Abstract: A co-variance microwave water cut monitor includes a test cell having a petroleum stress flowing through it while permitting the microwave energy to enter the test cell. A microwave source provides microwave energy to a circulator which in turn provides the microwave energy to an antenna. The antenna provides the petroleum stream in the test cell with the microwave energy and 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 energy as test microwave energy. A detector assembly connected to the circulator detects the intensity of the test microwave energy and provides a corresponding intensity signal.

Abstract: The present invention is a density meter which includes a well logging sonde that is inserted into a borehole traversing an earthen formation. The sonde includes within it a source which emits gamma rays into the borehole fluid and a detector assembly which detects gamma rays from the borehole fluid and provides a count signal corresponding to a count of the detected gamma rays. A caliper is also located in the sonde and it continually measures the diameter of the borehole as the sonde moves through the borehole and provides a caliper signal corresponding to the diameter measurement. A cable connected to the detector assembly and to the caliper conveys the count signal and a caliper signal to the surface where surface electronics includes apparatus which processes the count signal and the caliper signal to provide a signal corresponding to the density of the fluid in the borehole.

Abstract: A well logging system which monitors the flow rate of a fluid flowing in a borehole traversing an earth formation includes a sonde. A transmitter located in the sonde transmits acoustical waves into the fluid at a predetermined frequency. A receiver also located in the sonde receives reflected acoustical waves. The receiver also provides a signal corresponding to the received reflected acoustical waves. The provided signal is processed for being sent uphole by way of a cable. Electronics at the surface include circuitry which derives the velocity of the fluid in accordance with the frequency of the processed signal and the predetermined frequency. The circuitry provides an output signal corresponding to the derived velocity of the fluid flowing the borehole.

Abstract: A well logging system and method of the present invention determines the dielectric constant and/or conductivity of earth formations some of which have fluid invasion. The system and method of the present invention includes the transmission of electromagnetic energy into the earth formation from a first location in a borehole in the formations at a frequency which enables the electromagnetic energy to propagate throughout the surrounding earth formations. Electromagnetic energy is received by receivers at three locations in the borehole which are spaced longitudinally from the location of the transmission of the electromagnetic energy. The receivers provide signals representative of the total electromagnetic fields at those locations. The dielectric constant and/or resistivity of the earth formations are determined in accordance with portions of the signals from the three receivers corresponding to secondary electromagnetic fields at the three receiving locations.

Abstract: A fluid capacitance sensor includes a device, receiving a stream of fluid, which converts the fluid flow to annular fluid flow. A capacitance sensing network has an internal capacitance substantially greater than the capacitance of the fluid. The capacitance sensing network measures the capacitance of the annular flowing fluid and provides a signal corresponding to the sensed capacitance of the fluid.

Abstract: A synthetic gas generator receiving oxygen and natural gas through separate pipes provides synthetic gas. The methane content of the synthetic gas is sensed and a corresponding methane signal is provided. Carbon monoxide and fuel hydrogen are removed from the synthetic gas and provided in different pipes. The pressure of the carbon monoxide is sensed and a corresponding pressure signal is provided. Control apparatus controls the oxygen and natural gas entering the synthetic gas generator in accordance with the methane signal and the pressure signal.

Abstract: The multi-phase petroleum stream monitor includes two densitometers which measure the density of the petroleum stream at two locations and provides corresponding signals. The temperature and the pressure of the petroleum stream are also measured and corresponding signals provided. Apparatus provides signals corresponding to the density of the liquid in the petroleum stream and to the density of the gas in the petroleum stream. The liquid flow rate and the gas flow rate of the petroleum stream are determined in accordance with the two sensed density signals, the temperature signal, the pressure signal, the liquid density signal and the gas density signal.

Abstract: A method of measuring the propagation velocity of one or more of a plurality of different types of elastic waves in a borehole. It employs a source of elastic waves at a given location in a borehole. The elastic waves generated have a given known frequency. There are a plurality of receivers spaced at different distances from the source. The signals developed by the receivers are digitally multiplexed at a high scan rate relative to the generated frequency. Then the multiplexed signals are analyzed to determine the wave lengths of the received signals. From the wave lengths the propagation velocities, v, may be computed by using the fundamental relationship v=f.lambda., in which f is the frequency and .lambda. is the wave length.

Abstract: The control system and method of the present invention controls a solvent refining unit which treats charge oil with a solvent in a refining tower to yield raffinate and extract-mix, strippers separate the solvent from the raffinate and from the extract-mix to provide refined waxy oil and extract oil, respectively. The solvent is returned to the tower and the refined waxy oil is subsequently dewaxed to provide refined oil. The present invention includes a device which senses the flow rate of the charge oil and provides a corresponding charge oil flow rate signal. The flow rate of the charge oil is controlled in accordance with the charge oil flow rate signal and a control signal. The temperature of the extract oil is sensed and a corresponding temperature signal provided. The temperature signal is used in controlling the temperature of the extract oil in cooperation with a second control signal.

Abstract: A steam quality monitor measures the quality of steam flowing in a steam pipe. A measurement cell is connected in the steam pipe so that steam flows through the measurement cell. The cell has two windows aligned along an axis which is traverse to the flow axis of the steam. A source spatially arranged with the windows of the measurement cells provides IR energy which enters the measurement cells through one window and leaves through the other window so that the IR energy passes through the steam flowing in the measurement cell. An IR detector detects the IR energy as it leaves the measurement cell and provides a corresponding signal. The temperature of the steam flowing through the measurement cell is also sensed and a temperature signal provided. Circuitry derives the steam quality of the steam flowing in the steam pipe in accordance with the signal from the IR detector and the temperature signal.

Abstract: A system of the present invention monitors the quality of steam flowing in a pipeline includes a test cell which is connected inline into the pipeline and has the steam flowing through it. A plurality of electrodes are located within the test cell and cooperate with the test cell to provide capacitance signals corresponding to capacitances of the steam passing between the electrodes and the test cell. The electrodes have different spacings between them and an interior wall of the test cell. A sensor senses the temperature of the steam flowing through the test cell and provides a temperature signal corresponding to the sensed temperature. Another sensor senses the pressure of the steam and provides a pressure signal corresponding to the sensed pressure. Circuitry connected to the test cell, to all the electrodes, to the temperature sensor and to the pressure sensor measures the quality of the steam in accordance with the temperature signal, the pressure signal and one of the capacitance signals.

Abstract: A steam quality monitor monitoring the quality of steam flowing in the pipe includes capacitance sensing apparatus which senses the capacitance of the flowing steam and provides a capacitance signal corresponding to the said capacitance. Another sensor which may be either a temperature sensor or a pressure sensor senses either the temperature or pressure of the steam and provides a representative type signal. Circuitry connected to the capacitance sensor and to the temperature or pressure sensor provides an output corresponding to the quality of steam in accordance with the capacitance and the temperature or pressure signal.

Abstract: Steam quality measuring and monitoring apparatus and methods which measures the quality of steam flowing in a steam pipe includes a test cell connected in line with the steam pipe so that the steam flows through the test cell. The capacitance, the dielectric constant, the temperature and the density of the steam flowing through the test cell are measured and monitored and the quality of the steam is derived in accordance with the steam density and temperature.

Abstract: A marine seismic data acquisition system and method includes a plurality of hydrophone arrays. A marine cable is towed in the water by a boat. The marine cable includes a plurality of active modules. Each active module is connected to a corresponding hydrophone array and collects seismic data from the geophones. The marine cable also includes a plurality of passive modules interspersed with a plurality of active modules, with each passive module generating, receiving and transmitting signals. The passive modules and the active modules are connected by electrical wires with each other and to the electronic equipment on the boat. The electronic equipment on the boat includes a subsystem for activating the active modules; another subsystem for interrogating the active modules and the passive modules and circuitry connected to the activating subsystem and to the interrogation subsystem which determines the source of transmission errors in signals received over the marine cable.

Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus and method which monitors the quality of steam flowing in a pipe. A steam sensor located in the pipe provides a steam signal which is frequency related to the quality of the steam flowing in the pipe. A network connected to the sensor provides a high frequency signal and a low frequency signal in accordance with the steam signal. The steam quality is the in accordance with the high frequency signal and the low frequency signal.

Abstract: A differential pressure sensing means and method includes an inlet receiving a fluid having a first pressure. Another inlet receives a fluid having a second pressure. A plurality of pressure sensing devices are connected to the first and second inlets. Each pressure sensing device senses a pressure differential within a different predetermined range of pressures and provides a pressure signal representative thereof. An output circuit connected to the plurality of pressure signals provides a pressure signal selected from one of the signals provided by the plurality of pressure sensing devices so as to provide a pressure signal representative of the pressure difference between the first and second pressures of the fluids.

Abstract: The system and method of the present invention calls for reducing steam from one pressure down to a second pressure. Further, the steam st the one pressure is mixed with the steam at the second pressure. The mixed steam is provided for use in a process. The mixing of the steams is controlled in accordance with the providing of the mixed steam.

Abstract: An electromagnetic energy well logging system and method includes transmitting electromagnetic energy substantially at a frequency of 4 MHz into an earth formation from a borehold traversing the earth formation. The true resistivity of an oil-based flushed zone of the earth formation is derived in accordance with the transmitted electromagnetic energy after it is passed through at least a portion of the oil-based flushed zone.

Abstract: A production stream analyzer, which analyzes a flowing crude oil production stream in a conduit, includes a temperature sensor, a capacitance measuring device and a densitometer which provide corresponding temperature, capacitance and density signals, respectively. An output circuit provides an output signal corresponding to the quantity of at least one constituent of the production stream in accordance with the temperature, the capacitance and the density signals.

Abstract: A magnet and two magnetic sensing means are spatially related to each other, with each magnetic sensor sensing the relative movement between the magnet and the magnetic sensor. The magnetic sensor provides a signal corresponding to the relative movement. Circuitry connected to both magnetic sensors provides an alarm in accordance with the signals from both magnetic sensors when the rotation of the crank arm is in one direction and does not provide an alarm when the rotation of the crank arm is in the opposite direction.