Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for monitoring a fluid having one or more adulterants therein. One method of monitoring the fluid includes containing the fluid within a flow path, the fluid including at least one adulterant present therein, optically interacting at least one integrated computational element with the fluid, thereby generating optically interacted light, receiving with at least one detector the optically interacted light, and generating with the at least one detector an output signal corresponding to a characteristic of the at least one adulterant in the fluid.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for inspecting and monitoring an inner surface of a pipeline. One system includes a pig arranged within the pipeline, the pipeline being divided into first and second radial divisions, and first and second sets of optical computing devices arranged on the pig adjacent the inner surface of the pipeline, the first set being configured to monitor a first substance on the first radial division and the second set being configured to monitor a second substance on the second radial division. Each optical computing device includes an integrated computational element configured to optically interact with the first or second substance and thereby generate optically interacted light, and at least one detector arranged to receive the optically interacted light and generate an output signal corresponding to a characteristic of the first or second substance.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for analyzing a flow of a fluid at two or more discrete locations to determine the concentration of a substance therein. One method of determining a characteristic of a fluid may include containing a fluid within a flow path that provides at least a first monitoring location and a second monitoring location, generating a first output signal corresponding to the characteristic of the fluid at the first monitoring location with a first optical computing device, generating a second output signal corresponding to the characteristic of the fluid at the second monitoring location with a second optical computing device, receiving first and second output signals from the first and second optical computing devices, respectively, with a signal processor, and determining a difference between the first and second output signals with the signal processor.

Abstract: Disclosed is a portable handheld characteristic analyzer used to analyze chemical compositions in or near real-time. One method of using the analyzer to determine a characteristic of a sample includes directing the handheld characteristic analyzer at the sample, the handheld characteristic analyzer having at least one integrated computational element arranged therein, activating the handheld characteristic analyzer, thereby optically interacting the at least one integrated computational element with the sample and generating optically interacted light, receiving the optically interacted light with at least one detector arranged within the handheld characteristic analyzer, generating an output signal corresponding to the characteristic of the sample with the at least one detector, receiving the output signal with a signal processor communicably coupled to the at least one detector, and determining the characteristic of the sample with the signal processor.

Abstract: Disclosed is a portable handheld characteristic analyzer used to analyze chemical compositions in or near real-time. The analyzer may include a portable housing, at least one optical computing device arranged within the portable housing for monitoring a sample, the at least one optical computing device having at least one integrated computational element configured to optically interact with the sample and thereby generate optically interacted light, at least one detector arranged to receive the optically interacted light and generate an output signal corresponding to a characteristic of the sample, and a signal processor communicably coupled to the at least one detector for receiving the output signal, the signal processor being configured to determine the characteristic of the sample and provide a resulting output signal indicative of the characteristic of the sample.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for monitoring chemical reaction processes in or near real-time. One method may include containing a fluid within a flow path, the fluid having a chemical reaction occurring therein, optically interacting at least one integrated computational element with the fluid, thereby generating optically interacted light, and producing an output signal based on the optically interacted light that corresponds to a characteristic of the chemical reaction.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for analyzing an oil/gas separation process. One method includes conveying a fluid to a fluid separator coupled to a flow path, the fluid separator having an inlet and a discharge conduit, generating a first output signal corresponding to a characteristic of the fluid adjacent the inlet with a first optical computing device, generating a second output signal corresponding to the characteristic of the fluid adjacent the discharge conduit with a second optical computing device, receiving the first and second output signals with a signal processor communicably, and generating a resulting output signal with the signal processor indicative of how the characteristic of the fluid changed between the inlet and the discharge conduit.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for inspecting and monitoring an inner surface of a pipeline. One system includes a pig arranged within the pipeline, the pipeline being divided into first and second radial divisions, and first and second sets of optical computing devices arranged on the pig adjacent the inner surface of the pipeline, the first set being configured to monitor a first substance on the first radial division and the second set being configured to monitor a second substance on the second radial division. Each optical computing device includes an integrated computational element configured to optically interact with the first or second substance and thereby generate optically interacted light, and at least one detector arranged to receive the optically interacted light and generate an output signal corresponding to a characteristic of the first or second substance.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for inspecting and monitoring an inner surface of a pipeline. One system includes a pig arranged within the pipeline and having a housing that defines a conduit therein for providing fluid communication through the pig, one or more optical computing devices arranged on the conduit for monitoring a bypass fluid flowing through the conduit. The one or more optical computing devices including at least one integrated computational element configured to optically interact with the bypass fluid and generate optically interacted light, and at least one detector arranged to receive the optically interacted light and generate an output signal corresponding to a characteristic of the bypass fluid. A signal processor is communicably coupled to the at least one detector of each optical computing device for receiving the corresponding output signals and determining the characteristic of the fluid.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for inspecting and monitoring an inner surface of a pipeline. One system includes a pig arranged within the pipeline and having first and second ends, one or more optical computing devices arranged on at least one of the first and second ends for monitoring a fluid within the pipeline. The optical computing devices including at least one integrated computational element configured to optically interact with the fluid and thereby generate optically interacted light, and at least one detector arranged to receive the optically interacted light and generate an output signal corresponding to a characteristic of the fluid. The system also includes a signal processor communicably coupled to the at least one detector of each optical computing device for receiving the output signal of each optical computing device and determining the characteristic of the fluid as detected by each optical computing device.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for monitoring chemical reaction processes in or near real-time. One method may include containing a fluid within a flow path, the fluid having a chemical reaction occurring therein, optically interacting at least one integrated computational element with the fluid, thereby generating optically interacted light, and producing an output signal based on the optically interacted light that corresponds to a characteristic of the chemical reaction.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for inspecting and monitoring an inner surface of a pipeline. One system includes a pig arranged within the pipeline, one or more optical computing devices arranged on the pig adjacent the inner surface of the pipeline for monitoring at least one substance present on the inner surface. The optical computing devices include at least one integrated computational element configured to optically interact with the at least one substance and thereby generate optically interacted light, and at least one detector arranged to receive the optically interacted light and generate an output signal corresponding to a characteristic of the at least one substance. A signal processor is communicably coupled to the at least one detector of each optical computing device for receiving the output signal of each optical computing device and determining the characteristic of the at least one substance.

Abstract: Disclosed is a portable handheld characteristic analyzer used to analyze chemical compositions in or near real-time. One method of using the analyzer to determine a characteristic of a sample includes directing the handheld characteristic analyzer at the sample, the handheld characteristic analyzer having at least one integrated computational element arranged therein, activating the handheld characteristic analyzer, thereby optically interacting the at least one integrated computational element with the sample and generating optically interacted light, receiving the optically interacted light with at least one detector arranged within the handheld characteristic analyzer, generating an output signal corresponding to the characteristic of the sample with the at least one detector, receiving the output signal with a signal processor communicably coupled to the at least one detector, and determining the characteristic of the sample with the signal processor.

Abstract: Disclosed is a portable handheld characteristic analyzer used to analyze chemical compositions in or near real-time. The analyzer may include a portable housing, at least one optical computing device arranged within the portable housing for monitoring a sample, the at least one optical computing device having at least one integrated computational element configured to optically interact with the sample and thereby generate optically interacted light, at least one detector arranged to receive the optically interacted light and generate an output signal corresponding to a characteristic of the sample, and a signal processor communicably coupled to the at least one detector for receiving the output signal, the signal processor being configured to determine the characteristic of the sample and provide a resulting output signal indicative of the characteristic of the sample.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for monitoring an oceanic environment for hazardous substances. One system includes one or more subsea equipment arranged in an oceanic environment, and at least one optical computing device arranged on or near the one or more subsea equipment for monitoring the oceanic environment. The at least one optical computing device may have at least one integrated computational element configured to optically interact with the oceanic environment and thereby generate optically interacted light. At least one detector may be arranged to receive the optically interacted light and generate an output signal corresponding to a characteristic of the oceanic environment.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for monitoring a fluid having one or more adulterants therein. One method of monitoring the fluid includes containing the fluid within a flow path, the fluid including at least one adulterant present therein, optically interacting at least one integrated computational element with the fluid, thereby generating optically interacted light, receiving with at least one detector the optically interacted light, and generating with the at least one detector an output signal corresponding to a characteristic of the at least one adulterant in the fluid.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for analyzing an oil/gas separation process. One method includes conveying a fluid to a fluid separator coupled to a flow path, the fluid separator having an inlet and a discharge conduit, generating a first output signal corresponding to a characteristic of the fluid adjacent the inlet with a first optical computing device, generating a second output signal corresponding to the characteristic of the fluid adjacent the discharge conduit with a second optical computing device, receiving the first and second output signals with a signal processor communicably, and generating a resulting output signal with the signal processor indicative of how the characteristic of the fluid changed between the inlet and the discharge conduit.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for analyzing an oil/gas separation process. One disclosed system includes a flow path containing a fluid, a fluid separator coupled to the flow path and having an inlet for receiving the fluid and a discharge conduit for discharging the fluid after having undergone a separation process in the fluid separator, an optical computing device having an integrated computational element configured to optically interact with the fluid before the fluid enters the fluid separator and after the fluid exits the fluid separator and thereby generate optically interacted light, and at least one detector arranged to receive the optically interacted light and generate an output signal corresponding to a characteristic of the fluid.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for analyzing a flow of a fluid at two or more discrete locations to determine the concentration of a substance therein. One method of determining a characteristic of a fluid may include containing a fluid within a flow path that provides at least a first monitoring location and a second monitoring location, generating a first output signal corresponding to the characteristic of the fluid at the first monitoring location with a first optical computing device, generating a second output signal corresponding to the characteristic of the fluid at the second monitoring location with a second optical computing device, receiving first and second output signals from the first and second optical computing devices, respectively, with a signal processor, and determining a difference between the first and second output signals with the signal processor.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for monitoring a fluid for the purpose of identifying microbiological content and/or microorganisms and determining the effectiveness of a microbiological treatment. One method of monitoring a fluid includes containing the fluid within a flow path, the fluid including at least one microorganism present therein, optically interacting electromagnetic radiation from the fluid with at least one integrated computational element, thereby generating optically interacted light, receiving with at least one detector the optically interacted light, and generating with the at least one detector an output signal corresponding to a characteristic of the fluid, the characteristic of the fluid being a concentration of the at least one microorganism within the fluid.