Surface extraction for ultrasonic images using path energy
AssigneeDarkVision Technologies Inc.
InventorsAndrew J. Rae, Eric Zillinger
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system and method used to image cylindrical fluid conduits, such as pipes, wellbores and tubulars, with ultrasound transducers then process the ultrasound images to detect edges and surfaces. The device and method compute monotonic paths through high energy pixels. Functions are used for dropping, extending and selecting an optimal path based on certain criteria, such as path length, path continuity and path energy. The selected path may be used to model and visualize the tubular along with key features, components and defects in 2D and 3D.
Claims23
A method of processing ultrasound data comprising the steps of:
- deploying an ultrasound imaging device within a tubular;
- acquiring ultrasound images of the tubular;
- processing the images to find a plurality of candidate paths, each candidate path passing monotonically through pixels of the ultrasound images and selected based on signal energy of the pixels;
- calculating a statistic of each candidate path;
- and
- identifying a surface of the tubular by selecting a candidate path based on the calculated statistic.
A system for imaging a tubular comprising:
- an imaging device deployable in the tubular and having an array of ultrasound transducers for acquiring ultrasound images of the tubular and
- a processor arranged to:
- find a plurality of candidate paths, each candidate path passing monotonically through pixels of the ultrasound images and selected based on signal energy of the pixels,
- calculate a statistic of each candidate path;
- and
- identify a surface of the tubular by selecting a candidate path based on the calculated statistic.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.