Abstract: An apparatus for determining the nature of the formation at the bottom of a wellbore being drilled with a tubular drill string through which drilling fluid is pumped to return the drilling fluid to the surface via the wellbore, the apparatus comprising a tool body for installation in a drill string with a bore extending there through and an ultraviolet fluorescence detector in a passageway in the tool body, the tool body being configured to receive drilling fluid from inside the drill string and to receive drilling fluid from outside the drill string, wherein the drilling fluid can be directed past the detector so as to enable measurements to be made.

Abstract: Membrane (24) of a shell (20) of a pressure sensor, having an upper and lower chamber (34, 23), wherein the membrane is made by a support wall (36) and a cap (41) having an upper and lower sheets (31, 32), the support wall having a central aperture (33), the support wall separating but for its central aperture the lower from the upper chamber, the lower sheet (32) having a central aperture (38), edges of the central apertures (33, 38) of the support wall (36) and of the lower sheet (32) respectively being welded to one another, peripheries (37) of the upper and lower sheet (31, 32) being welded to one another so that a volume (40) is present between said upper and lower sheets (31, 32), said volume being in the upper chamber (34) and communicating through the central apertures (33, 38) of the support wall (36) and of the lower sheet (32) respectively, with the lower chamber (23).

Abstract: A resistive thin film (1) made of grains (3) of conductive material having an average size, in a dielectric medium (2) is characterized by the total thickness of the film (1) being between 3 and ten times the average size of the grains (3). The film (1) is used to make a cell of a pressure sensor and the cell is included in a shell of a pressure sensor.

Abstract: A ruggedized pressure sensor is described for high pressure applications having a top part of hard material with a surface adapted to deform when exposed to pressure, transducers to transform deformation of the surface into a signal proportional to the pressure, and a base part of hard material, wherein the base part has one or more openings.

Abstract: Fluid diversion measurement systems and methods are described. One system includes a section of tubular having a main flow passage and a fluid diversion port, the section of tubular adapted to be either moving or stationary during a fluid diversion operation, at least two sensors in the section of tubular, at least one sensor located upstream of the fluid diversion port and at least one sensor located downstream of the fluid diversion port, each sensor adapted to measure a parameter of a fluid diverted into a wellbore through the fluid diversion port; and means for using the measured parameters in realtime to monitor, control, or both monitor and control diversion of the fluid. This abstract allows a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the disclosure. It will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. 37 CFR 1.72(b).

Abstract: A pumping system (13) for oil wells (1) comprises a pump (20) immersed at the bottom of the well (4) and a flow-meter (32) associated with the pump (20), the immersed pump (20) being supplied by an electric supply source (26). The flow-meter (32) is an electromagnetic flow-meter, also electrically supplied by the supply source (26) of the pump.

Abstract: A resistive thin film (1) made of grains (3) of conductive material having an average size, in a dielectric medium (2) is characterized by the total thickness of the film (2) being between 3 and ten times the average size of the grains (3). The film (1) is used to make a cell of a pressure sensor and the cell is included in a shell of a pressure sensor.

Abstract: Membrane (24) of a shell (20) of a pressure sensor, having an upper and lower chamber (34, 23), wherein the membrane is made by a support wall (36) and a cap (41) having an upper and lower sheets (31, 32), the support wall having a central aperture (33), the support wall separating but for its central aperture the lower from the upper chamber, the lower sheet (32) having a central aperture (38), edges of the central apertures (33, 38) of the support wall (36) and of the lower sheet (32) respectively being welded to one another, peripheries (37) of the upper and lower sheet (31, 32) being welded to one another so that a volume (40) is present between said upper and lower sheets (31, 32), said volume being in the upper chamber (34) and communicating through the central apertures (33, 38) of the support wall (36) and of the lower sheet (32) respectively, with the lower chamber (23).

Abstract: To acquire data such as the flow rate of various phases of a fluid flowing in a hydrocarbon well (12) in production, in particular in an inclined or horizontal portion of the well, both the local speed of the fluid and the proportions of the various phases are determined in each of at least two distinct regions of the well that are not in alignment with one another parallel to the axis of the well. The regions in which the measurements are taken are advantageously distributed in a vertical plane containing the axis of the well when the well is inclined or horizontal.

Abstract: A well for producing oil from an underground formation, comprises a vertical section extending from the surface to a depth below the oil-producing formation; a sidetrack or perforated interval (production zone) extending from the vertical section into the oil-producing formation; and a valve, located in the well, and operable to prevent flow of fluid from the vertical section into the production zone and a valve to prevent flow of fluid from the portion below the production zone into the production zone or into the vertical section above the production zone.

Abstract: A pumping system (13) for oil wells (1) comprises a pump (20) immersed at the bottom of the well (4) and a flow-meter (32) associated with the pump (20), the immersed pump (20) being supplied by an electric supply source (26). The flow-meter (32) is an electromagnetic flow-meter, also electrically supplied by the supply source (26) of the pump.

Abstract: The invention relates to an optical feedthrough including an optical fiber (11) and a protective tube (10) surrounding said fiber. In the invention, a seal (6) extends inside the annular space between the protective tube and the optical fiber, the length of said seal being greater than 50 mm.

Abstract: The invention concerns an optical fibre connector (15, 18) for high pressure (P) environments. Said connector comprises means for maintaining (1, 2, 19b) the respective ends of the fibres, facing one another. The invention is characterised in that it further comprises a sleeve (3) enclosing the fibre ends, and a translucent gel (4), provided in the sleeve to soak the space (4b) separating the fibre ends (15, 18). Moreover, by maintaining itself by capillary action in said space (4b) the gel seals off the connection with environment. The ambient pressure (P) then acts on one free end of the sleeve (3) while maintaining the gel (4) in the sleeve.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for determining the nature of a formation (11) at the bottom (8) of a drilling well (4), the well (4) being equipped with a drill string (2) fitted with a drilling tool (14) and filled with a drilling fluid (18) circulating within the well (4) from inside to outside said drill string (2).

Abstract: The invention relates to an optical feedthrough including an optical fiber (11) and a protective tube (10) surrounding said fiber. In the invention, a seal (6) extends inside the annular space between the protective tube and the optical fiber, the length of said seal being greater than 50 mm.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of measuring pressure in which an evacuated capsule (1) containing a resonant element (5) is placed in the fluid whose pressure is to be measured, a vibration characteristic of the element is measured, and the pressure is deduced from said characteristic. A resonant element is used which, during measurement, is to be found in a stress state that is close to buckling. For this purpose, it is possible to use heater means for heating the element and servo-controlled so as to keep the frequency of vibration thereof constant. The resonant element can be made of silicon. The invention is particularly applicable to oil wells.

Abstract: A method for producing, in a hydrocarbon well, a signal indicative of a local flow parameter of a multiphase fluid, includes the steps of placing at least one local sensor in the fluid and producing a signal whose level is characteristic of the phase in which the sensor is immersed, the signal being generated at a spike whose radius of curvature is less than 100 microns. The method is applicable to determining hold-ups of different phases of the fluid.

Abstract: A pressure sensor (20) comprises a deformable diaphragm (22) which closes a fluid passage (18) in sealed manner. In order to protect the diaphragm (22) from shocks, the passage includes a restriction (44) whose dimensions are so designed as to limit the pressure peak applied to the diaphragm to a cutoff value which the diaphragm can withstand. The restriction (44) may be formed in a detachable capillary tube (42) or it may be in the form of grooves in a small silicon plate integrated in the active portion of the sensor.

Abstract: An electrical circuit such as a Wheatstone bridge has a conductive strip extending between a current input terminal and a current output terminal and includes two resistors having a connecting part therebetween, a conductive segment extending between the connecting part and a measuring terminal, the connecting part being formed as a wider portion of the conductive strip in the direction of the conductive segment, the conductive segment having an adjusting portion between the connecting part and the measuring terminal.