Patent ID: 6427529
Filing Date: 2002-08-06
Classification: E21B,G01F,G01N

Abstract:
An apparatus for surveying a static fluid column, which contains an oil column and a brine column, in a cased oil well, and for measuring the volumes of an oil in the oil column and a brine in the brine column, the apparatus comprising:probe means for emersion through the oil column within the well at an observed rate of descent over a series of depths and with the probe means having a specific gravity greater than the oil but less than the brine, means for raising and lowering the probe means in the well, whereby the rate of descent of the probe means within the well when lowered into the well will noticeably slow once the probe means enters the oil column and will stop once the probe means encounters the brine column, and means for measuring the depth and rate of descent of the probe means within the well, such that, the depth at which the rate of descent of the probe means slows corresponds to the top of the oil column and the depth at which the rate of the descent of the probe means is zero corresponds to the top of the brine column.