Patent · US Expired

Methods and apparatus for detecting tubular defects having a plurality of expandable arcuate segments

US4629991A · kind A · utility

34Cited by
35References
24Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateApr 11, 1984
Grant dateDec 16, 1986
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 11, 2004

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01N27/9026
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A tubing trip tool for use in determining the extent of defects in tubular sections of a continuous tubing string used in subterranean oil and gas wells is disclosed. The tubing trip tool is mounted on a surface rig surrounding the tubing string and defects are magnetically detected during tubing removal from the well bore. The tool comprises a segmented expandable detector head containing elements for measuring average wall thickness and local and axially extending defects. The expandable head is spring loaded and pneumatically actuated. Coupling detectors are located on the ends of the head to count tubing sections and to detect the presence of obstructions on the tubing to prevent damage to the detector head.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.