US 11,739,636 B2
Method and apparatus for measuring characteristics of fluid in a reservoir
Dale E. Jamison, Humble, TX (US); Kenneth Heidt Matthews, Kingwood, TX (US); Andrew D. Vos, Spring, TX (US); and Sandeep D. Kulkarni, Kingwood, TX (US)
Assigned to Halliburton Energy Services, Inc., Houston, TX (US)
Filed by Halliburton Energy Services, Inc., Houston, TX (US)
Filed on Feb. 23, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/182,978.
Application 17/182,978 is a continuation of application No. 15/748,148, granted, now 10,947,843, previously published as PCT/US2015/050450, filed on Sep. 16, 2015.
Prior Publication US 2021/0180449 A1, Jun. 17, 2021
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. E21B 49/08 (2006.01); G01N 9/26 (2006.01); G01N 9/36 (2006.01); G01N 33/28 (2006.01)
CPC E21B 49/0875 (2020.05) [E21B 49/08 (2013.01); G01N 9/26 (2013.01); G01N 9/36 (2013.01); G01N 33/28 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A sensor assembly for identifying at least one characteristic of a fluid in a tank other than fluid level, comprising:
a support assembly extendable into the tank and comprising a structural member and a deformable member that deforms in response to pressure, the deformable member being engaged with the structural member to define a cavity extending along the support assembly;
sensors spaced within the cavity and supported by the deformable member, the sensors being operable to measure deformation of the deformable member in response to the fluid within the tank acting on the deformable member;
a drive structure coupled to the support assembly and operable to oscillate the deformable member to liquefy the fluid adjacent the deformable member; and
a control unit coupled to and operable to receive signals from the sensors and to correlate the signals to identify at least one characteristic of the fluid in the tank other than fluid level.