Tubing Wall Thickness Measurement via Compton Backscattering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current radiation-based techniques for measuring tubing wall thickness in the oil and gas industry face challenges such as difficulty in detecting individual pipe strands, averaging of measurements, reliance on qualitative interpretations, and unsuitability for well environments, leading to inaccurate and costly remediation measures.
Innovation Solution
The use of a system that employs a photon source to direct a photon beam along a radial path within a borehole and an array of collimated detectors to measure Compton backscattering rates, calculating ratios between neighboring detectors to identify material boundaries and determine tubing wall thickness, providing a quantitative and precise measurement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If transmission technique is used to measure tubing wall thickness, then a photograph or image can be generated to depict pitting, but it is difficult to detect radiation corresponding to a particular strand of pipe when pipelines run in bundles
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the measurement task into individual pipe strand measurements by using multiple detectors positioned at different angles around the pipe. Each detector measures backscatter from a specific angular position, allowing the system to reconstruct thickness information for individual strands even when pipes are bundled together, thus resolving the difficulty of detecting radiation from individual pipes in bundles.
2Measurement precision
If transmission technique is used, then an image can be generated, but two sides of the pipe are measured together resulting in averaging of measured quantities
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transitions from measuring both sides of the pipe simultaneously (transmission technique) to measuring one side at a time using backscatter detection at multiple angular positions. By adding the angular dimension to the measurement process, the system can distinguish and measure individual pipe walls separately, preventing the averaging effect that occurs when both sides are measured together.
3Ease of operation
If transmission technique is used, then qualitative image interpretation is possible, but trained technicians must interpret the image resulting in decisions based on qualitative interpretations rather than quantitative data
Solution Approach 1:
The invention implements a feedback mechanism where the backscatter measurements from multiple detectors are processed through a reconstruction algorithm that directly outputs quantitative thickness values. This closed-loop approach transforms the qualitative image interpretation process into a quantitative measurement system, where the measured backscatter intensities are converted into precise wall thickness data through mathematical reconstruction, eliminating the need for subjective technician interpretation.
4Adaptability or versatility
If backscatter technique is used from inside the pipe, then measurement can be acquired from inside the tubular, but material boundaries are blurred and difficult to distinguish due to tradeoffs between source strength, resolution, and measurement variation
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the backscatter measurement into multiple angular components by positioning detectors at different angles around the pipe. This angular segmentation allows the reconstruction algorithm to resolve material boundaries more clearly by combining information from multiple viewing angles, overcoming the blurring effect that occurs with single-angle backscatter measurements from inside the pipe.
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
This method allows for accurate and precise determination of tubing wall thickness, enabling early detection of issues and reducing the need for costly remediation by providing quantitative data and improving the reliability of material integrity assessments.
Implementation Method 1
an array of collimated detectors to measure Compton backscattering rates at respective distance bins along the radial path
Data Source
AI summary
A method for monitoring tubing wall thickness includes conveying a tool through a tubular string in a borehole, the tool including a photon source that directs a photon beam along a radial path toward a wall of the borehole, the tool further including an array of collimated detectors that measure Compton backscattering rates at respective distance bins along the radial path. The method further includes calculating a sequence of ratios between measurements from neighboring detectors. The method further includes identifying one or more local extrema in the sequence, each extremum representing a boundary between different materials. The method further includes determining a wall thickness of the tubular string from absolute or relative positions of the one or more extrema. The method further includes displaying a representation of the wall thickness.