Gerald L Gardner

US Patent:

6355928, Mar 12, 2002

Filed:

Mar 31, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/282581

Inventors:

Neal G. Skinner - Lewisville TX
Gerald Gardner - Richmond TX
Margaret Waid - Houston TX
Wallace R. Gardner - Houston TX
John Minear - Houston TX

Assignee:

Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.

International Classification:

G01V 800

US Classification:

2502691, 25022727

Abstract:

This invention provides a method and an apparatus for fiber optic tomographic analysis and imaging of fluids. This invention includes a method for providing information on downhole fluid flowing in a hydrocarbon well, utilizing at least one downhole tomograph chamber ( ). Light is introduced into the tomograph chamber ( ) by an optical fiber bundle ( ), and portions of the light are collected in other optical fiber bundles ( ). The collected portions of light are conveyed through the optical fiber bundles ( ) to a surface system ( ), where the light is detected to produce signals proportional to the portions of light to provide information on optical properties of downhole fluid flowing in the well. This invention allows the generation of two or three dimensional images of multiple phase flow in the wellbore and allows determination of production parameters of multiple zones on an individual zone basis.