US3564251A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Casing inspection method and apparatus
Assignee: Western Atlas International Inc
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Filing: 1968-03-04
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Granted: 1971-02-16
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Expires: 1988-03-04
Abstract
Abstract Methods and apparatus for the inspection of casing, pipe lines, tanks, or the like are disclosed. The internal surface thereof is scanned with an x-ray beam. The intensity of the resulting scattered x-rays is measured, displayed and recorded in correlation with the scan as a measure of the condition of the surface or the thickness of the scanned material.
Inventors
- 👤 Arthur H Youmans
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 20:02
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N23/00; G01N23/20; G01N23/203
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
129 words
A method of inspecting the interior of a metallic container for anomalies comprising: scanning at least a predetermined portion of the interior surface of a container with a source of x-rays which forms a beam that rotates at a predetermined rate along a conical surface about the longitudinal axis of the container; detecting the intensity of the x-rays scattered by said container and returned to the axis at a point spaced a predetermined distance from said source of x-rays; generating a signal proportional to said detected x-ray intensity; and recording selected portions of said signal in correlation with the angular displacement of said x-ray beam from a predetermined reference direction in a plane transverse to said axis and in correlation with the position of said source along said axis.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
129 words
A method of inspecting the interior of a metallic container for anomalies comprising: scanning at least a predetermined portion of the interior surface of a container with a source of x-rays which forms a beam that rotates at a predetermined rate along a conical surface about the longitudinal axis of the container; detecting the intensity of the x-rays scattered by said container and returned to the axis at a point spaced a predetermined distance from said source of x-rays; generating a signal proportional to said detected x-ray intensity; and recording selected portions of said signal in correlation with the angular displacement of said x-ray beam from a predetermined reference direction in a plane transverse to said axis and in correlation with the position of said source along said axis.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
144 words
A method of inspecting the interior of a metallic container for anomalies comprising: scanning at least a predetermined portion of the interior surface of a container with a source of x-rays which forms a beam that rotates at a predetermined rate in a conical surface about the longitudinal axis of the container; detecting the intensity of the x-rays scattered by said container and returned to the axis at a point spaced a predetermined distance from said source of x-rays, generating a signal proportional to said detected x-ray intensity; displaying said signal in correlation with the angular displacement of said x-ray beam from a predetermined reference direction in a plane transverse to said axis; and recording selected portions of said signal in correlation with the angular displacement of said x-ray beam from said reference direction and the position of said source along the said axis.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
144 words
A method of inspecting the interior of a metallic container for anomalies comprising: scanning at least a predetermined portion of the interior surface of a container with a source of x-rays which forms a beam that rotates at a predetermined rate in a conical surface about the longitudinal axis of the container; detecting the intensity of the x-rays scattered by said container and returned to the axis at a point spaced a predetermined distance from said source of x-rays, generating a signal proportional to said detected x-ray intensity; displaying said signal in correlation with the angular displacement of said x-ray beam from a predetermined reference direction in a plane transverse to said axis; and recording selected portions of said signal in correlation with the angular displacement of said x-ray beam from said reference direction and the position of said source along the said axis.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
143 words
A method of inspecting the internal surface of casing in cased wells comprising: traversing a selected portion of the well with a x-ray source: said source generating an x-ray beam which rotates along a conical surface about the longitudinal axis of the well at a predetermined rate, generating a signal which indicates the angular displacement of said x-ray beam relative to a preselected reference direction; detecting The intensity of x-rays scattered from the internal surface of said casing and returning to a point spaced a predetermined distance from said x-ray source, said detecting including generation of a signal proportionately related to said intensity; transmitting said intensity signal and said directional signal to the surface of the earth; displaying said intensity signal in correlation with said directional signal; and recording selected portions of said display in correlation with the depth of said x-ray source.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
143 words
A method of inspecting the internal surface of casing in cased wells comprising: traversing a selected portion of the well with a x-ray source: said source generating an x-ray beam which rotates along a conical surface about the longitudinal axis of the well at a predetermined rate, generating a signal which indicates the angular displacement of said x-ray beam relative to a preselected reference direction; detecting The intensity of x-rays scattered from the internal surface of said casing and returning to a point spaced a predetermined distance from said x-ray source, said detecting including generation of a signal proportionately related to said intensity; transmitting said intensity signal and said directional signal to the surface of the earth; displaying said intensity signal in correlation with said directional signal; and recording selected portions of said display in correlation with the depth of said x-ray source.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
70 words
Apparatus for inspecting the condition of casing in a cased well comprising: a source of x-rays; a detector of x-rays scattered from said casing; said detector spaced a predetermined longitudinal distance from said source; said detector being of a type which generates an electrical signal proportionately related to the intensity of said scattered x-rays; means of transmitting said signal to the surface; and means for displaying and recording said signal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
70 words
Apparatus for inspecting the condition of casing in a cased well comprising: a source of x-rays; a detector of x-rays scattered from said casing; said detector spaced a predetermined longitudinal distance from said source; said detector being of a type which generates an electrical signal proportionately related to the intensity of said scattered x-rays; means of transmitting said signal to the surface; and means for displaying and recording said signal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 4 in which said x-ray source generates a collimated beam of x-rays.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 5 in which said x-ray beam is directed at an acute angle relative to a plane transverse to said well.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 6 in which said x-ray beam rotates with a predetermined angular velocity around a line perpendicular to said transverse plane.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
106 words
The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising a gyroscope oriented so that its stable axis is in said transverse plane and points in a predetermined geographic direction: means interconnecting said gyroscope and said x-ray source: said means adapted to generate a signal indicating the angular displacement of the projection of said x-ray beam on said transverse plane from said geographic direction, means for transmitting said angular displacement signal to the surface of the earth; means to display said scattered x-ray signal, in correlation with said angular displacement signal as a polar plot; and means to record said signals in correlation with each other and with depth.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 8 in which the recorder means is adapted to provide successive records of said polar plots as a function of depth.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
146 words
A method of inspecting the surface contour and condition of the wall of an uncased well, comprising: traversing a selected portion of the well with an x-ray source: said source generating an x-ray beam which rotates along a conical surface about the longitudinal axis of the well at a predetermined rate, generating a signal which indicates the angular displacement of said x-ray beam relative to a preselected reference direction; detecting the intensity of x-rays scattered from the wall of the well and returning to a point spaced a predetermined distance from said x-ray source, said detecting including generation of a signal proportionately related to said intensity; transmitting said intensity signal and said directional signal to the surface of the earth; displaying said intensity signal in correlation with said directional signal; and recording selected portions of said display in correlation with the depth of said x-ray source.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
146 words
A method of inspecting the surface contour and condition of the wall of an uncased well, comprising: traversing a selected portion of the well with an x-ray source: said source generating an x-ray beam which rotates along a conical surface about the longitudinal axis of the well at a predetermined rate, generating a signal which indicates the angular displacement of said x-ray beam relative to a preselected reference direction; detecting the intensity of x-rays scattered from the wall of the well and returning to a point spaced a predetermined distance from said x-ray source, said detecting including generation of a signal proportionately related to said intensity; transmitting said intensity signal and said directional signal to the surface of the earth; displaying said intensity signal in correlation with said directional signal; and recording selected portions of said display in correlation with the depth of said x-ray source.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
122 words
A method of inspecting the condition of the wall of a pipeline comprising: traversing a selected interior portion of the pipeline with an x-ray source: said source generating an x-ray beam which rotates along a conical surface about the longitudinal axis of the pipeline at a predetermined rate, generating a signal which indicates the angular displacement of said x-ray beam relative to a preselected reference direction; detecting the intensity of x-rays scattered from the wall of the pipeline and returning to a point spaced a predetermined distance from said x-ray source; said detecting including generation of a signal proportionately related to said intensity, and recording selected portions of said intensity signal and said directional signal in correlation with length along the pipeline.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
122 words
A method of inspecting the condition of the wall of a pipeline comprising: traversing a selected interior portion of the pipeline with an x-ray source: said source generating an x-ray beam which rotates along a conical surface about the longitudinal axis of the pipeline at a predetermined rate, generating a signal which indicates the angular displacement of said x-ray beam relative to a preselected reference direction; detecting the intensity of x-rays scattered from the wall of the pipeline and returning to a point spaced a predetermined distance from said x-ray source; said detecting including generation of a signal proportionately related to said intensity, and recording selected portions of said intensity signal and said directional signal in correlation with length along the pipeline.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method according to claim 11 wherein said preselected reference direction is the top of the pipeline.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-02-15 | 1974-08-17 | 1975-02-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-02-15 | 1978-08-17 | 1979-02-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-02-15 | 1982-08-17 | 1983-02-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |