Pipe damage assessment system and method
AssigneeSchlumberger Technology Corporation
InventorsShunfeng Zheng, Zhanke Liu
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A technique facilitates examination of a tubing string. A sensor is mounted to monitor a pipe for a defect or defects. The sensor outputs data on the defect to a data processing system which identifies the type and severity of the defect. The data processing system also may be used to track the defect to determine changes to the defect during, for example, subsequent uses of the pipe. Based on the evaluation of the defect, recommendations are provided with respect to future use or handling of the pipe.
Claims23
A method for examining a tubing string, comprising:
- moving a pipe of the tubing string relative to a sensor;
- using the sensor to monitor the pipe for a defect;
- outputting data on the defect to a data processing system;
- identifying the defect by finding a matching benchmark defect in a defect database;
- tracking the defect to determine changes to the defect over time based on the data output by the sensor;
- and
- automatically changing an operation using the pipe based on identifying and tracking of the defect.
A method, comprising:
- moving a pipe relative to a sensor, the sensor positioned along a circumference of the pipe;
- using the sensor to monitor the pipe for the presence of defects;
- outputting data from the sensor to a data processing system having a processor;
- storing a standard defect database in a memory accessible by the processor;
- providing the standard defect database with defect data entries which categorize defects by at least one of the following:
- orientation, dimension, defect type, defect severity threshold, and the mechanism causing the defect;
- updating the standard defect database as new defect data becomes available;
- processing the data from the sensor regarding defects via the data processing system according to an algorithm to match the defects against defect entries in the standard defect database;
- determining the type and severity of the defect;
- and
- using the data processing system to automatically take an action with respect to future use of the pipe based on the match of defects and the determination of the type and severity of the defects.
A system for defect evaluation, comprising:
- a sensor positioned along a circumference of a moving pipe to monitor for defects in the pipe;
- and
- a data processing system coupled to the sensor, the data processing system comprising a memory in which a defect database is stored, the data processing system further comprising a processor which processes data received from the sensor according to an algorithm that matches defects detected in the pipe with stored defect entries in the defect database to identify the defects, the data processing system further being programmed to:
- track the identified defects based on the data received from the sensor to determine changes in the identified defects over time;
- and
- automatically adjust an operation using the pipe based on the changes in the identified defects over time.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.