BR112015002983B1 - SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ANALYZING AN OIL / GAS SEPARATION PROCESS - Google Patents

Abstract

system and method for analyzing an oil / gas separation process. systems and methods for analyzing an oil / gas separation process are described. one method includes transporting a fluid to a fluid separator coupled to a flow path, the fluid separator having an inlet and a discharge duct, generating a first output signal, corresponding to a fluid characteristic adjacent to the inlet, with a first optical computing device, generate a second output signal, corresponding to the characteristic of the fluid adjacent to the discharge conduit, with a second optical computing device, receive the first and second output signals with a signal processor communicatively, and generate a resulting output signal with the signal processor, indicative of how the fluid characteristic has changed between the inlet and the discharge duct.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[001] The present invention relates to optical analysis systems and methods for analyzing fluids and, in particular, systems and methods for analyzing an oil / gas separation process.

[002] Most hydrocarbon-containing reservoirs produce a mixture of oil and / or gas together with water, usually in the form of brine, and large amounts of minerals or dissolved precipitates, mostly common salts. In fact, in some oil wells, water and other by-products can reach as much as eighty to ninety percent of the total production yield. This is particularly true during the later stages of production. Somewhere in the production process the mixture produced undergoes a separation process, where oil / gas is separated from the remaining components of the mixture and subsequently supplied to a refinery for treatment. The remaining water and components are usually removed from the hydrocarbons using one or more single-phase or multi-phase separation devices. Generally, these devices operate to agglomerate and coalesce the produced hydrocarbons, thereby separating them from water and other components of the mixture produced.

[003] In some cases, water and other separate components are able to be pumped back into land, perhaps in some borehole next to one from which they were removed. This process simply replaces some of the liquid removed from the reservoir, but it also simultaneously serves to maintain the required formation pressures for efficient production rates. In offshore applications, it is often desirable to discharge the water produced directly into the surrounding ocean, thereby eliminating the expense of pumping the fluid back to the bottom.

[004] Before water can be discharged into the ocean, however, or any other body of water (eg, rivers, lakes, streams etc. in other applications), it must first be rigorously tested to make sure that it does not contain any oil or other impurities that could damage the surrounding marine life. As environmental regulations become increasingly stricter regarding the disposal of water produced within the ocean, it becomes increasingly crucial to obtain accurate and timely analysis of the separated fluids, in order not to be exposed to undesirable and unnecessary fines and / or fees.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[005] The present invention relates to optical analysis systems and methods for analyzing fluids and, in particular, systems and methods for analyzing an oil / gas separation process.

[006] In some aspects of the description, a system is described. The system may include a flow path containing a fluid, a fluid separator coupled to the flow path and having an inlet to receive the fluid and a discharge conduit to discharge the fluid after having undergone a separation process in the fluid separator, a first optical computing device disposed adjacent to the entrance and having a first integrated computational element, configured to optically interact with the fluid and, thus, produce and transport optically interacted light to a first detector that generates a first output signal, corresponding to a fluid characteristic before the fluid enters the fluid separator, a second optical computing device disposed adjacent to the discharge conduit and having a second integrated computational element, configured to optically interact with the fluid and thereby produce and transport light optically interacted for a second detector that generates a second corresponding output signal depending on the fluid characteristic after the fluid leaves the fluid separator, and a signal processor communicated with the first and second detectors and configured to receive the first and second output signals and provide a resulting output signal.

[007] In other aspects of the description, a method is described to determine a characteristic of a fluid. The method may include containing a fluid within a flow path, transporting the fluid to a separator coupled to the flow path, the fluid separator having an inlet to receive the fluid and a discharge duct to discharge the fluid after having undergone a separation process in the fluid separator, generate a first output signal corresponding to the fluid characteristic adjacent to the inlet with a first optical computing device, the first optical computing device having a first integrated computational element to optically interact with the fluid and produce and transporting optically interacted light to a first detector that generates the first output signal, generating a second output signal corresponding to the characteristic of the fluid adjacent to the discharge conduit with a second optical computing device, the second optical computing device having a second integrated computational element, configured to optically interact with the fluid and produce and transport optically interacted light to a second detector, which generates the second output signal, receive the first and second output signals with a signal processor communicably coupled to the first and second detectors and generate a resulting output signal with the signal processor.

[008] The details and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, when reading the description of the preferred embodiments which follow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[009] The following figures are included to illustrate certain aspects of the present invention and should not be seen as exclusive embodiments. The subject described is capable of considerable modifications, alterations, combinations and equivalents in form and function, as will occur for those skilled in the art and having the benefit of this description.

[0010] Figure 1 illustrates an exemplary integrated computing element, according to one or more embodiments.

[0011] Figure 2 illustrates a non-mechanistically block diagram illustrating how an optical computing device distinguishes electromagnetic radiation related to a characteristic of interest from other electromagnetic radiation, according to one or more embodiments.

[0012] Fig. 3 illustrates an exemplary system for monitoring a fluid, according to one or more embodiments.

[0013] Fig. 4 illustrates an exemplary optical computing device, according to one or more embodiments.

[0014] Fig. 5 illustrates another exemplary optical computing device, according to one or more embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] The present invention relates to optical analysis systems and methods for analyzing fluids and, in particular, systems and methods for analyzing an oil / gas separation process.

[0016] The exemplary systems and methods described here employ various configurations of optical computing devices, also commonly referred to commonly as "optical analytical devices", for real-time or near real-time monitoring of fluids. In operation, the systems and methods described here can be useful and, on the other hand, advantageous in determining the quality of a fluid in fluid separation processes. For example, the optical computing devices described here, which are described in more detail below, can advantageously provide real-time or near-real-time monitoring of fluid flow and fluid separation processes, which currently cannot be achieved with on-site analysis. one or via more detailed analyzes that take place in a laboratory. A significant and distinct advantage of these devices is that they can be configured to specifically detect and / or measure a particular component or feature of interest in a fluid, such as a known adulterant, thereby allowing qualitative and / or quantitative analysis of the fluid to occur without having to perform a lengthy sample processing procedure. With real-time or near real-time analysis at hand, the exemplary systems and methods described here may be able to provide some measure of proactive or responsive control over fluid flow and fluid separation processes, enabling the collection and archiving of data fluid information in conjunction with operational information to optimize subsequent operations and / or increase the ability to perform remote work.

[0017] Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the systems and methods described here may be suitable for use in the oil and gas industry, since the optical computing devices described provide a relatively low cost, robust and accurate means of monitoring the quality of the hydrocarbon, in order to facilitate the efficient control of oil / gas production. We note, however, that the various systems and methods described are equally applicable to other fields of technology, including but not limited to the food and drug industry, industrial applications, mining industries or any field in which it may be advantageous to determine, in real time or almost real, the concentration or characteristic of a specific substance in a flowing fluid. In at least one embodiment, for example, the present systems and methods can be employed to monitor the quality of drinking water, after the water has undergone one or more separation processes to remove contaminants or adulterants. In other embodiments, the present systems and methods can be used in military or security fields, such as submarines or other vessels. In yet other embodiments, the present systems and methods can prove to be useful in the truck and automobile industries.

[0018] Optical computing devices suitable for use in the present embodiments can be positioned at two or more fluidly communicable points within a flow path, such as a fluid separation device, or separator. In some embodiments, for example, optical computing devices can be used both at the inlet and outlet locations of a fluid separator, in order to monitor the conditions of the fluid entering and leaving and, therefore, the overall effectiveness of the fluid. separator. In operation, the optical computing device arranged at the discharge site can be configured to ensure an appropriate or environmentally safe chemical composition of the fluid when discharged through the separator. Depending on the location of the particular optical computing device, various types of information about the fluid can be obtained. In some cases, for example, optical computing devices can be used to monitor changes in the fluid as a result of adding a treatment substance to it, removing a treatment substance from it in a separator, or exposing the fluid to a condition that potentially change the characteristic of the fluid in some way. Thus, the systems and methods described here can be configured to monitor a fluid flow and, more particularly, to monitor the fluid after discharge from a separator.

[0019] As used herein, the term "fluid" refers to any substance that is capable of flowing, including particulate solids, liquids, gases, pastes, emulsions, powders, sludges, glasses, their combinations, etc. In some embodiments, the fluid can be an aqueous fluid, including water or the like. In some embodiments, the fluid can be an aqueous fluid, including organic compounds, more specifically hydrocarbons, oil, a refined oil component, petrochemicals and the like. In some embodiments, the fluid can be a treatment fluid or a forming fluid. Fluids can include various flowable mixtures of solids, liquids and / or gases. Illustrative gases that can be considered fluids according to the present embodiments include, for example, air, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, argon, helium, methane, ethane, butane and other hydrocarbon gases, combinations and / or the like .

[0020] As used herein, the term "characteristic" refers to a chemical, mechanical or physical property of a substance. A characteristic of a substance can include a quantitative value of one or more chemical components of it. Such chemical components can be referred to here as "analyzed". Illustrative characteristics of a substance that can be monitored with the optical computing devices described here may include, for example, chemical composition (eg, identity and concentration of total or individual components), impurity content, pH, viscosity, density , ionic intensity, total dissolved solids, salt content, porosity, opacity, bacteria content, their combinations and the like.

[0021] As used here, the term "flow path" refers to a route through which a fluid is capable of being transported between two points. In some cases, the flow path does not need to be continuous or otherwise contiguous between two points. Exemplary flow paths include, but are not limited to, a flow line, a pipeline, a hose, a fluid separator, a processing facility, a storage vessel, combinations thereof, or the like. In cases where the flow path is an oil pipeline, or similar, the oil pipeline can be a pre-commissioned oil pipeline or an operational oil pipeline. In other cases, the flow path can be created or generated via movement of an optical computing device through a fluid (eg, an open air sensor). In other cases, the flow path is not necessarily contained within any rigid structure, but refers to the path that the fluid takes between two points, such as one where a fluid flows from one location to another without being contained by itself. It should be noted that the term flow path does not necessarily imply that a fluid is flowing in it, rather than a fluid being able to be transported or otherwise flowable through it.

[0022] As used herein, the term "substance", or its variations, refers to at least a part of a material of interest to be evaluated using the optical computing devices described here. In some embodiments, the substance is the characteristic of interest, as defined above, and can include any integral component of the fluid flowing within the flow path. In other embodiments, the substance can be a material of interest flowing together with and on the other hand separated from the fluid.

[0023] As used herein, the term "electromagnetic radiation" refers to radio waves, microwave radiation, infrared and near infrared radiation, visible light, ultraviolet light, X-ray radiation and gamma ray radiation.

[0024] As used herein, the term "optical computing device" refers to an optical device that is configured to receive an electromagnetic radiation input from a substance and produces an electromagnetic radiation output from a processing element arranged within the optical computing device. The processing element can be, for example, an integrated computational element (ICE) used in the optical computing device. As discussed in more detail below, the electromagnetic radiation, which optically interacts with the processing element, is changed in order to be readable by a detector, so that an output from the detector can be correlated with at least one feature of interest being measured or monitored in the fluid. The output of electromagnetic radiation from the processing element may be reflected electromagnetic radiation, transmitted electromagnetic radiation and / or scattered electromagnetic radiation. Whether reflected or transmitted electromagnetic radiation is analyzed by the detector can be dictated by the structural parameters of the optical computing device, as well as other considerations known to those skilled in the art. In addition, the emission and / or scattering of the substance, for example, via fluorescence, luminescence, Raman dispersion and / or Raleigh dispersion, can also be monitored by optical computing devices.

[0025] As used herein, the term "optically interacts", or its variations, refers to the reflection, transmission, scattering, diffraction or absorption of electromagnetic radiation in, through or through one or more processing elements (ie elements integrated computing). Therefore, optically interacted light refers to electromagnetic radiation that has been reflected, transmitted, scattered, diffracted or absorbed, emitted or re-radiated, for example, using the integrated computational elements, but interaction with a fluid can also apply or a fluid substance.

[0026] The exemplary systems and methods described here will include at least two optical computing devices strategically arranged along a flow path, such as a fluid separator, in order to monitor the concentration of one or more substances or features of interest in the fluid and check for any differences in concentration between the measurement or monitoring sites. Each optical computing device may include a source of electromagnetic radiation, at least one processing element (e.g., integrated computational elements) and at least one detector arranged to receive optically interacted light from at least one processing element. As discussed below, however, in at least one embodiment, the source of electromagnetic radiation can be omitted and, instead, electromagnetic radiation can be derived from the fluid or substance itself. In some embodiments, optical computing devices can be specifically configured to detect, analyze and quantitatively measure a particular characteristic or analyte of interest to the fluid in the flow path. In other embodiments, optical computing devices can be general-purpose optical devices, with post-acquisition processing (eg, via a computer medium) being used to specifically detect the sample characteristic.

[0027] In some embodiments, structural components suitable for exemplary optical computing devices are described in the commonly owned U.S. Patent Nos. 6,198,531; 6,529,276; 7,123,844; 7,834,999; 7,911,605, 7,920,258 and 8,049.81 and Pat. U.S. Nos. 12 / 094,460; 12 / 094,465; and 13 / 456.46. As will be appreciated, variations in the structural components of optical computing devices described in the patents and patent applications referenced above may be appropriate, without deviating from the scope of the description and, therefore, should not be considered as limiting the various embodiments described here.

[0028] The optical computing devices described in the patent of previous patent applications combine the advantage of strength, precision and accuracy associated with laboratory spectrometers, while being extremely robust and suitable for use in the field. In addition, optical computing devices can perform calculations (analyzes) in real or near real time, without the need for time-consuming sample processing. In this regard, optical computing devices can be specifically configured to detect and analyze particular characteristics and / or analytes of interest to a fluid or a substance in the fluid. As a result, interference signals are distinguished from those of interest to the substance by appropriate configuration of optical computing devices, so that optical computing devices provide a rapid response regarding the characteristics of the fluid or substance based on the detected output. In some embodiments, the detected output can be converted to a voltage that is distinctive from the magnitude of the characteristics being monitored in the fluid. The foregoing and other advantages make optical computing devices particularly well suited for use in the field and downhole, but they can also be applied to other industries or technologies where accurate monitoring of fluid flow is desirable.

[0029] Optical computing devices can be configured to detect not only the composition and concentrations of a substance in a fluid, but they can also be configured to determine the physical properties and other characteristics of the substance as well, based on their radiation analysis. electromagnetic radiation received from the substance. For example, optical computing devices can be configured to determine the concentration of an analyte and correlate the determined concentration with a characteristic of a substance using suitable processing means. As will be appreciated, optical computing devices can be configured to detect as many characteristics or analyzed as desired for a given substance or fluid. All that is required to perform the monitoring of multiple characteristics or analyzed is the incorporation of suitable processing and detection methods within the optical computing device for each characteristic or analyzed. In some embodiments, the properties of the substance can be a combination of the properties of the analyzed ones (eg, a linear, non-linear, logarithmic and / or exponential combination). Therefore, the more characteristics and analyzed are detected and analyzed using optical computing devices, the more precisely the properties or concentration of the given substance will be determined.

[0030] The optical computing devices described here use electromagnetic radiation to perform calculations, the opposite of the physically connected circuits of conventional electronic processors. When electromagnetic radiation interacts with a substance, unique physical and chemical information about the substance can be encoded in the electromagnetic radiation that is reflected from, transmitted through or radiated from the substance. This information is often referred to as the spectral “fingerprint” of the substance. The optical computing devices described here are able to extract information from the spectral fingerprint of multiple characteristics or analyzed within a substance and convert that information into a detectable output regarding the substance's properties. That is, through appropriate configurations of optical computing devices, electromagnetic radiation associated with the characteristics or analyzed of interest of a substance can be separated from the electromagnetic radiation associated with all other components of the substance, in order to estimate the properties of the substance in real or near real time.

[0031] As briefly mentioned above, the processing elements used in the exemplary optical computing devices described here can be characterized as integrated computational elements (ICE). Each ICE is able to distinguish electromagnetic radiation related to the characteristic or analysand of interest from electromagnetic radiation related to other components of a substance. Referring to Fig. 1, an exemplary ICE 100, suitable for use in optical computing devices used in the systems and methods described here, is illustrated. As illustrated, ICE 100 can include a plurality of alternative layers 102 and 104, such as silicon (Si) and SiCh (quartz), respectively. In general, these layers 102, 104 consist of materials whose refractive index is high and low, respectively. Other examples could include niobium and niobium, germanium and germanium, MgF, SiO and other high and low index materials known in the art. The layers 102, 104 can be strategically deposited on an optical substrate 106. In some embodiments, the optical substrate 106 is optical glass BK-7. In other embodiments, optical substrate 106 can be another type of optical substrate, such as quartz, sapphire, silicon, germanium, zinc selenide, zinc sulfide or various plastics, such as polycarbonate, polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), polyvinyl chloride ( PVC), diamond, ceramics, combinations and the like.

[0032] At the opposite end (e.g., opposite the optical substrate 106 of Fig. 1), the ICE 100 may include a layer 108 that is generally exposed to the environment of the flow path, device or installation. The number of layers 102, 104 and the thickness of each layer 102, 104 are determined by the spectral attributes acquired from a spectroscopic analysis of a characteristic of the substance using a conventional spectroscopic instrument. The spectrum of interest for a given substance characteristic typically includes any number of different wavelengths. It should be understood that the exemplary ICE 100 of Fig. 1 does not, in fact, represent any particular characteristic of a given substance, but is provided for the purpose of illustration only. Consequently, the number of layers 102, 104 and their relative thickness, as shown in Fig. 1, does not contain any correlation with any particular characteristic of a given substance. Nor are layers 102, 104 and their relative thicknesses necessarily drawn to scale and, therefore, should not be considered as limiting the present description. In addition, persons skilled in the art will readily recognize that the materials that make up each layer 102, 104 (i.e., Si and SiCh) may vary, depending on the application, material cost and / or applicability of the material in the substance.

[0033] In some embodiments, the material of each layer 102, 104 can be doped or two or more materials can be combined in order to obtain the desired optical characteristic. In addition to solids, the exemplary ICE 100 can also contain liquids and / or gases, optionally in combination with solids, in order to produce a desired optical characteristic. In the case of gases and liquids, the ICE 100 may contain a corresponding vessel (not shown), which houses the gases or liquids. Exemplary variations of the ICE 100 may also include holographic optical elements, lattices, piezoelectric elements, light tube, digital light tube (DLP) and / or acoustic-optical elements, for example, which can create transmission, reflection and / or properties absorptive interests.

[0034] The multiple layers 102, 104 exhibit different refractive indices. Appropriately selecting materials from layers 102, 104 and their relative thickness and spacing, ICE 100 can be configured to selectively pass / reflect / refract predetermined fractions of electromagnetic radiation at different wavelengths. Each wavelength receives a predetermined weight or load factor. The thickness and spacing of layers 102, 104 can be determined using a variety of methods of approaching the spectrograph to the characteristic or analyzed of interest. These methods may include inverse Fourier transformation (IFT) of the optical transmission spectrum and structuring the ICE 100 as the physical representation of the IFT. The approximations convert the IFT into a structure based on known materials, with constant refractive indexes. More information regarding the structures and design of integrated computational elements (also referred to as multivariate optical elements) is provided in Applied Optics, Vol. 35, pgs. 5484 - 5492 (1996) and Vol. 129, pgs. 2876 - 2893.

[0035] The weights that layers 102, 104 of the ICE apply to each wavelength are placed in the regression weights described with respect to a known equation or spectral data or signature. Briefly, ICE 100 can be configured to realize the scalar product of the incoming light beam on ICE 100 and a desired loaded regression vector, represented by each layer 102, 104 for each wavelength. As a result, the output light intensity of the ICE 100 is related to the characteristic or analyzed of interest. Further details regarding how exemplary ICE 100 is able to distinguish and process electromagnetic radiation related to the characteristic or analyte of interest are described in U.S. Patent Nos. 6,198,531; 6,529,276; and 7,920,258.

[0036] With reference now to Fig. 2, a block diagram is illustrated which does not mechanistically illustrate how an optical computing device 200 is capable of distinguishing electromagnetic radiation related to a characteristic of a substance from other electromagnetic radiation. As shown in Fig. 2, after being illuminated with incident electromagnetic radiation, a fluid 202 containing a characteristic of interest or a substance produces an output of electromagnetic radiation (eg, light interacted with sample), part of which is electromagnetic radiation 204 corresponding to the characteristic of interest and part of which is electromagnetic background radiation 206, corresponding to other components or characteristics of the fluid 202.

[0037] Although not specifically shown, one or more spectral elements can be employed in device 200, in order to restrict the optical wavelengths or bandwidths of the system and thereby eliminate unwanted electromagnetic radiation, existing in the regions of length waveforms that don't matter. Such spectral elements can be located anywhere along the optical train, but are typically used directly after the light source, which provides the initial electromagnetic radiation. Various configurations and applications of spectral elements in optical computing devices can be found in the commonly owned U.S. Patent Nos. 6,198,531; 6,529,276; 7,123,844; 7,834,999; 7,911,605, 7,920,258, 8,049,881 and U.S. Patent Applications Nos. Serial 12 / 094,460 (Publ. Patent Application No. 2009/0219538); 12 / 094,465 (Pub. U.S. Patent Application No. 2009/0219539); and 13 / 456,467.

[0038] The electromagnetic radiation beams 204, 206 collide in the optical computing device 200, which contains an exemplary ICE 208. In the illustrated embodiment, the ICE 208 can be configured to produce optically interacted light, for example, optically interacted light transmitted 210 and reflected optically interacted light 214. In operation, the ICE 208 can be configured to distinguish electromagnetic radiation 204 from background electromagnetic radiation 206.

[0039] The transmitted optically interacted light 210, which can be related to the characteristic or analyzed of interest of the fluid 202, can be transported to a detector 212 for analysis and quantification. In some embodiments, detector 212 is configured to produce an output signal in the form of a voltage, which corresponds to the particular characteristic of fluid 202. In at least one embodiment, the signal produced by detector 212 and the concentration of the characteristic of fluid 202 can be directly proportional. In other embodiments, the relationship can be a polynomial function, an exponential function and / or a logarithmic function. The reflected optically interacted light 214, which can be related to the characteristic and other components of fluid 212, can be directed away from detector 212. In alternative configurations, ICE 208 can be configured so that reflected optically interacted light 214 can be related to the analyte of interest and the transmitted optically interacted light 210 can be related to other components of the fluid 202.

[0040] In some embodiments, a second detector 216 may be present and arranged to detect reflected optically interacted light 214. In other embodiments, the second detector 216 may be arranged to detect electromagnetic radiation 204, 206 derived from fluid 202 or electromagnetic radiation directed to or before fluid 202. Without limitation, the second detector 216 can be used to detect deviations of radiation originating from a source of electromagnetic radiation (not shown), which provides electromagnetic radiation (ie ie, light) for device 200. For example, deviations in radiation may include such things as but not limited to fluctuations in intensity in electromagnetic radiation, interfering fluctuations (eg, dust or other interferences passing in front of the source of electromagnetic radiation), coatings or windows included in optical computing device 200, their combinations or the like. In some embodiments, a beam splitter (not shown) can be employed to divide electromagnetic radiation 204, 206 and transmitted or reflected electromagnetic radiation can then be directed to one or more ICE 208. That is, in such forms of In this embodiment, ICE 208 does not function as a type of beam splitter, as shown in Fig. 2, and the electromagnetic radiation transmitted or reflected simply passes through ICE 208, being computationally processed therein before moving to detector 212.

[0041] The characteristic (s) of fluid 202 being analyzed using the optical computing device 200 can be further computationally processed to provide additional characterization information about fluid 202. In some embodiments, identification and concentration of each fluid 202 analyte can be used to predict certain physical characteristics of fluid 202. For example, the mass characteristics of a fluid 202 can be estimated using a combination of the properties conferred on fluid 202 by each analyte.

[0042] In some embodiments, the concentration of each analyzed or the magnitude of each characteristic determined using the optical computing device 200 can be fed into an algorithm operating under computer control. The algorithm can be configured to make predictions about how the characteristics of fluid 202 changes if the concentrations of the analyzed are changed in relation to each other. In some embodiments, the algorithm can produce an output that is readable by an operator who can manually take appropriate action, if necessary, based on the output. In some embodiments, the algorithm can perform proactive process control by automatically adjusting the flow parameters, such as reducing the flow or pressure of the fluid flow within the flow path, in order to manipulate the fluid characteristics.

[0043] The algorithm can be part of an artificial neural network, configured to use the concentration of each detected analyte, in order to assess the total characteristics (s) of fluid 202 and predict how to modify fluid 202 or a fluid flow, in order to change the properties of the fluid or a related system in a desired manner. Non-limiting artificial neural networks are described in the commonly owned U.S. Patent Application No. 11 / 986,763 (U.S. Patent Application Publication 2009/0182693). It must be recognized that an artificial neural network can be trained using samples of substances having known concentrations, compositions and / or properties and, thus, generating a virtual library. When the virtual library available for the artificial neural network becomes larger, the neural network can become more capable of accurately predicting the characteristics of a substance having any number of analytes present in it. In addition, with sufficient training, the artificial neural network can more accurately predict the characteristics of the substance, even in the presence of unknown analysts.

[0044] It is recognized that the various embodiments addressed here for computer control and artificial neural networks, including various blocks, modules, elements, components, methods and algorithms, can be implemented using hardware, computer software and their combinations etc. To illustrate this interchangeability of hardware and software, several blocks, modules, elements, components, methods and illustrative algorithms have been described generically in terms of their functionality. Whether such functionality is implemented as hardware or software will depend on the particular application and any design restrictions imposed. For at least this reason, it must be recognized that a person of ordinary skill in the art can implement the functionality described in a variety of ways for a particular application. In addition, various components and blocks can be arranged in a different order or divided differently, for example, without deviating from the scope of the embodiments expressly described.

[0045] The computer hardware used to implement the various blocks, modules, elements, components, methods and illustrative algorithms described here may include a processor configured to execute one or more sequences of instructions, programming positions or code stored in a readable medium by computer, not transitory. The processor can be, for example, a general purpose microprocessor, a microcontroller, a digital signal processor, an application specific integrated circuit, a field programmable circuit arrangement, a programmable logic device, a controller, a state machine , closed logic, distinct hardware components, an artificial neural network or any similar suitable entity that can perform calculations or other data manipulation. In some embodiments, computer hardware may further include elements such as, for example, a memory (eg, random access memory (RAM), flash memory, read-only memory (ROM), memory only programmable read (PROM), erasable read-only memory (EPROM)), registers, hard drives, removable disks, CD-ROMs, DVDs or any other similar suitable device or storage medium.

[0046] Executable sequences described here can be implemented with one or more code sequences contained in a memory. In some embodiments, such code can be read into the memory of another machine-readable medium. Executing the instruction sequences contained in memory can cause a processor to perform the process steps described here. One or more processors from a multiprocessing array can also be employed to execute sequences of instructions in memory. In addition, physically connected circuits can be used in place of or in combination with software instructions to implement the various embodiments described here. Thus, the present embodiments are not limited to any specific combination of hardware and / or software.

[0047] As used herein, a machine-readable medium will refer to any medium that directly or indirectly provides instructions for a processor to execute. A machine-readable medium can take many forms, including, for example, non-volatile media, volatile media and transmission media. Non-volatile media can include, for example, optical and magnetic disks. Volatile media can include, for example, dynamic memory. The transmission means may include, for example, coaxial cables, wire, optical fiber and wires that form a bus. Common forms of machine-readable media may include, for example, floppy disks, floppy disks, hard drives, magnetic tapes, other similar magnetic media, CD-ROMs, DVDs, other similar optical media, punch cards, paper tapes and physical media similar with standardized holes, RAM, ROM, PROM, EPROM and flash EPROM.

[0048] In some embodiments, data collected using optical computing devices can be archived together with data associated with operational parameters being recorded at a workplace. The assessment of job performance can then be made and refined for future operations or such information can be used to design subsequent operations. In addition, data and information can be transmitted (wired or wirelessly) to a remote location via a communications system (eg, satellite communication or wide area network communication) for further analysis. The communications system can also allow remote monitoring and operation to take place. Automated control with a long-range communications system can further facilitate the performance of remote work operations. In particular, an artificial neural network can be used in some embodiments, to facilitate the performance of remote work operations. That is, remote work operations can be conducted automatically in some embodiments. In other embodiments, however, remote work operations can take place under the direct control of the operator, where the operator is not at the job site.

[0049] With reference now to Fig. 3, an exemplary system 300 for monitoring a fluid 302, according to one or more embodiments, is illustrated. In the illustrated embodiment, fluid 302 may be contained or otherwise flowing within a flow path 304. Flow path 304 may be a flow line or an oil pipeline and the fluid 302 present therein may be flowing in one general direction indicated by arrows A (ie from an upstream location to a downstream location). As will be appreciated, however, flow path 304 can be any other type of flow path, as generically described or otherwise defined here.

[0050] In at least one embodiment, flow path 304 may form part of an oil / gas pipeline and may be arranged close to a wellhead or form part of a plurality of flow lines or subsea interconnecting pipelines or above ground, which interconnect several underground hydrocarbon reservoirs with one or more receiving / collecting platforms or processing facilities. In some embodiments, all or part of the represented flow path 304 may be employed at the bottom of the well. In other embodiments, all or part of the flow path represented 304 may be employed above ground in or near a surface installation, for example. As such, parts of the flow / path 304 can be arranged substantially vertical, substantially horizontal or in any directional configuration between them, without deviating from the scope of the description.

[0051] As illustrated, flow path 304 may include or otherwise be fluidly coupled to a fluid separator 306. In some embodiments, fluid separator 306 may form an integral part of flow path 304, where the inlet and discharge ducts 308a, b provide locations or transition points between the flow lines of flow path 304 and fluid separator 306. Fluid separator 306 can be configured to receive fluid 302 via a duct inlet 308a and discharge fluid 302 via at least one discharge conduit 308b, after one or more constituent components are separated from it. Therefore, in some embodiments, the fluid 302 contained in or otherwise flowing through the discharge conduit 308b can be characterized or otherwise referred to as a "separate fluid". Although only one inlet duct 308a and only one discharge duct 308b are represented in Fig. 3, we have observed that more than one inlet duct 308a and one discharge duct 308b can be employed, without deviating from the scope of the description.

[0052] Fluid separator 306 can be any type of separator known to those skilled in the art and used to separate one or more components of fluid 302 from one or more other components of fluid 302. In oil and gas applications, for example , the fluid separator 306 can be any type of separator used to separate well-producing fluids into their constituent components, for example, oil, gas, water, precipitates, impurities, condensates (eg, BTEX compounds) , multiphase fluids, their combinations and the like. Suitable separators include separators that operate on the density separation principle or separators that operate on the centrifugal separation principle. In operation, the higher density material or substance (eg water) is separated from the lower density material or substance (eg gas, oil, impurities etc.) via differential settlement or centrifugation, such as known in art. In some embodiments, various materials, chemicals or substances, as known in the art, can be added to fluid 302 to help facilitate a more efficient separation process. Other suitable separators 306 may include but are not limited to oil and gas separators, stage separators, trap separators, withdrawal vessels, (withdrawal drum, withdrawal trap, water extractor or liquid extractor), chamber separators flash (flash vessel or flash trap), expansion separator or expansion vessel, purifiers (gas purifier, corrugated plate receptors, filters (gas filter), cyclone technology (gas / solid separation, hydrocyclones for phase separation liquid) and flocculent assisted dissolved air and induced air flotation (DAF, IAF for separation of solid and oil for treatment of oily waste) Suitable separators 306 can have three general configurations, vertical, horizontal and spherical.

[0053] As depicted and in the context of the oil and gas industry, fluid separator 306 can operate to separate oil / gas 312 from fluid 302 and a breaker or foam divider 314 can be disposed within fluid separator 306 in order to to isolate the separated oil / gas 312 from any remaining components of the fluid 302 and on the other hand to facilitate the removal of the oil / gas 312 from the fluid separator 306. The fluid separator 306 can also operate to separate any precipitates 316 from the fluid 302 , which may, for example, settle or otherwise coalesce near the base of fluid separator 306. Once substantially separated from oil / gas 312 and / or precipitates 316, fluid 302 leaves fluid separator 306 via the discharge line 308b. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the illustrated fluid separator 306 is described merely for example, in order to supplement the understanding of the exemplary systems and methods described herein. Therefore, in no way should the separation components or processes examined here be described, as related to the fluid separator 306 being considered to limit the scope of the present description. In reality, those skilled in the art will readily recognize various variations or configurations of the fluid separator 306, which can be employed without deviating from the scope of the description.

[0054] System 300 may further include at least a first optical computing device 318a and a second optical computing device 318b. Optical computing devices 318a, b can be somewhat similar to the optical computing device 200 of Fig. 2 and, therefore, can be better understood with reference to it. As illustrated, each of the first and second optical computing devices 318a, b can be associated with flow path 304 at separate and separate monitoring locations along flow path 304. Specifically, the first optical computing device 318a can be located at, near or before inlet conduit 308a and the second optical computing device 318b can be located at, near (adjacent to or in proximity to), or after discharge conduit 308b. Optical computing devices 318a, b can be useful in determining a particular characteristic of fluid 302, within flow path 304, such as determining how the concentration of a substance present in fluid 302 changes after passing through the fluid separator 306. It should be noted that, although only two optical computing devices 318a, b are shown in Fig. 3, system 300 can employ more than two optical computing devices within flow path 304, without deviating from the scope of the description .

[0055] Each device 318a, b can be housed within a jacket or individual housing coupled or otherwise fixed to the flow path 304 in its respective location. As illustrated, for example, the first device 318a can be housed within a first housing 320a and the second device 318b can be housed within a second housing 320b. In some embodiments, the first and second housings 320a, b can be mechanically coupled to flow path 304 using, for example, mechanical fasteners, brazing or welding techniques, adhesives, magnets, combinations thereof or the like. Each housing 320a, b can be configured to substantially protect the internal components of the respective devices 318a, b from damage or contamination from the external environment. In addition, each housing 320a, b can be designed to withstand the pressures that can be experienced within the flow path 304 and thereby provide a fluid tight seal between the flow path 304 and the respective housing 320a, B.

[0056] As will be described in more detail below, each device 328a, b can be configured to produce an output signal in real or near real time, in the form of a voltage (or current) that corresponds to the particular characteristic of interest of the fluid 302 For example, the first device 318b can generate a second output signal 322b. In some embodiments, the output signal 322a, b from each device 318a, b can be transported to or otherwise received by a signal processor 324, communicably coupled to each device 318a, b. Signal processor 324 may be a computer including a non-transitory machine-readable medium and may employ an algorithm configured to calculate or otherwise determine the differences between the two output signals 322a, b. For example, the first output signal 322a can be indicative of the concentration of a substance and / or the magnitude of the characteristic of fluid 302 at the location of the first device 318a, along the flow path 304, and the second output signal 322b can be indicative of the concentration of the substance and / or magnitude of the characteristic of interest of the fluid 302 at the location of the second device 318b, along the flow path 304. Therefore, in at least one embodiment, the signal processor 324 can be configured to determine how the concentration of the substance and / or the magnitude of the characteristic of interest of the fluid 302 has changed by passing through the fluid separator 306.

[0057] In real or near real time, signal processor 324 can be configured to provide a resulting output signal 326 that can be carried, wired or wireless, for a user for consideration. In at least one embodiment, as briefly mentioned above, the resulting output signal 326 may correspond to a measured difference in the substance and / or magnitude of the fluid characteristic of interest 302, between the first and second optical computing devices 318a, B. For example, in one or more embodiments, the first and second output signals 322a, b can be indicative of a concentration of a substance, such as a hydrocarbon or other common production fluid component, flowing with fluid 302. The first optical computing device 318a can be configured to determine and report the concentration of the substance in, near or before the inlet conduit 308a, the second optical computing device 318b can be configured to determine and report the concentration of the substance in, near or after the discharge line 308b. By calculating the difference between the first and second output signals 322a, b, the signal processor 324 may be able to determine how efficiently the fluid separator 306 operates.

[0058] In other embodiments, the first and second output signals 322a, b can be indicative of a characteristic of interest in the fluid 302 itself, such as any chemical, mechanical or physical properties of the fluid 302. In at least one form In this embodiment, the characteristic of interest can refer to an impurity content of the fluid 302, such as the presence of salts, precipitates, water (that is, in the case of hydrocarbon separation) and hydrocarbons (that is, in the case of separation water), particles, labels (eg, chemical or physical), metals, organic compounds and volatile organic compounds, additives and treatments, polymers, biological organisms (eg, bacteria, viruses, microorganisms, etc.), medications and medicines, poisons or other components of interest, the first optical computing device 318a can be configured to determine and report the concentration of the impurity content in, near or before the inlet conduit 308a, and the second device optical computation void 318b can be configured to determine and report the concentration of the impurity content in, near or before the discharge conduit 308b. Precisely calculating and reporting the impurity content of fluid 302 in real or near real time can prove to be advantageous in quality control applications, where fluid 302 leaving fluid separator 306 must, for example, adhere to strict rules and regulations environmental issues. For example, state and national regulations often state that oil, in concentrations of wastewater, is less than 5 ppm for discharge into water ways on land and 20 - 30 ppm into the open ocean. System 300, and its variations, can be used to ensure that the oil concentration in wastewater does not exceed these predetermined limits.

[0059] In other embodiments, the first and second output signals 322a, b can be indicative of fluid compositions and fluid phases. For example, the first and second output signals 322a, b can be indicative of characteristics such as density, specific weight, pH, total dissolved solids, sand or particulates, their combinations, etc. In still other embodiments, the first and second output signals 322b, b can be indicative of the concentration or content of one or more treatment chemicals added to fluid 302. In many circumstances, for example, separation operations can be assisted by use of one or more treatment chemicals, such as emulsion breakers, defoaming agents, digesting organisms, coalescing agents and flocculants. The relative concentrations of such treatment chemicals can be monitored and measured using the 300 system and its variations.

[0060] In still other embodiments, the resulting output signal 326 can be recognized by signal processor 324 as being within or outside a predetermined or pre-programmed operating range suitable for flow path 304. For example, the first and second output signals 322, a, b can report general fluid conditions in flow path 304 on the respective sides of the fluid separator 306 and can be configured to warn the user if the oil level (or other substance to be separated using fluid separator 306) has exceeded a predetermined level. In some respects, the first output signal 322a, derived from the first optical computing device 318a, can be configured to provide early warning of a potential overload of the fluid separator 306. Likewise, the second output signal 322b, derived from the second optical computing device 318b, can be configured to provide an alert that an impurity, such as oil or other hydrocarbon, is leaving the fluid separator 306 via the discharge conduit 308b.

[0061] In at least one embodiment, system 300 may be or otherwise includes an automated control system 328, configured to autonomously react to the resulting output signals 326, which are within or outside predetermined or pre-programmed ranges of operation suitable for flow path 304. For example, if the resulting output signal 326 exceeds the predetermined or reprogrammed operating range, the automated control system 328 can be configured to alert the user so that appropriate corrective measures can be taken. be taken or on the other hand autonomously take the appropriate corrective action, so that the resulting output signal 326 resumes to a value that falls within the predetermined or pre-programmed operating range. Such corrective actions may require adjustment of fluid parameters or conditions 302, such as manipulating flow, pressure, fluid temperature, direction of the flow path (eg, changing the fluid flow path), adding whether treatments and / or other additives (all types), increasing or decreasing the speed of rotation of disk stage centrifuges, adjusting electric or magnetic fields, adjusting exposure to light and / or flow of air, their combinations and the like.

[0062] Still referring to Figure 3, in other embodiments, the first optical computing device 318a can be omitted from system 300 and, instead, an optical light tube 330 can be included to facilitate monitoring and / or detecting fluid 302 in or near inlet conduit 308a. The optical light tube 330 can be an optical fiber conductor, probe, or conduit used for transmitting electromagnetic radiation to / from the second optical computing device 318b. Specifically, the optical light tube can communicatively couple the second optical computing device 318b to the fluid in or near the inlet conduit 308a. For example, optical light tube 330 can be configured to send electromagnetic radiation from the second optical computing device 318 to fluid 302 for the purpose of determining the particular characteristic of interest. The optical light tube 330 can also be configured to carry optically interacted radiation from the fluid 302 to the second optical computing device 318b.

[0063] In exemplary operation, the second optical computing device 318b can receive optically interacted radiation from fluid 302 in or near inlet conduit 308a, via optical light tube 330 and also in or near discharge conduit 308b, via the process described above. In some embodiments, a detector (not shown, but described below in Fig. 4 as detector 414) disposed within the second optical computing device 316, can be configured to multiplex in time the double optically interacting beams of fluid 302 For example, optically interacted radiation, received via optical light tube 330, can be directed to or normally received by the second optical computing device 318a in a first time T1, and optically interacted radiation, derived in or near the conduit of discharge 308b, can be directed to or received by the second optical computing device 318b in a second time T2, where the first and second times T1, T2 are distinct periods of time, which do not overlap spatially.

[0064] Consequently, the detector receives at least two distinct beams of optically interacted light and is capable of carrying corresponding second output signals 322b to the respective beams for the signal processor for processing. The first optically interacted beam of light can indicate the concentration of a substance and / or the magnitude of the characteristic of fluid 302 in or near the inlet conduit 318a, while the second optically interacted beam of light can indicate the concentration of a substance and / or the magnitude at or near the discharge conduit 318b. By calculating the difference between the corresponding second output signals 322b, signal processor 324 may be able to determine how efficiently the fluid separator 306 operates or determine how the concentration of the substance and / or the magnitude of the characteristic of interest of the fluid 302 changed by passing through the fluid separator 306.

[0065] Referring now to Fig. 4, with continued reference to Fig. 3, a schematic view of an exemplary optical computing device 400 is illustrated, which can represent a more detailed view of the first and / or second optical computing devices 318a, b, according to one or more embodiments. As illustrated, the optical computing device 400 can be coupled or otherwise attached to flow path 304 in order to monitor fluid 302 before and / or after fluid separator 306 (Fig. 3). Optical computing device 400 may include an electromagnetic radiation source 402, configured to emit or otherwise generate electromagnetic radiation 404. Electromagnetic radiation source 402 can be any device capable of emitting or generating electromagnetic radiation, as defined herein. For example, the source of electromagnetic radiation 402 may be an electric lamp, a light-emitting device (LED), a leiser, a black body, a photonic crystal, an X-ray source, combinations thereof or the like.

[0066] In some embodiments, a lens 406 can be configured to collect or otherwise receive electromagnetic radiation 404 and direct a beam 408 of electromagnetic radiation 404 to fluid 302. Lens 406 can be any type of optical device configured to transmit or not send the 404 electromagnetic radiation as desired. For example, the 406 lens can be a normal lens, a Fresnel lens, a diffractive optical element, a holographic graphic element, a mirror (eg, a focusing mirror), a type of collimator or any other transmission device. electromagnetic radiation known to those skilled in the art. In other embodiments, lens 406 can be omitted from optical computing device 400 and electromagnetic radiation 404 can instead be directed to fluid 302 directly from the source of electromagnetic radiation 402.

[0067] In one or more embodiments, the optical computing device 400 may also include a sampling window 410 disposed adjacent to or if not in contact with fluid 302 for detection purposes. The sampling window 410 can be made of a variety of transparent, rigid or semi-rigid materials, which are configured to allow transmission of electromagnetic radiation 404 through them. For example, the sampling window 410 can be made of but is not limited to glass, plastics, semiconductors, crystalline materials, polycrystalline materials, cold pressed powders, combinations thereof or the like. In order to remove ghosts or other common imaging problems that may result from reflectance in the sampling window 410, the optical computing device 400 may employ one or more internal reflectance elements (IRE), such as those described in the co-patented Patent US No. 7,697,141 and / or one or more imaging systems, such as those described in the co-filed US Patent Application Serial No. 13 / 456,467.

[0068] After passing through the sampling window 410, electromagnetic radiation 404 collides in and interacts optically with fluid 302. As a result, optically interacted radiation 412 is generated by and reflected from fluid 302. Those skilled in the art, however, they will readily recognize that alternative variations of optical computing device 00 may allow optically interacted radiation 412 to be generated when transmitted, spread, diffracted, absorbed, emitted or re-radiated by and / or fluid 302, without deviating from the scope of the description.

[0069] The optically interacted radiation 412, generated by the optical interaction with the fluid 302, can be directed to or if not received by an ICED 414 disposed within the optical computing device 400. The ICE 414 can be a spectral component substantially similar to ICE 100 described above with reference to Fig. 1. Therefore, in operation the ICE can be configured to receive optically interacted radiation 412 and produce modified electromagnetic radiation 416 corresponding to a particular characteristic of interest in fluid 302. In particular, radiation modified electromagnetic 416 is electromagnetic radiation that interacted optically with ICE 414, whereby an approximate imitation of the regression vector, corresponding to the characteristic of interest of the fluid 302, is obtained.

[0070] It should be noted that, although Fig. 4 represents ICE 414 as receiving electromagnetic radiation as reflected from fluid 302, ICE 414 can be arranged at any point along the optical train of the optical computing device 400, without deviation the scope of the description. For example, in one or more embodiments, the ICE (as shown in dashed lines) can be arranged inside the optical train before the sampling window 410 and, equally, obtain substantially the same results. In other embodiments, the sampling window 410 may serve a dual purpose, such as a transmission window such as ICE 414 (i.e., a spectral component). In still other embodiments, ICE 414 can generate modified electromagnetic radiation 416 through reflection, rather than transmission through it.

[0071] In addition, although only one ICE 414 is shown on the optical computing device 400, embodiments are contemplated here that include the use of at least two ICE components on the optical computing device 400, configured to cooperatively determine the characteristic of interest of fluid 302. For example, two or more ICEs can be arranged in series or parallel within optical computing device 400 and configured to receive optically interacted radiation 412 and thereby increase the sensitivities and detector limits of the scanning device. optical computing 400. In other embodiments, two or more ICEs can be arranged on a mobile unit, such as a rotating disk or a linear oscillating system, which moves so that the individual ICE components are capable of being exposed to or otherwise optically interact with electromagnetic radiation for a distinct brief period of time. The two or more ICE components of either of these embodiments can be configured to be associated or disassociated with the fluid feature of interest 302. In other embodiments, the two or more ICE can be configured to be positively or negatively correlated with the characteristic of interest of fluid 302. Further examination of these optional embodiments employing two or more ICE components can be found in the accompanying US Patent Applications Nos. 13 / 456,264, 13 / 456,405, 13 / 456,302 and 13 / 456,327.

[0072] In some embodiments, it may be desirable to monitor more than one characteristic of interest at a time, using the optical computing device 400. In such embodiments, various configurations for multiple ICE components can be used, where each ICE component is configured to detect a particular and / or distinct characteristic of interest. In some embodiments, the feature can be analyzed sequentially using multiple ICE components that are provided with a single beam of electromagnetic radiation as reflected from or transmitted through fluid 302. In some embodiments, as briefly mentioned above, multiple ICE components can be arranged on a rotating disk, where the individual ICE components are only exposed to the beam of electromagnetic radiation for a short time. Advantages of this approach may include the ability to analyze multiple traits or analyzed within fluid 302, using a single optical computing device, and the opportunity to test additional assays simply by adding other ICE components to the rotating disk. In various embodiments, the rotating disk can be rotated at a frequency of about 10 RPM to about 30,000 RPM, so that each analyte of fluid 302 is measured quickly. In some embodiments, these values can be averaged over an appropriate time domain (e.g., about 1 millisecond to about 1 hour) to more precisely determine the characteristic of fluid 302.

[0073] In other embodiments, multiple optical computing devices can be placed in a single location along the flow path 304, inlet conduit 308a or discharge conduit 308b of fluid separator 306, and each device Optical computing can contain a single ICE, which is configured to detect a feature of particular interest in fluid 302. In such embodiments, a beam splitter can deflect some of the electromagnetic radiation being reflected by, emitted from or transmitted through the fluid 302 and into each optical computing device. Each optical computing device, in turn, can be coupled to a corresponding detector or detector system, which is configured to detect and analyze an electromagnetic radiation output from the respective optical computing device. Parallel configurations of optical computing devices can be particularly beneficial for applications that require low power inputs and / or no moving parts.

[0074] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that any of the preceding configurations can still be used in combination with a serial configuration in any of the present embodiments. For example, two optical computing devices, having a rotating disk with a plurality of ICE components arranged on it, can be placed in series to perform an analysis at a single location along the length of the 304 flow path. Likewise, multiple stations detection devices, each containing optical computing devices in parallel, can be placed in series to perform a similar analysis.

[0075] The modified electromagnetic radiation 416, generated by ICE 414, can subsequently be transported to a detector 418 for signal quantification. Detector 418 can be any device capable of detecting electromagnetic radiation and can generally be characterized as an optical transducer. In some embodiments, detector 418 may be but is not limited to a thermal detector, such as a thermopile or photoacoustic detector, a semiconductor detector, a piezoelectric detector, a charge-coupled device (CCD) detector, a video or system, a split detector, a photon detector (such as a photomultiplier tube), photodiodes, combinations thereof or the like, or other detectors known to those skilled in the art.

[0076] Detector 418 can be configured to produce an output signal, such as one or the first and second output signals 322a and 322b, as generically examined above with reference to Fig. 3. Output signal 322 a, b it can be generated in real or near real time and can be sent in the form of a voltage (or current) that corresponds to the particular characteristic of fluid 302. The voltage taken up by detector 418 is essentially the scalar product of the optical interaction of radiation interacted 412 with the respective ICE 414, depending on the concentration of the characteristic of interest of fluid 302. As such, the output signal 322 a, b, produced by detector 418, and the concentration of the characteristic of interest of fluid 302 can be related , for example, directly proportional. In other embodiments, however, the relationship may correspond to a polynomial function, an exponential function, a logarithmic function and / or a combination of them.

[0077] In some embodiments, the optical computing device 400 may include a second detector 422, which may be similar to the first detector 418 in that it may be any device capable of detecting electromagnetic radiation. Similar to the second detector 216 of Fig. 2, the second detector 422 of Fig. 4 can be used to detect radiation deviations originating from the source of electromagnetic radiation 402. Undesirable radiation deviations can occur in the intensity of electromagnetic radiation 404, due for a wide variety of reasons and potentially causing several negative effects on the optical computing device 400. These negative effects can be particularly detrimental to measurements made over a period of time. In some embodiments, radiation deviations can occur as a result of an increase in film or material in the sampling window 410, which has the effect of reducing the quantity and quality of light finally reaching the first detector 418. Without proper compensation, such radiation shifts could result in false readings and output signal 322a, b would no longer be mainly or precisely related to the characteristic of interest.

[0078] To compensate for these types of undesirable effects, the second detector 422 can be configured to generate a compensating signal 424, generally indicative of radiation deviations from the electromagnetic radiation source 402 and thereby normalize the output signal 322a, b generated by the first detector 418. As illustrated, the second detector 422 can be configured to receive a portion of the optically interacted radiation 412 via a beam splitter 426 in order to detect radiation deviations. In other embodiments, however, the second detector 422 can be arranged to receive electromagnetic radiation from any part of the optical train of the optical computing device 400, in order to detect radiation deviations, without deviating from the scope of the description.

[0079] In some applications, the output signal 322a, b and the compensating signal 424 can be sent to (together or separately) or if not received by a signal processor 324. The signal processor 324 can be configured to computationally combine the signal compensation 424 with output signal 322a, b in order to normalize output signal 322a, b in view of any radiation deviations detected by the second detector 422. In some embodiments, computationally combining the output and compensating signals 320, 328 may require computing the ratio of the two signals 322a, b, 424. For example, the concentration or magnitude of each characteristic determined using the optical computing device 400 can be fed into an algorithm operated by signal processor 324. The algorithm can be configured to make predictions about how the characteristics of fluid 302 change, if the concentrations of the analyzed are changed in relation to each other.

[0080] With reference now to Fig. 5, with continued reference to Figs. 3 and 4, a schematic view of another exemplary optical computing device 500 is shown, according to one or more embodiments. As with the optical computing device 400 of Fig. 4, the optical computing device 500 of Fig. 5 can also represent a more detailed view of the first and / or second optical computing devices 328a, b, despite an alternative to optical computing device 400. Consequently, the optical computing device 500 may be similar in some respects to the optical computing device 400 of Fig. 4 and therefore can be better understood with reference to it, where equal numerals will indicate equal elements , which will not be described again. The optical computing device 500 can again be configured to determine the concentration of a characteristic of interest in fluid 302, as contained within flow path 304. Unlike the optical computing device 400 of Fig. 4, however, the computing device Optics 500 of Fig. 5 can be configured to transmit electromagnetic radiation through fluid 302 via a first sampling window 502 and a second sampling window 502b arranged radially opposite the first sampling window 502a. The first and second sampling windows 502a, b can be similar to the sampling window 410 described above in Fig. 4.

[0081] When electromagnetic radiation 404 passes through fluid 302 via the first and second sampling windows 502a, b, it optically interacts with fluid 302. Optically interacted radiation 412 is subsequently directed to the if not received by ICE 414 as arranged within the optical computing device 500. It is again observed that, although Fig. 5 represents ICE 414 as receiving optically interacted radiation 412, as transmitted through the sampling windows 502a, b, ICE 44 can also be arranged in any point along the optical train of the optical computing device 500, without deviating from the scope of the description. For example, in one or more embodiments, ICE 414 can be arranged inside the optical train before the first sampling window 502a and also obtain substantially the same results. In other embodiments, one or each of the first and second sampling windows 502a, b can serve a dual purpose, both as a transmission window as the ICE 414 (i.e., a spectral component). In still other embodiments, ICE 414 can generate modified electromagnetic radiation 416 through reflection, rather than transmission through it. In addition, as with the system 300 of Fig. 3, embodiments are contemplated here that include the use of at least two ICE components in the optical computing device 500, configured to cooperatively determine the characteristic of interest of the fluid 302.

[0082] The modified electromagnetic radiation 416, generated by ICE 414, is subsequently transported to detector 418 for signal quantification and generation of an output signal (that is, output signals 322a or 322), which corresponds to the characteristic of interest particular fluid 302. The optical computing device 500 may also include the second detector 422 for detecting irradiation deviations originating from the source of electromagnetic radiation 402. As illustrated, the second detector 422 can be configured to receive a portion of the radiation optically interacted 412 via beam splitter 426, in order to detect radiation deviations. In other embodiments, however, the second detector 422 can be arranged to receive electromagnetic radiation from any part of the optical train of the optical computing device 500, in order to detect radiation deviations, without deviating from the scope of the description. Output signal 322a, b and compensating signal 424 can then be transported to (jointly or separately) or if not received by signal processor 324, which can computationally combine the two signals 322a, b and 424 and provide real or near real time signal resulting output signal 326, corresponding to the concentration of the characteristic of interest of the fluid 302.

[0083] Still with reference to Fig. 5, with additional reference to Fig. 4, those skilled in the art will readily recognize that, in one or more embodiments, electromagnetic radiation can be derived from the fluid itself 302 and if not derived independently from the source of electromagnetic radiation 402. For example, several substances naturally radiate electromagnetic radiation which is capable of optically interacting with ICE 414. In some embodiments, for example, fluid 302 may be or include a blackbody radiation substance , configured to radiate heat that can optically interact with ICE 414. In other embodiments, fluid 302 can be radioactive or chemiluminescent and therefore radiate electromagnetic radiation that is capable of optically interacting with ICE 414. In yet another way realization, electromagnetic radiation can be induced by fluid 302 when mechanically, magnetic, electrically driven, their combinations etc. For example, in at least one embodiment, a voltage can be placed through fluid 302 in order to induce electromagnetic radiation. As a result, embodiments are contemplated here in which the source of electromagnetic radiation 402 is omitted from the optical computing device 500.

[0084] Therefore, the present invention is well adapted to obtain the purposes and advantages mentioned, as well as those that are inherent to it. The particular embodiments described above are illustrative only, since the present invention can be modified and practiced in different but equivalent ways, evident to those skilled in the art, having the benefit of the teachings here. In addition, no limitations on the details of construction or design shown here are intended, except as described in the claims below. It is therefore evident that the particular illustrative embodiments described above can be altered, combined or modified and all such variations are considered within the scope and spirit of the present invention. The invention illustratively described here suitably can be practiced in the absence of any element that is not specifically described here and / or any optional element described here. Although compositions and methods are described in terms of "comprising", "containing" or "including" various components or steps, the compositions and methods can also "consist essentially of" or "consist of" various components and steps. All numbers and ranges described above may vary to some degree. Whenever a numerical range with a lower limit and an upper limit is described, any number and any included range within the range is specifically described. In particular, each range of values (of the form, “from about aa to b” or, equivalently, “from approximately a to b” or equivalently, “from approximately ab”) described here is to be understood to expose each number and range covered within the widest range of values. The terms of the claims also have their simple, common meaning, unless otherwise explicitly and clearly defined by the patented. In addition, the indefinite articles "one" or "one", as used in the claims, are defined here to mean one or more than one of the element it introduces. If there is any conflict in the uses of a word or term in this report and one or more patents or other documents that may be incorporated herein by reference, definitions that are consistent with this report must be adopted.

Claims (19)

1. System to analyze an oil / gas separation process, characterized by the fact that it comprises: a flow path (304) containing a fluid (302); a fluid separator (306) coupled to the flow path (304) and having an inlet (308a) to receive the fluid (302) and a discharge duct (308b) to discharge the fluid after having undergone a separation process in the separator fluid (306); a first optical computing device (318a) disposed adjacent to the inlet (308a) and having a first integrated computational element (100), configured to optically interact with the fluid and thereby produce and send optically interacted light to a first detector ( 212) which generates a first output signal (322a), corresponding to a fluid characteristic before entering the fluid separator (306); a second optical computing device (318b) disposed adjacent to the discharge conduit (308b) and having a second integrated computational element (100), configured to optically interact with the fluid and thereby produce and send optically interacted light for a second detector (216), which generates a second output signal (322b) corresponding to the fluid characteristic after the fluid leaves the fluid separator (306); and, a signal processor (324) communicatively coupled to the first and second detectors and configured to receive the first and second output signals (322a, 322b) and provide an output signal result (326); wherein the first and second integrated optical computing elements (100) comprise alternating layers (102, 104) of material configured to separate an electromagnetic radiation (204) corresponding to the fluid characteristic (302) from a background electromagnetic radiation ( 206) according to an optical property of the optically interacted light (210, 214). 2. System according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the resulting output signal is indicative of how the fluid characteristic changes between the inlet (308a) and the discharge duct (308b). System according to either of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the characteristic of the fluid is a concentration of a substance in the fluid. 4. System according to claim 3, characterized by the fact that the substance comprises a substance selected from the group consisting of a hydrocarbon, gases containing sulfur, carbon dioxide, sand and particulates. System according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by the fact that the characteristic of the fluid is one or more chemicals or chemical compositions present in the fluid. 6. System according to claim 5, characterized by the fact that the characteristic comprises a chemical or chemical composition selected from the group consisting of salts, precipitates, water, chemical tags, physical tags, metals, organic compounds, volatile organic compounds, additives , treatments, polymers, drugs, medicines, poisons, emulsion breakers, digesting organisms, defoaming agents, coalescing agents, flocculants and any derivatives or combinations thereof. System according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the characteristic of the fluid is a concentration of a biological organism. System according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the resulting output signal (326) is a concentration of the characteristic of interest, as measured by the second optical computing device (318b). 9. System according to claim 8, characterized in that the resulting output signal (326) is used as a quality control measure for the fluid (302). System according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized by the fact that it also comprises an automated control system (328), communicably coupled to the signal processor (324) and configured to adjust one or more parameters of the fluid, in response to the resulting output signal (326). System according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that it further comprises: a first source of electromagnetic radiation (402) disposed in the first optical computing device (318a) and being configured to emit electromagnetic radiation that optically interacts with the fluid before entering the fluid separator (306); and, a second source of electromagnetic radiation (402) disposed in the second optical computing device (318b) and being configured to emit electromagnetic radiation that optically interacts with the fluid, after being discharged from the fluid separator (306). 12. Method for analyzing an oil / gas separation process, to determine a characteristic of a fluid, characterized by the fact that it comprises: containing a fluid (302) within a flow path (304); sending the fluid (302) to a fluid separator (306) coupled to the flow path (304), the fluid separator (306) having an inlet (308a) to receive the fluid (302) and a discharge duct (308b ) to discharge the fluid after undergoing a separation process in the fluid separator (306); generating a first output signal (322a) corresponding to the fluid characteristic adjacent to the inlet (308a) with a first optical computing device (318a), the first optical computing device (318a) having a first integrated computing element (100) comprising alternating layers (102, 104) of material and co-configured to optically interact with the fluid (302) and produce and transport optically interacted light to a first detector (212) that generates the first output signal (322a); generate a second output signal (322b), corresponding to the characteristic of the fluid adjacent to the discharge duct (308b), with a second optical computing device (318b), the second optical computing device (318b) having a second integrated computing element (100) comprising alternating layers (102, 104) of material and configured to optically interact with the fluid (302) and produce and send optically interacted light to a second detector (216) that generates the second output signal (322b); receiving the first and second output signals (322a, 322b) with a signal processor (324) communicatively coupled to the first and second detectors (212, 216); and, generating a resulting output signal (326) with the signal processor (324); wherein each of generating the first output signal (322a) and generating the second output signal (322b) comprises separating an electromagnetic radiation (204) corresponding to the fluid characteristic of a background electromagnetic radiation (206) according to a optical property of optically interacted electromagnetic light (210, 214). Method according to claim 12, characterized in that generating the resulting output signal (326) further comprises determining how the fluid characteristic changes between the inlet (308a) and the discharge duct (308b). 14. Method according to claim 13, characterized in that the characteristic is a concentration of oil in the fluid. Method according to any one of claims 12 to 14, characterized in that it further comprises sending the resulting output signal (326) to a user for consideration. 16. Method according to any one of claims 12 to 15, characterized by the fact that it also comprises performing at least one corrective step with an automated control system (328), when the concentration of the fluid characteristic exceeds a predetermined operating range appropriate, the automated control system being communicably coupled to the signal processor (324). 17. Method according to any one of claims 12 to 16, characterized in that it further comprises sending a warning signal to a user, when a concentration of the fluid characteristic exceeds a predetermined suitable operating range. Method according to any one of claims 12 to 17, characterized in that the resulting output signal (326) is a concentration of the characteristic of interest, as measured by the second optical computing device (318b), the method comprising still using the resulting output signal (326) as a quality control measure for the fluid (302). 19. Method according to any one of claims 12 to 18, characterized in that it further comprises: optically interacting electromagnetic radiation, emitted by a first source of electromagnetic radiation (402) disposed in the first optical computing device (318a), with the fluid before entering the fluid separator (306); and, optically interacting electromagnetic radiation, emitted by a second source of electromagnetic radiation (402) disposed in the second optical computing device (318b), with the fluid, after being discharged from the fluid separator (306).

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