Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SAMPLING A FLUID FROM A r~7ELL
~D~76,641-FB)
BACXGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Previous to this invention, to get a fluid sample a
person was required to go the the wellhead and wait the
required period of time between samples before getting a
meaningful or desired sample of well fluid, as a two-phase
fluid. This was very time consuming, costly, and unreliable in
that exact timing was difficult to achieve among other
problems. These problems prompted the design of the disclosed
method and apparatus for sampling a liquid from a well that
will automatically capture for analysis produced well fluid, as
oil for example, at specific time intervals, for detection of
injected chemical solutions, for example, for indicating the
arrival of the multi-phase well fluid containing one or more
chemical species, as polymers, surfactants, tracers, or
treating chemicals at the well. The oil samples may likewise
be analyzed for the presence of surfactants. Thus, the
disclosed sampler more accurately measures each fluid sample
for conservation of well fluid and thus requiring discharge of
less waste oil that damages the environment from the single
well. Particularly, the time of arrival and the time variation
of concentration of the injected chemical solution at the
producing well may be determined.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
A primary object of this invention is to provide a
new method and apparatus for obtaining a plurality of fluid
samples from a fluid source, in plurality of sample containers
to be filled, respectively, one after- another, periodically,
from the fluid source.
Another object of this invention is to provide an
improved method and apparatus for obtaining samples of well
fluid, particulaxly a multi-phase fluid product containlng
chemical species from a well, that is more accurate and more
precise.
A further object of this invention is to provide a
new method and apparatus for obtaining samples of well fluid
from the well in a different prearranged order other than
numerical consecutive order for security purposes.
A still further object of this invention is to
provide a method and apparatus for sampling fluid from a well
that is easy to operate, comprises simple steps, is economical
to carry out, and is of greater efficiency for the collection
of samples of the well fluid.
Other objects and various advantages of the disclosed
method and apparatus for sampling fluid from a well will be
apparent from the following detailed description, together with
the accompanying drawings, submitted for purposes of
illustration only and not intended to define the scope of the
invention, reference being made for that purpose to the
subjoined claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF T~E DRAWINGS
The drawings diagrammatically illustrate by way of
example, not by way of limitation, one form of the invention
wherein like referenc~ numerals designate corresponding parts
in the several views in which:
Fig. 1 is a schematic diagrammatic plan view of the
time interval automatic well fluid sampler for sampling one
well at a time, continuously, one of a field of oil wells;
Fig. 2 is a schematic diagrammatic vertical sectional
view of the time interval automatic well fluid sampler for
sampling one well at a time, continuously, of a field of oil
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wells;
Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken at 3-3 on Fig. 2;
Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken at 4-4 ~n Fig. 2
The invention disclosed herein, the scope of which
being defined in the appended claims is not limited in its
application to the details of construction and arrangement of
parts shown and described, since the invention is capable of
other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in
various other ways. Also, it is to be understood that the
phraseology or terminology employed here is for the purpose of
description and not of limitation. Further, many modifications
and variations of the invention as hereinbefore set forth will
occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, all such
modifications and variations which are within the spirit and
scope of the i~vention herein are included and only such
limitations should be imposed as are indicated in the appended
2~ claims.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
This invention comprising a method and apparatus for
obtaining samples of well fluid, particularly a multi-phase
fluid product containing chemical species from a well, as
produced oil-water well fluid, for example, for determining the
specific time of arrival of injected chemical solutions at a
producing well from an injection well.
A mechanism for practicing the above method is
disclosed after the description of these methods.
Basically, the method for sampling fluids from a
fluid source such as a well or a supply line, comprises, (1)
injecting the sample fluid source (21) through a plurality of
valves 114a-14f) on a plurality of fluid sample containers
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(12a-12f), and
(2) controlling the flow of the fluids, responsive
to a timing switch means (16) through the valves into the fluid
sample containers to be filled, consecutively, one after
another, from the on~ fluid source, for providing an improved
method that is more accurate and more precise.
As applied to a producing well as a source of fluid,
another basic method may be
(1) injecting the fluid from the well (21) into a
plurality of sample container means (12a-12f), each container
means having an inlet valve (14a-14f), and
(2) Controlling khe flow of the well fluid from the
well through the valves responsive to a switch means (16) into-
the fluid sample containers to be filled consecutively, one
after another, and periodically, at predete~mined periods of
~0 time, for improved accuracy and precision of operation of the
fluid sampling.
For greater details, the first step in the above two
methods may comprise:
(1) flowing a multi-phase fluid product repeatedly
xom the fluid source or injection well (21) into the fluid
sampl~ containers (12a-12f) for detecting the change with time
of khe chemical concentrations of the flowing multi-phase fluid
product after arriving at the producing well from an injection
well whereby analysis of the sample provides reservoir
description.
Or the first step of the above two basic methods may
comprise.
(1) flowing multi-phase fluid from the fluid source
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or producing well (21) throuyh a plurality of solenoid valv s
(14a-14f) on the plurality of fluid sample containers (l2a-l2f)
for detecting the change with time of th~ ch2mical
concentrations of the flowing multi-phase chemical product
after arriving at the producing well from an injection well.
The above multi-phase fluid method may be recited in
greater detail by adding step (2) thus,
(2) controlling the flow of the multi-phase well
fluid through the solenoid valves (14a-14f) into the fluid
sample containers (12a-12f), responsive to a stepping switch
means (16), to be filled in consecutive order and periodically
for predetermined periods of time from the well providing an
impxoved method for sampling well fluids that is more accurate
and more precise.
Likewise, the above second step may be modified
comprising:
(2) controlling the flow of well fluid through the
valves (14a-14f) into the fluid sample containers (12a-12f)
responsive to an el~ctrical timing means (16) for controlling
the selection of different sample containers in consecutive
order, one after another, to be filled periodically, for
predetermined precise periods of time, from the well.
In addition, the second step may be modified as
follows:
(2) injecting the multi-phase fluid from the fluid
source of injection well (21) from the solenoid valves
(14a-14f) responsive to the stepping swi~ch means (16) into
different sample containers (12b, 12d, 12a, etc.) periodically,
from the well in a different prearranged order other than
numerical consecutive order for security proposes.
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DESCRIPTION OF A SAMPLER FOR CARRYIMG OUT THE A~O~IE METHO~S
While various devices may be utilized for carrying
out or practicing the inventi~-e methods of the a~ove identified
patent application, Figs. 1-4 illustrate at least one,
inventive apparatus for practicing the methods described above.
Fig. 1 discloses a schematic diagrammatic plan view
of the time interval automatic well fluid sampler 10 for taking
fluid samples from any one of a plurality of wells. While this
sampler has many uses, it is designed particularly for
detecting the precise time of arrival of an injected chemical
solution in a particular producing well from an injection well
of a field of wells, for example, and/or the precise time of
arrival of particular concentrations thereof thereafter.
Fig. 2-4 are enlarged views of the sampler 10.
Sampler 10 illustrated in Figs. 1-4, comprises a
housing 11 enclosing six (6~ sample bottles 12a, 12b, 12e, and
12f, Fig. 2, and an inlet solenoid valve 14a-14f, Fig. 1, on
each of the bottles for controlling its respective valve on
each bottle supplied from supply and exhaust line 20. A
pressure regulator valve 30 on line 20 always maintains the
well fluid entering the sampler at a constant pressure and
volume. Another solenoid valve 15 on line 20 purges the piping
system of previous fluid prior to sampling. A stepping switch
16 in the electrical control panel box 23, Fig. 2, operates
each of the valves in the order desired, as in numerical
sequence from one well when awaiting the arrival of injected
chemical tracer or solution, for example, and then after it
arrives, determination of the arrival time of the various
concentrations may be required from each sample taken
thereafter.
Three timers are utilized for controlling the flow of
well fluid, electrsnic interval timer 17, Fig. 1, electronic
sample timer 18, and time delay relay purging timer 19.
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Interval timer _ , Fig. 1, controls the time betwe n
samples by controlling each respective inlet valve 14a to 14f.
With pressure regulator valve 30 always insuring a
constant pressure fluid to the valves, sampler timer 18, Fig.
1, controls each respective inlet valve 14a to 14f for filling
its sample bottle 12a to 1 , respectively, exactly with a
predPtermined amount of well fluid. This is an important
feature of the invention. In that respect, if the sample
fluids have to be discarded, having a sample only large enough
for testing with no extra amount to dispose of means the sample
is easier to discard with less pollution of the environment.
Purging timer 19, Fig. 1, controls the main supply
and exhaust line 20 from the well 21 which supplies oil to the
production manifold 22. Thus~ timer 19 purges the main exhaust
line 20 by a precise predetermined amount just prior to filling
of the next bottle.
Fig. 2-4 provide more details of the time interval
automatic well fluid sampler 10.
Fig. 2, a vertical sectional view of the sampler 10
shows at least two bottles 12b and 12c for receiving a sample
each of the well fluid from the one well 21, Fig. 1, and two of
the timers, interval timer 17, Fig. 2, and sample timer 18.
All conventional electrical wiring between the timers and
solenoid valves to permit them to operate as described above is
deleted on this Fig. 2 for clarity of disclosure. Example
intervals timers may be ones set for intervals of .1 to 999.9
seconds, .1 to 999.9 minutes, or .1 to 999.9 hours for plugging
in the housing 10, the first being preferred in seconds.
Electrical panel 23 is illustrated on the left side of the
sampler 10. Carrying handles 27a and 17b are screwed on the
top of the sampler 10.
Lights 29a-29f, Fig. 2, indicate which sample bottle
is being filled.
Fig. 3, a sectional view at 3-3 on Fib. 2,
illustrates the third timer, purge timer 19 on the electrical
panel _ . Stepping switch 16 with its accompanying rectifier
24 is mounted to control panel 23 and thus interconnected to
the other two timers for operating as described above
(interconnections not shown). Fig. 3 likewise shows brackets
25b and 25c for supporting their respective sample bottles 12b
and 12c behind which are mounted solenoid valves, one valve
each, connected to each bottle, valve 14b being illustrated as
mounted to a base plate 26 in housing 11 for filling sample
bottle 12b.
Fig. 4, a sectional view at 4-4 on Fig. 2,
illustrates sample bottle 1 mounted in the housing 11 with
bracket 2 . Solenoid valve 14b is shown mounted to base plate
26 in the housing 11 for being connected to its sample bottle
12b for precisely controlling the filling thereof. an
important feature of the invention is that a valve 14b, for
example, is maintained constant in the housing 11 with pressure
regulator valve 30 despite any variations in fluid pressures
from the well. Thus the valve is controlled by the timers to
close only after the precise amount of well fluid has passed
through the valve into the sample bottle.
While only six sample bottles are illus~rated,
obviously any suitable numb~r may be utilized.
Briefly in operation, after the well fluid supply
lines 20 and 22, Fig. 2, are connected to the automatic sampler
10, activation of the main power switch 28, Fig. 2 is
accomplished, and the supply line 20 from the well is purged by
purging timer operating purging solenoid valve 15 responsive to
interval time 17. The desired interval of time is programmed
into the interval timer and it signals the sampling timer 18
for beginning to fill the first sample bottle 12a
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simultaneously with closing of the purging valve 15 ~en the
first sample bottle 12a is filled and the inlet valve 14a
closed, the interval timer 17 delays for its preset time be'ore
activating the purging timer 19 for operating the purging valve
15. Then the interval timer 17 indexes the stepping switch 16
one position forward to permit the next or appropriate sample
bottle 12b to be filled at the end of the purging cycle. After
the proper time delay, the sampling timer 18 activates the next
or appropriate solenoid valve 14b for filling sample bottle 12b
while simultaneously closing the purging valve 15. Upon
precise filling of the second sample bottle 12b, sample timer
18 controls the precise filling of the second sample bottle 12b
through solenoid valve mechanism 14b~ The instant this second
bottle is filled, then interval timer 17 is activated to start
lS on the next timing cycle. This automatic cycling is repeated
until the sampler 10 is manually shut down with the main power
switch _ .
Accordingly precise filling or measuring of each
sample results in the least amount of sample to dispose of that
may damage the environment, an important feature of the
invention.
Instead of filling the sample bottles in numerical,
consecutive order of 12a to 12f, the stepping switch may be
preset to ano~her prearranged order other than consecutive
order for industrial security purposes, another feature of the
invention.
Thus, each of the three interval, sample, and purging
timers, 17-19, and the stepping switch 16 may be adjusted or
varied for ease of adjustment of various portions of the whole
cycle, another feature of the invention.
From the above, accurate timing results in obtaining
the periodic samples of a multi-phase fluid product containing
. chemical species, for example, whose production changes with
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time, and chemical analysis of the samples provides reservoir
description. The arrival of various chemicals in production
wells from injection wells may indicate the speed of travel
through the formation among other characteristics.
Accordingly, it will be seen that the disclosed
methods of sampling a fluid from a well will operate in a
manner which meets each of the objects set forth hereinbefore.
While only a few methods of the invention and one
mechanism for carrying out the methods have been disclosed, it
will be evident that various other methods and modifications
are possible in the arrangement and construction of the
disclosed methods and fluid sampling sy~em without departing
from the scope of the invention and it is accordingly desired
to comprehend within the purview of this invention such
modifications as may be considered to fall within the scope of
the appended claims.
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