US 12,366,554 B2
Gaseous bubble system and method to measure gelation time
Mohanad M. Fahmi, Al Khobar (SA); and Abdulkareem AlSofi, Dhahran (SA)
Assigned to Saudi Arabian Oil Company, Dhahran (SA)
Filed by Saudi Arabian Oil Company, Dhahran (SA)
Filed on Sep. 15, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/475,604.
Prior Publication US 2023/0080236 A1, Mar. 16, 2023
Int. Cl. G01N 29/02 (2006.01); G01K 13/00 (2021.01); G01N 1/44 (2006.01); G01N 27/04 (2006.01)
CPC G01N 29/02 (2013.01) [G01K 13/00 (2013.01); G01N 1/44 (2013.01); G01N 27/04 (2013.01); G01N 2291/02433 (2013.01)] 27 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method to determine a gelation time of a substance in a container, the method comprising:
releasing, by a bubble generator at a first end of the container, a first set of bubbles into the first end of the container at predetermined intervals such that the first set of bubbles rise from the first end of the container to a second end of the container, wherein the container contains the substance comprising a gellant solution with a cross-linker,
sensing, a bubble sensor at the second end of the container, the first set of bubbles, and
determining a calibration travel time based on an average travel time of the first set of bubbles,
releasing, by the bubble generator, a second set of bubbles, into the first end of the container;
determining, based on the second set of bubbles, an absence of a bubble released by the bubble generator at the bubble sensor within a predetermined time after having been released by the bubble generator; and
determining a gelation time based on a total number of bubbles detected by the bubble sensor, wherein the gelation time is the time the gellant solution takes to gel such that a gaseous bubble is trapped within the substance.