Ultrasonic tubulars inspection device

• US 7,293,461 B1
• Filed: 10/22/2004
• Issued: 11/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Richard Girndt
• Original Assignee: Richard Girndt
• Inventors: Girndt, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): CHAPMAN JR, JOHN E
• Application Number:
  US10/971,860
• Time in Patent Office: 1,117 Days
• Field of Search: 736/22, 736/28, 310/336
• US Class Current: 73/622
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/02854 Length, thickness
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/044 Internal reflections (echoes), e.g. on walls or defects
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/106 one or more transducer arrays
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/2636 cylindrical from inside
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/04 Analysing solids using acoustic emission techniques G01N29/14
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/27 by moving the material relative to a stationary sensor

Abstract

A system, method, and apparatus for ultrasonic detection of flaws or defects in oil field tubulars utilizing composite transducers. An array of composite transducers are utilized to detect anomalies in the tubulars, such as transverse, wall or longitudinal defects. The use of the composite transducers allow for a greater inspection area over traditional transducers thereby reducing the number of channels needed for inspection of the tubulars.

Claims

1. A method for ultrasonic inspection of tubulars, said method comprising:

providing a first circular array of composite transducers, said transducers having a proximate curved surface;

passing a tubular past said first array, said tubular having an outer peripheral surface, wherein said outer peripheral surface has a radii of curvature, and said proximate curved surface has a radii of curvature greater than the radii of curvature of the outer peripheral surface; and

inspecting for abnormalities in the tubular utilizing said transducers.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of passing includes moving the tubular in a longitudinal direction past said first array without rotating the tubular in a circumferential direction.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of providing includes maintaining said first array in a stationary position.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said tubular has a wall thickness, and the inspecting step includes determining abnormalities in the wall thickness.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the inspecting step includes determining abnormalities of a longitudinal flaw type.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the inspecting step includes determining abnormalities of a transverse flaw type.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the inspecting step includes utilizing shear waves for determining abnormalities of a longitudinal flaw type and transverse flaw type.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said transducers are each a length of equal to or greater than 2 inches.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said transducers are each a length of between 0.25 inches and 2 inches.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said passing step includes maintaining the proximate curved surface of each transducer equi-distant from said outer peripheral surface of the tubular.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the pipe has a diameter ranging from equal to or greater than 2 ⅜

inches.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the first array is adapted to detect variations in wall thickness.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of providing a phase array longitudinal inspection system having individual phased array channels and with multiple elements.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the first array each include four or more transducers.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a second and third array of composite transducers, said transducers having a proximate curved surface;

wherein relative to a central longitudinal axis of the tubular, said transducers of the second and third array are angled 19 degrees in water to produce a 45 degree refracted angle.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the inspecting step includes determining abnormalities of a transverse flaw type.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the second and third array each include four or more transducers.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

providing a fourth and fifth array of composite transducers, said transducers of the fourth and fifth array having a proximate curved surface, the fourth and fifth array adapted to inspect for longitudinal flaws.

19. A system for ultrasonic inspection of a tubular, said system comprising:

a first circular array of composite transducers, said transducers having a proximate curved surface with a radii of curvature greater than the radii of curvature of the outer peripheral surface of said tubular, wherein said circular array is adapted for inspecting for abnormalities in the tubular utilizing said transducers.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the curved transducers are piezocomposite transducers.

21. The system of claim 19, further comprising a phase array longitudinal inspection system having individual phase array channels to form a curve.

22. The system of claim 19, further comprising a second and third array of composite transducers, said transducers having a proximate curved surface.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein said transducers of the second and third array are angled 19 degrees in water to produce a 45 degree refracted angle.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein the second and third array are adapted to inspect for abnormalities of the transverse flaw type.

25. The system of claim 22, wherein the second and third array each includes four or more transducers.

26. The system of claim 22, further comprising:

a fourth and fifth array of composite transducers, said transducers of the fourth and fifth array having a proximate curved surface, the fourth and fifth array adapted to inspect for longitudinal flaws.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the fourth and fifth array each includes four or more transducers.

28. The system of claim 19, wherein the first array each includes four or more transducers.

29. The system of any one of claims 19, wherein the first array is adapted to detect variations in wall thickness.