Passive Micro-vessel and Sensor

• US 20140208841A1
• Filed: 04/03/2014
• Published: 07/31/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fluidion SAS
• Original Assignee: Fluidion SAS
• Inventors: Hausot, Andreas, Angelescu, Dan E.
• Granted Patent: US 9,869,613 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/152.24
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/028 Microscale sensors, e.g. electromechanical sensors [MEMS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1455 using optical sensors, e.g. spectral photometrical oximeters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1468 using chemical or electrochemical methods, e.g. by polarographic means A61B5/1486 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14735 comprising an immobilised reagent
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/155 Devices specially adapted for continuous or multiple sampling, e.g. at predetermined intervals devices loaded with multiple lancets simultaneously A61B5/15146
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14513 with secondary fluid driving or regulating the infusion
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14248 of the skin patch type
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14276 specially adapted for implantation
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/02 Determining slope or direction
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/0224 using seismic or acoustic means
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/11 using tracers; using radioactivity
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 49/081 with down-hole means for trapping a fluid sample E21B49/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/12 Dippers; Dredgers
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/1031 Sampling from special places
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/38 specially adapted for water-covered areas G01V1/28 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/3852 to the seabed
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/42 using generators in one well and receivers elsewhere or vice versa G01V1/52 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 15/00 Tags attached to, or associated with, an object, in order to enable detection of the object record carriers for use with machines having a detectable tag or marker G06K19/00

Abstract

An electrically passive device and method for in-situ acoustic emission, and/or releasing, sampling and/or measuring of a fluid or various material(s) is provided. The device may provide a robust timing mechanism to release, sample and/or perform measurements on a predefined schedule, and, in various embodiments, emits an acoustic signal sequence(s) that may be used for triangulation of the device position within, for example, a hydrocarbon reservoir or a living body.

Claims

1. A system for acquiring samples in a body of fluid, the system comprising:

a containment unit that is negatively buoyant relative to the body of fluid; and

a sampling array tethered to the containment unit, the sampling array including a plurality of sampling devices positioned along the array, for sampling the body of fluid at varying depths.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the sampling array includes a buoyancy device.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein one or more of the sampling devices is positively buoyant relative to the body of fluid.

4. The system according to claim 1, further including a latching mechanism for releasably holding the tethered sampling array in an initial position relative to the containment unit.

5. The system according to claim 4, further including a trigger mechanism that controls the latching mechanism to release the sampling array, wherein the sampling array, still tethered to the containment unit at a first end, ascends in the body of fluid.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein the containment unit includes a receiver for receiving a control signal selected from the group consisting of an acoustic signal and an optical signal, the trigger mechanism controlling the latching mechanism as a function of the control signal.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein the trigger mechanism checks at predefined times for receipt of the control signal, and if the control signal is not received after a period of time, the trigger mechanism controls the latching mechanism so as to release the sampling array, such that the sampling array, still tethered to the containment unit at the first end, ascends in the body of fluid.

8. The system according to claim 5, further including a surface buoyancy device configured to remain at the surface of the body of fluid, the surface buoyancy device including a transmitter/receiver device configured to receive a deployment signal, and upon receipt of the deployment signal, transmit a control signal to the trigger mechanism, causing the trigger mechanism to release the sampling array, such that the sampling array, still tethered to the containment unit at the first end, ascends in the body of fluid.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein upon each sampling device acquiring all their samples, the sampling array is configured to automatically release from its tether with the containment unit.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein the system further includes an installation/retrieval tether and the containment unit includes a latch mechanism for releasably connecting the tether.

11. The system according to claim 1, wherein the sampling array includes an accelerometer, a tiltmeter, a gyroscope, relative bearing device, an inclinometer, or a compass, or any combination thereof, for providing position information of the sampling array relative to the containment unit.

12. The system according to claim 11, further including a memory device for recording the positioning information.

13. The system according to claim 1, wherein the sampling array includes:

a Global Positioning System (GPS); and

a transmitter for transmitting GPS coordinates.

14. The system according to claim 1, wherein each sampling device includes one or more sampling mechanisms each having an electronically passive timing mechanism, each sampling mechanism configured to acquire a sample at a time determined by their associated electronically passive timing mechanism.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein each sampling mechanism further includes:

an isolated cavity that is initially inaccessible to an external fluid; and

a mechanical structure separating the isolated cavity from the exterior environment, wherein at the end of a timing interval the timing mechanism pierces the mechanical structure, bringing the isolated cavity in contact with the body of fluid.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein each sampling mechanism further includes a trigger mechanism for triggering each timing mechanism.

17. The system according to claim 15, wherein each timing mechanism is configured to be triggered upon deployment of the system in the body of fluid.

18. The system according to claim 15, wherein the tethered sampling array is held in an initial position relative to the containment unit, and wherein each timing mechanism is configured to be triggered upon release of the sampling array from its initial position relative to the containment unit.

19. The system according to claim 15, wherein each timing mechanism is configured to be triggered as a function of a control signal provided by the containment unit.

20. The system according to claim 1, further including a monitoring system for recording sample acquisition time of each acquired sample.

21. The system according to claim 20, wherein each sampling device includes a sample chamber for storing an acquired sample, and the monitoring system includes one of a optical sensor, a conductivity sensor, a temperature sensor, a force sensor, a deflection sensor, a chemical sensor, a biological sensor, a pressure sensor and a pressure switch, or a combination thereof.

22. The system according to claim 1, wherein each sampling device includes a sample chamber for storing an acquired sample, the sample chamber at least partially filled with a chemical reagent, an absorption medium, a biocide, a biological reagent, or a combination thereof.

23. The system according to claim 1, further including a secondary buoyancy device held in an undeployed position within or proximate the containment unit, the secondary buoyancy device configured upon activation to extend to the surface of the body of fluid via a tether attached to the containment unit, such that the tether can be retrieved on the surface along with the containment unit.

24. A method for acquiring samples in a body of fluid, the method comprising:

installing in the body of fluid a containment unit negatively buoyant relative to the body of fluid, a sampling array tethered to the containment unit, the sampling array including a plurality of sampling devices positioned along the array, for sampling the body of fluid at varying depths.

25. The method according to claim 24, wherein the sampling array includes a buoyancy device.

26. The method according to claim 24, wherein one or more of the sampling devices is positively buoyant relative to the body of fluid.

27. The method according to claim 24, wherein the sampling array is buoyant relative to the body of fluid, and the containment unit includes a latching mechanism for releasably holding the tethered sampling array in an initial position relative to the containment unit, the method further including controlling the latching mechanism so as to release the sampling array, such that the sampling array, still tethered to the containment unit at a first end, ascends in the body of fluid.

28. The method according to claim 27, wherein controlling the latching mechanism includes providing to the latching mechanism an acoustic signal, an electric signal, an optical signal, an electromagnetic signal, or a mechanical signal, or a combination thereof.

29. The method according to claim 28, wherein the containment unit includes a receiver for receiving a control signal selected from the group consisting of an acoustic signal and an optical signal, and wherein controlling the latching mechanism is based, at least in part, on receipt of the control signal by the receiver.

30. The method according to claim 29, further including:

checking, by the receiver at predefined times, for receipt of the control signal, and

if the control signal is not received by the receiver after a predetermined period of time, controlling the latching mechanism to release the sampling array, such that the sampling array, still tethered to the containment unit at the first end, ascends in the body of fluid.

31. The method according to claim 27, further comprising deploying a surface buoyancy device configured to remain at the surface of the body of fluid, the surface buoyancy device including a transmitter/receiver device, the containment unit including a receiver device, the method further including:

receiving at the transmitter/receiver device a trigger signal;

transmitting, by the transmitter/receiver device, a command signal to the containment unit upon receipt of the trigger signal; and

receiving, by the receiver device, the command signal, whereupon the latching mechanism is controlled to release the sampling array, such that the sampling array, still tethered to the containment unit at the first end, ascends in the body of fluid.

32. The method according to claim 24, further including, upon each sampling device acquiring all their samples, releasing the sampling array from its tether with the containment unit, such that the sampling array ascends to the surface.

33. The method according to claim 32, wherein the sampling array includes a Global Positioning System (GPS) and a transmitter, the method further including:

transmitting the GPS coordinates via the transmitter.

34. The method according to claim 24, further including determining position information of the sampling array relative to the containment unit.

35. The method according to claim 34, wherein determining position information of the sampling array relative to the containment unit includes using an accelerometer, a tiltmeter, a gyroscope, relative bearing device, an inclinometer, or a compass, or any combination thereof, so as to provide position information of each sampling device of the sampling array relative to the containment unit.

36. The method according to claim 34, further comprising storing the position information on a memory device.

37. The method according to claim 24, wherein each sampling device includes one or more sampling mechanisms each having an electronically passive timing mechanism, the method further including acquiring, by each sampling mechanism, a sample at a time determined, at least in part, by their associated electronically passive timing mechanism.

38. The method according to claim 37, wherein each sampling mechanism further includes:

an isolated cavity that is initially inaccessible to an external fluid; and

a mechanical structure separating the isolated cavity from the exterior environment,

the method further comprising, at the end of a timing interval determined by the timing mechanism, piercing the mechanical structure, bringing the isolated cavity in contact with the body of fluid.

39. The method according to claim 38, further including triggering each timing mechanism so as to start the timing interval.

40. The method according to claim 39, wherein each timing mechanism is configured to be triggered upon deployment of the system in the body of fluid.

41. The method according to claim 39, wherein the tethered sampling array is held in an initial position relative to the containment unit, wherein each timing mechanism is configured to be triggered upon release of the sampling array from its initial position relative to the containment unit.

42. The method according to claim 39, wherein each timing mechanism is configured to be triggered as a function of a control signal provided by the containment unit.

43. The method according to claim 24, further including:

determining sample acquisition time of each acquired sample; and

storing the determined sample acquisition times in a memory device.

44. The method according to claim 43, wherein each sampling device includes a sample chamber for storing an acquired sample, and wherein determining sample acquisition time of each sample includes using one of an optical sensor, a conductivity sensor, a temperature sensor, a force sensor, a deflection sensor, a chemical sensor, a biological sensor, a pressure sensor and a pressure switch, or a combination thereof.

45. The method according to claim 24, wherein each sampling device includes a sample chamber for storing an acquired sample, the sample chamber at least partially filled with a chemical reagent, an absorption medium, a biocide, a biological reagent, or a combination thereof.

46. The method according to claim 24, further including:

holding a secondary buoyancy device in an undeployed position within or proximate the containment unit;

releasing the secondary buoyancy device via a tether attached to the containment unit so that it reaches the surface of the body of fluid; and

retrieving the tether along with the undeployed containment unit.

47. The method according to claim 24, wherein installing the containment unit includes:

positioning the containment unit so that it rest at a predetermined position on the bottom floor of the body of fluid.

48. The method according to claim 47, wherein positioning the containment unit includes using one of a surface vessel or a remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV), or a combination thereof.

49. The method according to claim 47, wherein positioning the containment unit includes using a GPS system.