WO2000061305A2 - Apparatus and method for determining the physical condition of a pipeline - Google Patents
Apparatus and method for determining the physical condition of a pipeline Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO2000061305A2 WO2000061305A2 PCT/GB2000/001310 GB0001310W WO0061305A2 WO 2000061305 A2 WO2000061305 A2 WO 2000061305A2 GB 0001310 W GB0001310 W GB 0001310W WO 0061305 A2 WO0061305 A2 WO 0061305A2
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- pipeline
- plate
- gauge plate
- detection means
- tape
- Prior art date
Links
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01B—MEASURING LENGTH, THICKNESS OR SIMILAR LINEAR DIMENSIONS; MEASURING ANGLES; MEASURING AREAS; MEASURING IRREGULARITIES OF SURFACES OR CONTOURS
- G01B3/00—Measuring instruments characterised by the use of mechanical techniques
- G01B3/14—Templates for checking contours
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for determining the physical condition of a pipeline.
- the present invention relates to a pipeline pig that can be used for such a purpose.
- the most favoured technique for detecting physical damage is via the use of a pipeline pig on which is mounted an aluminium disc.
- the disc is formed from soft aluminium set to a diameter of 95% of the minimum internal diameter of the pipeline.
- the discs are usually several millimetres thick and may be provided with a series of radial slits to give approximately 6-8 "petals".
- the pig emerges from the pipeline undamaged, indicating that the pipeline is undamaged;
- the pig emerges from the pipeline with its gauge plate deformed, indicating that there has been damage to the pipeline.
- the pig is not provided with means for relaying the precise location of any damage or defects in the pipeline.
- the pig may be unable to register the presence of any further damage .
- Damage to a pipeline can, alternatively, be detected by physical inspection of the external surface by an individual such as a diver. Again, however, the dimensions and location of typical pipelines make this method of damage detection unsatisfactory. It would therefore be desirable to be able to use apparatus that is able to detect the occurrence of pipeline damage and send a signal indicating such to a remote centre.
- the apparatus comprises a gauge plate mounted on a mobile carrier, the gauge plate being provided with detection means for detecting deformation of the gauge plate resultant from physical defects in the pipeline, and the apparatus further comprising transmission means to indicate to a remote location the detection of the presence of physical defects.
- the detection means is a mechanical device.
- the detection means is a strain gauge.
- the detection means is in the form of a conductive element formed by an electrically or optically conductive material.
- the conductive element is applied to or mounted on the rear face of the gauge plate.
- the detection means is in the form of an electrical circuit formed by tape such as fracture detection tape or glass break tape.
- tape such as fracture detection tape or glass break tape.
- any suitable tape may be used.
- the tape is fixed to the plate such that a closed circuit is formed while the plate remains undamaged and an open circuit is formed when the plate becomes damaged.
- the detection means communicates with the transmission means when the gauge plate is deformed.
- the transmission means is in the form of an acoustic, electromagnetic, nucleonic or mechanical system, and transmits information to a remote location.
- the apparatus may be operated from said remote location.
- the carrier may be, but is not limited to, a pipeline pig-
- the gauge plate is made from an elastomeric material.
- the plate is provided with a series of radial slits which divide the plate into individual "petals”.
- the apparatua is propelled throught he pipeline by pipeline fluid.
- the data may also be stored on the carrier, and collected and analysed once said carrier has passed through the desired section of pipeline.
- Figure 1 illustrates a pipeline pig in accordance with the present invention
- Figure 2 illustrates a view of a gauge plate that can be mounted on a pipeline pig in accordance with the present invention
- Figure 3 illustrates the pipeline pig of Figure 1 in use in a pipeline.
- apparatus for determining the condition of a pipeline is generally depicted at 1 comprising a carrier means 2, a gauge plate 3 and a transmitter 4.
- the carrier means 2 is further provided with supports 5.
- Figure 2 illustrates a face view of the gauge plate 3.
- the gauge plate 3 is provided with a central aperture 6 for connection with the transmitter 4 of Figure 1.
- the gauge plate 3 is provided with detection means 7, slits 8 and a connector 9.
- the connector 9 provides a connection between the detection means 7 and the transmitter 4.
- the gauge plate 3 is made from an elastomeric material.
- the gauge plate 3 will be deformed upon passing a physical defect in the pipeline. However, as the gauge plate 3 is made from an elastomeric material, it will return to its original shape after passing the physical defect. This is an advantage as the apparatus 1 will not be detrimentally affected upon passing a first defect in the pipeline and will therefore be able to register the presence of other physical defects further along the pipeline.
- Figure 3 illustrates the apparatus 1 in use in a pipeline 10. In the Figure the apparatus 1 has passed a dent 11 in the wall of the pipeline 10. The gauge plate 3 has been bent at point 12 by the action of the apparatus 1 passing the dent 11. The arrow indicates the direction of movement of the apparatus 1 through the pipeline 10.
- the apparatus 1 is inserted at one end of the pipeline 10 and propelled forwards, typically by the force of the fluid travelling through the pipeline.
- the design of the gauge plate 3 is such that the use of external propulsion means has no detrimental effect on the detection means 7.
- the detection means is formed by an electrically or optically conducting material.
- the detection means may comprise an electrical circuit which is formed by tape 3, such as fracture detection or glass break tape.
- the tape 4 forms a closed circuit when the plate 3 is intact, the signal from this circuit being transmitted to a remote centre from the transmitter 4.
- the apparatus 1 meets a fault one or more of the slits in the gauge plate 3 bends and results in the circuit being broken. The resultant interruption or alteration of the signal can be monitored by the remote centre and the location of the fault can be accurately determined.
- the detection means is mechanical.
- a strain gauge may be incorporated into the gauge plate to detect physical defects in the pipeline.
- the apparatus may also be provided with data storage means for recording information during a sweep through the pipeline. The information so recorded can be analysed once the sweep has been completed. This is useful as a back up mechanism if for some reason communication between the detection means and transmission means or remote centre is interrupted or detrimentally affected. As the apparatus has storage means, any information gained during a sweep will not be lost if the transmitting function of the pig is detrimentally affected. It will be appreciated, that as one sweep can take a considerable length of time, particularly in long, subsea pipelines, this back-up mechanism ensures that time and expenditure has not been wasted on a run if the transmitting function of the apparatus is affected.
- the gauge plate may also be adapted to allow for the measurement of subtle defects such as curvature of the pipeline.
- the transmitting means which transmits the information regarding the physical condition of the pipeline to the remote centre may be in the form of an acoustic, electro-magnetic, nucleonic or mechanical system, depending on the prevalent conditions in the pipeline and the operator's preference.
- An advantage of the present invention is that the pipeline pig can be inspected for damage without having to visually examine it. Therefore the physical condition of the pipeline can be monitored without having to retrieve the pig from the pipeline.
- a further advantage is that there is provided apparatus for detecting physical faults in a pipeline that can be operated from a remote location.
- a further advantage of the present invention is that any faults that are detected can be repaired within a short period of time and at considerably reduced cost.
- a yet further advantage of the present invention is that where the gauge plate is made from an elastomeric material, the gauge plate will return to its original shape after passing the defect in the pipeline and can therefore be used to indicate other faults further along the pipeline.
- the gauge plate may also be provided with a feedback mechanism such that the gauge plate on passing a fault can be reset to its original position allowing for the measurement of a multiple of faults.
Landscapes
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Investigating Or Analyzing Materials By The Use Of Magnetic Means (AREA)
- Investigating Or Analyzing Materials By The Use Of Ultrasonic Waves (AREA)
- Pipeline Systems (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims
Priority Applications (5)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
AU38285/00A AU3828500A (en) | 1999-04-10 | 2000-04-10 | Apparatus and method for determining the physical condition of a pipeline |
GB0027108A GB2365504A (en) | 1999-04-10 | 2000-04-10 | Apparatus and method for determining the physical condition of a pipeline |
EP00917192A EP1171248A2 (en) | 1999-04-10 | 2000-04-10 | Apparatus and method for determining the physical condition of a pipeline |
BR0009687-3A BR0009687A (en) | 1999-04-10 | 2000-04-10 | Apparatus and process for determining the physical condition of a pipe |
NO20014912A NO20014912L (en) | 1999-04-10 | 2001-10-09 | Apparatus and method for determining the physical state of a pipeline |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GBGB9908139.0A GB9908139D0 (en) | 1999-04-10 | 1999-04-10 | Apparatus and method for determining the physical condition of a pipeline |
GB9908139.0 | 1999-04-10 |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
WO2000061305A2 true WO2000061305A2 (en) | 2000-10-19 |
WO2000061305A3 WO2000061305A3 (en) | 2001-04-05 |
Family
ID=10851237
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/GB2000/001310 WO2000061305A2 (en) | 1999-04-10 | 2000-04-10 | Apparatus and method for determining the physical condition of a pipeline |
Country Status (6)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP1171248A2 (en) |
AU (1) | AU3828500A (en) |
BR (1) | BR0009687A (en) |
GB (2) | GB9908139D0 (en) |
NO (1) | NO20014912L (en) |
WO (1) | WO2000061305A2 (en) |
Cited By (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2013102807A2 (en) | 2011-12-12 | 2013-07-11 | Eni S.P.A. | Pipeline inspection gauge for the internal inspection of pipelines |
CN112050701A (en) * | 2020-09-14 | 2020-12-08 | 曹凯雷 | But mark tape measure with clean function |
Citations (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4105972A (en) * | 1976-04-09 | 1978-08-08 | British Gas Corporation | Pipeline inspection vehicle for detecting defects in pipeline walls |
US4227309A (en) * | 1974-12-21 | 1980-10-14 | Underground Location Services Limited | Pipeline pig having gauging plate |
DE2918432A1 (en) * | 1979-05-08 | 1980-11-13 | Maschf Augsburg Nuernberg Ag | Stress measuring device for printing machine - measures stress between two oppositely rotating printing cylinders using strain gauges on tape joining roller supported blocks |
US4235020A (en) * | 1979-05-02 | 1980-11-25 | The Babcock & Wilcox Company | Inspection system for heat exchanger tubes |
DE3231137A1 (en) * | 1982-08-21 | 1984-02-23 | Hermann 4450 Lingen Rosen | Measuring pig |
GB2338307A (en) * | 1998-06-10 | 1999-12-15 | Copipe Systems Limited | Sensing corrosivity in a pipeline |
-
1999
- 1999-04-10 GB GBGB9908139.0A patent/GB9908139D0/en not_active Ceased
-
2000
- 2000-04-10 GB GB0027108A patent/GB2365504A/en not_active Withdrawn
- 2000-04-10 EP EP00917192A patent/EP1171248A2/en not_active Withdrawn
- 2000-04-10 WO PCT/GB2000/001310 patent/WO2000061305A2/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 2000-04-10 BR BR0009687-3A patent/BR0009687A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 2000-04-10 AU AU38285/00A patent/AU3828500A/en not_active Abandoned
-
2001
- 2001-10-09 NO NO20014912A patent/NO20014912L/en not_active Application Discontinuation
Patent Citations (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4227309A (en) * | 1974-12-21 | 1980-10-14 | Underground Location Services Limited | Pipeline pig having gauging plate |
US4105972A (en) * | 1976-04-09 | 1978-08-08 | British Gas Corporation | Pipeline inspection vehicle for detecting defects in pipeline walls |
US4235020A (en) * | 1979-05-02 | 1980-11-25 | The Babcock & Wilcox Company | Inspection system for heat exchanger tubes |
DE2918432A1 (en) * | 1979-05-08 | 1980-11-13 | Maschf Augsburg Nuernberg Ag | Stress measuring device for printing machine - measures stress between two oppositely rotating printing cylinders using strain gauges on tape joining roller supported blocks |
DE3231137A1 (en) * | 1982-08-21 | 1984-02-23 | Hermann 4450 Lingen Rosen | Measuring pig |
GB2338307A (en) * | 1998-06-10 | 1999-12-15 | Copipe Systems Limited | Sensing corrosivity in a pipeline |
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2013102807A2 (en) | 2011-12-12 | 2013-07-11 | Eni S.P.A. | Pipeline inspection gauge for the internal inspection of pipelines |
US9599528B2 (en) | 2011-12-12 | 2017-03-21 | Eni S.P.A. | Pipeline inspection apparatus for the internal inspection of pipelines |
CN112050701A (en) * | 2020-09-14 | 2020-12-08 | 曹凯雷 | But mark tape measure with clean function |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
EP1171248A2 (en) | 2002-01-16 |
NO20014912D0 (en) | 2001-10-09 |
GB0027108D0 (en) | 2000-12-20 |
GB2365504A8 (en) | 2002-04-09 |
NO20014912L (en) | 2001-12-04 |
GB2365504A (en) | 2002-02-20 |
BR0009687A (en) | 2002-01-08 |
GB9908139D0 (en) | 1999-06-02 |
WO2000061305A3 (en) | 2001-04-05 |
AU3828500A (en) | 2000-11-14 |
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