Azimuthal EM Pipe Imaging for Corrosion Defect Mapping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electromagnetic (EM) inspection tools for well integrity assessment can only measure the average circumferential thickness of pipes and fail to provide information about the radial location and extent of corrosion defects, leading to ambiguity in well integrity management strategies.
Innovation Solution
An EM inspection tool with a transmitter and multiple near-field and far-field receiver plates, combined with a composite machine-learned model, processes receiver measurements to determine a 2-dimensional profile of pipe cross-sections, accurately identifying the number, location, and extent of defects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional EM inspection tools are used, then the measurement process is simple, but the measurement precision is insufficient as they can only measure average circumferential thickness
Solution Approach 1:
The inspection tool segments the measurement process by using multiple receiver plates (near-field and far-field) positioned at different locations around the pipe. Each receiver plate captures electromagnetic signals from specific angular positions, allowing the system to reconstruct a detailed 2-dimensional cross-sectional profile of the pipe wall thickness rather than just an average measurement.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from one-dimensional average thickness measurement to two-dimensional cross-sectional profiling by adding angular dimension to the measurement. Multiple receivers positioned circumferentially around the pipe enable mapping of thickness variations around the entire pipe circumference, revealing radial location and extent of corrosion defects.
2Loss of information
If conventional EM tools measure only average thickness, then the device complexity is low, but information about radial location and extent of defects is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The receiver system is segmented into multiple discrete receiver plates positioned at different angular locations and radial distances (near-field and far-field). Each receiver captures signals from specific portions of the pipe circumference, and the combined data from all receivers reconstructs the complete cross-sectional thickness profile, preserving spatial information about defect locations.
Solution Approach 2:
The electromagnetic field acts as an intermediary that carries information about pipe wall thickness variations from the transmitter through the pipe wall to the receivers. By measuring the electromagnetic field responses at multiple receiver positions, the system indirectly maps the thickness profile and identifies corrosion defects with radial location information.
3Measurement precision
If multiple receiver plates are used to map cross-sectional profiles, then measurement precision improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The receiver system divides the measurement task across multiple receiver plates positioned at different angular positions and radial distances. This segmentation allows each receiver to capture signals from specific regions, and the composite machine-learned model integrates these segmented measurements to reconstruct the complete cross-sectional thickness profile with high precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces complex mechanical scanning systems with a stationary multi-receiver electromagnetic measurement system. Instead of mechanically moving a single receiver around the pipe, multiple receivers simultaneously capture electromagnetic signals from different positions, achieving cross-sectional profiling without mechanical motion.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables tailored well integrity management strategies by precisely mapping corrosion defects, reducing maintenance costs and enhancing hydrocarbon production and environmental protection.
Implementation Method 1
a transmitter disposed proximate the first end and configured to generate an alternating EM field at a first frequency
Implementation Method 2
a transmitter disposed proximate the first end and configured to generate an alternating EM field
Implementation Method 3
electromagnetic (EM) tools can only measure the circumferential average thickness
Data Source
AI summary
An electromagnetic (EM) inspection tool for inspecting a pipe that includes a longitudinally extending body having a first end, a second end, and a central longitudinal axis. The EM inspection tool further includes a transmitter disposed proximate the first end and configured to generate an alternating EM field at a first frequency. The EM inspection tool further includes a first far-field receiver plate disposed proximate the second end, wherein the first far-field receiver plate includes a first far-field receiver disposed at a first radial location and a second far-field receiver disposed at a second radial location. The EM inspection tool further includes a first near-field receiver plate disposed circumferentially around the transmitter, wherein the first near-field receiver plate includes a first near-field receiver disposed at the first radial location and a second near-field receiver disposed at the second radial location.