2.

4 >> Measuring Fluid velocities

Course Material: Dr. M. Watfa Material: M. Watfa

Measuring Fluid Velocities

Spinners, Radioactive tracers, Phase Velocities, Oxygen
Activation, FloScan Imager, Calibrating the spinners

mw 1
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 2.4 >> Measuring Fluid velocities
Material: M. Watfa

Fluid Velocities Sensors

1- Spinners: In-Line Flowmeter, Full Bore Spinner,
Diverter Spinners

2- Micro-spinners

3- Radioactive Tracer

4- Phase-Velocity Log

5- Water-Flow Log (Oxygen Activation)

6- Bubble Velocity
mw 2
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 2.4 >> Measuring Fluid velocities
1- Spinners Material: M. Watfa

Spinner Flowmeters Basic Principle: The spinner measures the flow as the
fluids in the well impinge directly on the spinner blades
transferring momentum and causing them to rotate.

Advantage: Can be used to measure for a large range of

flow rates (selecting the right spinner).
More than one spinner type can be run at the same time.

Disadvantages: Susceptible to mechanical damage. Tar

can also cause spinner sticking.
Improper centralization can affect the readings

Applications: Quantitative flow rate measurements of

the fluids in the well bore.

mw 3
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 2.4 >> Measuring Fluid velocities
Spinners Material: M. Watfa

In-Line Flowmeter
Continuous Spinner
Not collapsible
Measurements in
Tubing & Casing
Not sensitive to small
flow variations
Low resolution
Typical OD: 1-11/16”,
2-1/8”, 2-7/8”

mw 4
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 2.4 >> Measuring Fluid velocities
Spinners Material: M. Watfa

•Flowmeters
Spinners measure the fluid velocity (mixture) => Q = V x A

Spinner output
Magnet

Coils
t

Spinner
blades

Output in RPS
mw 5
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 2.4 >> Measuring Fluid velocities
Spinners Material: M. Watfa

Flowmeter- Types
Full Bore Spinner
Measurements in
Casing only
Maximum CSID
coverage
Collapsible
Very sensitive
High resolution
Tool OD 1-11/16”

mw 6
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 2.4 >> Measuring Fluid velocities
Spinners Material: M. Watfa

•Flowmeters Flowmeter- Types

Diverter Spinners
Designed for very low
flow rates
Static measurements
(stations)
Non-linear response

mw 7
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 2.4 >> Measuring Fluid velocities
2- Micro-Spinners Material: M. Watfa

Micro-Spinners
Basic Principle: a cluster of micro spinners (≈ 1 inch
diameter) is used and distributed inside the casing

Advantage: Can be useful to identify cross-flow and to

obtain individual phase velocities in stratified flow.

Disadvantages: Small spinners can develop mechanical

problems. Threshold could also be high

Applications: Flow profiles across the casing and

quantitative flow rate measurements of each phase in stratified
flow

mw 8
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 2.4 >> Measuring Fluid velocities
Micro-Spinners Material: M. Watfa

Practical Techniques of measuring Slippage Velocities:

Single Spinner FloScan

The 5 spinners of the FloScan can Vg

be used to identify the three fluid Vo
velocities:
Copyright 2007, NExT, All rights reserved
Vw mw 9
 2.4 >> Measuring Fluid velocities
3- Radioactive Tracers Material: M. Watfa

Radioactive Basic Principle: Tracers are ejected into the well and
Tracer then detected by GR tools. This gives a timing which is
used to compute fluid velocity.

Gamma Ray Advantage: Different tracer fluids can be selected to

detector measure the phase velocities of the different fluids.

Upper ejector
Disadvantages: Uses radioactive tracer- This limits to
injection wells.
Lower ejector Safety issues related to radioactive fluid handling.
Limited volume of shots (tracer volume)
Gamma Ray
detector
Applications: Used to measure the phase velocities of
Oil, Water and Gas (?)

mw 10
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 2.4 >> Measuring Fluid velocities
Radioactive Tracers Material: M. Watfa

•Dual Tracer-Ejector
• Used primarily for leak detection in dump floods
• Application in horizontal wells with chemical tracers
instead of radioactive markers

Tool uses 3 gamma ray detectors (one

Gamma Ray is built into the PLT) and a number of
detector spacers for the range of rates
expected.

Upper ejector A wellsite radioactivity generator

Lower ejector produces Technetium 99 which has a
half life of six hours and gamma ray
Gamma Ray energy of 0.74 MeV.
detector
Ejection time is variable between 20-
5100 mS. mw 11
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 2.4 >> Measuring Fluid velocities
Radioactive Tracers Material: M. Watfa

Dual Tracer-Ejector
Velocity Shot

First detector
Switch
Eject
10.5 S

Second detector

Background

mw 12
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 2.4 >> Measuring Fluid velocities
4- Phase Velocity Log Material: M. Watfa

Basic Principle: A chemical marker containing

Phase Velocity high concentration of gadolinium is ejected into
well. This marker is then activated by a minitron
Log (PVL) neutron burst. Flow rate is measured by GR
detectors.
Oil miscible marker Oil and water

Advantage: No radioactive fluid.

Excellent applications in horizontal wells to
measure phase velocity.
TET L RST
Water
Phase velocity = L/ T
Disadvantages: Limited number of ejector
shots

Applications: Quantitative flow rate

measurements of oil and water.
mw 13
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 2.4 >> Measuring Fluid velocities
Phase Velocity Material: M. Watfa

Reservoir Saturation Tool (RST)

Blast volume around tool
with high energy neutrons

Minitron

*
Electronic Neutron Generator
mw 14
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 2.4 >> Measuring Fluid velocities
Phase Velocity Material: M. Watfa

Phase Velocity Log (PVL)

The PVL tool injects oil- or
water miscible marker
fluids into the wellbore.
These gadolinium-rich
fluids are detected by the
RST tool.
Cross referencing the time-
of-flight between injection
and detection with the
distance between injector
tool and RST tool’s
detector gives the oil or
water velocity

Gadolinium-157 has the highest thermal neutron capture cross-section of

mw 15
Copyright 2007, NExT, All rights reserved any known nuclide with the exception of xenon-135, 49,000 barns,
 2.4 >> Measuring Fluid velocities
Phase Velocity Material: M. Watfa

Phase Velocity Log (PVL)

165
Marker detection–T(1)

160
Borehole
Sigma
Indicator 155

150 Marker injection–T(0)

145
0 20 40 60 80 100

Oil miscible marker Oil and water

TET L RST
Water
Phase velocity = L/ T mw 16
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 2.4 >> Measuring Fluid velocities
Phase Velocity Material: M. Watfa

Phase Velocity Log - PVL (with RST) ∆time

Measure Oil or Water

phase Velocities
Eject phase miscible tracer
• Tracer contains
Gadolinium
(high sigma cross-section)
Measure Sigma Borehole vs. time
Tracer at Detector=>High Sigma

PV= Spacing: EJ-Detector

Detection Time

RST Tool Run in IC Mode

mw 17
Copyright 2007, NExT, All rights reserved EJ-
EJ-DET Spacing
 2.4 >> Measuring Fluid velocities
Phase Velocity Material: M. Watfa

PVL Chemical Marker Fluids

Water-Soluble Marker
• Gadolinium Chloride (GdCl3) in Water
• High Gadolinium concentration
• High Density
• Low Viscosity

Oil-Soluble Marker
• New Organometallic Compound
• High Gadolinium concentration
• Low Density
• Low Viscosity
mw 18
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 2.4 >> Measuring Fluid velocities
Phase Velocity Material: M. Watfa

Sample Data Detection

for various Flow Rates
144

300 fpm Light Lines - Raw Data

Borehole Sigma Indicator

142 Heavy Lines - Filtered Data Light Lines - Raw Data

490 fpm 200 fpm Heavy Lines - Filtered Data
100 fpm
140
50 fpm
Raw Data 12 fpm
138

136

134
Filtered Data
132

130
0 5 10 15 20 25 40 60 80 100 120
Time (s) Time (s)

mw 19
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 2.4 >> Measuring Fluid velocities
Phase Velocity Material: M. Watfa

Phase Velocity Log Service - Flow Loop Tests

500

Results of Linear Fit

Intercept -3.4
Slope 0.997
400
Correlation
0.998
Coefficient
Velocity Set In Flow Loop (fpm)

300

Oil
Water
200

100
14,000 BPD
(5-inch Liner)

0
0 100 200 300 400 500
PVL Velocity (fpm) mw 20
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 2.4 >> Measuring Fluid velocities
Phase Velocity Material: M. Watfa

Answer Products
• Water velocity Vw
• Oil velocity Vo

Features & Benefits

• Velocity from 4 to 500 fpm +/- 5% error
• Marker fluids are non-toxic and non-radioactive
• Provides a direct measurement of Vo
• Provides an independent measurement of Vw

mw 21
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 2.4 >> Measuring Fluid velocities
5- Oxygen Activation Material: M. Watfa

Basic Principle: Oxygen in the water in

Water Flow Log borehole and behind the casing is activated by
neutron emitted by minitron. The oxygen will emit
GRs which can be detected.

Advantage: No radioactive fluids.

Can detect water flow in annulus behind the
casing
No limits to the number of measuring stations (no
source is used)

Disadvantages: Measures water flow-rate

only

Applications: Detect and quantify water flow

inside and behind the casing.
mw 22
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 2.4 >> Measuring Fluid velocities
Oxygen Activation Material: M. Watfa

Neutron Interactions Important in Well Logging

INELASTIC SCATTERING THERMALIZATION

Fast Nucleus Fast Nucleus

Neutron Neutron

C, O, Si, Ca, Fe, ... primarily H (mass close to neutron mass)

NEUTRON CAPTURE NEUTRON ACTIVATION

Inelastic or capture reaction that leads to a radioactive element and decay.

Examples:
Slow Excited
Nucleus Nucleus
Neutron O-activation T1/2 = 7.1 s ( n + 8O16 --> 7N16 + ... --> 8O16 + γ +... )
Al-activation T1/2 = 2.3 m ( n + 13Al27 --> 13Al28 --> 14Si28 + γ +... )
Si-activation T1/2 = 2.3 m (n + 14Si28 --> 13Al28 + ... --> 14Si28 + γ +... )

(Na, Cu, Fe..... and many more).

H, Cl, Si, Ca, S, Fe, Gd, ...

mw 23
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 2.4 >> Measuring Fluid velocities
Oxygen Activation Material: M. Watfa

Neutron Activation
Inelastic or Capture reaction that leads to
radioactive element and decays: Examples
16 16 16
O–Activation T½ = 7.1 s O+n 16
N+p O*+ ß O+ γ Half Life ~7.1s

Al-Activation: T½ = 23 m n+ 13Al27 -> 13Al28 -> 14Si28 + γ +…

Si-Activation: T½ = 23 m n+ 14Si28 -> 13Al28 +…-> 14Si28 + γ +…

(Na , Cu , Fe , … and many other elements undergo Neutron Activation)

mw 24
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 2.4 >> Measuring Fluid velocities
Oxygen Activation Material: M. Watfa

The oxygen in wellbore

water is activated by a
minitron then detected by a
gamma ray detector. The
flow rate of water can be
induced from this.
With water flow Only measures water flow
rates

mw 25
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 2.4 >> Measuring Fluid velocities
Oxygen Activation Material: M. Watfa

Water Flow- Principle of Measurement

WFL is a station measurement like
RA tracer
Insensitive to tool position
Flow index can be used for
Near Detector Far detector Further Detectors
qualitative interpretation
Neutron Burst
Velocity range 20-500 ft/min +/-
10% with the far detector, down to
~1-2 ft/min with near detector
Standalone RST is unsuitable for
γ γ γ
deviated recirculating flow
regimes.

16 16N+p 16 16
O+n O*+ ß O+ γ Half Life ~7.1s
mw 26
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 2.4 >> Measuring Fluid velocities
Oxygen Activation Material: M. Watfa

To decide whether there are fluids flowing

inside or outside the casing it is necessary
to examine the gamma ray readings taken
during the WFL by the TDT-P detectors in
the tool.

The top graph indicates the magnitude and

shape of this response when flow is outside
the casing. The blue shaded area reflects
the gamma ray response to flowing water
after the background and standing water
signals have been removed.

The lower graph shows a similar response

when water is flowing within the casing. The
blue area now has a distinctly peaky
response which indicates that the flow is
occurring within a regular cross-sectional
area.
mw 27
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 2.4 >> Measuring Fluid velocities
Oxygen Activation Material: M. Watfa

WFL Results Flow Loop

30, 45, 60 Deg Deviation
1000.0

200bpd
300-800bpd
1500bpd
100.0 >3000bpd

10.0

1.0
1.0 10.0 100.0 1000.0
V_peak
(ft/min)
mw 28
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 2.4 >> Measuring Fluid velocities
Oxygen Activation Material: M. Watfa

Range of Velocities Applications

 Monitor water flow behind casing or
Velocity with the far detector
From 80 to 500 ft/min in two- in annulus
phase flow  Compliment spinner in horizontal well
with uncertainty of +/- 10%
logging
Below 80 ft/min affected by
• Measure water velocity
recirculation in conventional
deviated wells  CO2 flow monitoring

 Non radioactive tracer type survey

mw 29
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 2.4 >> Measuring Fluid velocities
6- Gas Bubble Velocity Material: M. Watfa

Gas Bubble
Basic Principle: Assumes a correlation
between bubble diameter and the hold-up

Advantage: Can be used in the absence of any

other information

Disadvantages: This uses many

approximations which may not be valid

Applications: Gives gas bubble velocity

mw 30
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 2.4 >> Measuring Fluid velocities
Gas Bubble Velocity Material: M. Watfa

Calculations - Bubble rate & bubble size

Tp

Vg, Vb: Gas speed,

C Bubble speed
Vg = Vb = − Cs
Tp C : bubble size
Tp: hydrocarbon
We measure Tp and Cs bubble-on time
Cs: Cable Speed
mw 31
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 2.4 >> Measuring Fluid velocities
Gas Bubble Velocity Material: M. Watfa

 When Yw close to 100%, smallest bubbles: Stand alone size

 When Yw decreases, bigger hydrocarbon bubbles
 When Yw = 0%, hydrocarbon bubble approaches Casing inside diameter

Pipe size

Bubble diameter

“Stand alone”
bubble size
0% Water holdup 100%

Assuming Spherical bubbles, the average Bubble size (Bc) seen by

the optical probe is Bc = 2/3 Bubble diameter
mw 32
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 2.4 >> Measuring Fluid velocities
Gas Bubble Velocity Material: M. Watfa

15.000
Model Bubbles size: Field
Model
Flow loop
North Sea well
& Experimental
Middel East well
Bubble diameter - mm

10.000 data.

Some correlation

between water hold-

5.000

up and gas bubbel

diameter may exist,

0.000 especially at higher

0.000 0.200 0.400 0.600 0.800 1.000

Water holdup bubble sizes.

mw 33
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 2.4 >> Measuring Fluid velocities
Optical Sensor Material: M. Watfa

A Technique for Measuring Gas Velocity

Liquid plug

4980.000 m
GHH1
GHH6
GHH5

GHH2
GHH4

GHH7
GHH8
GHH3
GHOST 1 GHOST 2
4980.000 m
GHB1
GHB6
GHB5 1
GHB2 Yg
GHB4

GHB7
0
GHB8
GHB3 Top probe signals time

mw 34
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 2.4 >> Measuring Fluid velocities
Fluid Velocities- Summary Material: M. Watfa

mw 35
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 2.4 >> Measuring Fluid velocities
Material: M. Watfa

Calibrating the spinner:

Cable speed & Pinner rotation ► Fluid Velocity

mw 36
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 2.4 >> Measuring Fluid velocities
Calibrating the spinners Material: M. Watfa

MonoPhasic Flow
Tool Stationary Fluid Stationary
Fluid Moving up Tool moving down Flowrate measurement
relies on relative fluid-
tool velocity
Cable speed moving
down at X velocity in
≡ stationary fluid
Equals the fluid moving
Apparent up at X velocity
Real
Fluid Fluid
Flow Flow
mw 37
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 2.4 >> Measuring Fluid velocities
Calibrating the spinners Material: M. Watfa

Non-directional Spinners : Reversal

Increasing
velocity

Spinner rotates
Fluid entries

Clockwise (as
seen from above-
Apparent flow
down) due to
tool movement
No Flow in static fluid

mw 38
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 2.4 >> Measuring Fluid velocities
Calibrating the spinners Material: M. Watfa

Spinner Reversal

Spinner rotates
clockwise more
Fluid entries

slowly due to
fluid entry

mw 39
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 2.4 >> Measuring Fluid velocities
Calibrating the spinners Material: M. Watfa

Spinner Reversal

Spinner stalls when

tool velocity is
Fluid entries

very close to fluid

velocity

mw 40
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 2.4 >> Measuring Fluid velocities
Calibrating the spinners Material: M. Watfa

Fluid entries
Spinner Reversal

Spinner starts turning

again, but in the
opposite direction, as
fluid velocity exceeds
tool velocity

mw 41
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 2.4 >> Measuring Fluid velocities
Calibrating the spinners Material: M. Watfa

Logging Down
Fluid entries

Spinner: Logging Down

mw 42
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 2.4 >> Measuring Fluid velocities
Calibrating the spinners Material: M. Watfa

Flow Profile ( Ex I ) C

Well flowing at constant B

choke:
Zone Contribution
Downhole reservoir data
Absorption profile for injector
wells A

identification of production
problems
Different flowing Choke:
spinner density
Selective inflow performance Gas
OIL Temperature
survey Water
mw 43
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 2.4 >> Measuring Fluid velocities
Calibrating the spinners Material: M. Watfa

Cross-Flow: detection ( Ex II )

Spinner: Logging Down

Well shut in C
X-flow between perforations
This is caused by uneven
depletion
B
This created pressure
difference between the three
reservoirs
and hence a (Reservoir
pressure difference) A
When well is closed, X-flow
takes place
Which section has the Highest Permeability? OIL spinner density

Temperature
mw 44
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 2.4 >> Measuring Fluid velocities
Calibrating the spinners Material: M. Watfa

Spinner RPS

Ideal Conditions:
Spinner Response
No Friction
No Viscosity An ideal spinner flow would start at
Fluid Velocity
zero-zero on the RPS-Fluid Velocity
graph
Spinner RPS
The effects of fluid viscosity will shift
the curve to the right – More fluid
Fluid Viscosity velocity is needed to have the same
RPS
Fluid Velocity At low velocities, there is additional
static friction that will affect the
Spinner RPS
spinner.
Mechanical friction will also persist at
higher RPS, but with a good spinner,
Mechanical Friction
the dynamic friction is small.
Fluid Velocity
mw 45
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 2.4 >> Measuring Fluid velocities
Calibrating the spinners Material: M. Watfa

Vmax
Vavg =
2
Spinner measurement is centralized and tends to read the
maximum flow velocity.
Laminar
Rate calculations require an average fluid velocity.
Flow In laminar flow, the relationship between the two is:

Vavg= 0.83 Vmax

In turbulent flow, the relationship between the maximum and
average velocities is not simple.
Onset of turbulence is controlled by Reynold’s Number, NRe:
Laminar Flow NRe < 2000
Turbulent Turbulent Flow NRe > 4000
The average flow is closer to the values of the maximum flow
Flow
Multiphasic flow in non horizontal wells is ALWAYS turbulent
mw 46
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 2.4 >> Measuring Fluid velocities
Calibrating the spinners Material: M. Watfa

In Situ Calibration - Flowing

The spinner is run at
different speeds in flowing
conditions,
This is made over an
interval where the flow is
constant
Vspinner The flowing line curve is
∆R then drawn
Slope = ∆V
( RPS / ft / min) The fluid velocity over that
interval is represented by
the shift from the zero flow
line (Vspinner )
mw 47
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 2.4 >> Measuring Fluid velocities
Calibrating the spinners Material: M. Watfa

Conventions
POSITIVE cable velocity is
going down
Consider that depth is
assumed to be increasing
as we go down, so velocity
must be positive
Spinner is NEGATIVE when tool
moves UP
This follows from the
previous convention that the
tool velocity is negative
when moving upwards

Copyright 2007, NExT, All rights reserved Calibration plot axes mw 48

 2.4 >> Measuring Fluid velocities
Calibrating the spinners Material: M. Watfa

Tool

Fluid
Relative (to tool) Fluid Movements

Positive Spinner
(RELATIVE FLOW UPWARDS)

Up Down
Velocity Velocity
(Tool Coming up) (Tool descending)

Negative Spinner
(RELATIVE FLOW DOWNWARDS)

mw 49
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 2.4 >> Measuring Fluid velocities
A
Calibrating the spinners Material: M. Watfa

In Situ Calibration … typical plot B

Spinner
C
A
RPS D
B
E
C
E
D

Up Vd Vc Vb Va

Cable Speed Down

2 Vt
mw 50
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 2.4 >> Measuring Fluid velocities
Calibrating the spinners Material: M. Watfa

Spinner (RPS)
40

30
Y
20
X
10

-300 -200 -100 50 100 150 200

Cable Speed (Down) ft/m

-10

-20
Slope= X/Y= 100/10.8
-30 Slope= 9.3 (ft/min) / RPS

Velocity= 22* Slope+ Threshold

Spinner Velocity using slope Velocity = 203 ft/min
mw 51
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 2.4 >> Measuring Fluid velocities
Calibrating the spinners Material: M. Watfa

V2 V3 V4

RPS1 RPS2 RPS3

W V1 O W V1 O G W V1

1 2 3
The spinner rotation is more of a function of an exchange of
momentum. For the same average fluid velocity (V1), The RPS for the
heavier average fluid density will be greater:
RPS= f (V, ρ)
RPS1 > RPS2 > RPS3
This will create a change in the calibration slopes
Copyright 2007, NExT, All rights reserved
mw 52
 2.4 >> Measuring Fluid velocities
Spinner Rotation Calibrating the spinners Material: M. Watfa
per sec. (RPS)

O G W

O W

Cable Speed (Fluid Velocity) W

mw 53
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