Apparatus for measurements related to fluid flow in a borehole

• US 5,052,220 A
• Filed: 10/17/1989
• Issued: 10/01/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (SLB)
• Original Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (SLB)
• Inventors: Piers, G. Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): MYRACLE, JERRY
• Application Number:
  US07/422,822
• Time in Patent Office: 714 Days
• Field of Search: 73/151, 73/155, 73/861.89, 73/861.92, 166/187, 166/264
• US Class Current: 73/152.36
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/126 with fluid-pressure-operated elastic cup or skirt E21B33/122, E21B33/124 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/127 with inflatable sleeve E21B33/122, E21B33/124 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/10 Locating fluid leaks, intrusions or movements
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/10 using rotating vanes with axial admission
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 15/00 Details of, or accessories for, apparatus of groups G01F1/00 - G01F13/00 insofar as such details or appliances are not adapted to particular types of such apparatus

Abstract

A logging tool for measuring the fluid flow rate in a well, comprises a measuring pipe provided with a flowmeter, a packer device designed to derive the whole fluid flow into the measuring pipe, and an obstacle disposed in the fluid flow path, at, or downstream of, the exit of the packer for increasing, through the fluid flow action, the pressure of the fluid located upstream of the packer. The obstacle is e.g. a valve responsive to flowing fluid pressure on one side and to a biasing spring on the other side. The packer includes, in its bottom end designed to seal with the casing wall, an anulus seal defining a tubular chamber able to be inflated under the sole fluid action the annulus seal being made by two circumferential parts, facing one another, and fixed along their upper and lower perimeters. The tubular chamber is in communication with the fluid flow and is adapted to expand radially upon the application of fluid pressure while being substantially longitudinally non-extensible.

Claims

1. A logging tool for carrying our measurements in a well related to the fluid therein, comprising:

a housing, including a measuring pipe provided with measuring means;

a packer means designed to derive the whole fluid flow into said measuring pipe; and

means for increasing, through the fluid flow action, the pressure of the fluid located substantially upstream of the packer means, wherein said packer means comprises funnel means including a wide end and a narrow end, and wherein the means for increasing pressure includes obstacle means disposed in the fluid flow path, at, or downstream of, the narrow end of said packer means.

2. The tool according to claim 1 wherein said obstacle means comprises a moving element responsive to flowing fluid pressure on one side and to biasing means on the other side.

3. The tool according to claim 2 wherein said biasing means comprises a compression spring.

4. The tool according to claim 2 wherein said moving element is a valve means.

5. The tool according to claim 4 wherein said valve means includes a valve seat and a valve piston slidably mounted along a fixed longitudinal rod.

6. The tool according to claim 5 wherein said valve piston is hollowed in its portion facing said valve seat.

7. The tool according to claim 6 wherein said measuring means comprises a flowmeter.

8. A logging tool for carrying out measurements in a borehole related to the fluid therein, comprising a measuring pipe provided with measuring means, and packer means designed to derive the whole fluid flow into said measuring pipe, wherein said packer means includes a wide end designed to seal with the borehole wall, and annulus sealing means able to be inflated under the fluid action and being disposed at the wide end.

9. The tool according to claim 8 wherein said packer means includes a cone-shaped bag, and said inflatable annulus sealing means comprises two circumferential parts, facing one another, and fixed along their upper and lower perimeters so as to define a tubular chamber in communication with the fluid flow and adapted to expand radially upon the application of fluid pressure while being substantially longitudinally non-extensible.

10. The tool according to claim 9 wherein said packer means is made of a flexible but substantially longitudinally non-extensible material, such as cloth, and the annulus sealing means comprises a circumferential piece fixed on the terminal part of said bag by its upper and lower perimeters, and adapted to expand upon the application of fluid pressure substantially in the radial direction.

11. The tool according to claim 10 wherein said circumferential piece is made of a flexible but substantially longitudinally non-extensible material, and is loosely fixed on said bag for allowing radial expansion.

12. The tool according to claim 9 wherein said tubular chamber communicates with the fluid flow by apertures provided in said packer means.

13. A logging tool for carrying out measurements in a well related to the fluid flow therein, comprising a body including a measuring pipe provided with measuring means, a packer means designed to derive the whole fluid flow into said measuring pipe, further comprising means for increasing, through the fluid flow action, the pressure of the fluid located substantially upstream of said packer means, and said packer means further including, in its bottom end designed to seal with the casing wall, an annulus sealing means able to be inflated under the fluid action.