Sensor assembly for determining fluid properties in a subsurface well

Abstract

A sensor assembly ( 51 ) for sensing one or more fluid properties of a fluid in a subsurface well ( 12 ) having a well fluid level ( 42 W), a surface region ( 32 ) and a riser pipe ( 30 ) includes a sensor apparatus ( 52 ) and a pump assembly ( 54 ) that are positioned within the well ( 12 ). The sensor apparatus ( 52 ) includes a sensor ( 682 ) that senses one of the fluid properties. The pump assembly ( 54 ) can be positioned in an in-line manner relative to the sensor apparatus ( 52 ). The pump assembly ( 54 ) can be positioned between the sensor apparatus ( 52 ) and the surface region ( 32 ). Alternatively, the sensor apparatus ( 52 ) can be positioned between the pump assembly ( 54 ) and the surface region ( 32 ). In one embodiment, the sensor apparatus ( 52 ) is positioned above the well fluid level ( 42 W). The pump assembly ( 54 ) can pump fluid toward the sensor apparatus ( 52 ) or the pump assembly ( 54 ) can pump fluid to draw more fluid to the sensor apparatus ( 52 ). The pump assembly ( 54 ) can be a two-line, two-valve pump that is removable from the riser pipe ( 30 ). The sensor assembly ( 51 ) can include a controller ( 17 ) that receives data from the sensor ( 682 ) regarding one of the fluid properties of the fluid.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fluid monitoring system for monitoring one or more fluid properties of a fluid in a subsurface well having a well fluid level, the subsurface well including a surface region and a riser pipe that extends in a generally downward direction from the surface region, the fluid monitoring system comprising:
 a sensor apparatus that is positioned within the subsurface well, the sensor apparatus being configured to sense the one or more fluid properties of the fluid; and   a pump assembly that is positioned nearer to the surface region than the sensor apparatus within the subsurface well, the pump assembly being mechanically connected to and spaced apart from the sensor apparatus, the pump assembly being configured to move the fluid along the sensor apparatus, the pump assembly moving the fluid toward the surface region.   
     
     
         2 . The fluid monitoring system of  claim 1  wherein the pump assembly is positioned in an inline manner with the sensor apparatus. 
     
     
         3 . The fluid monitoring system of  claim 1  wherein at east a portion of the pump assembly is positioned below the well fluid level within the subsurface well. 
     
     
         4 . The fluid monitoring system of  claim 1  wherein the sensor apparatus includes a sensor that is configured to sense the one or more fluid properties of the fluid. 
     
     
         5 . The fluid monitoring system of  claim 4  wherein the pump assembly is adapted to draw fluid from outside the sensor apparatus to proximate the sensor so that the sensor can sense the one or more of the fluid properties of the fluid. 
     
     
         6 . The fluid monitoring system of  claim 4  wherein the sensor apparatus includes an apparatus housing having a housing inlet and a housing outlet, and wherein the sensor is positioned substantially within the apparatus housing between the housing inlet and the housing outlet. 
     
     
         7 . The fluid monitoring system of  claim 1  wherein the pump assembly includes one of a two-line, two-valve pump, an electric submersible pump and a bladder pump. 
     
     
         8 . The fluid monitoring system of  claim 1  wherein the sensor apparatus includes a Fiber Bragg Grating sensor. 
     
     
         9 . The fluid monitoring system of  claim 1  further comprising a controller that receives data from the sensor apparatus regarding one of the fluid properties of the fluid while the sensor apparatus is positioned within the subsurface well. 
     
     
         10 . The fluid monitoring system of  claim 9  wherein the controller is positioned outside of the riser pipe of the subsurface well. 
     
     
         11 . The fluid monitoring system of  claim 1  wherein one of the fluid properties is selected from the group consisting of an electrical property, an optical property, an acoustical property, a chemical property and a hydraulic property. 
     
     
         12 . The fluid monitoring system of  claim 1  further comprising a conduit that couples the sensor apparatus to the pump assembly, the conduit being configured to guide movement of the fluid between the sensor apparatus and the pump assembly. 
     
     
         13 . A fluid monitoring system for monitoring one or more fluid properties of a fluid in a subsurface well having a well fluid level, the subsurface well including a surface region and a riser pipe that extends in a generally downward direction from the surface region, the fluid monitoring system comprising:
 a sensor apparatus that is positioned within the subsurface well, the sensor apparatus being configured to sense the one or more fluid properties of the fluid;   a pump assembly that is positioned nearer to the surface region than the sensor apparatus within the subsurface well, the pump assembly being configured to move the fluid along the sensor apparatus, the pump assembly moving the fluid toward the surface region; and   a conduit that couples the sensor apparatus to the pump assembly, the conduit being configured to guide movement of the fluid between the sensor apparatus and the pump assembly.   
     
     
         14 . The fluid monitoring system of  claim 13  wherein the pump assembly is spaced apart from the sensor apparatus. 
     
     
         15 . The fluid monitoring system of  claim 13  wherein the pump assembly is positioned in an inline manner with the sensor apparatus. 
     
     
         16 . The fluid monitoring system of  claim 13  wherein the sensor apparatus includes a sensor, and the pump assembly is adapted to draw fluid from outside the sensor apparatus to proximate the sensor so that the sensor can sense the one or more of the fluid properties of the fluid. 
     
     
         17 . The fluid monitoring system of  claim 13  wherein at least a portion of the pump assembly is positioned below the well fluid level within the subsurface well. 
     
     
         18 . The fluid monitoring system of  claim 13  further comprising a controller that receives data from the sensor apparatus regarding one of the fluid properties of the fluid while the sensor apparatus is positioned within the subsurface well. 
     
     
         19 . The fluid monitoring system of  claim 13  wherein one of the fluid properties is selected from the group consisting of an electrical property, an optical property, an acoustical property, a chemical property and a hydraulic property. 
     
     
         20 . A fluid monitoring system for monitoring one or more fluid properties of a fluid in a subsurface well having a well fluid level, the subsurface well including a surface region and a riser pipe that extends in a generally downward direction from the surface region, the fluid monitoring system comprising:
 a sensor apparatus that is positioned within the subsurface well, the sensor apparatus including a sensor that is configured to sense the one or more fluid properties of the fluid;   a pump assembly that is positioned nearer to the surface region than the sensor apparatus within the subsurface well, the pump assembly being mechanically connected to and spaced apart from the sensor apparatus, the pump assembly being positioned in an inline manner with the sensor apparatus, the pump assembly being configured to move the fluid along the sensor apparatus, the pump assembly moving the fluid toward the surface region;   a conduit that couples the sensor apparatus to the pump assembly, the conduit being configured to guide movement of the fluid between the sensor apparatus and the pump assembly; and   a controller that receives data from the sensor apparatus regarding one of the fluid properties of the fluid while the sensor apparatus is positioned within the subsurface well.