Method for utilizing microflowable devices for pipeline inspections

• US 20030056607A1
• Filed: 08/21/2002
• Published: 03/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated (Baker Hughes Company)
• Original Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated (Baker Hughes Company)
• Inventors: Aronstam, Peter S.
• Granted Patent: US 6,935,425 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/865.8
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/01 Devices for supporting measuring instruments on drill bits, pipes, rods or wirelines; Protecting measuring instruments in boreholes against heat, shock, pressure or the like
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/138 Devices entrained in the flow of well-bore fluid for transmitting data, control or actuation signals

Abstract

This invention relates to microflowable devices and methods of utilizing such microflowable devices in pipelines to perform inspections. Disclosed are methods of using such microflowable devices to measure parameters of interest within a pipeline to inspect the pipeline for conditions such as stress, corrosion, wall erosion and the like. Also disclosed is performing maintenance on the pipeline to correct such conditions.

Claims

1. A method for utilizing microflowable devices for pipeline inspections comprising:

(a) injecting at least one microflowable device into a pipeline containing a moving fluid,

(b) allowing the at least one microflowable device to pass through a portion of the pipeline, collecting data regarding a parameter of interest relating to the pipeline, and

(c) recovering the data regarding the parameter of interest.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising abandoning the at least one microflowable device in the pipeline.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising collecting and removing the at least one microflowable device from within the pipeline.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the step of recovering the data regarding the parameter of interest is done prior to collecting and removing the microflowable device from within the pipeline.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the recovery of data is done using electromagnetic signals.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising injecting a plurality of microflowable devices and allowing the plurality of microflowable devices to pass through a portion of the pipeline, collecting data regarding a parameter of interest relating to the pipeline.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the parameter of interest relating to the pipeline is at least one of:

pressure, temperature, flow rate, viscosity, composition of the fluid, presence of a particular chemical or ion, water saturation, composition, corrosion, and vibration.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising allowing the microflowable devices to pass through a portion of the pipeline and collect data regarding location within the pipeline.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the data regarding location within the pipeline is one of (i) time from injection and (ii) proximity to a device used by the microflowable devices to sense location within the pipeline.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the parameter of interest relating to the pipeline comprises pressure.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising determining from pressure changes and location of the pressure changes within the pipeline, corrosion of a pipeline wall.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising performing maintenance on a pipeline based on the determination of corrosion of a pipeline wail.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein the parameter of interest relating to the pipeline further comprises the presence of a particular chemical or ion.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising determining from the presence of ions and location within the pipeline of the ions, pipeline stress.

15. The method claim 14 further comprising performing maintenance on a pipeline based on the determination of pipeline stress.

16. The method of claim 1 further comprising treating a pipeline with a detection enhancement agent prior to or concurrent with injecting at the least one microflowable device.

17. The method of claim 6 further comprising stopping the flow of the moving fluid during the period when the data is collected.

18. The method of claim 6 wherein the data collected is used to prepare a profile of the portion of the pipeline.

22. The pipeline inspection system of claim 1 wherein the microflowable device further comprises a microflowable device encapsulated in a material that is suitable for the pipeline environment, and the microflowable device includes one or more of:

a sensor element, a control circuit or controller, a memory unit, and a resident power supply.

23. The pipeline inspection system of claim 1 further comprising at least one device which can be used by the microflowable devices to sense location within the pipeline.

19. A pipeline inspection system including a pipeline, a microflowable device, and an injection point, wherein the microflowable device is capable of collecting data regarding a parameter of interest relating to the pipeline.

20. The pipeline inspection system of claim 19 further comprising a source of microflowable devices, an injection device, and an extraction tube.

21. The pipeline inspection system of claim 19 wherein the microflowable device further comprises a nanowire.

24. The pipeline inspection system of claim 20 wherein the device which can be used by the microflowable devices to sense location within the pipeline is a permanent magnet.