Electronically controlled pipeline monitoring and cleaning device
AssigneeHalliburton Energy Services, Inc.
InventorE. Alan Coats
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The methods and apparatus of the present invention include an tubing disposed within an conduit to assure flow through the outer pipe. The tubing string is nearly neutrally buoyant or substantially buoyant and has a cleaning and monitoring tool attached to its end. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus for removing material from an conduit includes an tubing extending through the conduit and having a flowbore adapted to flow fluids within the tubing and a monitoring and cleaning tool attached to and receiving the fluids from the tubing. The tool preferably includes a plurality of nozzles, a sonic measuring device, and an expandable element.
Claims27
An apparatus for removing material from a conduit, the apparatus comprising:
- tubing extending through the conduit and having a flowbore adapted to flow fluids within said tubing, said tubing being nearly neutrally buoyant or substantially neutrally buoyant;
- and
- a monitoring and cleaning tool attached to and receiving said fluids from the tubing, the tool comprising:
- a plurality of nozzles;
- a sonic measuring device;
- and
- an expandable element.
A tool for removing deposits from the inside diameter of a conduit, the tool comprising:
- a means for moving the tool through the conduit;
- a means for measuring an inner diameter of the conduit;
- and
- a means for removing deposits from the conduit.
A method for monitoring and cleaning a conduit inner diameter with deposits, the method comprising:
- disposing into the conduit a tool attached to a tubing string;
- measuring the inner diameter of the conduit using a measuring device disposed on the tool;
- monitoring the measured diameter of the conduit from a remote location by way of signals transmitted along the tubing string;
- and
- cleaning the inner diameter of the conduit using a cleaning device disposed on the tool.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.