US4146791A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and measuring device for testing the support and or covering of an oil or gas pipeline
Assignee: Institute for Energy Technology
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Filing: 1977-05-19
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Granted: 1979-03-27
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Expires: 1997-05-19
Abstract
Abstract A measuring device to be conveyed through an oil or gas pipeline at the bottom of the sea is provided for measuring the radioactivity of the surroundings along the pipeline. Thus, the support and/or the covering of the pipeline may be tested, the sea bottom sediments having an appreciably higher gamma radiation source strength than the sea water and the oil or gas which flow through the pipeline.
Inventors
- 👤 John B. Dahl
- 👤 Johnny Schatvet
- 👤 Kristian Skarsvag
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 21:24
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N23/00; G01N23/02; G01N23/04; G01M; G01M3/00; G01M3/005
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
58 words
Method for testing the support and/or covering of an oil or gas pipeline situated at the bottom of a water formation, particularly at the ocean floor, characterized in that the natural radioactivity of the materials surrounding said pipeline is measured and compared with previously measured values of natural radioactivity of water and the supporting and/or covering materials, respectively.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
58 words
Method for testing the support and/or covering of an oil or gas pipeline situated at the bottom of a water formation, particularly at the ocean floor, characterized in that the natural radioactivity of the materials surrounding said pipeline is measured and compared with previously measured values of natural radioactivity of water and the supporting and/or covering materials, respectively.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
Method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the natural radioactivity is measured by means of a measuring device which is conveyed through the pipeline and comprises at least one radiation detector.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
Method as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that said measuring device is conveyed through the pipeline by the oil or gas flow in the same.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
Method as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that said measuring device records the values measured by the radiation detector.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
Method as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the measuring device records the counts produced by a joint counter, which counts every pipe joint passed by the device in order to register the distance passed along the pipeline.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
Method as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the measuring device, after its passage through the pipeline, is removed from the same and the recorded values collected before further use of the device.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
52 words
Method as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that at least one set of four radiation detectors, having approximately the same counting efficiency, is symmetrically disposed with respect to the axis of the pipeline, the counts of each radiation detector being compared with the counts of the other detectors in the set.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
77 words
Measuring device for testing the support and/or covering of an oil or gas pipeline situated at the bottom of a water formation, particularly at the ocean floor, comprising at least one instrument casing for measuring and comparing the natural radioactivity of materials surrounding the pipeline with previously measured values of material radioactivity of water and the supporting and/or covering materials, respectively, the device further comprising a casing carrier, said instrument casing being detachably connected to said carrier.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
77 words
Measuring device for testing the support and/or covering of an oil or gas pipeline situated at the bottom of a water formation, particularly at the ocean floor, comprising at least one instrument casing for measuring and comparing the natural radioactivity of materials surrounding the pipeline with previously measured values of material radioactivity of water and the supporting and/or covering materials, respectively, the device further comprising a casing carrier, said instrument casing being detachably connected to said carrier.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
Measuring device as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that said casing carrier is provided with a drive sleeve.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
40 words
Measuring device as claimed in claim 8 adapted for conveyance through the pipeline, characterized in that the casing carrier is provided with wheels disposed to run along the inside of the pipeline wall during said conveyance of the measuring device.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
Measuring device as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that said wheels are peripherally disposed around the device in a manner to effect a centering of the measuring device in the pipeline.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
Measuring device as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that said wheels are connected with the casing carrier by means of spring biased arms disposed to urge the wheels against the pipeline wall.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
Measuring device as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that said instrument casing is provided with a radiation detector disposed to feed an electronic memory for storing the measured values.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
Measuring the device as claimed in claim 13, characterized in that said radiation detector is a plastic scintillator.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
Measuring device as claimed in claim 13, characterized in that said radiation detector is a NaI(Tl) crystal.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
39 words
Measuring device as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that it comprises at least one set of four peripherally disposed radiation detectors which are symmetrically arranged with respect to the horizontal and vertical planes, respectively, through the pipeline axis.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
Measuring device as claimed in claim 16, characterized in that the axis of the device is approximately coincident with the pipeline axis.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
30 words
Measuring device as claimed in claim 16, characterized in that it is approximately symmetrically shaped with respect to the horizontal and vertical planes, respectively, through the axis of the device.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
Measuring device as claimed in claim 16, characterized in that it is provided with a load suspended below the centre of gravity of the device.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3064127A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1982-03-26 | 1982-09-25 | 1983-03-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1986-03-26 | 1986-09-25 | 1987-03-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1990-03-26 | 1990-09-25 | 1991-03-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |