Methods to use chemo-resistive sensors for wellbore production

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11768138-B2
Application number	US-202117219114-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 31, 2021
Priority date	Mar 31, 2021
Publication date	Sep 26, 2023
Grant date	Sep 26, 2023

Abstract

The disclosure provides a method for determining a composition of a fluid. The method comprises diverting a sample of a portion of the fluid to a test chamber. The method further comprises actuating a heat source disposed around the test chamber to increase the temperature within the test chamber to produce vapors from the sample of the portion of the fluid and directing the vapors from the sample of the portion of the fluid to a chemical sensor array comprising one or more chemical sensors. The method further comprises determining a composition of the vapors from the sample of portion of the fluid, wherein the composition of the vapors is associated with the composition of the fluid.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for measurement of the composition of a fluid, comprising:
diverting a sample of a portion of the fluid from a main conduit into a diverting conduit through a first set of valves with a test chamber disposed between the first set of valves, wherein the test chamber comprises a piston disposed vertically above a central axis of the diverting conduit, a heat source disposed around the test chamber, and one or more electro-chemical resistor sensors, wherein the piston is in a first position;
actuating the first set of valves to close after the test chamber receives the sample of the portion of the fluid while the piston is in the first position;
moving the piston to a second position;
actuating the heat source to increase the temperature within the test chamber to produce vapors from the sample of the portion of the fluid after the piston is in the second position;
directing the vapors from the sample of the portion of the fluid to the one or more electro-chemical resistor sensor; and
determining a composition of the vapors from the sample of portion of the fluid, wherein the composition of the vapors is associated with the composition of the fluid.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising actuating the one or more chemical sensors to measure a change in electrical resistance based, at least in part, on one or more gas particles of the vapors interacting with each of the one or more electro-chemical sensors.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
transmitting the composition of the vapors to an information handling system; and
determining a wellbore operation based, at least in part, on the determined composition of the vapors.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising actuating the first set of valves disposed along the diverting conduit to provide the sample of the portion of the fluid to flow into the test chamber.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the diverting conduit is disposed in parallel to the main conduit.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising actuating a second set of valves disposed along a secondary conduit disposed parallel to and vertically above the diverting conduit to provide for a flow of a secondary fluid during a purging cycle.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the secondary conduit is fluidly coupled to the test chamber and the one or more electro-chemical sensors.

8. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:
directing the flow of the secondary fluid to clean the test chamber and the one or more electro-chemical sensors during the purging cycle.

9. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions that are configured, when executed by a processor, to:
divert a sample of a portion of the fluid from a main conduit into a diverting conduit through a first set of valves with a test chamber disposed between the first set of valves, wherein the test chamber comprises a piston disposed vertically above a central axis of the diverting conduit, a heat source disposed around the test chamber, and one or more electro-chemical resistor sensors, wherein the piston is in a first position;
actuating the first set of valves to close after the test chamber receives the sample of the portion of the fluid while the piston is in the first position;
moving the piston to a second position;
actuate the heat source to increase the temperature within the test chamber to produce vapors from the sample of the portion of the fluid after the piston is in the second position;
direct the vapors from the sample of the portion of the fluid to the one or more electro-chemical sensors; and
determine a composition of the vapors from the sample of portion of the fluid, wherein the composition of the vapors is associated with the composition of the fluid.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9 , wherein the instructions are further configured to:
actuate the first set of valves disposed along the diverting conduit to provide the sample of the portion of the fluid to flow into the test chamber.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9 , wherein the instructions are further configured to:
transmit the composition of the vapors to an information handling system; and
determine a wellbore operation based, at least in part, on the determined composition of the vapors.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9 , wherein the instructions are further configured to:
actuate the one or more electro-chemical sensors to measure a change in electrical resistance based, at least in part, on one or more gas particles of the vapors interacting with each of the one or more electro-chemical sensors.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9 , wherein the instructions are further configured to:
actuate a second set of valves disposed along a secondary conduit disposed parallel to and vertically above the diverting conduit to provide for a flow of a secondary fluid during a purging cycle, wherein the secondary conduit is fluidly coupled to the test chamber and the one or more electro-chemical sensors.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the instructions are further configured to:
direct the flow of the secondary fluid to clean the test chamber and the chemical sensor array during the purging cycle.

15. A method for measurement of the composition of a fluid, comprising:
actuating a first set of valves to an open position;
diverting a sample of a portion of the fluid from a main conduit into a diverting conduit in a chemical sensor system, wherein the chemical sensor system comprises the first set of valves, a piston disposed vertically above a central axis of the diverting conduit, a heat source disposed around a test chamber, one or more electro-chemical resistor sensors, a secondary conduit disposed vertically above the diverting conduit and operable to facilitate a flow of a secondary fluid during a purging cycle controlled by a second set of valves in a closed position before measurement, wherein the piston is in a first position;
actuating the first set of valves to a closed position;
moving the piston to a second position;
actuating the heat source to increase the temperature within the test chamber to produce vapors from the sample of the portion of the fluid;
opening one of the valves of the second set of valves located after the one or more electro-chemical sensors;
directing the vapors from the sample of the portion of the fluid to a chemical sensor array comprising one or more electro-chemical sensors;
determining a composition of the vapors from the sample of portion of the fluid, wherein the composition of the vapors is associated with the composition of the fluid;
opening one of the valves of the first set of valves located after the piston;
moving the piston to the first position;
opening the second valve of the second set of valves located before the piston; and
closing the second set of valves.

Assignees

• Halliburton Energy Services Inc

Inventors

• Jamison Dale E
• Shumway William W
• May Preston A

Classifications

• G01N1/44 Primary

  Sample treatment involving radiation, e.g. heat · CPC title

• G01N1/2035

  by deviating part of a fluid stream, e.g. by drawing-off or tapping · CPC title

• G01N27/12

  of a solid body in dependence upon absorption of a fluid; of a solid body in dependence upon reaction with a fluid {, for detecting components in the fluid} · CPC title

• G01N33/0016

  by regulating a physical variable, e.g. pressure or temperature · CPC title

• G01N33/2823

  Raw oil, drilling fluid or polyphasic mixtures · CPC title