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Title: Electrical voltages and resistances measured to inspect metallic cased wells and pipelines

Abstract

A cased well in the earth is electrically energized with A.C. current. Voltages are measured from three voltage measurement electrodes in electrical contact with the interior of the casing while the casing is electrically energized. In a measurement mode, A.C. current is conducted from a first current carrying electrode within the cased well to a remote second current carrying electrode located on the surface of the earth. In a calibration mode, current is passed from the first current carrying electrode to a third current carrying electrode located vertically at a different position within the cased well, where the three voltage measurement electrodes are located vertically in between the first and third current carrying electrodes. Voltages along the casing and resistances along the casing are measured to determine wall thickness and the location of any casing collars present so as to electrically inspect the casing. Similar methods are employed to energize a pipeline to measure the wall thickness of the pipeline and the location of pipe joints to electrically inspect the pipeline.

Inventors:
 [1]
  1. Seattle, WA
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
ParaMagnetic Logging, Inc. (Bothell, WA)
OSTI Identifier:
872881
Patent Number(s):
US 6031381
Assignee:
ParaMagnetic Logging, Inc. (Woodinville, WA)
DOE Contract Number:  
FG06-84ER13294
Resource Type:
Patent
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
electrical; voltages; resistances; measured; inspect; metallic; cased; pipelines; earth; electrically; energized; current; voltage; measurement; electrodes; contact; interior; casing; mode; conducted; carrying; electrode; remote; located; surface; calibration; passed; third; vertically; position; determine; wall; thickness; location; collars; similar; methods; employed; energize; pipeline; measure; pipe; joints; located vertically; electrically energized; voltage measurement; measurement electrodes; current carrying; wall thickness; electrical contact; electrode located; resistances measured; metallic cased; electrical voltages; inspect metallic; similar method; calibration mode; /324/

Citation Formats

Vail, III, William Banning, and Momii, Steven Thomas. Electrical voltages and resistances measured to inspect metallic cased wells and pipelines. United States: N. p., 2000. Web.
Vail, III, William Banning, & Momii, Steven Thomas. Electrical voltages and resistances measured to inspect metallic cased wells and pipelines. United States.
Vail, III, William Banning, and Momii, Steven Thomas. 2000. "Electrical voltages and resistances measured to inspect metallic cased wells and pipelines". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/872881.
@article{osti_872881,
title = {Electrical voltages and resistances measured to inspect metallic cased wells and pipelines},
author = {Vail, III, William Banning and Momii, Steven Thomas},
abstractNote = {A cased well in the earth is electrically energized with A.C. current. Voltages are measured from three voltage measurement electrodes in electrical contact with the interior of the casing while the casing is electrically energized. In a measurement mode, A.C. current is conducted from a first current carrying electrode within the cased well to a remote second current carrying electrode located on the surface of the earth. In a calibration mode, current is passed from the first current carrying electrode to a third current carrying electrode located vertically at a different position within the cased well, where the three voltage measurement electrodes are located vertically in between the first and third current carrying electrodes. Voltages along the casing and resistances along the casing are measured to determine wall thickness and the location of any casing collars present so as to electrically inspect the casing. Similar methods are employed to energize a pipeline to measure the wall thickness of the pipeline and the location of pipe joints to electrically inspect the pipeline.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/872881}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2000},
month = {Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2000}
}