Intelligent localized high-resolution imaging of tubulars
AssigneeDarkVision Technologies Inc.
InventorsStephen E Robinson, Kurt Kolb
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A device and method used to image wells and other fluid-carrying tubulars having localized features of interest. The device scans large areas of the tubular first in a low-resolution mode using an ultrasound sensor and in a high-resolution mode using a camera, then identifies areas that contain those localized features with some probability. The device images are stored for further image processing. The two sensors are axially spaced-apart on the device. A computer remote from the imaging device renders a visualization of the tubular and localized features using the optical and ultrasound images.
Claims30
A method of imaging a localized features in a tubular of an oilwell comprising
- deploying and logging an imaging device longitudinally through the tubular, which imaging device comprises a) a phased array ultrasound sensor and b) a camera, longitudinally spaced-apart from the ultrasound sensor, and having a higher density of sensor elements than the ultrasound sensor;
- imaging the tubular with the camera to generate optical images;
- imaging the tubular with the phased array ultrasound sensor to generate ultrasound images;
- wherein both optical images and ultrasound images capture localized features in the tubular;
- and
- rendering a visualization of the tubular and localized features to a user from the optical and ultrasound images.
A system for imaging localized features in a tubular in an oilwell comprising:
- an elongate imaging device deployable in and moveable through the tubular;
- a phased array ultrasound sensor of the imaging device;
- a camera of the imaging device, longitudinally spaced-apart from the phased array ultrasound sensor and having higher density of sensor elements than the ultrasound sensor;
- one or more memory units for storing sensor data;
- and
- a processor arranged to:
- i) operate the camera to image the tubular to generate optical images;
- ii) operate the phased array ultrasound sensor to image the tubular to generate ultrasound images;
- and
- iii) store the images in the memory,
- wherein both optical images and ultrasound images capture localized features in the tubular;
- and
- a computer remote from the imaging device and arranged to render a visualization of the tubular and localized features to a user from the optical and ultrasound images.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.