A viscosity measurement system and method of fabrication thereof, the system comprising a measuring element and a housing, the measuring element comprising a base and a counterweight, forced oscillation generating means, a tube, and a rod; the base, the counterweight and the forced oscillation means being sealed in the housing; the tube extending out of the housing through an opening in a bottom wall of the housing; the forced oscillation generating means being connected to an electric board secured to a top wall of the housing opposite the bottom wall for excitation of the rod; and the rod extending within the tube and immerging of the housing for immersion, at least in part, in a fluid to be measured, wherein the counterweight is distant from the top wall and from lateral walls of the housing, and the base is supported by the bottom wall of the housing in such a way to simultaneously provide a rigid attachment on an outer circumference of the bottom wall and on a circumference of the opening in the bottom wall, and a flexible dampening attachment on a remaining interface between a bottom surface of the base of the measuring element and an upper surface of the bottom wall of the housing.

Apparatus for the measurement of a fluid property is shown generally at (10). The apparatus is typically suitable for the measurement of a property of a fluid (not shown) such as its viscosity, and comprises a tube (12) for the through-flow of fluid to be measured, a torsion bar (14), a magnetic drive coil (16) and a magnetic pick-up coil (18). The tube (12) is mounted within a casing (20), shown in cutaway. An inertial frame (22) is secured to the casing via isolators (not shown). The tube (12) has a web portion (24) supporting inertial masses (26) connected to, and radially spaced from, the tube (12). The tube is connected at each end to pipe fittings (28) via end flanges (30) and seals (32). The single tube (12) has been selectively machined to produce areas (12a) of low compliance which effectively form springs. The torsion bar (14) is of relatively low inertia and is fixed at the midpoint of the length of the tube (12). The mass system (24, 26) is of much higher inertia and is fixed to the tube (12) as shown. The tube (12) is then fixed in frame (22) which is of even higher inertia, and held in place in casing (20) by means of fixing supports (not shown).

A fluid is received into a sample tube. A processor causes an energy to be applied to the sample tube to induce vibration in the sample tube at a resonant frequency of the sample tube containing the fluid. The processor stops the supply of energy to the sample tube. The processor monitors an amplitude of the vibration of the sample tube as the amplitude of the vibrations diminish over a period of time. The processor uses the monitored amplitude to calculate an R.sub.F of the sample tube containing the fluid. The processor uses the calculated R.sub.F to calculate the viscosity of the fluid.

A fluid is received into a sample tube. A processor causes an energy to be applied to the sample tube to induce vibration in the sample tube at a resonant frequency of the sample tube containing the fluid. The processor stops the supply of energy to the sample tube. The processor monitors an amplitude of the vibration of the sample tube as the amplitude of the vibrations diminish over a period of time. The processor uses the monitored amplitude to calculate an R.sub.F of the sample tube containing the fluid. The processor uses the calculated R.sub.F to calculate the viscosity of the fluid.

A viscosity measurement system and method of fabrication thereof, the system comprising a measuring element and a housing, the measuring element comprising a base and a counterweight, forced oscillation generating means, a tube, and a rod; the base, the counterweight and the forced oscillation means being sealed in the housing; the tube extending out of the housing through an opening in a bottom wall of the housing; the forced oscillation generating means being connected to an electric board secured to a top wall of the housing opposite the bottom wall for excitation of the rod; and the rod extending within the tube and immerging of the housing for immersion, at least in part, in a fluid to be measured, wherein the counterweight is distant from the top wall and from lateral walls of the housing, and the base is supported by the bottom wall of the housing in such a way to simultaneously provide a rigid attachment on an outer circumference of the bottom wall and on a circumference of the opening in the bottom wall, and a flexible dampening attachment on a remaining interface between a bottom surface of the base of the measuring element and an upper surface of the bottom wall of the housing.

A system is provided that can include a first tube for communicating a fluid through a wellbore. The system can also include a gap between the first tube and a first electromagnetic acoustic transducer (EMAT). The first EMAT can be positioned to magnetically couple with the first tube. The first EMAT can include a magnet and a wire coil positioned around the magnet. The first EMAT can coupled to a power source and positioned to, responsive to receiving a power from the power source, apply a first magnetic force to the first tube for determining a density or viscosity of the fluid.

A viscosity measurement system and method of fabrication thereof, the system comprising a measuring element and a housing, the measuring element comprising a base and a counterweight, forced oscillation generating means, a tube, and a rod; the base, the counterweight and the forced oscillation means being sealed in the housing; the tube extending out of the housing through an opening in a bottom wall of the housing; the forced oscillation generating means being connected to an electric board secured to a top wall of the housing opposite the bottom wall for excitation of the rod; and the rod extending within the tube and immerging of the housing for immersion, at least in part, in a fluid to be measured, wherein the counterweight is distant from the top wall and from lateral walls of the housing, and the base is supported by the bottom wall of the housing in such a way to simultaneously provide a rigid attachment on an outer circumference of the bottom wall and on a circumference of the opening in the bottom wall, and a flexible dampening attachment on a remaining interface between a bottom surface of the base of the measuring element and an upper surface of the bottom wall of the housing.

A sensor is calibrated to determine a first offset parameter. The sensor has a boundary condition that affects the first offset parameter. A first viscosity of a first fluid is calculated using a calculated parameter adjusted by the first offset parameter. The calculated parameter is calculated from an output of the sensor being applied to the first fluid. An operational decision is made based on the calculated first viscosity.

Apparatus for the measurement of a fluid property is shown generally at (10). The apparatus is typically suitable for the measurement of a property of a fluid (not shown) such as its viscosity, and comprises a tube (12) for the through-flow of fluid to be measured, a torsion bar (14), a magnetic drive coil (16) and a magnetic pick-up coil (18). The tube (12) is mounted within a casing (20), shown in cutaway. An inertial frame (22) is secured to the casing via isolators (not shown). The tube (12) has a web portion (24) supporting inertial masses (26) connected to, and radially spaced from, the tube (12). The tube is connected at each end to pipe fittings (28) via end flanges (30) and seals (32). The single tube (12) has been selectively machined to produce areas (12a) of low compliance which effectively form springs. The torsion bar (14) is of relatively low inertia and is fixed at the midpoint of the length of the tube (12). The mass system (24, 26) is of much higher inertia and is fixed to the tube (12) as shown. The tube (12) is then fixed in frame (22) which is of even higher inertia, and held in place in casing (20) by means of fixing supports (not shown).

The viscometer provides a viscosity value (X.sub.0) which represents the viscosity of a fluid flowing in a pipe connected thereto. It comprises a vibratory transducer with at least one flow tube for conducting the fluid, which communicates with the pipe. Driven by an excitation assembly, the flow tube is vibrated so that friction forces are produced in the fluid. The viscometer further includes meter electronics which feed an excitation current (i.sub.exc) into the excitation assembly. By means of the meter electronics, a first internal intermediate value (X.sub.1) is formed, which corresponds with the excitation current (i.sub.exc) and thus represents the friction forces acting in the fluid. According to the invention, a second internal intermediate value (X.sub.2), representing inhomogeneities in the fluid, is generated in the meter electronics, which then determine the viscosity value (X.sub.0) using the two intermediate values (X.sub.1, X.sub.2). The first internal intermediate value (X.sub.1) is preferably normalized by means of an amplitude control signal (y.sub.AM) for the excitation current (i.sub.exc), the amplitude control signal corresponding with the vibrations of the flow tube. As a result, the viscosity value (X.sub.0) provided by the viscometer is highly accurate and robust, particularly independently of the position of installation of the flow tube.