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Fluid density from downhole optical measurements

  • US 9,243,493 B2
  • Filed: 05/03/2013
  • Issued: 01/26/2016
  • Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2008
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. An apparatus, comprising:

  • a main fluid flowline positioned within a housing;

    a circulating fluid flowline positioned within the housing;

    a multi-port valve positioned within the housing and coupling the main fluid flowline and the circulating fluid flowline, wherein the multi-port valve is configured to move between a first position that places the main fluid flowline and the circulating fluid flowline in fluid communication, and a second position that isolates the circulating fluid flowline from the main fluid flowline;

    a downhole analysis module positioned within the housing and having a pressure and volume control unit (PVCU) controlled by a motive force producer, a density-viscosity sensor, a circulating pump, an optical sensor, and a pressure/temperature sensor, wherein each of the PVCU, density-viscosity sensor, circulating pump, optical sensor, and pressure/temperature sensor are coupled to the circulating fluid flowline; and

    a control module positioned within the housing and having a communications interface coupled to the multi-port valve and the analysis module, a processor coupled to the communications interface, and a memory coupled to the processor, wherein the memory comprises a plurality of instructions executable by the processor, the instructions including instructions for;

    manipulating the multi-port valve to the first position to allow a fluid sample to move from the main fluid flowline to the circulating fluid flowline and then manipulating the valve to the second position to isolate the circulating fluid flowline from the main fluid flowline;

    setting a pressure of a fluid sample in the isolated fluid circulation loop to a starting pressure using the PVCU;

    altering the pressure of the fluid sample in the fluid circulation loop for a first time period until a first stopping threshold is reached using the PVCU;

    measuring a plurality of density-viscosity values and a plurality of optical values of the fluid sample using the density-viscosity sensor and the optical sensor, respectively, while the pressure of the fluid sample is being altered and while the circulating pump is not activated; and

    correlating the plurality of density-viscosity values and the optical values.

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