Micro-focused imaging of wellbore pipe defects

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016178579-A1
Application number	US-201514890070-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 25, 2015
Priority date	Jul 11, 2014
Publication date	Jun 23, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method includes positioning a coil antenna in a first pipe concentrically arranged within a second pipe, the coil antenna having a first terminal, a second terminal, and one or more wires that exhibit a winding density proceeding radially between the first and second terminals according to a given function. The first and second terminals are then excited with an alternating current or voltage, and a signal is measured between the first and second terminals. A characteristic of at least one of the first and second pipes is then calculated based on the signal.

First claim

1 . A method, comprising:
positioning a coil antenna in a first pipe concentrically arranged within a second pipe, the coil antenna having a first terminal, a second terminal, and one or more wires that exhibit a winding density proceeding radially between the first and second terminals according to a given function; exciting the first and second terminals with an alternating current or voltage; measuring a signal between the first and second terminals; and calculating a characteristic of at least one of the first and second pipes based on the signal.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the given function of the winding density is linear.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the given function of the winding density is uniform.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the given function of the winding density is linear across a first radial region of the coil antenna and uniform across a second radial region of the coil antenna.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the coil antenna is positioned on a sensor pad, and wherein positioning the coil antenna in the first pipe comprises:
extending the sensor pad toward an inner wall of the first pipe with actuatable arms coupled to a body of a pipe inspection tool; and positioning the coil antenna adjacent or in contact with the inner wall of the first pipe.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the characteristic of at least one of the first and second pipes is selected from the group consisting of a thickness, a magnetic permeability, a conductivity, and a diameter.

7 . A method, comprising:
positioning a coil antenna in a first pipe concentrically arranged within a second pipe, the coil antenna having a center and an outer perimeter and including:
one or more wires that exhibit a winding density proceeding according to a given function radially between the center and the outer perimeter;
a first terminal located at the center;
a second terminal located at the outer perimeter; and
a third terminal radially interposing the first and second terminals at an intermediate radial location between the center and the outer perimeter;
exciting a first pair of the first, second, and third terminals with an alternating current or voltage; measuring a signal between a second pair of the first, second, and third terminals, where the second pair is different from the first pair; and calculating a characteristic of at least one of the first and second pipes based on the signal.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the given function of the winding density is linear across a first radial region of the coil antenna and uniform across a second radial region of the coil antenna.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein first radial region extends between the first and third terminals.

10 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the coil antenna is positioned on a sensor pad, and wherein positioning the coil antenna in the first pipe comprises:
extending the sensor pad toward an inner wall of the first pipe with actuatable arms coupled to a body of a pipe inspection tool; and positioning the coil antenna adjacent or in contact with the inner wall of the first pipe.

11 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the characteristic of at least one of the first and second pipes is selected from the group consisting of a thickness, a magnetic permeability, a conductivity, and a diameter.

12 . A pipe inspection tool, comprising:
a body; a sensor pad operatively coupled to the body; and a coil antenna positioned on the sensor pad and having a first terminal, a second terminal, and one or more wires that exhibit a winding density proceeding radially between the first and second terminals according to a given function.

13 . The pipe inspection tool of claim 12 , wherein the sensor pad is operatively coupled to the body with one or more actuatable arms radially extendable from the body.

14 . The pipe inspection tool of claim 12 , wherein the one or more wires comprises a spiral-wound wire structure that extends continuously between the first and second terminals.

15 . The pipe inspection tool of claim 14 , wherein the spiral-wound wire structure is one of circular or polygonal.

16 . The pipe inspection tool of claim 12 , wherein the one or more wires comprises a plurality of concentric wire rings.

17 . The pipe inspection tool of claim 12 , wherein the given function of the winding density is linear.

18 . The pipe inspection tool of claim 12 , wherein the given function of the winding density is uniform.

19 . The pipe inspection tool of claim 12 , wherein the given function of the winding density is linear across a first radial region of the coil antenna and uniform across a second radial region of the coil antenna.

20 . The pipe inspection tool of claim 12 , wherein the coil antenna further includes a third terminal radially interposing the first and second terminals at an intermediate radial location between a center of the coil antenna and an outer perimeter of the coil antenna.

21 . The pipe inspection tool of claim 12 , wherein the given function of the winding density is linear between the first and third terminals.

Assignees

• Halliburton Energy Services Inc

Inventors

• Donderici Burkay
• Sanmartin Luis

Classifications

• E21B47/085

  using radiant means, e.g. acoustic, radioactive or electromagnetic · CPC title

• G01N27/82 Primary

  for investigating the presence of flaws · CPC title

• G01N27/902

  by moving the sensors · CPC title

• E21B47/0006

  Fixed Constructions · mapped topic

• E21B47/006

  Detection of corrosion or deposition of substances · CPC title