Method and apparatus for testing bonded tubular joints
AssigneeShell Research Limited
InventorsJimmy Lawrence Hollingsworth, Bernd-Georg Pietras
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Abstract
There is provided a method of testing a joint formed by bonding of two tubulars, which method comprises the steps of holding a first tubular; applying a force to displace a second tubular relative to the first tubular; and removing the force. The final position of the second tubular is then compared with the position which it occupied prior to the application of the force by means of a sensor mounted remotely from the second tubular.
Claims10
A method of testing a joint formed by bonding of two tubulars, which method comprises the steps of:
- a) providing a first tubular and a second tubular, wherein an end of the first tubular is bonded to an end of the second tubular to form a joint therein between;
- b) holding said first tubular;
- c) applying a force to displace said second tubular relative to said first tubular, wherein said displacement takes place predominately in a circular direction relative to said first tubular;
- d) removing said force;
- and
- e) comparing the final position of said second tubular with the position which it occupied prior to step (c) by means of a sensor mounted remote from said joint, to determine if said joint between the tubulars is correctly made.
An apparatus for testing a joint formed by bonding of two tubulars, which apparatus comprises:
- a) a fixing device to hold a first tubular;
- b) a head to grip a second tubular, an end of, said second tubular connected to an end of said first tubular to form a joint;
- c) a sensor remote to said joint, said sensor is responsive to the position of said second tubular to be capable of determining if said joint is correctly made;
- d) means to move said head to displace said second tubular in a circular direction relative to said first tubular;
- and
- e) means to allow said head to move to a position dictated by said second tubular.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.