An exemplary embodiment of a method of detecting hydrocarbons in Systems and methods for sensing analytes in an aqueous solution, include pretreating a water sample to provide a test sample. A flow cell includes at least one sensor with a polymer coating having at least partial selectivity for at least one analyte. The flow cell receives a test sample and a reference sample. At least one output signal from the at least one sensor is processed with a microcontroller using a model of the sensor response and a bank of Kalman filters to estimate a concentration of at least one analyte in the aqueous solution.

An electromagnetic flowmeter and a method for measuring a property of a fluid composition, a first electric conductor with first and second ends, configured to be arranged inside a fluid conduit carrying a fluid composition comprising hydrocarbons, an RF electric signal source, and Abstract a first dual signal detector comprising first and second input ports, wherein a first terminal of the electric signal source is connected to the first end of the first electric conductor and configured to induce an RF electromagnetic wave in the fluid conduit by supplying an input electric signal to the first end of the first electric conductor, the first and second ports of the signal detector are connected to the first and second ends of the first electric conductor, respectively.

An apparatus and method for separating hydrocarbons from a matrix sample that includes one or more nonpolar hydrocarbons. The apparatus includes a first container, a second container and a connector connecting the first container and the second container together. The connector is arranged to enable the passage of the matrix sample back and forth between the first container and the second container and includes an analyte retainer that captures polar hydrocarbons while allowing nonpolar hydrocarbons to pass through. The portion of the sample including the hydrocarbons is dried and reconstituted. It can then be transferred to a device configured to enable analysis of the matrix sample for detection of the at least one or more nonpolar hydrocarbons.

Assessing a rigidity of an interface between a crude oil and a brine includes at least one of: assessing a compression energy for the interface between the crude oil and the brine; assessing a time at which an elastic modulus and a viscous modulus of the interface between the crude oil and the brine are equal; assessing a crumpling behavior or a crumpling ratio of a droplet of the crude oil in the brine; and assessing a coalescence time of droplets of the crude oil in the brine.

Provided are low flow groundwater fluid sampling systems and related methods of collecting fluid samples, including a low flow pump, flow cell, waste container and a communication device in communication with those components. In this manner, the low flow pump may be controlled to ensure a desired constant flow-rate is achieved, and a remote operator may monitor the status of fluid being pumped to the flow cell with the communication device, such as with a portable electronic device, including a smart phone. The system may alert the operator that fluid is ready to be collected for sampling, including at an off-site laboratory. Particularly useful applications are for monitoring groundwater quality and contamination.

A method for the detection of hydrocarbon contamination in a sample is disclosed. The method includes contacting a sample with a molecular probe. The molecular probe has a photoluminescence which is environmentally sensitive. The photoluminescence from the molecular probe is collected. The method includes determining whether the photoluminescence is indicative of a hydrocarbon contaminated sample. A test strip for the detection of hydrocarbon contamination in a sample is also disclosed. The test strip includes a molecular probe embedded in a substrate and/or immobilized to the substrate, the molecular probe having a photoluminescence which is environmentally sensitive to hydrocarbon contaminated sample.

The invention relates to an oil-in-water emulsion comprising an oil phase and an aqueous phase, and a primary surfactant, wherein the oil phase is dispersed in the aqueous phase, and wherein the oil-in-water emulsion has: an average droplet size distribution (D[4,3]) in the range of from 3 to 15 um and less than 3 wt % of the droplets have a particle size of greater than 125 um; a viscosity of greater than 100 and up to 700 mPas at 50 C.+10% and 20 s.sup.1+10%; and a static stability of less than 5% residue after centrifugation at 50 C.+10% and 2000 g=10% for 30 minutes+10%.

A water cut measurement tool includes an elongated tubular section configured to flow a multiphase fluid including water and hydrocarbons. The elongated tubular section includes two portions. A first portion has a first diameter. A second portion is axially coupled to the first portion and has a second diameter less than the first diameter. The second portion can receive the multiphase fluid from the first portion. A first electrode is attached to an inner wall of the second portion. A second electrode is attached to the inner wall of the second portion and is positioned diametrically opposite to the first electrode. The two electrodes are configured to measure an impedance of the multiphase fluid flowed through the second portion responsive to a current flowed from the first electrode to the second electrode, and provide the impedance as an output.

Oil spill detection is crucial, both from an environmental perspective and the associated economic losses. Current optical oil sensing techniques, such as underwater microscopy and light scattering methods, mainly focus on detecting the properties of particles or organisms in water and often require costly equipment and sophisticated data processing. Recent studies on graphitic foam show its extraordinary pollutant absorbing properties, with high absorption weight ratios. Here we propose to produce a graphene foam based ultra-light material that changes its optical properties on absorbing oil species. The results demonstrate clear changes in optical transmission and scattering properties of graphene foam when exposed to various oils. The effective graphene foam sorbent can be easily integrated with optic fibers systems to detect the optical property variations and also to monitor oil presence/spillages remotely. Such sensors can also be used for underground oil exploration.

The present disclosure relates to an optical sensor comprising at least one light source for emitting transmission light into a medium, at least one detector, wherein the transmission light is at least partially converted in the medium by fluorescence into fluorescent light and the detector receives the fluorescent light, wherein a first receiver signal can be generated from the fluorescent light, and wherein a first measured value can be determined from the first receiver signal, wherein the transmission light is at least partially scattered by means of the medium to form scattered light, and the detector receives the scattered light, wherein a second receiver signal can be generated from the scattered light, and wherein a second measured value can be determined from the second receiver signal. The present disclosure further relates to a method for determining a first and second measured value of a medium.