Method and apparatus for determining flow rates

A fiber optic sensor system provides sufficient thermal information to determine the mass flow rates of produced fluids within a well bore, using an optical fiber placed within or adjacent to the well bore without interference with production or prejudicing the integrity of the well. Mass flow rates of fluid in a conduit ( 20 ) located in a heat sink differing in temperature from the fluid are determined by obtaining a distributed temperature profile ( 32 ) of fluid flowing along a length of conduit ( 15 ) by using optical data obtained from a length of optical fiber in thermal contact therewith, obtaining a profile of the heat sink temperature external to the conduit, and deriving mass flow rates of fluids in the conduit from the said profiles and from measured thermal transfer parameters.