# US 2018/0023384 A1 · Method and apparatus for stress mapping of pipelines and other tubulars

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- Number: US 2018/0023384 A1
- Document ID: US20180023384A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/652,879
- Filed: 2017-07-18
- Published: 2018-01-25
- Earliest claimed: 2016-07-19
- Assignees: Microline Technology Corporation
- Applicants: Microline Technology Corporation
- Inventors: Bruce I. Girrell; Dean M. Vieau; Johana M. Chirinos; Douglas W. Spencer
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180023384A1

## CPC

- E21B 47/007: Measuring stresses in a pipe string or casing (for locating blocked portions of pipes E21B47/09)
- E21B 47/0025: {generating an image of the borehole wall using down-hole measurements, e.g. acoustic or electric}
- E21B 47/09: Locating or determining the position of objects in boreholes or wells {, e.g. the position of an extending arm}; Identifying the free or blocked portions of pipes
- E21B 47/12: Means for transmitting measuring-signals or control signals from the well to the surface, or from the surface to the well, e.g. for logging while drilling
- G01L 1/12: by measuring variations in the magnetic properties of materials resulting from the application of stress
- G01M 5/0058: {of elongated objects, e.g. pipes, masts, towers or railways}
- G01M 5/0091: {by using electromagnetic excitation or detection}
- E21B 17/1078: {Stabilisers or centralisers for casing, tubing or drill pipes (E21B17/1007 - E21B17/1064 take precedence)}
- E21B 23/001: {Self-propelling systems or apparatus, e.g. for moving tools within the horizontal portion of a borehole}
- E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- G01L: MEASURING FORCE, STRESS, TORQUE, WORK, MECHANICAL POWER, MECHANICAL EFFICIENCY, OR FLUID PRESSURE (weighing G01G)
- G01M: TESTING STATIC OR DYNAMIC BALANCE OF MACHINES OR STRUCTURES; TESTING OF STRUCTURES OR APPARATUS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

## Abstract

A stress mapping system and method is operable to determine and map stresses along a conduit. The system includes a tool movable along a conduit and having at least one sensing device for sensing characteristics of the conduit, and a processor operable to process an output of the at least one sensing device. Responsive to processing of the output by the processor, the processor is operable to determine stresses at a surface of the conduit. Responsive to the processing of the output of the at least one sensing device, and responsive to a determination of a location or position of the tool along the conduit, the system generates a map of determined stresses along the conduit. The map of determined stresses provides a visual representation of the stresses determined at and along the surface of the conduit.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A stress mapping system operable to determine and map stresses along a conduit, said stress mapping system comprising:
a tool movable along a conduit and having at least one sensing device for sensing characteristics of the conduit;
wherein said tool includes a position determining device operable to determine the position of said tool as said tool moves along the conduit;
a processor operable to process an output of said at least one sensing device;
wherein, responsive to processing of the output by said processor, said processor is operable to determine stresses at a surface of the conduit;
wherein, responsive to said processing of said output of said at least one sensing device, and responsive to determination of the position of said tool along said conduit, said system generates a map of determined stresses along the conduit; and
wherein the map of determined stresses provides a visual representation of the stresses determined at and along the surface of the conduit.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The stress mapping system of claim 1, wherein said tool comprises at least one module with each module having at least one sensing device.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The stress mapping system of claim 1, wherein said tool comprises at least two modules with each module having a respective sensing device.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The stress mapping system of claim 3, wherein one of said sensing devices comprises a sensing device that senses Magnetic Barkhausen Noise, and wherein a lead module of said at least two modules comprises a demagnetizer.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The stress mapping system of claim 1, wherein said at least one sensing device comprises at least two sensing devices using different sensing technologies.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The stress mapping system of claim 1, wherein said at least one sensing device comprises a sensing device that senses Magnetic Barkhausen Noise.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The stress mapping system of claim 1, wherein said processor processes the output of said at least one sensing device to determine the stresses at an interior surface of the conduit.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The stress mapping system of claim 1, wherein said processor processes the output of said at least one sensing device to determine the stresses at an exterior surface of the conduit.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The stress mapping system of claim 1, wherein said tool is operable to calibrate said at least one sensing device to a null value at a start time and start position of said tool.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The stress mapping system of claim 1, wherein said processor is disposed at said tool, and wherein said tool comprises a transmitter for transmitting determined stresses and positions to a remote receiver.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The stress mapping system of claim 1, wherein said processor is disposed at a remote location, and wherein said tool comprises a transmitter for transmitting stress data output by said at least one sensing device and position data output by said positioning determining device to a receiver at the remote location.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The stress mapping system of claim 1, wherein said tool comprises data storage for storing stress data output by said at least one sensing device and position data output by said positioning determining device, and wherein said processor is disposed at a remote location for processing the stored data after said tool has completed a run along the conduit.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The stress mapping system of claim 1, wherein said tool is movable along the conduit via a propulsion system selected from the group consisting of (i) a pull cable attached at said tool for pulling said tool along the conduit, (ii) a push member for pushing said tool along the conduit, (iii) pressure differential cups at said tool, and (iv) robotic crawler devices at said tool.

### Claim 14

A method for determining and mapping stresses along a conduit, said method comprising:
providing a tool having a sensing device and a position determining device;
moving the tool along a conduit and determining stresses at a surface of the conduit as the tool moves along the conduit;
determining the position of the tool as the tool moves along the conduit;
correlating determined stresses at the surface of the conduit with the position of the tool; and
mapping the determined stresses along the conduit, wherein the mapped determined stresses provide a visual representation of the stresses determined at and along the surface of the conduit.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein the sensing device senses Magnetic Barkhausen Noise as the tool moves along the conduit.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein the step of determining stresses comprises collecting data indicative of stresses around an inner wall of the conduit at selected axial increments.

### Claim 17 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, comprising storing stress data and position data in a data storage device of the tool.

### Claim 18 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, comprising transmitting stress data and position data to a remote receiver, wherein mapping the determined stresses along the conduit is performed by a device at the remote receiver location.

### Claim 19 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein mapping the determined stresses comprises converting determined stresses into relative stress values and mapping the relative stress values around a circumference of the conduit and along the length of the conduit via a function of the relative stress values to the correlated positions.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The method of claim 19, comprising displaying the mapped determined stresses at a display device remote from the tool.

### Claim 21 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein moving the tool along the conduit comprises making an initial pass of the tool along the conduit and making subsequent passes of the tool along the conduit, and wherein said method comprises comparing the mapped determined stresses of subsequent passes of the tool along the conduit with the mapped determined stresses of the initial pass of the tool along the conduit.

### Claim 22 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, comprising correlating determined stresses at the surface of the conduit with the position of the tool at deformations of the conduit.

### Claim 23 (depends on 22)

The method of claim 22, wherein the deformations of the conduit include one or more of (i) an area where the conduit slumps in the ground, (ii) an area where there is more cross-section ovality of the conduit and (iii) an area where there is a dent in the surface of the conduit.