OPTO-ACOUSTIC FLOWMETER FOR USE IN SUBTERRANEAN WELLS

• US 20170205260A1
• Filed: 08/20/2014
• Published: 07/20/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Original Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Inventors: JAASKELAINEN, Mikko, RANJAN, Priyesh, KALIA, Nitika
• Granted Patent: US 10,365,136 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 2200/06 Sleeve valves
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 34/06 in wells
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/168 Injecting a gaseous medium
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/20 Displacing by water
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/2406 Steam assisted gravity drainage [SAGD]
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/107 using acoustic means
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/66 by measuring frequency, phase shift or propagation time of electromagnetic or other waves, e.g. using ultrasonic flowmeters
• CPC Class Codes: G01H 9/004 using fibre optic sensors light guides per se G02B6/00, acousto-optical devices specially adapted for gating or modulating in optical wave guides G02F1/125

Abstract

An opto-acoustic flowmeter can include an optical waveguide and an emitter that emits acoustic energy in response to flow, the acoustic energy comprising a flow rate dependent parameter. A flow rate measuring method can include configuring an emitter so that flow into or out of a tubular string causes the emitter to emit acoustic energy, arranging an optical line so that the acoustic energy is received by an optical waveguide of the optical line, and detecting optical scatter in the optical waveguide. A well system can include multiple locations where fluid is flowed between an earth formation and a tubular string in a wellbore, multiple emitters that produce an acoustic vibration corresponding to a flow rate of the fluid, an optical line that receives the vibrations, and an optical interrogator that detects optical scatter in an optical waveguide of the line, the scatter being indicative of the vibrations.

Claims

1. An opto-acoustic flowmeter, comprising:

an optical waveguide; and

an acoustic emitter that emits acoustic energy in response to flow, and wherein the acoustic energy comprises at least one parameter that is flow rate dependent.

2. The flowmeter of claim 1, wherein the parameter is a frequency of an acoustic vibration.

3. The flowmeter of claim 1, wherein the parameter is an amplitude of an acoustic vibration.

4. The flowmeter of claim 1, wherein the optical waveguide is connected to an optical interrogator that detects optical scatter in the waveguide.

5. The flowmeter of claim 1, wherein the acoustic emitter includes multiple chambers, the chambers having different lengths.

6. The flowmeter of claim 1, wherein the optical waveguide is included in an optical line in contact with the acoustic emitter.

7. The flowmeter of claim 1, wherein the acoustic emitter is incorporated into a flow control device.

8. A method of measuring flow rate in a subterranean well, the method comprising:

configuring an acoustic emitter, wherein flow between an interior and an exterior of a tubular string causes the acoustic emitter to emit acoustic energy;

arranging an optical line, wherein the acoustic energy emitted by the acoustic emitter is received by an optical waveguide of the optical line; and

detecting optical scatter in the optical waveguide.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the arranging further comprises extending the optical line along a wellbore.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the arranging further comprises attaching the optical line to the tubular string.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the configuring further comprises providing multiple chambers in the acoustic emitter.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the configuring further comprises incorporating the acoustic emitter into a flow control device.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the configuring further comprises positioning the acoustic emitter so that the flow passes through the acoustic emitter.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein a parameter of the acoustic energy varies in response to a change in the flow rate.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the parameter is selected from the group consisting of frequency and amplitude.

16. A well system, comprising:

multiple locations where fluid is flowed between an earth formation and a tubular string in a wellbore that penetrates the formation;

multiple acoustic emitters, wherein each of the acoustic emitters produces an acoustic vibration corresponding to a flow rate of the fluid at a corresponding one of the locations;

an optical line that receives the acoustic vibrations from the acoustic emitters; and

an optical interrogator that detects optical scatter in an optical waveguide of the optical line, the optical scatter being indicative of the acoustic vibrations produced by the acoustic emitters.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein each of the acoustic emitters includes multiple chambers, the chambers having different lengths.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein each of the acoustic emitters is incorporated into a respective flow control device.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the acoustic vibrations comprise at least one parameter that is flow rate dependent.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the parameter is selected from the group consisting of frequency and amplitude.