Patent ID: 7114386

Claim:
A method of determining flow rates in a multiphase fluid flowing in a well, comprising: positioning an apparatus in the well, said apparatus being provided with a main body portion that automatically lies in the bottom of the well when said well is inclined or horizontal the well having a longitudinal axis, the bottom of the well being deed by the bottom generator line of the inclined or horizontal well; providing said main body portion with a first pair of sensors, said pair comprising a speed sensor for measuring local speed of the flowing fluid and a proportion sensor for measuring local proportions of the flowing fluid; measuring with said first pair of sensors in the vicinity of said main body portion a first pair of measurements: (a) the local speed of the flowing fluid; and (b) the local proportions of the flowing fluid; measuring in a first region of the well a second pair of measurements: (c) the local speed of the flowing fluid in a first location of the well; and (d) the local proportions of the flowing fluid in a second location of the well, such that said first and second locations are in alignment with each other on a line parallel to the longitudinal axis of the well; measuring simultaneously in a second region of the well a third pair of measurements of said local speed and said local proportions, wherein the first and the second regions are in the same plane containing the longitudinal axis of the well.