Abstract:
A leak detection system for a structure and method thereof, including a structure having a first barrier to a first fluid and a second barrier to a second fluid, the first barrier and the second barrier defining a space there between; and at least one sensor, placed in the space, and configured to detect presence of the first fluid or the second fluid in the space due to a fluid leak in the first barrier or the second barrier. The fluid leak produces an acoustic emission, the at least one sensor comprises a fiber optic sensor configured to measure one or more characteristics of the acoustic emission, and the system and method are configured to estimate the orifice diameter of the fluid leak based on the measured one or more characteristics, and to calculate a leak rate based on the estimated orifice diameter.
Abstract:
An apparatus for monitoring physical parameters of a structure, comprises a clamp that in use is placed to embrace the structure to be monitored; and a strain sensor attached to the clamp an arranged so as to detect strain in the direction of the perimeter of the structure. A method of monitoring a structure, comprises placing a clamp to embrace the structure to be monitored, the clamp having a strain sensor attached thereto; and collecting information from the strain sensor attached to the clamp placed in order to detect strain in the direction of the perimeter of the structure.
Abstract:
A system and method are provided for determining wall thickness of a structure such as a metallic pressurized pipe. The system includes an optical fiber having a plurality of Fiber Bragg Gratings (FBGs), and a mounting for securing the FBGs over discrete portions of the exterior surface of the pipe such that strain in the pressurized pipe wall is transmitted to the FBGs. The system further includes a light source and a light sensor coupled to an end of the optical fiber. The light sensor converts light reflected back from the FBGs into electrical signals that a digital processor converts into strain measurements. The FBGs are mounted around portions of the pipe expected to have significant metal loss as well as portions of the pipe expected to have negligible metal loss. The method includes at least one of comparing relative strains at locations with negligible metal loss to those with significant metal loss to accurately determine the thickness of the wall with metal loss; compensating for temperature effects by considering relative strains at areas of the pipe with and without metal loss; and measuring axial strain on the pipe with one or more of the FBGs to correct for at least one of bending and torsion effects on hoop strain.
Abstract:
Methods and related apparatuses and mixtures are described for detecting hydrogen sulfide in a formation fluid downhole. A detection mixture is combined with the formation fluid downhole. The detection mixture includes metal ions for reacting with hydrogen sulfide forming a metal sulfide, and charged nanoparticles sized so as to inhibit significant aggregation of the metal sulfide so as to enable spectroscopic detection of the metal sulfide downhole. The combined mixture and formation fluid is then spectroscopically interrogated so as to detect the presence of the metal sulfide thereby indicating the presence of hydrogen sulfide in the formation fluid. The mixture also includes chelating ligands for sustaining thermal endurance of the mixture under downhole conditions.
Abstract:
A leak detection system and method, including a structure having a first barrier to a first fluid and a second barrier to a second fluid, the first barrier and the second barrier defining a space therebetween; and at least one sensor, placed in the space, and configured to detect presence of the first fluid or the second fluid in the space due to a leak in the first barrier or the second barrier. The method includes placing the at least one sensor is in the space to detect presence of the first fluid or the second fluid in the space due to a leak in the first barrier or the second barrier; and generating a signal that indicates the presence of the first fluid or the second fluid in the space due to a leak in the first barrier or the second barrier.
Abstract:
A sensing system and method to detect or measure presence of hydrogen, including exposing a sensing fiber consisting essentially of an optical fiber to an environment; and detecting a characteristic of the sensing fiber at or in a structure and at one or more wavelengths where the characteristic changes with the presence of hydrogen.
Abstract:
Methods and related apparatuses and mixtures are described for detecting hydrogen sulfide in a formation fluid downhole. A detection mixture is combined with the formation fluid downhole. The detection mixture includes metal ions for reacting with hydrogen sulfide forming a metal sulfide, and charged nanoparticles sized so as to inhibit significant aggregation of the metal sulfide so as to enable spectroscopic detection of the metal sulfide downhole. The combined mixture and formation fluid is then spectroscopically interrogated so as to detect the presence of the metal sulfide thereby indicating the presence of hydrogen sulfide in the formation fluid. The mixture also includes chelating ligands for sustaining thermal endurance of the mixture under downhole conditions.
Abstract:
A system and method are provided for detecting fluid invasion of an annular space in a pipe structure. The system includes a thermal element and a temperature sensing element placed in the vicinity of each other in the annular space of the pipe structure. A thermal signal is generated by the thermal element. The temperature sensing element is connected to a monitor that monitors and processes the thermal signal. As the thermal signal changes when conducted through different types of fluids, the invasion of an annular space by seawater that normally contains oil or gas may be reliably detected.
Abstract:
Apparatus for monitoring the structural condition of a pipe is provided which comprises at least one transducer carrying apparatus locatable on the outside of the pipe, the transducer carrying apparatus including at least one transducer located thereon to detect a change in the condition of the pipe,along itslength, the transducer being both a sensor and an actuator,and a signal emitted in the proximity of the transducer being detectable by the transducer, the signal representing a change in the condition of at least one component of the pipe on which the transduceris located, along its length. The invention further provides a method of monitoring the structural condition of a pipe.
Abstract:
A method and system for monitoring a flexible pipe, including an inline sensor system coupled to the annulus of the flexible pipe to detect corrosion of the flexible pipe. Also disclosed are method and system for monitoring an amount of water being accumulated in an annulus of a flexible pipe, including locating a pressure measurement system proximate to the annulus for measuring pressure of gas inside the annulus; controlling a flow of vent gas with a vent gas valve; positioning a flow measurement system upstream or downstream of the vent gas valve for measuring the flow of the vent gas when the vent gas valve is opened; and collecting with a microprocessor pressure and flow measurement data from the pressure and the flow measurement systems for determining the amount of water accumulated in the annulus based on the collected pressure and flow measurement data.