Abstract: A multiphase petroleum stream monitoring system and method includes withdrawing a first sample stream from the petroleum stream. Both sample streams are irradiated with microwave energy. A second sample stream is withdrawn from the petroleum stream. Microwave energies that have passed through the sample streams are received. A signal circuit generated signals corresponding to an electrical property of the sample stream in accordance with the received microwave energies. A computer determines the validity of the sample streams and provides a water cut data on the petroleum stream when sample streams are valid sample streams.

Abstract: The present invention is a water cut monitor which includes a settling tank in which a quantity of fluid from a producing well is accumulated. The fluid is removed as a stream of fluid after a predetermined interval from the accumulation of the fluid by the settling tank so as to allow the accumulated fluid to separate into three phases: free water, water-continuous and oil-continuous. The flow rate of the stream of fluid is measured and a corresponding flow rate signal is provided as well as a temperature signal corresponding to a sensed temperature of the stream of fluid. The water cut monitor includes a plurality of electrodes in contact with the fluid. Injection electronics connected to at least one of the electrodes provides an injection voltage and injection current to the fluid stream and also provides signals corresponding to the injection voltage and injection current. A voltage in the fluid stream is measured and a measurement signal provided.

Abstract: Oil well production is often measured by using a settling tank, pump, flowmeter and a water-cut meter. Fluid from a well being tested is allowed to accumulate in the settling tank and, after a predetermined settling time, is pumped through the flowmeter and water-cut meter for gauging. The present invention is an improved water-cut meter which first determines the impedance of the free water pumped from the tank and later determines the impedance of the oil/water emulsion emerging from the tank. The ratio of the emulsion impedance to the free water impedance is proportional to percent water-cut of the fluid during the water-continuous phase. When the emulsion switches to oil-continuous phase, the system utilizes probe impedance for the water-cut determination. Using standard techniques, the water-cut and flow rate signals are then combined to calculate the total oil and water content of the settling tank fluid.

Abstract: Brines in earth formations in the vicinity of a well borehole are bombarded with neutrons. The neutrons are slowed to thermal energy and captured by sodium atoms in the brine according to the nuclear reaction .sup.23 Na (n, .gamma.) .sup.24 Na. Spaced arrays of gamma ray detectors in a sonde in the borehole obtain gamma ray measurements following activation to obtain measurements of horizontal brine flow past the borehole. The detector arrays are vertically spaced from each other along the axis of the sonde. Changes in the count ratios of the detector arrays indicates a vertical flow of the brine.

Abstract: An analyzer includes a test cell which contains a core of coal from a coal bed methane reservoir. A tomographic system is used for testing the core at different times and provides signals corresponding to the tests. While the earthen core is being tested, a fluid having the same size molecules as methane is provided to the earthen core as part of the testing. The signals from the tomographic system are used to determine the methane storage capacity of the core.

Abstract: The present invention includes a buoy floating on a body of water. Positioning devices attached to the buoy are responsive to control signals to control the position of the buoy. A hydrone is suspended from the buoy to a predetermined shallow depth with an electrical cable and converts seismic waves to an electrical signal. A navigational device, on the buoy, provides position signals corresponding to the position of the buoy. A first transceiver with an antenna, receives first transmitted signals from a ship and provides them as control signals to the positioning devices. The first transceiver transmits signals corresponding to the seismic signal and to the position signals. A seismic device, located in the body of water, creates event in the body of water in response to a fire signal. Fire control apparatus located on the ship provides the fire signal to the seismic device.

Abstract: An earthen core analyzer includes a test cell which contains an earthen core. A tomographic system is used for testing the earthen core and provides signals corresponding to the tests. While the earthen core is being tested, a fluid is provided to the earthen core as part of the testing. The signals from the tomographic system are used to determine a porosity of the earthen core.

Abstract: Apparatus monitors the water cut of a petroleum stream flowing in a pipeline by comparing a probe signal to a reference signal. A probe is located in the pipeline and is connected to the reference signal through a series resistance. The probe signal changes as a function of the impedance of the petroleum stream. A circuit measures the changes in the probe signal, compares the changes to the reference signal and derives a water cut value for the petroleum stream based on these measurements.

Abstract: A dual frequency microwave water cut monitor includes a microwave source which provides microwave energies at two different frequencies to a circulator which in turn provides the microwave energies to an antenna. The antenna provides the microwave energies to a petroleum stream and also receives reflected microwave energy back from the stream. The reflected microwave energy is provided by the antenna to the circulator which in turn provides the reflected microwave energies as test microwave energies. A detector assembly connected to the circulator detects the intensities of the test microwave energies and provides a corresponding intensity signal. Indicator apparatus connected to the circulator to the microwave source and to the detector assembly provides an indication of the water cut of the petroleum stream in accordance with the intensity signal and the phase difference between one of the source provided microwave energies and its corresponding test microwave energy.

Abstract: A variable mode microwave water cut monitor includes a test cell which contains a fluid sample. Apparatus controls the provision and removal of the fluid sample to effect different modes of operation for the monitor, a normal test mode and at least two calibration modes. A source provides microwave energy to one of a first antenna which in turn provides the fluid sample in the test cell with microwave energy. A second antenna receives the microwave energy that has passed through the fluid sample. A detector detects the received microwave energy and provides a signal corresponding thereto. An indicator provides an indication of the water cut of the fluid sample in accordance with the received signal power, a phase difference between the source provided microwave energy and the received microwave energy and internally recorded calibration data for water alone and oil alone.

Abstract: A sonde in a well logging system of the present invention includes caliper means providing a diameter signal corresponding to the diameter of a borehole traversing an earth formation. First and second transducers which, when so controlled, transmit an ultrasonic acoustical pulse into fluid flowing in the borehole or provides an electrical pulse in accordance with a received acoustical pulse from the fluid. A control network controls both transducers so that during one part of a measurement the first transducer transmits an acoustical pulse into the fluid while the second transducer receives an acoustical pulse after it has passed through the fluid. During another part of the measurement the second transducer is controlled to transmit an acoustical pulse into the fluid while the first transducer is controlled to receive the acoustical pulse after it has passed through the fluid and provides a signal in accordance with the received acoustical pulse.

Abstract: The present invention controls the addition of a demulsifier through a petroleum stream by causing the petroleum stream to have a density gradient relating to its water content. The petroleum stream is sampled at two different locations along the density gradient to provide two sample streams. The watercut of each sample stream is determined and at least one single correspondent to the determination has provided. The demulsifier from a source is controlled in accordance with the watercut determinations and provided to the petroleum stream prior to the creation of the density gradient.

Abstract: A petroleum stream microwave water cut monitor includes test cell means which contains a reference petroleum multiphase fluid sample and which has a sample stream of a petroleum stream passing through it. The test cell is maintained at a predetermined temperature. A source provides microwave energy to one of a first pair of antennae which provides the petroleum stream flowing in the test cell or the reference sample in the test cell with microwave energy. One of a second pair of antennae receives the microwave energy that has passed through either the petroleum stream or the reference sample. A detector detects the received microwave energy and provides a signal corresponding thereto. An indicator provides an indication of the water cut of the petroleum stream in accordance with the received signal power and a phase difference between the source provided microwave energy and the received microwave energy.

Abstract: The control system and method of the present invention controls a heat treater receiving wet gas from a pipeline. The heat treater reduces the water content of the gas to provide dry gas to the pipeline. A sensor monitors the wet gas and provides a signal corresponding to the water content of the wet gas. A second sensor monitors the dry gas and provides a signal corresponding to the water content of the dry gas. A difference signal corresponding to the difference between the two water content signals. Apparatus controls the flow of fuel to the heat treater, so as to control the drying process, in accordance with the water content signal of the wet gas and the difference signal.

Abstract: The present invention is a thin bed resistivity well logging system and method which includes a transmitter transmitting electromagnetic energy into an earth formation, from within a borehole traversing the earth's formation, at a frequency lying within a range of frequencies from 500 kilohertz to 4 megahertz. The system, a portion of which is located in the borehole, determines the true resistivity of a thin strata in accordance with the transmitted electromagnetic energy that has propagated through the earth's formation.

Abstract: The present invention is an optical spectral analysis system and method which includes transmitting light through a specimen to be analyzed. The light that is passed through the specimen is filtered. The filtering of the light is obtained by utilizing a revolving filter disk which filters the light from the specimen through a predetermined range of light wavelengths at least once per revolution. The disk is rotated by a motor. A photomultiplier tube, with associated circuitry, receives the filtered light and provides a signal representative of the intensity of the received filtered light. A computer converts the signal from the photomultiplier circuit to a spectral output.

Abstract: One or more seismic sources impart seismic pulses into the earth in a coded sequence. The coded sequence is composed of a minimum of three cycles of a Galois sequence of order N, where N is a positive integer. The response of subsurface formations to the coded sequence is obtained and correlated with one cycle or the outgoing Galois sequence of the same order. Correlation properties of the Galois sequences provide a way to sum a large number of seismograms that are superimposed in time, improving the signal to noise ratio while keeping the field time in which the seismograms are obtained to a minimum. Using this encoding technique, responses of subsurface formations to concurrent activation of each of several sources can be obtained and separated from each other.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method of calibrating a tomographic system which is used for testing earthen cores. At least two phantoms of a first type of phantom is used in calibrating for contrast resolution. At least two phantoms of a second type of phantom are used to calibrate the tomographic system for beam hardening.

Abstract: A petroleum stream microwave water cut monitor includes test cell means which contains a reference petroleum multiphase fluid sample and which has a sample stream of a petroleum stream passing through it. A source transmits microwave energy to one of a first pair of antennae which irradiates the petroleum stream flowing in the test cell or the reference sample in the test cell with microwave energy. One of a second pair of antennae receives the microwave energy that has passed through either the petroleum stream or the reference sample. A detector detects the received microwave energy and provides a signal corresponding thereto. An indicator provides an indication of the water cut of the petroleum stream in accordance with the received signal power and a phase difference between the transmitted microwave energy and the received microwave energy.

Abstract: The petroleum stream watercut monitor includes a test cell having a petroleum stream flowing through it. A microwave transmitter provides microwave energy through an antenna through an isolator. The antenna irradiates the test cell with the microwave energy so that the microwave energy enters the test cell and is reflected from the petroleum stream back to the antenna. A circulator connected to the isolator connects the transmitter to the isolator means and provides microwave energy to the antenna through the isolator and receives from the antenna again through the isolator the reflected microwave energy. An indicator provides an indication of the watercut of the petroleum stream in accordance with the phase difference between the transmitted microwave energy and the test microwave energy.