Pipe defect assessment system and method
AssigneeSchlumberger Technology Corporation
InventorsShunfeng ZHENG, Zhanke LIU
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A technique facilitates examination of a tubing string which may comprise coiled tubing or other types of pipe. A sensor is positioned to monitor a pipe for a magnetic flux leakage signal indicating a defect in the pipe. The sensor outputs data on the magnetic flux leakage signal to a data processing system. Correlations between magnetic flux leakage signals and fatigue life of the pipe may be accessed by the data processing system and these correlations may be used to automatically predict a fatigue life of the pipe. Based on the determined fatigue life, an operation with respect to the pipe is selected and such operation may comprise continued normal use, repair, or removal from service.
Claims21
A method for examining a tubing string, comprising:
- providing a sensor to monitor a pipe for a magnetic flux leakage signal indicating a defect in the pipe;
- outputting data on the magnetic flux leakage signal detected by the sensor to a data processing system;
- using correlations between magnetic flux leakage signals and fatigue life to automatically predict a fatigue life of the pipe via the data processing system based on the data detected by the sensor;
- and
- selecting an operation with respect to the pipe which is appropriate given the determined fatigue life.
A method, comprising:
- using a sensor to monitor coiled tubing for the presence of a magnetic flux leakage signal indicative of a defect in the coiled tubing;
- outputting data from the sensor to a data processing system having a processor;
- providing the data processing system with correlations between the magnetic flux leakage signals associated with defects and fatigue life of a similar coiled tubing;
- processing the data from the sensor regarding the magnetic flux leakage signal via the data processing system to predict a fatigue life of the coiled tubing based on the correlations;
- and
- taking an action with respect to future use of the coiled tubing based on the fatigue life.
A system for defect evaluation, comprising:
- a sensor positioned along a pipe to monitor for a magnetic flux leakage signal associated with a defect in the pipe;
- and
- a data processing system coupled to the sensor, the data processing system comprising a memory in which correlation data between magnetic flux leakage signals and corresponding defects are stored, the data processing system further comprising a processor which processes data received from the sensor regarding the magnetic flux leakage signal and then, based on evaluation of correlations io between the magnetic flux leakage signal and defects, outputs a prediction of ii fatigue life with respect to the pipe.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.