Pipeline sensor carrier

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10036680-B2
Application number	US-201614997125-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 15, 2016
Priority date	Mar 19, 2015
Publication date	Jul 31, 2018
Grant date	Jul 31, 2018

Abstract

A sensor carrier module for use in a pipeline pig may include a plurality of skids arranged about an axis of the sensor carrier module, and a flexible section. Each skid typically includes an upstream end, a downstream end, and at least one sensor between the upstream end and the downstream end. Each sensor may be configured to sense a parameter of a wall of a pipeline. The flexible section may be attached to the downstream ends of the skids and to a flange. The flexible section may include wheels configured to roll along the interior surface of the pipeline as the sensor carrier module passes through the pipeline, and a force system to apply a radial force that urges the wheels to interface with the interior surface of the pipeline.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A pipeline pig, comprising: a sensor carrier module, the sensor carrier module comprising:
a flange;
a flexible section disposed about a longitudinal axis of the sensor carrier module, the flexible section comprising:
a slat having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is coupled to the flange;
a wheel coupled to the second end of the slat and configured to roll along an interior surface of a pipeline as the sensor carrier module passes through the pipeline; and

a linkage coupled to the wheel;
a skid coupled to the linkage of the flexible section, wherein the skid comprises:
an upstream end;
a downstream end, wherein the skid is only coupled to the linkage at the downstream end of the skid; and
at least one sensor disposed between the upstream end and the downstream end, wherein the at least one sensor is configured to sense a parameter of a wall of the pipeline; and

a first force system configured to apply a first radial force that urges the wheel and the skid to interface with the interior surface of the pipeline.

2. The pipeline pig of claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor comprises an ultrasonic transducer.

3. The pipeline pig of claim 1 , wherein the sensor carrier module comprises a sealing member coupled to the flange.

4. The pipeline pig of claim 1 , wherein the flexible section comprises a second slat disposed about a longitudinal axis of the sensor carrier module, wherein each slat of the plurality of slats is coupled to the flange.

5. The pipeline pig of claim 4 , wherein the slat and the second slat each comprise metal coated with a polymer.

6. The pipeline pig of claim 1 , wherein the first force system comprises a spring.

7. The of claim 6 , wherein the spring comprises a leaf spring.

8. The pipeline pig of claim 1 , wherein the sensor carrier module comprises a second force system configured to apply a second radial force that presses the skid against the interior surface of the pipeline.

9. The pipeline pig of claim 1 comprising:
a tow module coupled to the sensor carrier module, the tow module comprising:
one or more tow module sealing members; and
a battery; and

a circuitry module coupled to the tow module, the circuitry module comprising:
one or more circuitry module sealing members;
a processor; and
a memory component.

10. The pipeline pig of claim 9 , wherein the at least one sensor of the skid is communicatively coupled to the circuitry module for data logging.

11. The pipeline pig of claim 9 , comprising a measuring wheel configured to measure a distance traveled by the pipeline pig through the pipeline.

12. A system comprising:
a first sensor assembly; and
a second sensor assembly coupled to the first sensor assembly, and disposed upstream of the first sensor assembly;
wherein each of the first assembly and the second assembly comprises:
a flange;
a flexible section disposed about a longitudinal axis of the sensor carrier module, the flexible section comprising:
a slat having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is coupled to the flange;
a wheel coupled to the second end of the slat and configured to roll along an interior surface of a pipeline as the sensor carrier module passes through the pipeline; and
a linkage coupled to the wheel;

a skid coupled to the linkage of the flexible section, wherein the skid comprises:
an upstream end;
a downstream end; and
at least one sensor configured to sense a parameter of a wall of a pipeline;
wherein the wheel is disposed only at the downstream end of the skid; and

a first force system configured to apply a first radial force that urges the wheel and the skid to interface with the interior surface of the pipeline.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein each of the first sensor assembly and the second sensor assembly comprises a second skid disposed circumferentially about the longitudinal axis of the sensor carrier module, wherein the second skid of the first sensor assembly is circumferentially offset from the second skid of the second sensor assembly.

14. The system of claim 12 , wherein the at least one sensor comprises an ultrasonic transducer.

15. The Censor carrier module system of claim 12 , wherein the first force system comprises a spring.

16. The system of claim 12 , wherein the flexible section is configured to radially expand and contract with an inside diameter of the pipeline.

17. A method of inspecting a pipeline, comprising:
forming a moving seal between a first volume of a first section of pipeline downstream of a pipeline pig and a second volume of a second section of pipeline upstream of the pipeline pig;
applying a first force to a wheel of the pipeline pig, wherein the first force is configured to urge the wheel against an interior surface of the pipeline, wherein the wheel is coupled to a slat of the pipeline pig;
maintaining a desired radial distance between a plurality of ultrasonic transducers of the pipeline pig and the interior surface of the pipeline, wherein the plurality of ultrasonic transducers are disposed on a skid of the pipeline pig, between an upstream end of the skid and a downstream end of the skid, wherein the skid is coupled to the wheel via a linkage, wherein the wheel is disposed downstream of the plurality of ultrasonic transducers relative to a downstream direction of movement of the pipeline pig through the pipeline, and wherein only the downstream end of the skid is coupled to the wheel;
advancing the pipeline pig in the downstream direction through the pipeline using a difference between a first pressure in the first volume and a second pressure in the second volume; and
logging data from the plurality of ultrasonic transducers as the pipeline pig flows through the section of pipeline.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the data comprises ultrasonic measurements indicative of a thickness of portions of the pipeline, one or more cracks in the pipeline, and a size of the one or more cracks in the pipeline.

19. The method of claim 17 , wherein applying the first force comprises biasing the wheel with one or more springs.

20. The method of claim 17 , comprising radially expanding or contracting a sensor carrier module, the sensor carrier module comprising the wheel, the slat, and the plurality of ultrasonic transducers.

Assignees

• Gen Electric

Inventors

• Frueh Volker

Classifications

• G01N29/2412

  using the magnetostrictive properties of the material to be examined, e.g. electromagnetic acoustic transducers [EMAT]; (investigating the presence of flaws using eddy currents G01N27/90, magnetostrictive transducers B06B1/08, measuring magnetostrictive properties G01R33/18) · CPC title

• G01M3/246

  using pigs or probes travelling in the pipe · CPC title

• G01N29/225

  Supports, positioning or alignment in moving situation · CPC title

• G01N2291/044

  Internal reflections (echoes), e.g. on walls or defects · CPC title

• G01N2291/106

  one or more transducer arrays · CPC title