Patent ID: 7430903
Filing Date: 2008-10-07
Classification: E21B,G01F,G01K,G01P

Abstract:
1. A method of monitoring fluid flow comprising: providing an optical fibre having a heatable coating comprising optically absorbing material, the heatable coating provided as a layer around the outer surface of the optical fibre extending axially along the optical fibre; disposing the optical fibre so that the heatable coating is in thermal contact with flowing fluid; heating the heatable coating, by exposing the heatable coating to light at a wavelength that is absorbed by the optically absorbing material, so that heat is transferred from the coating to the fluid; launching light into the optical fibre; detecting light from the optical fibre; processing the detected light to obtain information indicative of the temperature of the heatable coating, where the temperature of the heatable coating depends on the flow; and using the information indicative of the temperature of the heatable coating to derive information about the flow.