Production fluid monitoring system including a downhole acousting sensing system having a downhole pulsator

Abstract

A downhole acoustic sensing system includes a pulsator device configured and disposed to be arranged in a downhole environment, and a control system operatively connected to the pulsator device. The control system delivers at least one control input to the pulsator device to generate a sinusoidal acoustic signal.

1 . A downhole acoustic sensing system comprising:
 a pulsator device configured and disposed to be arranged in a downhole environment; and   a control system operatively connected to the pulsator device, the control system delivering at least one control input to the pulsator device to generate a sinusoidal acoustic signal.   
     
     
         2 . The downhole acoustic sensing system according to  claim 1 , wherein the pulsator device comprises a piston. 
     
     
         3 . The downhole acoustic sensing system according to  claim 2 , wherein the at least one control input includes a first control input configured and disposed to drive the piston in a first direction and a second control input configured to drive the piston in a second direction substantially opposite the first direction. 
     
     
         4 . The downhole acoustic sensing system according to  claim 3 , further comprising: a hydraulic line operatively connected to the control system and fluidically connected to the piston, the at least one control input comprising a non-compressible fluid passing through the hydraulic line. 
     
     
         5 . The downhole acoustic sensing system according to  claim 4 , wherein the at least one control input comprises a non-compressible fluid passing through the hydraulic line. 
     
     
         6 . The downhole acoustic sensing system according to  claim 2 , further comprising: a valve fluidically connected between the control system and the pulsator device, the valve selectively delivering the first and second control input. 
     
     
         7 . The downhole acoustic sensing system according to  claim 1 , wherein the control system is configured and disposed to be arranged uphole and connected to the pulsator device through at least one hydraulic line. 
     
     
         8 . A production fluid monitoring system comprising:
 a pulsator device configured and disposed to be arranged in a downhole environment;   a control system operatively connected to the pulsator device, the control system delivering at least one control input to the pulsator device to deliver a sinusoidal acoustic signal through downhole production fluids; and   a data acquisition system includes at least one downhole sensor configured and disposed to detect the sinusoidal acoustic signal passing through the downhole production fluids.   
     
     
         9 . The production fluid monitoring system according to  claim 8 , wherein the pulsator device comprises a piston. 
     
     
         10 . The production fluid monitoring system according to  claim 9 , wherein the at least one control input includes a first control input configured and disposed to drive the piston in a first direction and a second control input configured to drive the piston in a second direction substantially opposite the first direction. 
     
     
         11 . The production fluid monitoring system according to  claim 10 , further comprising: a hydraulic line operatively connected to the control system and fluidically connected to the piston, the at least one control input comprising a non-compressible fluid passing through the hydraulic line. 
     
     
         12 . The production fluid monitoring system according to  claim 11 , wherein the at least one control input comprises a non-compressible fluid passing through the hydraulic line. 
     
     
         13 . The production fluid monitoring system according to  claim 9 , further comprising: a valve fluidically connected between the control system and the pulsator device, the valve selectively delivering the first and second control inputs. 
     
     
         14 . The production fluid monitoring system according to  claim 8 , wherein the control system is configured and disposed to be arranged uphole and connected to the pulsator device through at least one control input. 
     
     
         15 . The production fluid monitoring system according to  claim 14 , wherein the at least one control input comprises a first hydraulic line configured to deliver a first control input and a second hydraulic line configured to deliver a second control input. 
     
     
         16 . A method of monitoring downhole production fluids, the method comprising:
 delivering a positive pressure pulse from a downhole pulsator to form a first portion of a acoustic signal;   delivering a negative pressure pulse downhole to form a second portion of the acoustic signal;   passing the acoustic signal through a production fluid; and   sensing the acoustic signal to determine a quality of the production fluid.   
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein delivering the positive pressure pulse includes driving a piston in a first direction and delivering the negative pressure pulse includes driving the piston in a second, opposing direction. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein driving the piston on one of the first and second directions includes passing a control signal from an control system to the piston. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein passing the control signal includes sending a flow of fluid toward the piston. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein passing the acoustic signal through the production fluid includes passing the acoustic signal in an uphole direction and a downhole direction.