Method and system for non-intrusively inspecting a fluidic channel

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11455445-B2
Application number	US-201816474700-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 15, 2018
Priority date	Aug 20, 2018
Publication date	Sep 27, 2022
Grant date	Sep 27, 2022

Abstract

A method is provided for non-intrusively determining cross-sectional variation of a fluidic channel. The method includes creating a pressure pulse in a fluidic channel using a hammer to strike an external surface of a fluidic channel. The method also includes sensing, by one or more sensors, reflections of the pressure pulse; and obtaining, from the one or more sensors, a measured pressure profile based on the sensed reflections of the pressure pulse. A forward model of cross-sectional variation of the fluidic channel is generated based on a baseline simulation. Using the forward model, a simulated pressure profile is generated. Using the measured pressure profile and the simulated pressure profile, an error is determined. When the error is outside a predetermined threshold, the forward model is updated based on the error. An estimate of cross-sectional variation of the fluidic channel based on the forward model is displayed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for non-intrusively determining cross-sectional variation of a fluidic channel, the method comprising:
creating a pressure pulse in a fluidic channel using a hammer to strike an external surface of a fluidic channel;
sensing, by one or more sensors, reflections of the pressure pulse;
obtaining, from the one or more sensors, a measured pressure profile based on the sensed reflections of the pressure pulse;
generating a forward model of cross-sectional variation of the fluidic channel based on a baseline simulation;
determining based on the forward model an amount of the cross-sectional variation versus distance from one or more sensors;
generating, using the forward model, a simulated pressure profile;
determining, using the measured pressure profile and the simulated pressure profile, an error; and
updating, when the error is outside a predetermined threshold, the forward model based on the error;
displaying an estimate of cross-sectional variation of the fluidic channel based on the forward model where the estimate of cross-sectional variation is provided as a function of amount of estimated cross-sectional variation of the fluidic channel versus distance in the fluidic channel from the one or more sensors.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the hammer is positioned external to the fluidic channel.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the hammer is coupled with a collar; and
wherein the collar is coupled with the fluidic channel by wrapping at least partially around the fluidic channel.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
outputting, when the error is within the predetermined threshold, the forward model;
generating, using the forward model, an estimate of cross-sectional variation of the fluidic channel.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
repeating, until the error is within the predetermined threshold, generating the forward model, generating the simulated pressure profile, determining the error, and updating the forward model.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the cross-sectional variation includes a shape change of the fluidic channel and/or a change of cross-sectional area of the fluidic channel.

7. A system for non-intrusively determining cross-sectional variation of a fluidic channel, the system comprising:
a hammer configured to strike an external surface of a fluidic channel upon actuation;
one or more sensors operable to sense reflections of the pressure pulse and measure a pressure profile; and
a non-transitory computer readable storage medium including at least one processor and storing instructions executable by the at least one processor to:
actuate the hammer to create a pressure pulse;
obtain, from the one or more sensors, the measured pressure profile based on the sensed reflections of the pressure pulse;
generate a forward model of cross-sectional variation of the fluidic channel based on a baseline simulation;
determine based on the forward model an amount of the cross-sectional variation versus distance from one or more sensors;
generate, using the forward model, a simulated pressure profile;
determine, using the measured pressure profile and the simulated pressure profile, an error;
update, when the error is outside a predetermined threshold, the forward model based on the error; and
display an estimate of cross-sectional variation of the fluidic channel based on the forward model an estimate of cross-sectional variation of the fluidic channel based on the forward model where the estimate of cross-sectional variation is provided as a function of amount of estimated cross-sectional variation of the fluidic channel versus distance in the fluidic channel from the one or more sensors.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the hammer is positioned external to the fluidic channel.

9. The system of claim 7 , wherein the instructions further include to:
output, when the error is within the predetermined threshold, the forward model;
generate, using the forward model, an estimate of cross-sectional variation of the fluidic channel.

10. The system of claim 7 , wherein the instructions further include to:
repeat, until the error is within the predetermined threshold, generate the forward model, generate the simulated pressure profile, determine the error, and update the forward model.

11. The system of claim 7 , wherein the cross-sectional variation includes a shape change of the fluidic channel.

12. The system of claim 7 , wherein the cross-sectional variation includes a change of cross-sectional area of the fluidic channel.

13. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising at least one processor and storing instructions executable by the at least one processor to:
actuate a hammer to strike an external surface of a fluidic channel upon actuation to creating a pressure pulse;
obtain, from one or more sensors, a measured pressure profile based on sensed reflections of the pressure pulse;
generate a forward model of cross-sectional variation of the fluidic channel based on a baseline simulation;
determine based on the forward model an amount of the cross-sectional variation versus distance from one or more sensors;
generate, using the forward model, a simulated pressure profile;
determine, using the measured pressure profile and the simulated pressure profile, an error;
update, when the error is outside a predetermined threshold, the forward model based on the error; and
display an estimate of cross-sectional variation of the fluidic channel based on the forward model where the estimate of cross-sectional variation is provided as a function of amount of estimated cross-sectional variation of the fluidic channel versus distance in the fluidic channel from the one or more sensors.

14. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 13 , wherein the hammer is positioned external to the fluidic channel.

15. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 13 , wherein the hammer is coupled with a collar ; and wherein the collar is coupled with the fluidic channel by wrapping at least partially around the fluidic channel.

16. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 13 , wherein the instructions further include to:
output, when the error is within the predetermined threshold, the forward model;
generate, using the forward model, an estimate of cross-sectional variation of the fluidic channel.

17. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 13 , wherein the instructions further include to:
repeat, until the error is within the predetermined threshold, generate the forward model, generate the simulated pressure profile, determine the error, and update the forward model.

Assignees

• Halliburton Energy Services Inc

Inventors

• Jagannathan Srinivasan
• Ogundare Oluwatosin
• Bickley Terry

Classifications

• G06F2113/08

  Fluids · CPC title

• F17D5/00

  Protection or supervision of installations (arrangements for protecting foundations E02D31/00; protecting pipes from damage or internal or external wear F16L57/00, against corrosion and scale F16L58/00; investigation of the fluid-tightness of structures G01M3/00) · CPC title

• G01N2291/044

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

• G01N29/4427

  with stored values, e.g. threshold values · CPC title

• F17D1/08

  for liquids or viscous products (water-main or service pipe systems E03B7/04; domestic hot-water supply systems F24D17/00) · CPC title