Sensor system for pipeline integrity monitoring

Abstract

A system and method for monitoring condition of a vessel coating layer and detecting compromise of the coating and its causes are provided. The system includes a sensor positioned on a coating layer of the vessel, and a reader for reading a resonant behavior of the sensor. The method includes positioning an array of a plurality of sensors on the coating layer, reading a resonant frequency of each sensor using the reader, and monitoring the resonant frequency of the sensors for a variation in the resonant frequency of at least one sensor, the variation in the resonant frequency of the at least one sensor indicating a change in the condition of the coating layer. Variations in the resonant frequency being indicative of breaches such as water penetration, air penetration, corrosion, stress, strain, and cracking. Thus, proactive prediction of a cause and location of coating breaches is accomplished.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.