Magnetoelastic Ribbon Water Cut Sensor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional water cut sensors in the oil and gas industry are either costly, heavy, intrusive, sensitive to water salinity, or incapable of accurately measuring the full range of water cuts without using radioactive materials, which poses regulatory and operational challenges.
Innovation Solution
A water cut sensor system utilizing a magnetoelastic ribbon and an inductive coil excited by an alternating current source, where the processor determines the water cut based on the resonant frequency of the magnetoelastic ribbon, offering a non-intrusive, low-power, and accurate measurement across a wide water cut range without radioactive energy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional water cut sensors use capacitive measurements or radio frequency resonator measurements, then measurement precision is improved, but use of energy increases and device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces electrical measurement systems (capacitive or radio frequency resonator measurements) with a magnetoelastic sensing system that uses magnetic field interaction with a magnetoelastic ribbon. The inductive coil generates a magnetic field that causes the magnetoelastic ribbon to vibrate at resonant frequencies, which are then detected and used to determine water cut. This substitution eliminates the need for continuous high-power electrical measurements while achieving accurate water cut detection through resonant frequency analysis.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs periodic excitation of the magnetoelastic ribbon by the inductive coil at resonant frequencies. Instead of continuous measurement, the system periodically excites the ribbon and detects its resonant response. This periodic action allows for accurate water cut measurement with significantly reduced energy consumption compared to continuous electrical measurement systems.
2Measurement precision
If conventional water cut sensors are made intrusive to improve measurement precision, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases and reliability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces intrusive electrical sensors with a non-intrusive magnetoelastic sensing system. The magnetoelastic ribbon is excited by an external inductive coil through magnetic field coupling without direct electrical contact with the emulsion. This non-intrusive approach eliminates corrosion issues from electrical contacts while maintaining measurement accuracy through resonant frequency detection that is sensitive to the emulsion's magnetic and mechanical properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a magnetoelastic ribbon as an intermediary between the inductive coil and the water/oil emulsion. The ribbon is excited by the magnetic field from the coil and its resonant frequency is modulated by the emulsion's properties. This intermediary approach allows indirect measurement of water cut without direct contact between sensing elements and the harsh emulsion environment, improving reliability while maintaining precision.
3Measurement precision
If gamma rays or X-rays are used to measure phase fraction, then measurement precision is improved, but object-generated harmful factors increase due to radioactive materials
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces radioactive gamma ray or X-ray measurement systems with a magnetoelastic sensing system that uses magnetic field interaction. Instead of using ionizing radiation to measure phase fraction, the system uses the resonant vibration of a magnetoelastic ribbon excited by an inductive coil. The resonant frequency is affected by the magnetic susceptibility and mechanical properties of the water/oil emulsion, providing accurate phase fraction measurement without any radioactive materials.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potentially harmful use of radioactive materials into a beneficial non-radioactive alternative by utilizing the magnetoelastic effect. The system leverages the magnetic properties of the emulsion components to modulate the resonant frequency of the magnetoelastic ribbon, turning what would be a harmful radiation-based measurement into a safe magnetic field-based measurement that achieves the same measurement precision without radioactive hazards.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system provides accurate water cut measurements across a 10%-100% range with low power consumption, resistance to corrosion, and the ability to detect all three phases (gas, water, and oil), ensuring reliable and efficient reservoir management with minimal environmental impact.
Implementation Method 1
an inductive coil arranged proximate to the magnetoelastic ribbon so that an electromagnetic field produced by the inductive coil electromagnetically excites the magnetoelastic ribbon
Implementation Method 2
A water cut sensor is provided that includes a magnetoelastic ribbon and an inductive coil arranged proximate to the magnetoelastic ribbon
Implementation Method 3
the processor is configured to determine the water cut of the water/oil emulsion based on a resonant frequency of the magnetoelastic ribbon
Data Source
AI summary
A system for determining a water cut of a water/oil emulsion includes a water cut sensor with a magnetoelastic ribbon, an inductive coil arranged proximate to the magnetoelastic ribbon so that an electromagnetic field produced by the inductive coil electromagnetically excites the magnetoelastic ribbon, and an alternating current source. A processor is configured to determine the water cut of the water/oil emulsion based on a resonant frequency of the magnetoelastic ribbon while the magnetoelastic ribbon is excited by the inductive coil. A feed line is coupled to the water cut sensor. The feed line includes an electrical coupling between the alternating current source and the inductive coil of the water cut sensor. The feedline includes an electrical coupling between the processor and the inductive coil of the water cut sensor or the processor is coupled to an acoustic sensor.