Patent ID: 8754374
Filing Date: 2014-06-17
Classification: G01F

Abstract:
1. For use with a separation tank having an inlet nozzle and a weir, materials from oil well drilling including sand, water, emulsion, and oil are caused to flow through the inlet nozzle into the separation tank and over the weir, a system to completely measure multiple densities in the separation tank, comprising: a. the oil and other materials pass over the weir and are separated, the heaviest material which is sand falls to a lowest level, the second heaviest material which is water falls to a next higher level, the third heaviest material which is emulsion flows to the next higher level, the lightest material which is oil floats on a top level; b. sensors are placed in an array around the separation tank, with each individual sensor aligned with a given level, a first sensor aligned with the lowest level and having its flow through opening at its distal end aligned with the sand, a second sensor aligned with the next higher level which is the water level and having its flow through opening at its distal end with the water, a third sensor aligned with the next higher emulsion level and having its flow through opening at its distal end aligned with the emulsion, and a fourth sensor aligned with the highest level which is the oil level and having its flow through opening aligned with oil; c. each individual sensor is completely independent from all other sensors and is able to have its electronic measurement section removed separately without affecting the outputs of any other sensor in the system and additionally allowing the balance of the system to maintain complete operation; d. each sensor includes a photo-multiplier, and a flange to individually retain the sensor to the separation tank; e. each sensor is comprised of its own nuclear shutoff provision to allow each electronic section to be removed safely for servicing or complete replacement without shutting down the system or any requirement to empty the separation tank for service; f. the flow through of each section of each sensor is equipped with tubing and nozzles to clean the nuclear source surface during operation to maintain the best possible reading of the sensor; and g. each sensor is connected to a computer readout which receives a reading from the sensor to determine the density of a material at location of the layer where a sensor is located, the density determining whether the material is sand, water, emulsion or oil.