Helical vane tool for rheology measurement and method of use thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016349163-A1
Application number	US-201514722907-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 27, 2015
Priority date	May 27, 2015
Publication date	Dec 1, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An apparatus and method are disclosed for measuring a rheology indicator in a rheometer utilizing a rheometer attachment including a shaft having a shaft axis, an outer surface, and a plurality of helical vanes each extending radially from the outer surface.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A rheometer attachment comprising a shaft having a shaft axis and an outer surface and a plurality of helical vanes each extending radially from the outer surface.

2 . The rheometer attachment of claim 1 wherein the plurality of helical vanes each have an inner edge attached to the outer surface of the shaft.

3 . The rheometer attachment of claim 2 wherein at least a portion of each of the plurality of helical vanes is at a variable helix angle, as measured from an axis parallel to the shaft axis, which increases at a rate of at least 1°/mm over the length of the inner edge from top to bottom.

4 . The rheometer attachment of claim 2 wherein at least a portion of each of the plurality of helical vanes is at a fixed helix angle, as measured from an axis parallel to the shaft axis, of from about 5 to about 60 degrees.

5 . The rheometer attachment of claim 1 wherein the plurality of helical vanes extend substantially perpendicular from the outer surface.

6 . The rheometer attachment of claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of helical vanes has an outer edge, an upper side extending between the inner edge and the outer edge, and a lower side extending between the inner edge and the outer edge.

7 . The rheometer attachment of claim 6 wherein the ratio of the length of at least one of the upper side and the lower side to the length of the outer edge is from about 0.3 to about 0.9.

8 . The rheometer attachment of claim 1 comprising up to six helical vanes.

9 . A rheometer comprising:
a container having an inner surface and a base defining a cavity; and a rheometer attachment comprising a shaft having a shaft axis and an outer surface and a plurality of helical vanes each extending radially from the outer surface, wherein the rheometer attachment is disposed within the cavity.

10 . The rheometer of claim 9 wherein at least a portion of each of the plurality of helical vanes is at a fixed helix angle, as measured from an axis parallel to the shaft axis, of from about 5 to about 60 degrees.

11 . The rheometer of claim 9 wherein each of the plurality of helical vanes has an inner edge attached to the outer surface of the shaft, an outer edge, an upper side extending between the inner edge and the outer edge, and a lower side extending between the inner edge and the outer edge.

12 . The rheometer of claim 11 wherein the ratio of the length of at least one of the upper side and the lower side to the length of the outer edge is from about 0.3 to about 0.9.

13 . The rheometer of claim 11 further comprising:
a rotor disposed within the cavity, wherein the rheometer attachment is disposed within the rotor;
a motor connected to the rotor for causing the rotor to rotate relative to the rheometer attachment; and
a torque measuring device attached to the shaft for measuring torque from the rheometer attachment.

14 . The rheometer of claim 13 wherein the difference between the radius from the shaft axis to the outer edge to the radius of the rotor is from about 0.02 to about 1.5 cm.

15 . The rheometer of claim 11 further comprising:
a motor connected to the rheometer attachment for causing the rheometer attachment to rotate relative to the container; and
a torque measuring device attached to the shaft for measuring torque from the rheometer attachment.

16 . The rheometer of claim 15 wherein the difference between the radius from the shaft axis to the outer edge to the radius of the container is from about 0.02 to about 1.5 cm.

17 . The rheometer of claim 15 further comprising:
a stator disposed within the cavity, wherein the rheometer attachment is disposed within the stator, and wherein the motor causes the rheometer attachment to rotate relative to the stator; and
a torque measuring device attached to the stator for measuring torque from the stator.

18 . A method for measuring rheology comprising:
utilizing a rheometer comprising:
a container having an inner surface and a base defining a cavity;
a cylindrical member selected from either a rotor or a stator disposed within the cavity;
a rheometer attachment comprising a shaft having a shaft axis and an outer surface and a plurality of helical vanes each extending radially from the outer surface, wherein the rheometer attachment is disposed within the cylindrical member;
a motor connected to either the cylindrical member or the shaft for causing the cylindrical member and the rheometer attachment to rotate relative to each other;
a torque measuring device attached to either the cylindrical member or the shaft for measuring torque;
introducing a fluid to the cavity; and operating the motor to cause either the cylindrical member or the shaft to rotate; and measuring the torque using the torque measuring device and determining a rheology indicator of the fluid as a function of the torque.

19 . The method of claim 18 wherein the propeller movement of the plurality of helical vanes caused by the rotation of the cylindrical member relative to the rheometer attachment moves the fluid away from its static location within the cavity.

20 . The method of claim 18 wherein at least a portion of each of the plurality of helical vanes is at a fixed helix angle, as measured from an axis parallel to the shaft axis, of from about 5 to about 60 degrees.

Assignees

• Schlumberger Technology Corp

Inventors

• Chen Yiyan
• Refunjol Giselle
• Mayo John Thomas
• Shampine Rod William
• Lesko Timothy Michael

Classifications

• G01N11/14 Primary

  by using rotary bodies, e.g. vane (G01N11/16 takes precedence) · CPC title