ULTRASENSITIVE APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DETECTING CHANGE IN FLUID FLOW CONDITIONS IN A FLOWLINE OF A PRODUCING OIL WELL, OR THE LIKE

摘要

ULTRASENSITIVE APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DETECTING CHANGE IN FLUID FLOW CONDITIONS IN A FLOWLINE OF A PRODUCING OIL WELL, OR THE LIKE Transient change in heat flux due to ultrasmall variation in flow conditions, say from flow-to-no flow within a flowline of a wellhead connected to an oil well penetrating an earth formation, is surprisingly useful in pinpointing the occurrence of adverse "pump pounding" during the production cycle of the well. In one respect, the change in flux is monitored within each flowline using a heat flux transducer/ meter in series with a pump controller. Cascading the signal output, i.e. serially combining the outputs of N thermocouples the transducer/meter, enhances sensitivity. In a preferred case, N is about 80 but can be as high as 320, if desired.