Method for detecting near neutral/low pH stress corrosion cracking in steel gas pipeline systems

• US 7,013,249 B1
• Filed: 07/16/2001
• Issued: 03/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kinder Morgan Incorporated (Knight Holdco LLC)
• Original Assignee: Kinder Morgan Incorporated (Knight Holdco LLC)
• Inventors: Davis, James D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rodriguez, Paul L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Stevens, Thomas H.
• Application Number:
  US09/906,457
• Time in Patent Office: 1,702 Days
• Field of Search: 703/7, 702/35, 702/36, 702/150, 702/155, 702/73, 73/612, 731/04, 735/92, 737/99, 738/656, 324/456, 324/216, 324/438, 324/71.2, 204/404, 166/66, 166/250.08, 340/853.02, 367/25, 367/35
• US Class Current: 703/7
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 17/04 Corrosion probes

Abstract

A method for predicting the location of stress corrosion cracking in a steel gas pipeline in which in-line stress corrosion cracking smart tool data, external low level metal loss data and soil characterization data are compiled to predict the location of stress corrosion cracking in a steel gas pipeline segment.

Claims

1. A method of determining crack locations on a tubular member, the method comprising:

evaluating the tubular member to gather data relating to the tubular member;

locating a set of stress corrosion cracking indicators on the tubular member responsive to the evaluating;

locating a set of low-level corrosion indicators on the tubular member responsive to the evaluating;

comparing locations of the set of stress corrosion cracking indicators with locations of the set of low-level corrosion indicators;

establishing a subset of stress corrosion cracking indicators and a subset of low-level corrosion indicators, responsive to comparing the sets of indicators, when the location of any of the set of stress corrosion cracking indicators is located within a first preselected distance from any of the set of low-level corrosion indicators;

locating a set of soil characterization indicators on the tubular member responsive to the evaluating;

comparing locations of the set of soil characterization indicators with locations of the subset of stress corrosion cracking indicators and locations of the subset of low-level corrosion indicators;

establishing a plurality of predictor stress corrosion cracking indicators, a plurality of predictor low-level corrosion indicators, and a plurality of predictor soil characterization indicators, responsive to comparing the set of soil characterization indicators with the subsets of indicators, when the location of any of the set of soil characterization indicators is located both within a second preselected distance from any of the subset of stress corrosion cracking indicators and within a third preselected distance from any of the subset of low-level corrosion indicators; and

predicting at least one of a plurality of locations on the tubular member susceptible to stress corrosion cracking responsive to the plurality of predictor indicators.

2. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the set of stress corrosion cracking indicators comprise a crack-like feature on the tubular member, and wherein the set of low-level corrosion indicators comprise a low-level metal loss feature on the tubular member, and wherein the set of soil characterization indicators comprise characteristics selected from the group consisting of:

chemical content, pH level, and terrain elevation, and wherein the step of predicting includes selecting the locations having a high probability of the presence of stress corrosion cracking in the tubular member thereby minimizing false impressions of stress corrosion cracking due to anomalies on the tubular member.

3. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the evaluating includes using tools selected from the group consisting of:

elastic wave technology, electromagnetic acoustic technology, and digital magnetic flux leakage technology, and wherein the preselected distance comprises directional components of both a preselected longitudinal distance and a preselected radial distance.

4. A method of determining crack locations on a tubular member, the method comprising:

evaluating the tubular member to gather data relating to the tubular member;

locating a plurality of stress corrosion cracking indicators on the tubular member responsive to the evaluating;

locating a plurality of low-level corrosion indicators on the tubular member responsive to the evaluating;

locating a plurality of soil characterization indicators on the tubular member responsive to the evaluating;

comparing locations of the plurality of stress corrosion cracking indicators with locations of the plurality of low-level corrosion indicators and locations of the plurality of soil characterization indicators;

establishing a plurality of predictor stress corrosion cracking indicators, a plurality of predictor low-level corrosion indicators, and a plurality of predictor soil characterization indicators, responsive to comparing the indicators, when any of the plurality of stress corrosion cracking indicators and any of the plurality of low-level corrosion indicators and any of the plurality of soil characterization indicators are located within a preselected distance from each other; and

predicting a plurality of locations on the tubular member susceptible to stress corrosion cracking responsive to the plurality of predictor indicators.

5. A method as defined in claim 4, wherein the predicting indicates a high probability of the presence of stress corrosion cracking in the tubular member thereby minimizing false impressions of stress corrosion cracking due to manufacturing or construction anomalies on the tubular member.

6. A method as defined in claim 4, wherein the stress corrosion cracking indicators comprise a crack-like feature on the tubular member, and wherein the low-level corrosion indicators comprise a low-level metal loss feature on the tubular member, and wherein the soil characterization indicators comprise characteristics selected from the group consisting of:

chemical content, pH level, and terrain elevation.

7. A method as defined in claim 4, wherein preselected distance comprises directional components of both a preselected longitudinal distance and a preselected radial distance.

8. A method as defined in claim 7, wherein the preselected longitude distances is substantially 4 inches and the preselected radial orientation is substantially 1 hour based upon a 12 hour clock scale.

9. A method as defined in claim 7, wherein the preselected longitude distances is substantially 20 inches and the preselected radial orientation is substantially 1 hour based upon a 12 hour clock scale.

10. A method as defined in claim 4, wherein the evaluating includes using tools selected from the group consisting of:

elastic wave technology, electromagnetic acoustic technology, and digital magnetic flux leakage technology.

11. A method of determining crack locations on a tubular member, the method comprising:

comparing locations of a set of stress corrosion cracking indicators on the tubular member with locations of a set of low-level corrosion indicators on the tubular member;

establishing a subset of stress corrosion cracking indicators and a subset of low-level corrosion indicators, responsive to comparing the sets of indicators, when the location of any of the set of stress corrosion cracking indicators is located within a first preselected distance from any of the set of low-level corrosion indicators;

comparing locations of a set of soil characterization indicators on the tubular member with locations of the subset of stress corrosion cracking indicators and locations of the subset of low-level corrosion indicators; and

predicting that a segment of the tubular member is susceptible to stress corrosion cracking, responsive to comparing the set of soil characterization indicators with the subsets of indicators, when any of the set of soil characterization indicators is located both within a second preselected distance from any of the subset of stress corrosion cracking indicators and within a third preselected distance from any of the subset of low-level corrosion indicators.

12. A method as defined in claim 11, wherein the predicting indicates a high probability of the susceptibility of stress corrosion cracking in the tubular member thereby minimizing false impressions of stress corrosion cracking due to manufacturing or construction anomalies on the tubular member.

13. A method as defined in claim 11, wherein the stress corrosion cracking indicators comprise a crack-like feature on the tubular member, and wherein the low-level corrosion indicators comprise a low-level metal loss feature on the tubular member, and wherein the soil characterization indicators comprise characteristics selected from the group consisting of:

chemical content, pH level, and terrain elevation.

14. A method as defined in claim 11, wherein preselected distance comprises directional components of both a preselected longitudinal distance and a preselected radial distance.

15. A method as defined in claim 14, wherein the preselected longitude distances is substantially 4 inches and the preselected radial orientation is substantially 1 hour based upon a 12 hour clock scale.

16. A method as defined in claim 14, wherein the preselected longitude distances is substantially 20 inches and the preselected radial orientation is substantially 1 hour based upon a 12 hour clock scale.

17. A method as defined in claim 11, wherein the indicators are determined using tools selected from the group consisting of:

elastic wave technology, electromagnetic acoustic technology, and digital magnetic flux leakage technology.

18. A method of determining crack locations on a tubular member, the method comprising:

comparing locations of a set of stress corrosion cracking indicators on the tubular member with locations of a set of low-level corrosion indicators on the tubular member;

establishing a subset of stress corrosion cracking indicators and a subset of low-level corrosion indicators, responsive to comparing the sets of indicators, when the location of any of the set of stress corrosion cracking indicators is located within a first preselected distance from any of the set of low-level corrosion indicators;

comparing locations of a set of soil characterization indicators on the tubular member with locations of the subset of stress corrosion cracking indicators and locations of the subset of low-level corrosion indicators; and

confirming the presence of stress corrosion cracking in a segment of the tubular member, responsive to comparing the set of soil characterization indicators with the subsets of indicators, when any of the set of soil characterization indicators is located both within a second preselected distance from any of the subset of stress corrosion cracking indicators and within a third preselected distance from any of the subset of low-level corrosion indicators.

19. A method as defined in claim 18, wherein the confirming indicates a high probability of the presence of stress corrosion cracking in the tubular member thereby minimizing false impressions of stress corrosion cracking due to manufacturing or construction anomalies on the tubular member.

20. A method as defined in claim 18, wherein the stress corrosion cracking indicators comprise a crack-like feature on the tubular member, and wherein the low-level corrosion indicators comprise a low-level metal loss feature on the tubular member, and wherein the soil characterization indicators comprise characteristics selected from the group consisting of:

chemical content, pH level, and terrain elevation.

21. A method as defined in claim 18, wherein preselected distance comprises directional components of both a preselected longitudinal distance and a preselected radial distance.

22. A method as defined in claim 21, wherein the preselected longitudinal distance is about 4 inches and the preselected radial distance is about 30 degrees.

23. A method as defined in claim 21, wherein the preselected longitudinal distance is about 20 inches and the preselected radial distance is about 60 degrees.

24. A method as defined in claim 18, wherein the indicators are determined using tools selected from the group consisting of:

elastic wave technology, electromagnetic acoustic technology, and digital magnetic flux leakage technology.

25. A method of determining crack locations on a pipeline body wall, the method comprising:

surveying and grading wall inspection data from the pipeline;

detecting a set of crack-like features on the pipeline responsive to the surveying;

detecting a set of low-level metal loss corrosions responsive to the surveying;

comparing locations of the set of crack-like features with locations of the set of low-level metal loss corrosions;

establishing a subset of crack-like features and a subset of low-level metal loss corrosions, responsive to comparing the set of crack-like features with the set of low-level metal loss corrosions, when the location of any of the set of crack-like features is located within a first preselected distance from any of the set of low-level metal loss corrosions;

detecting a set of soil characterization models responsive to the surveying;

comparing locations of the set of soil characterization models with locations of the subset of crack-like features and locations of the subset of low-level metal loss corrosions; and

confirming with high probability the presence of stress corrosion cracks on the pipeline body wall, responsive to comparing the set of soil characterization models with the subset of crack-like features and the subset of low-level metal loss corrosions, when the location of any of the set of soil characterization models is located both within a second preselected distance from any of the subset of crack-like features and within a third preselected distance from any of the subset of low-level metal loss corrosions.