Coiled tubing inspection system using image pattern recognition

A tubing for use with an automated defect inspection system comprising:

• an outer wear layer;
• and
• a contrasting layer beneath the wear layer;
• wherein if the outer wear layer is worn away, the contrasting layer becomes visible as a contrasting feature on the tubing.

An inspection system comprising:

• a composite coiled tubing having layers of fibers forming a tubing wall;
• an outermost layer having a longitudinal stripe;
• an imaging device recording video signals of a segment of the coiled tubing as the coiled tubing is presented before the imaging device;
• a processor receiving the video signals from the imaging device;
• and
• a program in the processor analyzing the video signals to detect the stripe on the tubing segment.

An automated inspection system for identifying defects in coiled tubing, comprising:

• a computer system configured to execute pattern recognition software;
• and
• a plurality of imaging devices configured to capture video images of coiled tubing as the tubing passes in front of the imaging devices;
• an image being transmitted to the computer system and the pattern recognition software analyzing the image, extracting features from the image, and generating a indication if a defect is identified in the image.

A computer system for use in an automated tubing inspection system comprising:

• a processor;
• at least one output device;
• an input device configured to receive video signals and generate sequential images from the video input;
• a pattern classification software program configured to read the images and extract features from the images and compare the size of these features against user-defined thresholds;
• wherein if the pattern classification software determines that the size of the features does not fall within the user-defined threshold, the software generates an interrupt indicating that a defect has been located.

A method of identifying defects in a continuous length of coiled tubing, comprising:

• passing the continuous length of coiled tubing in front of a plurality of imaging devices;
• capturing images of the outer circumference of the tubing with the imaging devices and transmitting the images to a processor;
• receiving the images by the processor and inputting the images to computer vision software running on the processor;
• and
• processing the images on the computer vision software;
• and
• identifying predetermined features in the tubing.