A capacitance probe for determining the water cut or the amount of water in fluids. The probe includes at least a pair of electrodes. Each electrode includes a thin, pliable and conductive winding. The windings have a thin insulation layer or coating. The first electrode and the second electrode are configured to form a capacitance sensor that generates a signal related to the dielectric permittivity of a fluid flowing between the first electrode and the second electrode.

A method for recommending fuel filling stations based on water in fuel content is disclosed. In one example, a data structure is generated to house data from a plurality of fuel filling stations. The data structure may include data that is indicative of water in fuel. A recommendation for refilling a fuel tank may be provided according to data that is held in the data structure.

A method for determining the presence of water and diesel exhaust fluid mixed with diesel fuel is disclosed. In one example, output pressure of a fuel pump may be indicative of the presence or absence of water in diesel fuel. The presence or absence of water in fuel may be evaluated in response to filling a fuel tank.

Methods and devices for obtaining approximate property data from the aqueous liquid phase of a multiphase fluid produced from a well. The device includes a separation vessel; a demulsifier source; a fresh water source configured to dilute an aqueous liquid phase sample; a water analysis unit configured to receive and analyze the diluted aqueous liquid phase sample, the water analysis unit comprising an analytical cell and at least one probe, the at least one probe having a membrane-coated sensor tip wherein the membrane-coated sensor tip having a membrane coating that comprises a polar material, the at least one probe being configured to measure a property of the diluted aqueous liquid phase sample to obtain diluted aqueous liquid phase sample data; a processing unit configured to calculate approximate aqueous liquid phase data accounting for the measured amount of fresh water used to dilute the measured sample of the aqueous liquid phase.

Methods and devices for obtaining approximate property data from the aqueous liquid phase of a multiphase fluid produced from a well. The method includes introducing a discrete sample of the multiphase fluid to a separation vessel; mixing a demulsifier with the discrete sample of the multiphase fluid; allowing the multiphase fluid to separate into separate liquid phases; drawing a measured sample of the aqueous liquid phase from the separation vessel, and diluting it with a measured amount of fresh water; analyzing the diluted aqueous liquid phase sample in a water analysis unit to measure a property of the diluted aqueous liquid phase sample and obtain diluted aqueous liquid phase sample data; and calculating the approximate aqueous liquid phase property data using the diluted aqueous liquid phase sample data and accounting for the amount of fresh water used to dilute the measured sample of the aqueous liquid phase.

A system for separating and analyzing a discrete sample of multiphase fluid includes a separation vessel having a first inner chamber containing a discrete sample of multiphase fluid, and an analytical cell in fluid communication with the separation vessel. The analytical cell has a second inner chamber containing a diluted aqueous liquid phase sample for analysis. The system further includes probes disposed in the second inner chamber, each probe having a sensing area at a distal end, and being oriented in the second inner chamber such that the sensing area is immersed in the diluted aqueous liquid phase sample contained in the second inner chamber. The plurality of probes include a first probe whose sensing area surface is coated with a first ion-exchange membrane; and a second probe whose sensing area surface is coated with a second ion-exchange membrane, the second ion-exchange membrane being different from the first ion-exchange membrane.

Systems, devices, and methods of using fuel quality indicators for indicating presence of water within a fuel source such as gasoline. The fuel quality indicator comprises a first indicating member and a second indicating member. The second indicating member is traversable to multiple positions relative to the first indicating member. The second indicating member is designed to float in the presence of water, sink in fuel such as gasoline, and be made of a material which maintains structural integrity when in the presence of fuels. In a preferred embodiment, the first indicating member and the second indicating member are co-axially aligned, with the second indicating member positioned over and oriented around the first indicating member.

A production system and method of operating the production system. A fluid flows through a flow control device. The flow control device having an element that generates an acoustic signal indicative of a value of a parameter of the fluid in response to the fluid flowing through the flow control device. The processor receives the acoustic signal from the element, determines the value of the parameter of the fluid from the parameter of the acoustic signal, and changes an operation of the production system based on the value of the parameter of the fluid.

A method of assessing the effect of a production chemical on the stability of a water and oil emulsion, the emulsion comprising the production chemical, is provided. The method comprises: applying a potential difference across the emulsion at a detection site; measuring a current flowing through the emulsion due to the applied potential difference; and using this measured current to assess the effect of the production chemical. The step of using the measured current to assess the effect of the production chemical may comprise determining, based on the measured current, whether a critical potential of the emulsion has been reached or exceeded. The emulsion may be a crude oil emulsion. It may be a water-in-oil emulsion. The production chemical may be an emulsion breaker. Also provided is an apparatus for assessing the effect of a production chemical on a water and oil emulsion.

pa In one embodiment, a method of monitoring fluid flow includes mounting at least one probe including at least two electrodes to a conduit having a mixture including at least oil and water flowing therethrough and exciting the at least two electrodes with an AC voltage and a predetermined frequency. The method also includes measuring an impedance between the at least two electrodes and detecting a water layer based on the measured impedance. The mixture may also include gas. In another embodiment, a method of detecting phase wetting in a pipe includes measuring a high frequency impedance response of a two concentric electrode probe flush mounted in the pipe.