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US 2026/0118108 A1Published application
Underground Pipeline Mapping and Inspection Using Frequency Domain Electromagnetic Device
AssigneeChampionX LLC
InventorBilly Todd Harris
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Underground pipeline mapping and inspection utilizes phase shifts and voltages of electromagnetic signals transmitted to and received from the underground pipeline to determine any displacement of the underground pipeline.
Claims20
A method for inspecting an underground pipeline, comprising:
- positioning a receiver of a frequency domain electromagnetic device (FDED) at a height above a surface of the Earth, wherein the underground pipeline lies at a depth below the surface of the Earth above which the receiver of the FDED is positioned;
- inducing an inspection current in the underground pipeline;
- while inducing the inspection current, wirelessly sensing, by the receiver of the FDED, a first electromagnetic signal from the underground pipeline;
- identifying a phase shift or a voltage peak of a phase shift between the first electromagnetic signal sensed by the receiver and a second electromagnetic signal transmitted to the underground pipeline by a transmitter during inducing the inspection current;
- determining an inspection Z-coordinate of the underground pipeline based on the phase shift or the voltage peak of the phase shift;
- and
- determining a displacement of the underground pipeline by comparing the inspection Z-coordinate of the underground pipeline with a reference Z coordinate of the underground pipeline.
4 more elements
An apparatus comprising:
- an aerial vehicle;
- and
- a frequency domain electromagnetic device (FDED) attached to the aerial vehicle, wherein the FDED comprises a receiver and a computer operably connected to the receiver;
- wherein the aerial vehicle positions the receiver at a height above a surface of the Earth, wherein an underground pipeline lies at a depth below the surface of the Earth above which the receiver is positioned;
- wherein the FDED:
- while an inspection current is induced in the underground pipeline, wirelessly senses, by the receiver, a first electromagnetic signal from the underground pipeline;
- identifies, by the computer, a phase shift or a voltage peak of a phase shift between the first electromagnetic signal sensed by the receiver and a second electromagnetic signal transmitted to the underground pipeline to induce the inspection current;
- determines, by the computer, an inspection Z-coordinate of the underground pipeline based on the phase shift or voltage peak;
- and
- determines, by the computer, a displacement of the underground pipeline by comparing the inspection Z-coordinate of the underground pipeline with a reference Z-coordinate of the underground pipeline.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.