IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,100,689
Granted Patent B2
US 7,100,689 · App. 10/745,391 · Granted Sep 5, 2006

Sensor apparatus and method of using same

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,100,689
App. No.
10/745,391
Granted
Sep 5, 2006
Kind
B2
Abstract

The invention relates to a system and method for sensing the characteristics of a fluid in a sub-surface formation. In one embodiment, the invention relates to a sensor apparatus for sensing a chemical in a vapor emitted by a sub-surface fluid sample. In various configurations, the apparatus senses the presence and/or percentage of water, the presence of a gas, an oil/gas ratio, an aliphatic/aromatic hydrocarbon ratio, and/or the presence of corrosive or poisonous chemicals.

Claims (57)

1. An apparatus for sensing a chemical in a sub-surface fluid, comprising:

a chamber;

a first inlet disposed on the chamber for passing a sub-surface fluid sample into the chamber; and

at least one sensor disposed within the chamber and isolated from the first inlet and the sub-surface fluid sample, the sensor being capable of sensing a chemical in a vapor emitted by the sub-surface fluid sample, wherein the first inlet comprises a rotatable wheel, the wheel comprising at least one blade sealing against a surface of the inlet to isolate the sensor from the inlet.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising an outlet disposed on the chamber.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the outlet comprises a check valve.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a second inlet disposed on the chamber for passing a purging fluid into the chamber.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the purging fluid is a gas.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the gas is nitrogen.

7. The apparatus of claim 4 , further comprising a gas source in fluid communication with the second inlet.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises at least one of a hydrocarbon sensor, a water sensor, a pH sensor, and a hydrogen sulfide sensor.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a fluid level sensor disposed within the chamber.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a power source for rotating the wheel.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first inlet comprises a valve.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising at least one sensor disposed outside the chamber.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the sensor disposed outside the chamber is selected from the group consisting of a temperature sensor, a pressure sensor, an ion specific electrode, a conductivity sensor, and an acoustic sensor.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a processor for processing data collected by the sensor.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 , further comprising a transmitter for sending the data from the apparatus to a receiver.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is configured to be disposed within a wellbore.

17. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the sub-surface fluid sample comprises at least one member of the group consisting of gas, oil, and water and the sensor is capable of sensing a vapor therefrom.

18. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the sub-surface fluid sample comprises crude oil and the sensor is capable of sensing a vapor therefrom.

19. A method for sensing a chemical in a sub-surface fluid, comprising the steps of:

receiving a sub-surface fluid sample into a sensor apparatus disposed within a sub-surface formation;

sensing a chemical in a vapor emitted by the fluid sample within the apparatus; and

in response to the sensed chemical, sending a signal to a receiver disposed outside the formation, wherein the fluid sample is passed through an inlet disposed on the apparatus, the inlet comprising a rotatable wheel, the wheel comprising at least one blade sealing against a surface of the inlet to isolate an interior of the sensing apparatus from the inlet.

20. The method of claim 19 , further comprising the step of volatilizing the sub-surface fluid sample.

21. The method of claim 19 , wherein the sub-surface fluid sample comprises at least one member of the group consisting of gas, oil, and water.

22. The method of claim 19 , wherein the sub-surface fluid sample comprises crude oil.

23. The method of claim 19 , wherein the chemical comprises at least one of a hydrocarbon, hydrogen sulfide, and water.

24. The method of claim 19 , further comprising the step of purging the apparatus.

25. The method of claim 19 , further comprising the step of processing the signal before sending the signal to the receiver.

26. The method of claim 19 , wherein the wheel is rotated by a power source.

27. The method of claim 19 , wherein the wheel is rotated by the flow of the sub-surface fluid over the wheel.

28. The method of claim 19 , wherein the sensor apparatus is adapted to be disposed on a drill string within a wellbore.

29. The method of claim 19 , wherein the sensor apparatus is adapted to be disposed on a drill casing within a wellbore.

30. The method of claim 19 , further comprising the step of modulating the pressure within the sensor apparatus.

31. The method of claim 30 , wherein the step of modulating the pressure comprises adding a purging fluid to the sensor apparatus.

32. The method of claim 31 , wherein the fluid is a gas.

33. The method of claim 32 , wherein the gas is nitrogen.

34. The method of claim 19 , further comprising the steps of providing a sensor to perform the sensing step and isolating the sub-surface fluid from the sensor.

35. A system for sensing a chemical in a sub-surface fluid, comprising:

a drill string; and

an apparatus disposed on the drill string for sensing a chemical in a sub-surface fluid, the apparatus comprising:

a chamber;

a first inlet disposed on the chamber for passing a fluid sample into the chamber; and

at least one sensor disposed within the chamber and isolated from the first inlet and the fluid sample, the sensor being capable of sensing a chemical in a vapor emitted by the fluid sample, wherein the first inlet of the apparatus comprises a rotatable wheel, the wheel comprising at least one blade sealing against a surface of the inlet to isolate the sensor from the inlet.

36. The system of claim 35 , wherein the apparatus further comprises an outlet disposed on the chamber.

37. The system of claim 36 , wherein the outlet comprises a check valve.

38. The system of claim 35 , wherein the apparatus further comprises a second inlet disposed on the chamber for passing a purging fluid into the chamber.

39. The system of claim 35 , wherein the apparatus further comprises a gas source in fluid communication with the second inlet.

40. The system of claim 35 , wherein the sensor comprises at least one of a hydrocarbon sensor, a water sensor, a pH sensor, and a hydrogen sulfide sensor.

41. The system of claim 35 , further comprising a power source for rotating the wheel.

42. The system of claim 35 , wherein the first inlet comprises a valve.

43. The system of claim 35 , further comprising at least one sensor disposed outside the chamber of the apparatus.

44. The system of claim 43 , wherein the sensor disposed outside the chamber is selected from the group consisting of a temperature sensor, a pressure sensor, an ion specific electrode, a conductivity sensor, and an acoustic sensor.

45. The system of claim 35 , further comprising a processor for processing data collected by the sensor.

46. The system of claim 44 , further comprising a transmitter for sending the data from the apparatus to a receiver.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 26, 2004
From: WILLIAMS, JOHN R.; SEBELIUS, PETER W.; PARRY, JOEL R.; COSKREN, WILLIAM D.
To: CHARLES STARK DRAPER LABORATORY, INC., THE
Reel/Frame 015255/0232 →