A spool body is provided that is adapted for use in a vibrating densitometer. The spool body comprises a core and a plurality of spines that emanate distally from the core. At least one channel is defined by the plurality of spines, wherein a cantilever mode of the spool body lies outside a predetermined natural frequency range of a vibrating tube portion of the vibrating densitometer.

A spool body is provided that is adapted for use in a vibrating densitometer. The spool body comprises a core and a plurality of spines that emanate distally from the core. At least one channel is defined by the plurality of spines, wherein a cantilever mode of the spool body lies outside a predetermined natural frequency range of a vibrating tube portion of the vibrating densitometer.

A system for determining one or more properties of one or more gases. The system comprises sensors configured to measure thermal conductivity and exothermic responses of a sample at multiple temperatures. Sensor responses to exposure to a gas sample at two or more temperatures are compensated and analyzed by a subsystem. The subsystem is configured to determine a thermal conductivity of the gas sample at each of the two or more temperatures and determine at least one component of the gas sample based at least in part on the thermal conductivity value of the sample at each of the two or more temperatures. Related systems and methods of determining one or more properties of a sample are also disclosed.

A system for determining one or more properties of one or more gases. The system comprises sensors configured to measure thermal conductivity and exothermic responses of a sample at multiple temperatures. Sensor responses to exposure to a gas sample at two or more temperatures are compensated and analyzed by a subsystem. The subsystem is configured to determine a thermal conductivity of the gas sample at each of the two or more temperatures and determine at least one component of the gas sample based at least in part on the thermal conductivity value of the sample at each of the two or more temperatures. Related systems and methods of determining one or more properties of a sample are also disclosed.

An integrated hydraulic fracture design model that utilizes elastic fluids with high proppant suspension and low required power for injection into a hydrocarbon-bearing, subterranean formation. The integrated physics-based approach utilizes a hybrid friction model to compute viscous and elastic behavior to estimate pressure losses at different pumping conditions coupled with a novel geomechanical model capable of modeling proppant transport with elastic fluids in planar hydraulic fractures and natural fractures. An integrated process to optimize hydraulic fracture design evaluates and quantifies the proppant-carrying capacity of elastic fluids and its impact on the proppant transport process, and low water requirements.

A vibrating meter (100) is provided being operable to determine at least one of a viscosity and a density of a fluid therein. The vibrating meter (100) comprises a driver (112), a vibrating element (104) vibratable by the driver (112), and operable to be in contact with the fluid. A vibrating sensor (114) is configured to detect a vibrational response of the vibrating element (104). Meter electronics (118) is configured to send an excitation signal to the driver (112) and to receive the vibrational response and is further configured to measure a first vibrational response point and a second vibrational response point of the vibrational response. The second vibrational response point is one of interpolated and extrapolated from other measured response points. The meter electronics (118) is further configured to calculate a Q of the vibrating element (104) using the first vibrational response point and the second vibrational response point.

A vibrating meter (100) is provided being operable to determine at least one of a viscosity and a density of a fluid therein. The vibrating meter (100) comprises a driver (112), a vibrating element (104) vibratable by the driver (112), and operable to be in contact with the fluid. A vibrating sensor (114) is configured to detect a vibrational response of the vibrating element (104). Meter electronics (118) is configured to send an excitation signal to the driver (112) and to receive the vibrational response and is further configured to measure a first vibrational response point and a second vibrational response point of the vibrational response. The second vibrational response point is one of interpolated and extrapolated from other measured response points. The meter electronics (118) is further configured to calculate a Q of the vibrating element (104) using the first vibrational response point and the second vibrational response point.

A device for determining and/or monitoring a process variable of a medium comprises a sensor unit with a mechanically vibrating fork having a first and a second vibrating element and having a first piezoelectric element arranged in the first vibrating element. An electronic unit of the device is designed to excite mechanical vibrations in the mechanically vibratable unit, receive the mechanical vibrations of the vibratable unit and convert same into a first reception signal, generate the excitation signal on the basis of the first reception signal such that there is a specifiable phase shift between the excitation signal and the first reception signal, and ascertain the process variable using the first reception signal. The electronic unit has an adjustable impedance element connected in series to the first piezoelectric element.

An integrated hydraulic fracture design model that utilizes elastic fluids with high proppant suspension and low required power for injection into a hydrocarbon-bearing, subterranean formation. The integrated physics-based approach utilizes a hybrid friction model to compute viscous and elastic behavior to estimate pressure losses at different pumping conditions coupled with a novel geomechanical model capable of modeling proppant transport with elastic fluids in planar hydraulic fractures and natural fractures. An integrated process to optimize hydraulic fracture design evaluates and quantifies the proppant-carrying capacity of elastic fluids and its impact on the proppant transport process, and low water requirements.

An apparatus for measuring a viscosity of a fluid is disclosed. The apparatus includes a Parylene coated quartz tuning fork for immersion in the fluid and an electronic circuit to excite a vibration of the Parylene coated quartz tuning fork and measure one or more vibrational parameters of the Parylene coated quartz tuning fork. A computer processor is configured to determine a non-Newtonian viscosity from the vibration of the Parylene coated quartz tuning fork based, at least in part, on a Stokes flow hydrodynamic model. The computer processor is coupled to a memory for storing a calibration curve to determine a Newtonian viscosity of the fluid from the non-Newtonian viscosity of the fluid.