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Abstract

A narrow band infrared water fraction meter detects a full water cut range of a liquid hydrocarbon flow stream and a flow stream of a gas well. The water fraction meter includes a light source probe for irradiating the flow stream with a narrow band of infrared light and a light detector probe for sensing attenuation of infrared light passed through the flow stream. For a narrow band of infrared light of a predetermined wavelength, there is a substantial difference in the absorption of infrared radiation between the gas and water content of a flow stream of a gas well. At such a wavelength, the narrow band of infrared light is substantially transmitted through gas content and liquid hydrocarbon content of the flow stream and substantially absorbed by water content of the flow stream. The water fraction meter thus differentiates water by treating liquid hydrocarbon like gas. Injection of corrosion/hydrate inhibiting chemicals into the flow stream can be controlled based on the attenuation of infrared light detected by the water fraction meter. In the case of a liquid hydrocarbon flow stream, the infrared light is substantially transmitted through its liquid hydrocarbon phase and substantially absorbed by its water phase. The water fraction meter also measures a water fraction of a multi-phase flow stream. The emitted infrared light is substantially transmitted through a first set of phases of the flow stream and substantially absorbed by a second set of phases of the flow stream.

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