Piezo-based downhole flow meter

Abstract

A flow meter is provided for disposing downhole in a well. The flow meter includes a resonator beam that is integrated with piezo-material to generate a voltage in response to the downhole flow. A resonator head may be incorporated with the resonator beam so as to enhance the generated voltage where appropriate. Configurations of flow meters employing such piezo-material may substantially avoid the use of moving parts susceptible to corrosion and other downhole conditions. These configurations may be particularly useful for long term downhole use such as for production monitoring.

1 . A flow meter for measuring downhole flow in a well, the flow meter comprising:
 a cylindrical housing defining a channel there through for accommodating flow;   a resonator beam coupled to a surface of said cylindrical housing and having a portion disposed in the channel; and   a piezo-material integrated with said resonator beam and configured to generate a voltage corresponding to flow induced vibrating of said resonator beam.   
     
     
         2 . The flow meter of  claim 1  wherein said cylindrical housing comprises contiguous inlet and belly portions defining the channel, said inlet portion configured to direct the flow, and said belly portion of a different diameter than said inlet portion. 
     
     
         3 . The flow meter of  claim 2  wherein the diameter of said belly portion is larger than the diameter of said inlet portion. 
     
     
         4 . The flow meter of  claim 1  wherein the piezo-material is one of a polymer, co-polymer or ceramic. 
     
     
         5 . The flow meter of  claim 1  wherein said resonator beam comprises a face configured to increase sensitivity of the flow induced vibrating to the downhole flow. 
     
     
         6 . The flow meter of  claim 5  wherein said face is of a shape that is substantially flat and substantially perpendicular to an influx of the downhole flow. 
     
     
         7 . A flow meter for measuring downhole flow in a well, the meter comprising:
 a cylindrical housing defining a channel there through for accommodating flow;   a resonator beam coupled to a surface of said housing and having a portion disposed in said channel; and   a resonator head coupled to said beam to amplify vibrating thereof in response to the downhole flow.   
     
     
         8 . The flow meter of  claim 7  wherein said resonator beam is integrated with piezo-material configured to generate a voltage in response to the vibrating of the resonator head. 
     
     
         9 . The flow meter of  claim 7  wherein said resonator head is of a cylindrical shape. 
     
     
         10 . The flow meter of  claim 7  further comprising a support structure secured to the surface of the cylindrical housing and configured to centrally dispose said beam in the channel substantially parallel to the downhole flow. 
     
     
         11 . The flow meter of  claim 10  wherein said resonator head is configured to interface the downhole flow in a leading configuration relative to said support structure. 
     
     
         12 . The flow meter of  claim 7  wherein the resonator head is configured with a fluid dynamic shape. 
     
     
         13 . An assembly for monitoring flow in a well at an oilfield, the assembly comprising:
 a downhole flow meter with a piezo-integrated beam for interfacing flow accommodated by said flow meter; and   a unit communicatively coupled to said meter to obtain flow data corresponding to voltage generated by piezo-material of the piezo-integrated beam in response to the interfacing the flow.   
     
     
         14 . The assembly of  claim 13  wherein said unit is a downhole data unit adjacent said flow meter. 
     
     
         15 . The assembly of  claim 13  wherein said unit is a data unit electrically coupled to said flow meter, the assembly further comprising a control unit at a surface of the oilfield adjacent the well and fiber optically coupled to said data unit. 
     
     
         16 . A method of monitoring downhole fluid flow in a well, the method comprising:
 positioning a flow meter downhole in the well;   exposing a resonator device of the flow meter to flow accommodated thereby to generate a vibrational frequency; and   employing piezo-material of the beam to generate voltage flow data in response to the vibrational frequency.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising utilizing a resonator head of the resonator device to amplify the vibrational frequency for enhancing the voltage flow data. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16  wherein said positioning further comprises advancing the flow meter through the well as part of a logging application.