# US 8,387,461 B2 · Inspection method

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- Number: US 8,387,461 B2
- Document ID: US8387461B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 12/668,603
- Filed: 2008-06-12
- Published: 2011-05-19
- Granted: 2013-03-05
- Earliest claimed: 2007-07-11
- Assignees: Flexlife Limited
- Applicants: John Nicholas Marsden; Stuart Andrew Mitchell
- Inventors: John Nicholas Marsden; Stuart Andrew Mitchell
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8387461B2

## CPC

- G01N 29/043: {in the interior, e.g. by shear waves}
- F16L 11/082: {two layers}
- F16L 59/153: for flexible pipes
- F17D 5/06: using electric or acoustic means
- G01N 2291/0231: Composite or layered materials
- G01N 2291/0258: Structural degradation, e.g. fatigue of composites, ageing of oils
- G01N 2291/2634: cylindrical from outside
- G01N 2291/2636: cylindrical from inside
- G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q)
- F16L: PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F17D: PIPE-LINE SYSTEMS; PIPE-LINES (pumps or compressors F04; fluid dynamics F15D; valves or the like F16K; pipes, laying pipes, supports, joints, branches, repairing, work on the entire line, accessories F16L; steam traps or the like F16T; fluid-pressure electric cables H01B9/06)

## Abstract

A method of monitoring the condition of a flexible pipeline comprising the step of scanning the pipeline with an ultrasonic scanner to produce and/or record a signal indicative or the level of flooding within the annulus of the pipeline and/or indicative of the integrity of the layers of the pipeline.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of monitoring the condition of a flexible pipeline comprising the steps of scanning the pipeline with an ultrasonic scanner and producing and/or recording a signal indicative of the level of flooding within the annulus of the pipeline and using the information provided from the signal to determine the level of flooding within the annulus and to identify a flooded section of the flexible pipeline.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A method according to claim 1, wherein the method includes the step of producing and/or recording a signal indicative of the integrity of the layers of the pipeline.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

A method according to claim 2, wherein the signals representing the level of flooding within the annulus and the integrity of the layers of the pipeline are simultaneously obtained.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

A method according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises the step of displaying results of the scan on a display apparatus.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

A method according to claim 4, wherein the results of the scan are displayed in real time during the scanning process.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

A method according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises the step of deploying an ROV from a surface facility, said ROV carrying apparatus for scanning the pipeline in situ.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

A method according to claim 1, wherein the scanning process is remotely controlled.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

A method according to claim 1, wherein the scanning process is controlled from a location remote from the pipeline.