| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|
| 20080282781 | Monitoring Particles in a Fluid Stream - There is described an apparatus for monitoring particles in a fluid stream, comprising a body portion and a detector element that is acoustically decoupled from the body portion. The detector element comprises a target surface, a sample acoustic sensor and a corrosion sensor. The sample acoustic sensor is acoustically coupled to the target surface and is arranged to provide a first signal, which varies in dependence upon acoustic noise generated by impacts of particles and fluid on the target surface. The corrosion sensor is arranged to provide a second signal, which varies in dependence upon corrosion and/or erosion of the target surface. A corresponding method of monitoring particles in a fluid stream is also described. The method and apparatus are suitable for monitoring sand in oil and gas production flow streams. | 11-20-2008 |
| 20100326654 | MONITORING DOWNHOLE PRODUCTION FLOW IN AN OIL OR GAS WELL - An apparatus monitors a production flow from a gravel pack into a tubular sand screen disposed concentrically around downhole production tubing in an oil or gas well. A tubular sample layer is disposed concentrically around the sand screen to be exposed to the radial production flow in use. The sample layer is electrically insulated from the production tubing in use. An erosion sensor provides a signal which varies in dependence upon an electrical resistance of the sample layer, which is related to the erosion of the sample layer. An apparatus also monitors a substantially longitudinal production flow through downhole production tubing in an oil or gas well. A method and apparatus are used to monitor the condition of a gravel pack within an oil or gas well. Other methods monitor temperature or pressure conditions within an oil or gas well. | 12-30-2010 |
| 20140354307 | MONITORING A CONDUCTIVE FLUID CONDUIT - There is described an apparatus for monitoring a conductive fluid conduit arranged to carry a fluid stream. The apparatus comprises a power supply, a plurality of electrical contact points connected to the fluid conduit, a voltage measurement device, and a processor. The power supply has a reference mode of operation and a sample mode of operation. In the reference mode of operation the power supply is operable to supply an alternating electric current through the fluid conduit at a high frequency such that the current is confined near the surface of the fluid conduit due to the skin effect. In the sample mode of operation the power supply is operable to supply an electric current through a full thickness of the fluid conduit. The voltage measurement device is operable to measure the voltage between pairs of said electrical contact points so as to obtain reference values of electrical resistance of the fluid conduit when the power supply is in the reference mode of operation and so as to obtain sample values of electrical resistance of the fluid conduit when the power supply is in the sample mode of operation. The processor is operable to modify the sample values of electrical resistance based on the corresponding reference values of electrical resistance so as to compensate for temperature variations. | 12-04-2014 |
| 20150177033 | APPARATUS FOR CHARACTERISING A FLOW THROUGH A CONDUIT - There is described an apparatus for characterising a flow through a conduit. The apparatus comprises a body portion, and first and second sensors. The body portion has a longitudinal axis extending between first and second body portion ends. The cross-sectional area of the body portion varies along the longitudinal axis. In use, the body portion is arranged to be disposed substantially longitudinally within the conduit with the first body portion end disposed upstream of the second body portion end. The first sensor is disposed at or near the first body portion end. The second sensor is longitudinally spaced from the first sensor. The body portion has a larger cross-sectional area at the second sensor than at the first sensor such that, in use, the second sensor experiences an accelerated flow as compared to the first sensor. The first and second sensors are operable to sense a common variable, thereby enabling the effects of accelerated flow on the common variable to be characterised. | 06-25-2015 |
| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|
| 20150151960 | SENSOR PROBE AND RELATED SYSTEMS AND METHODS - The invention provides a sensor probe which has: one or more microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) sensors configured to sense one or more parameters and a communication bus in electrical communication therewith. The one or more sensors and communication bus are disposed on a substrate. The sensor probe includes a digital storage module in which a unique probe identifier is stored and which is in electrical communication with the communication bus. The probe includes, a cable, a first end of which is in electrical communication with the communication bus and a second end of which is in electrical communication with a remote monitoring unit. The cable is configured to provide electrical power received from the remote monitoring unit to the one or more sensors, via the communication bus, and to communicate data received from the one or more sensors, via the communication bus, to the remote monitoring unit. | 06-04-2015 |
| 20150156089 | DATA COMMUNICATION INTERFACE - Embodiments of the invention provide a data communication interface which includes a controller module, a switching module and a data port. The controller module is operable to monitor a status of a power line of the data port and, if the power line has a first status, to transmit a first communication mode instruction to the switching module. If the power line has a second status, the controller module is configured to transmit a second communication mode instruction to the switching module. The switching module is configured to receive a communication mode instruction from the controller module and, if the first communication mode instruction is received, to route data communication lines corresponding to a first communication protocol to the data port. If the second communication mode instruction is received, the switching module is configured to route data communication lines corresponding to a second communication protocol to the data port. | 06-04-2015 |
