Petroleum Indicator by Electric Relaxation

72681S03-I When drilling oil wells, it is necessary to determine both the fluid flow rate at the instant the fluid actually begins to enter the hole, and the fluid composition at the bit. Such information allows for safer drilling operations and can save both time and money. Consequently, oil drill operators need real-time surveillance of rugged downhole conditions and real-time transmission of information about the hole. Unfortunately, electronic sensor components cannot survive the drilling-hole environment. This project will develop a petroleum indicator based on the time-domain measurement of the dielectric polarization in the liquid (mud, oil or mixture of them) as it flows through a tubular capacitive probe near the drilling bit. The proposed system will automatically calculate both the composition of the fluid contained in the testing volume and the speed of its flow. In Phase I, a laboratory prototype of the proposed petroleum indicator will be developed to demonstrate feasibility. Its range of application, in terms of oil/mud ratio and flow rate, will be determined. Phase II will develop the full-scale petroleum indicator system, culminating in the demonstration of the prototype. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by awardee: In addition to its downhole use in drilling control systems, the flow indicator should find use in virtually any fluid or quasi-fluid technology. It should benefit gas and oil drilling, power plants, and chemical and biotechnology operations. It also could enable the monitoring of flows of aggressive liquids or gas substances passing through chemically stable, non-conducting tubes.