Polarization based fiber optic downhole flowmeter

1. A flow monitoring system comprising:

a pipe configured for transporting a fluid therethrough;

an optical fiber generally spiraling a plurality of revolutions circumaxially about the pipe along a longitudinal portion having a predetermined length to serve as a single transducer for detecting flow information originating along the longitudinal portion;

a linear polarizer/analyzer circuit configured to communicate with the optical fiber;

a light source communicating with the linear polarizer/analyzer circuit and configured for generating a light signal along the optical fiber at a frequency greater than a period of a disturbance to flow past the predetermined length of the transducer;

a reflector disposed along the optical fiber for reflecting back the light signal along the optical fiber; and

an optical detector communicating with the linear polarizer/analyzer circuit, the optical detector being configured for optically determining from the light signal dynamic events along the optical fiber indicative of flow disturbances passing by the transducers;

wherein the predetermined length of the transducer is larger than a spatial wavelength of the longest wavelength of a flow disturbance to be measured.

2. A flow monitoring system as defined in claim 1 , wherein the optical detector is configured for optically determining from flow vibration induced birefringence of the light signal dynamic events along the optical fiber indicative of flow disturbances passing by the transducer.

3. A flow monitoring system as defined in claim 1 , further comprising a signal processor communicating with the optical detector, the signal processor being configured for analyzing the light signal to determine the bulk velocity of fluid flowing through the pipe.

4. A flow monitoring system as defined in claim 3 , wherein the signal processor is configured for analyzing in the time domain flow vibration induced birefringence to determine the bulk velocity of fluid flowing through the pipe.

5. A flow monitoring system as defined in claim 3 , wherein:

the light source generates a pulsing light signal to create a strobing effect on a flow disturbance via vibration induced birefringence of the pulsing light signal; and

the signal processor is configured to map from the strobing effect a position of a flow disturbance passing by the transducer.

6. A flow monitoring system as defined by claim 1 , wherein the optical fiber is single-mode SMF-28 type optical fiber.

7. A flow monitoring system as defined in claim 1 , wherein the optical fiber is one of acrylate coated, polyimide coated, and carbon polyimide coated.

8. A flow monitoring system as defined in claim 1 , wherein the optical fiber has an index of refraction of about 1.45.

9. A flow monitoring system as defined in claim 1 , wherein the plurality of revolutions generally is about 10 to about 1000.

10. A flow monitoring system as defined in claim 1 , wherein the diameter of the pipe generally is about 1 inch to about 6 inches.

11. A flow monitoring system as defined in claim 1 , wherein the predetermined length of the transducer is about 0.5 inch to about 6 inches.

12. A flow monitoring system as defined in claim 1 , wherein the reflector includes a plurality of fiber Bragg grating reflectors spaced along the optical fiber.

13. A flow monitoring system as defined in claim 1 , wherein the reflector includes two fiber Bragg grating reflectors spaced along the optical fiber.

14. A flow monitoring system comprising:

a pipe configured for transporting a fluid therethrough;

an optical fiber generally spiraling a plurality of revolutions circumaxially about the pipe along a longitudinal portion having a predetermined length to serve as a single optical fiber sensing element for detecting flow information originating along the longitudinal portion;

one or more fiber Bragg grating reflectors arranged along the optical fiber sensing element; and

a phase-sensitive optical detector in communication with the optical fiber sensing element;

wherein the predetermined length of the single optical fiber sensing element is larger than a spatial wavelength of the longest wavelength of a flow disturbance to be measured.

15. A flow monitoring system as defined in claim 14 , wherein the optical detector is configured for optically determining from flow vibration induced birefringence of the light signal dynamic events along the optical fiber indicative of flow disturbances passing by the transducer.

16. A flow monitoring system as defined in claim 14 , further comprising a signal processor communicating with the optical detector, the signal processor being configured for analyzing the light signal to determine the bulk velocity of fluid flowing through the pipe.

17. A flow monitoring system as defined in claim 16 , wherein the signal processor is configured for analyzing in the time domain flow vibration induced birefringence to determine the bulk velocity of fluid flowing through the pipe.

18. A flow monitoring system as defined in claim 16 , wherein:

the light source generates a pulsing light signal to create a strobing effect on a flow disturbance via vibration induced birefringence of the pulsing light signal; and

the signal processor is configured to map from the strobing effect a position of a flow disturbance passing by the transducer.