Flow Monitoring Tool

Abstract

A system for measuring conditions in a wellbore includes tubing extending into the wellbore. A first fiber optic cable extends axially along a first surface portion of the tubing and has at least one signal generation gauge located at a predetermined location for producing a generated acoustic signal that propagates outward from the generation gauge and through the tubing. A second fiber optic cable extends axially along a second surface portion of the tubing and is operable to receive a resulting signal of the generated acoustic signal so that wellbore parameters proximate to the predetermined location can be determined. The second fiber optic cable is spaced apart from the first fiber optic cable and is operable to transmit data of the resulting signal to a receiver.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for measuring conditions in a wellbore, the system comprising:
 tubing extending into the wellbore;   a first fiber optic cable extending axially along a first surface portion of the tubing and having at least one signal generation gauge located at a predetermined location for producing a generated acoustic signal that propagates outward from the at least one signal generation gauge and through the tubing; and   a second fiber optic cable extending axially along a second surface portion of the tubing and operable to receive a resulting signal of the generated acoustic signal so that wellbore parameters proximate to the predetermined location can be determined, the second fiber optic cable being spaced apart from the first fiber optic cable and being operable to transmit data of the resulting signal to a receiver.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first fiber optic cable and the second fiber optic cable extend substantially parallel to one another and wherein the second surface portion of the tubing is on an opposite side of the tubing from the first surface portion of the tubing. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the generated acoustic signal has a frequency of between about 1 mHz and about 100 kHz, and a dynamic range of about 120 dB or more. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a penetrator circumscribing the first fiber optic cable and located within an annular packer between the tubing and the wellbore, the penetrator sealing between the first fiber optic cable and the annular packer. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second fiber optic cable has at least one signal detection point located at a discrete location along the second fiber optic cable. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second fiber optic cable is operable to receive the generated acoustic signal along a distributed length of the second fiber optic cable. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second fiber optic cable is operable to receive an amplitude and a phase of the resulting signal. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the wellbore parameters are selected from a group consisting of pressure, temperature, phase fraction, and fluid flow rate. 
     
     
         9 . A system for measuring conditions in a wellbore, the system comprising:
 tubing extending into the wellbore;   a first fiber optic cable extending axially along a the tubing and having at least one signal generation gauge for generating a generated acoustic signal that propagates outward from the at least one signal generation gauge;   a second fiber optic cable extending axially along an opposite side of the tubing from the first fiber optic cable and operable to receive a resulting signal of the generated acoustic signal after the generated acoustic signal passes through the tubing, wherein the first fiber optic cable and the second fiber optic cable are separate fiber optic cables and are spaced apart from each other; and   a receiver in communication with the second fiber optic cable and operable to receive data of the resulting signal, the data including at least one of an amplitude and a phase of the resulting signal.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the receiver is operable to determine at least one of a pressure, temperature, phase fraction, and fluid flow rate within the wellbore from the data of the resulting signal. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the first fiber optic cable and the second fiber optic cable are secured to a surface of the tubing. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the second fiber optic cable has a distributed length and is operable to receive the resulting signal along the distributed length. 
     
     
         13 . A method for measuring conditions in a wellbore, the method comprising:
 extending tubing into the wellbore, the tubing having a first fiber optic cable extending axially along a first surface portion of the tubing and a second fiber optic cable extending axially along a second surface portion of the tubing, the second fiber optic cable being a separate cable spaced apart from the first fiber optic cable;   generating a generated acoustic signal with at least one signal generation gauge located at a predetermined location along the first fiber optic cable, the generated acoustic signal propagating outward from the at least one signal generation gauge and through the tubing;   receiving a resulting signal of the generated acoustic signal with the second fiber optic cable so that wellbore parameters proximate to the predetermined location can be determined; and   transmitting data of the resulting signal to a receiver with the second fiber optic cable.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein generating the generated acoustic signal includes generating the generated acoustic signal with a frequency of between about 1 mHz and about 100 kHz, and a dynamic range of about 120 dB or more. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the second fiber optic cable has at least one signal detection point located at a discrete location along the second fiber optic cable and receiving the resulting signal with the second fiber optic cable includes receiving the resulting signal with the at least one signal detection point. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein receiving resulting signal with the second fiber optic cable includes receiving the resulting signal along a distributed length of the second fiber optic cable. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein transmitting the data of the resulting signal to the receiver with the second fiber optic cable the second fiber optic cable includes transmitting an amplitude and a phase of the resulting signal. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising determining at least one of a pressure, temperature, phase fraction, and fluid flow rate within the wellbore from the data of the resulting signal.