Computer-aided ultrasonic inspection of an offshore tension leg platform

Conference · Fri Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1984 · Am. Soc. Mech. Eng., (Pap.); (United States)

OSTI ID:6425521

Bossi, R; Boyd, D; Hein, N W; Herd, B P; Oberg, D; Skilbeck, F

An ultrasonic system has been developed to perform in-service inspection of the tension leg components of an offshore oil platform. The system uses a probe to collect data from within the 75-mm bore of the 260-mm diameter tubular steel tension leg. Control and data analysis are performed on a VAX 11/750 computer that communicates with the probe by a wireline. A microprocessor on-board the probe, processes VAX commands to control probe functions. The ultrasonic probe contains ten specially designed transducers to optimize sensitivity in each region of the tension leg where changes in dimension and geometry occur. The system inspects all areas of the tension leg components for defects. These areas include the threaded couplings, shaft and flare regions, and lifting grooves. Electrical discharge machined (EDM) notches, are used to measure system flaw sensitivity in each test region. Detectable EDM notches are typically 2 or 3 mm deep and 6 to 9 mm long.

• Research Organization: Sigma Research, Inc., Richland, Washington
• OSTI ID: 6425521
• Report Number(s): CONF-840647-
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Am. Soc. Mech. Eng., (Pap.); (United States) Journal Volume: 84-PVP-125
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
ACOUSTIC TESTING
ALLOYS
COMPUTERIZED CONTROL SYSTEMS
COMPUTERS
CONTROL SYSTEMS
DATA ANALYSIS
DEFECTS
DIMENSIONS
ELECTRIC DISCHARGES
ELECTRONIC CIRCUITS
GEOMETRY
IRON ALLOYS
IRON BASE ALLOYS
JOINTS
MACHINE PARTS
MATERIALS TESTING
MATHEMATICS
MICROELECTRONIC CIRCUITS
MICROPROCESSORS
MOORINGS
NONDESTRUCTIVE TESTING
NOTCHES
OFFSHORE PLATFORMS
OIL WELLS
PROBES
SENSITIVITY
SHAFTS
SONIC PROBES
STEELS
TESTING
THREADED JOINTS
TRANSDUCERS
ULTRASONIC TESTING
WELLS