative of the an electrical characteristic of the first fluid; at least one sensing element connected to said electrical power supply to receive electrical power therefrom, the sensing element including an inner conductive element, a dielectric fixed to and at least partially covering the inner conductive element, and an outer conductive element, the at least one sensing element further including at least one opening for two of the plurality of fluids to communicate with the volume therein, said at least one sensing element being configured to generate the analog signal and connected to supply the analog signal to the analog-to-digital converter; and
,a processor electrically coupled to the power supply, and the at least one sensing element, the processor being configured to generate an interface signal representative of a location of an interface between the first fluid and the second fluid. - View Dependent Claims (55, 56)
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Specification