Downhole well corrosion monitoring apparatus and method
First Claim
1. A downhole corrosion monitoring apparatus for determining the condition of a section of a well tubing string or a well casing string, the apparatus comprising:
- (a) a plurality of piezoelectric transducers arranged in a fixed array, spaced longitudinally and axially from each other, and affixed about the circumference of the section of tubing or casing string to be monitored;
(b) a microprocessor electrically connected to the transducers for activating the transducers and for receiving and transmitting signals produced by the transducers;
(c) an electrical power source and conducting means extending from the power source to the microprocessor;
(d) control and instrumentation means for activating the microprocessor and for receiving, recording and processing the data output signals of the microprocessor; and
(e) display means in association with the control and instrumentation means for displaying data relating to corrosion rate and location of defects in the section of the tubing or casing string.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The existence and rate of corrosion in a section of a well tubing or well casing string is determined and monitored continuously or intermittently by installing at predetermined locations as the string is placed in the well bore, sections of pipe that have been fitted with an array of piezoelectric transducers positioned around the circumference of the pipe and a microprocessor that controls signals going to and from each array of transducers and signals going to and received from controls and instrumentation apparatus located at the earth'"'"'s surface. The apparatus can also include a reference block isolated from corrosion sources that is fitted with transducers associated with the microprocessor for the adjacent array of transducers. The microprocessors at varying locations along the string are electrically connected to the surface control and instrumentation apparatus by conductor cables and/or by wireless means using the pipe string as the conductive path for electrical signals.
39 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A downhole corrosion monitoring apparatus for determining the condition of a section of a well tubing string or a well casing string, the apparatus comprising:
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(a) a plurality of piezoelectric transducers arranged in a fixed array, spaced longitudinally and axially from each other, and affixed about the circumference of the section of tubing or casing string to be monitored; (b) a microprocessor electrically connected to the transducers for activating the transducers and for receiving and transmitting signals produced by the transducers; (c) an electrical power source and conducting means extending from the power source to the microprocessor; (d) control and instrumentation means for activating the microprocessor and for receiving, recording and processing the data output signals of the microprocessor; and (e) display means in association with the control and instrumentation means for displaying data relating to corrosion rate and location of defects in the section of the tubing or casing string. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method for the downhole corrosion monitoring of at least one section of a well tubing string or casing string, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) attaching a plurality of piezoelectric transducers in a longitudinally and radially-spaced first fixed array on the surface of at least one section of one tubing string, or casing string, or both; (b) electrically connecting a programmed microprocessor to the first fixed array of transducers and to a source of electrical power; (c) providing control, data receiving, processing, display and storage means for transmitting electrical signals to and receiving signals from the microprocessor; (d) transmitting signals to the microprocessor to activate the transducers; (e) receiving signals from the transducers and transmitting the signals via the microprocessor to the data receiving and processing means; (f) processing the data relating to the presence of corrosion and defects in the section of the string being monitored and displaying the processed data on the display means. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification