Methods and apparatus for making chemical concentration measurements in a sub-surface exploration probe
First Claim
1. A sub-surface exploration probe for making repeated concentration measurements of a chemical occurring in a sub-surface fluid, the probe comprising:
- a probe housing having a surface which is exposed to the sub-surface fluid;
a chemical detection chamber for containing a solvent in which the chemical is soluble;
a filter having a first side positioned to contact the sub-surface fluid, the filter having a second side positioned to contact solvent within the housing, the filter allowing the chemical to permeate from the sub-surface fluid into solvent within the housing;
a radiant energy source positioned relative to the chemical detection chamber to direct radiant energy into the chemical detection chamber; and
a sensor apparatus positioned relative to the chemical detection chamber to measure radiant energy within the chemical detection chamber and thereby determine solvent chemical concentration.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An in-hole oil-drilling probe is mountable in a drill string to measure hydrocarbon concentrations in drilling fluid flowing around the drill string. The probe consists of a drill collar which is mountable in the drill string. A solvent, in which hydrocarbons are soluble, circulates within the drill collar through a hydrocarbon detection chamber. A membrane in the drill collar has an outer surface positioned to contact flowing drilling fluid and an inner surface positioned to contact circulating solvent within the drill collar. The membrane allows hydrocarbons to permeate from the drilling fluid into the solvent and into the hydrocarbon detection chamber with the solvent. A radiant energy source directs radiant ultra-violet energy into the hydrocarbon detection chamber. A sensor apparatus measures fluorescent energy radiating from the hydrocarbon detection chamber to determine solvent hydrocarbon concentration. The sensor apparatus preferably comprises a pair of sensors which are responsive to two different energy wavelengths, respectively, to discriminate from hydrocarbons originating from sub-surface fluids and hydrocarbons (primarily diesel oil) originating from drilling fluid.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A sub-surface exploration probe for making repeated concentration measurements of a chemical occurring in a sub-surface fluid, the probe comprising:
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a probe housing having a surface which is exposed to the sub-surface fluid; a chemical detection chamber for containing a solvent in which the chemical is soluble; a filter having a first side positioned to contact the sub-surface fluid, the filter having a second side positioned to contact solvent within the housing, the filter allowing the chemical to permeate from the sub-surface fluid into solvent within the housing; a radiant energy source positioned relative to the chemical detection chamber to direct radiant energy into the chemical detection chamber; and a sensor apparatus positioned relative to the chemical detection chamber to measure radiant energy within the chemical detection chamber and thereby determine solvent chemical concentration. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A sub-surface exploration probe for making repeated concentration measurements of a chemical occurring in a sub-surface fluid, the probe comprising:
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a probe housing having a surface which is exposed to the sub-surface fluid; a chemical detection chamber for containing a solvent in which the chemical is soluble; a membrane having a first surface positioned to contact the sub-surface fluid, the membrane having a second surface positioned to contact solvent within the housing, the membrane comprising a material which allows the chemical to permeate from the sub-surface fluid into solvent within the housing; a solvent pump to circulate solvent along the second surface of the membrane and through the chemical detection chamber; a radiant energy source positioned relative to the chemical detection chamber to direct radiant energy into the chemical detection chamber; and a sensor apparatus positioned relative to the chemical detection chamber to measure radiant energy within the chemical detection chamber and thereby determine solvent chemical concentration. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An in-hole oil-drilling probe which is mountable in a drill string to measure hydrocarbon concentrations in drilling fluid flowing around the drill string, the in-hole probe comprising:
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a drill collar which is mountable in the drill string, the drill collar having an outer surface which is exposed to the drilling fluid during drilling; a hydrocarbon detection chamber within the drill collar for containing a solvent in which the hydrocarbon is soluble; a membrane having an outer surface positioned to contact flowing drilling fluid, the membrane having an inner surface positioned to contact solvent within the drill collar, the membrane comprising a material which allows hydrocarbons to permeate from the drilling fluid into solvent within the drill collar; a solvent pump within the drill collar to circulate solvent along the inner surface of the membrane and through the hydrocarbon detection chamber; a radiant energy source positioned relative the hydrocarbon detection chamber to direct radiant energy into the hydrocarbon detection chamber; and a sensor apparatus positioned relative the hydrocarbon detection chamber to measure radiant energy from the hydrocarbon detection chamber and thereby determine solvent hydrocarbon concentration. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method of measuring hydrocarbon concentrations in oil drilling fluid, the oil drilling fluid flowing around a drill collar which is mountable in a drill string, the method comprising:
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contacting drilling fluid with a solvent within the drill collar to dissolve hydrocarbons from the drilling fluid into the solvent; passing the solvent through a hydrocarbon detection chamber; transmitting radiant energy into the solvent within the hydrocarbon detection chamber; measuring radiant energy emanating from the solvent within the hydrocarbon detection chamber; and determining drilling fluid hydrocarbon concentration based on the measured radiant energy from the solvent. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification