Patent ID: 9335195
Filing Date: 2016-05-10
CPC Classification: G01F,G01N,G01R,G01V

Claim Text:
1. A method of determining an emulsion stability parameter of a multiphase fluid flowing in a tubular in order to determine a fluid flow rate, comprising: imparting a magnetic field on the multiphase fluid to align nuclei of the multiphase fluid along a direction of the magnetic field; transmitting a radio frequency signal into the multiphase fluid to excite the nuclei; detecting a signal from the nuclei responsive to the transmitted radio frequency signal; using a processor to: determine an amplitude of the detected signal; estimate a water cut of the multiphase fluid from the determined amplitude; determine a relaxation time of the detected signal; determine a viscosity of the multiphase fluid from the determined relaxation time of the detected signal; determine the emulsion stability parameter of the multiphase fluid from the determined viscosity, the estimated water cut and a curve that relates the viscosity, the water cut and the emulsion stability parameter; model the multiphase fluid with an emulsion characterized by the emulsion stability parameter; image a flow pattern of the multiphase fluid in the tubular using the emulsion model; determine a volume of the phase flowing in the tubular using the determined amplitude and an amplitude of a calibration signal; and determine the fluid flow rate from using one or more of the parameters determined above.