# US 2014/0238137 A1 · Scanning method and apparatus

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 2014/0238137 A1
- Document ID: US20140238137A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/350,279
- Filed: 2012-10-05
- Published: 2014-08-28
- Earliest claimed: 2011-10-05
- Assignees: Flexlife Limited
- Applicants: Flexlife Limited
- Inventors: Craig Keyworth
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140238137A1

## CPC

- G01N 29/04: Analysing solids (using acoustic emission techniques G01N29/14)
- G01M 3/00: Investigating fluid-tightness of structures
- G01N 29/043: {in the interior, e.g. by shear waves}
- G01N 2291/044: Internal reflections (echoes), e.g. on walls or defects
- G01N 2291/2634: cylindrical from outside
- G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q)
- G01M: TESTING STATIC OR DYNAMIC BALANCE OF MACHINES OR STRUCTURES; TESTING OF STRUCTURES OR APPARATUS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

## Abstract

A method of assessing the condition of a tubular member comprises driving an ultrasonic probe to fire a short pulse ultrasonic beam at the outer surface of the tubular member and analysing the reflected signals from the tubular member to assess the condition of the tubular member. The apparatus comprises an ultrasonic probe (22), means for driving the probe to fire a short pulse ultrasonic beam at the outer surface of the tubular member and means for converting the reflected ultrasonic beam into image signals which can be analysed to assess the condition of the tubular member.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of assessing a condition of a tubular member, the method comprising:
driving an ultrasonic probe to fire a short pulse ultrasonic beam at an outer surface of the tubular member; and
analysing reflected signals from the tubular member to assess the condition of the tubular member.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1 wherein: a
the tubular member is a flexible pipe; and
the method further comprises the step of analysing the reflected signals to identify corrosion in armour wires of the flexible pipe.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method according to claim 2 comprising identifying a front and a back walls of the armour wires.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the analysing the reflected signals comprises identifying an interface between areas in an annulus of the tubular member which are flooded and those which are not.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1 wherein the ultrasonic probe is adapted to have a front face diameter of between 9 and 12 mm.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The method according to claim 5, wherein the ultrasonic probe is selected to comprise polyvinylidenefluoride (PVDF).

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic probe is driven at a voltage of around 700V to 1 Kv.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic probe fires pulses of between 4 and 6 Mhz with a focal length of between 5 and 100 mm.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1 comprising matching natural frequencies and/or mechanical behaviours of materials of the ultrasonic probe and an outer sheath of the tubular member,

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, comprising mounting the ultrasonic probe adjacent to the outer surface of the tubular member.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method according to claim 10, comprising moving the ultrasonic probe relative to the riser and preferably traversing the ultrasonic probe along a path parallel to a longitudinal axis of the tubular member and or radially around the tubular member to perform a scanning operation along selected sections or lengths of the tubular member.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The method according to claim 10, comprising mounting the ultrasonic probe on a frame and mounting the frame to or around the tubular member to facilitate mounting the ultrasonic probe adjacent to the outer surface of the tubular member.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The method according to claim 12 wherein the frame is driven along the tubular member to move the ultrasonic probe relative to the tubular member.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The method according to claim 12, wherein the frame is launched on an ROV and operated remotely to attach to and/or traverse along the tubular member.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1 centering the ultrasonic probe on the tubular member.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1 comprising providing multiple probes and driving the multiple probes to fire short pulse ultrasonic beams at the surface of the tubular member.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The method according to claim 16 comprising aligning the multiple probes in pairs diametrically oppositely within the frame.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The method according to claim 17 comprising mounting at least two pairs of probes substantially at 90 degree angles around the frame such that the probes are positionally adjustable to maintain the intersection between the two ultrasonic beams at the centre of the tubular member thereby providing a self centering option for the probes around the tubular member.

### Claim 19

(canceled)

### Claim 20 (depends on 1)

A method of ongoing monitoring of the condition of the tubular member comprising assessing a condition of the tubular member according to claim 1.

### Claim 21

An apparatus for assessing a condition of an annulus of a tubular member, the apparatus comprising:
an ultrasonic probe;
means for driving the ultrasonic probe to fire a short pulse ultrasonic beam at an outer surface of the tubular member; and
means for converting reflected ultrasonic beam into image signals which can be analysed to assess the condition of the tubular member.

### Claim 22 (depends on 21)

The apparatus according to claim 21 comprising means for displaying the image signals.

### Claim 23 (depends on 21)

The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the ultrasonic probe is adapted to be driven at a voltage of around 700V to 1 Kv.

### Claim 24 (depends on 21)

The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the probe fires pulses of between 4 and 6 Mhz with a focal length of between 5 and 100 mm.

### Claim 25 (depends on 21)

The apparatus according to claim 21, comprising a frame adapted to be mounted adjacent to or around the outer surface of the tubular member.

### Claim 26 (depends on 25)

The apparatus according to claim 25 wherein the ultrasonic probe is mounted upon the frame in an orientation perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the frame.

### Claim 27 (depends on 25)

The apparatus according to claim 25 wherein means are provided for moving the frame relative to the tubular member.

### Claim 28 (depends on 25)

The apparatus according to claim 25 wherein driving means are provided for moving the frame along or across the outer surface of the tubular member.

### Claim 29 (depends on 21)

The apparatus according to claim 21 wherein the apparatus further comprises a plurality of probes.

### Claim 30 (depends on 29)

The apparatus according to claim 29 wherein the apparatus comprises a pair of probes mounted in the frame in opposing diametric alignment.

### Claim 31 (depends on 30)

The apparatus according to claim 30 wherein a second pair of probes is provided perpendicularly to the first pair such that a longitudinal axes of the two pairs of probes cross within the tubular member when the frame is mounted on a tubular member and the ultrasonic beams fired by the probes converge on the centre of the tubular member.

### Claim 32 (depends on 25)

The apparatus according to claim 25 wherein the frame comprises a hinged collar which can open to allow the frame to be mounted around a tubular member.

### Claim 33 (depends on 31)

The apparatus according to claim 31 wherein a pair of collars are provided, one at either end of the frame.

### Claim 34 (depends on 21)

The apparatus according to claim 21 wherein an umbilical is provided between the probe or probes and the display device.

### Claim 35 (depends on 21)

The apparatus according to claim 21 wherein the probe has a front face diameter of between 9 and 12 mm.

### Claim 36 (depends on 21)

The apparatus according to claim 21 wherein the probe comprises polyvinylidenefluoride (PVDF).

### Claim 37 (depends on 25)

The apparatus according to claim 25 wherein means are provided on the frame for moving the probe or probes vertically and/or horizontally over the surface of the tubular member.

### Claim 38

(canceled)