Patent ID: 8531189
Filing Date: 2013-09-10
Classification: G01B,G01N

Abstract:
1. A cement-expansion-measurement apparatus, comprising: (i) an expansion cell comprising two nodes separated by a slit, such that a change of the distance between the nodes may be correlated to a linear expansion of cement contained in the expansion cell; (ii) an outer expandable ring comprising the slit, wherein the slit is substantially parallel to a revolution axis of the expandable ring; (iii) an inner ring with a diameter smaller than the that of the outer expandable ring, a first chamber defined by the inner ring, simulating a wellbore, and a second chamber between the inner ring and the outer expandable ring for containing cement, simulating an annulus of the wellbore; (iv) a base plate and a top plate, the base and top plate comprising at least one hole to allow a fluid mixture to flow within the first chamber, and the top plate comprising at least one hole for injecting a cement slurry in the second chamber; (v) an electrical component coupled to the two nodes, the electrical component having an electrical property correlated to the distance; and (vi) an arrangement for measuring the electrical property continuously and in real time, thereby estimating the linear cement expansion as the cement expands is exposed to simulated downhole conditions.