Pressure Volume Temperature System

• US 20160040533A1
• Filed: 02/10/2014
• Published: 02/11/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Original Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Inventors: Harrison, Christopher, Sullivan, Matthew T., Smythe, Elizabeth, Fukagawa, Shunsuke, Schroeder, Robert J
• Application Number:
  US14/653,272
• Publication Number:
  US 20160040533A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/06 Measuring temperature or pressure
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 49/081 with down-hole means for trapping a fluid sample E21B49/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 49/0875 determining specific fluid parameters
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 49/088 combined with sampling
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 49/10 using side-wall fluid samplers or testers

Abstract

A method and an apparatus for characterizing a fluid including a phase transition cell to receive the fluid, a piston to control fluid pressure, a pressure gauge to measure the fluid pressure and to provide information to control the piston, and connectors to connect the cell, piston, and gauge. The exterior volume of the phase transition cell, piston, gauge, and connectors is less than about 10 liters. A method and an apparatus to characterize a fluid including observing a fluid in an phase transition cell, measuring a pressure of the fluid, and adjusting a pressure control device in response to the measuring.

Claims

1. An apparatus for characterizing a fluid, comprising:

a phase transition cell to receive the fluid;

a piston to control pressure of the fluid;

a pressure gauge to measure the pressure of the fluid and to provide information to control the piston;

at least one measurement sensor to measure a property of the fluid; and

connectors to fluidly connect the cell, piston, and pressure gauge,

wherein the apparatus utilizes a total fluid volume of about 1.0 mL or less.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a membrane.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the membrane prevents particles with a dimension of 10 microns or greater to flow through the membrane.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the measurement sensor is selected from the group consisting of a densitometer and a viscometer.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one measurement sensor comprises a densitometer.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one measurement sensor comprises a viscometer.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a membrane, a densitometer, a viscometer, an inlet valve, and an exit valve.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the fluid flows through the membrane, then the inlet valve, then the phase transition cell, then the densitometer, then the viscometer, then the pressure gauge, then the piston, then the exit valve.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fluid has a total fluid volume of about 0.5 mL or less.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the connectors electrically isolate when forming a fluidic connection.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the connectors have a total internal volume of less than 1 mL.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the connectors comprises tubing.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the tubing has an internal diameter of about 1.0 mm or less.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein ends of the tubing comprise isolation components.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cell, piston, and pressure gauge have a fluid volume less than about 2 ml.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pressure gauge has a dead volume of less than 0.5 ml.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the volume of the apparatus is configured to fit in a wellbore.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a Peltier cooler.

20. A method to characterize a fluid, comprising:

observing a fluid in a phase transition cell;

measuring a pressure of the fluid in the cell; and

adjusting a pressure control device in response to the measuring,

wherein the external volume of the phase transition cell, piston, and gauge is less than 10 liters.

18. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the volume is contained in a cylindrical shaped housing with an inner diameter of 3.875 inches or less.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the depressurization or pressurization rate of the fluid is less than 200 psi/second.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the fluid is circulated through the system at a volumetric rate of no more than 1 ml/sec.

23. The method of claim 20, further comprising measuring a temperature.

24. The method of claim 20, further comprising adjusting the temperature.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein adjusting the temperature comprises increasing the fluid flow through the cell.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein adjusting the temperature comprises a Peltier cooler.