Method and apparatus for inspecting marine risers

1. An inspection method of a marine riser deployed from a floating unit and connected to a lower marine riser package (LMRP) and a blow-out prevention (BOP) stack, comprising:

performing a first riser inspection with an inspection tool where the marine riser is in an unconnected well configuration, wherein the inspection tool includes an ultrasonic transducer device, and the first riser inspection comprises:

conveying the inspection tool in an internal diameter of the marine riser,

detecting information on the marine riser with the inspection tool while conveying the inspection tool through the marine riser, and

collecting data with the inspection tool corresponding to the information detected by the inspection tool, and

a) after performing the first riser inspection, connecting the marine riser, LMRP, and BOP stack to a first wellhead,

b) disconnecting the marine riser, LMRP, and BOP stack from the first wellhead, and

c) performing a second riser inspection with the inspection tool with the marine riser in the unconnected well configuration, and the second riser inspection comprises:

(i) conveying the inspection tool in the internal diameter of the marine riser,

(ii) detecting information on the marine riser with the inspection tool while conveying the inspection tool through the marine riser, and

(iii) collecting data with the inspection tool corresponding to the information detected by the inspection tool.

2. The inspection method of claim 1 , wherein the inspection tool is conveyed through a slickline, or a wireline.

3. The inspection method of claim 2 , wherein the inspection tool is conveyed through a wireline, and the collected data is transmitted to a controller in real time.

4. The inspection method of claim 3 , wherein the inspection tool is powered by the wireline.

5. The inspection method of claim 1 , wherein the inspection tool comprises at least one tool segment having a generally cylindrical body and at least one stabilizing device surrounding the cylindrical body, wherein the cylindrical body of said tool segment having a first diameter that is smaller than a second diameter of said stabilizing device, and the second diameter of the stabilizing device being smaller than the internal diameter of the marine riser, and wherein the ultrasonic transducer is located on the outside surface of the cylindrical body of the tool segment.

6. The inspection method of claim 1 , wherein the inspection tool is conveyed through a slickline, and the collected data is transmitted to a controller after the inspection is completed.

7. The inspection method of claim 6 , wherein the inspection tool is powered by an internal battery.

8. The inspection method of claim 6 , wherein the inspection tool comprises a memory unit for storing data collected during inspection.

9. The inspection method of claim 1 , wherein the inspection tool further comprises a camera system that takes images or videos during the first riser inspection.

10. The inspection method of claim 1 , wherein the inspection tool comprises a plurality of ultrasonic transducer devices located on an outer surface of the inspection tool.

11. The inspection method of claim 10 , wherein seawater in the marine riser acts as a conductor through which ultrasonic waves are transmitted and received by the plurality of ultrasonic transducer devices to determine a wall thickness of the marine riser.

12. An inspection method of a marine riser deployed from a floating unit and connected to a lower marine riser package (LMRP) and a blow-out prevention (BOP) stack, comprising:

performing a first riser inspection with an inspection tool where the marine riser is deployed in seawater in an unconnected well configuration such that the marine riser is filled with seawater, wherein the inspection tool includes:

an ultrasonic transducer device,

at least one tool segment having a generally cylindrical body,

a first pair of stabilizing devices surrounding and positioned at one end of the cylindrical body, and

a second pair of stabilizing devices surrounding and positioned at an opposite end of the cylindrical body, wherein the cylindrical body has a first diameter that is smaller than a second diameter of the first and second pairs of stabilizing devices, wherein the second diameter of the first and second pairs of stabilizing devices is smaller than the internal diameter of the marine riser, and wherein the ultrasonic transducer is located on the outside surface of the cylindrical body between the first and second pairs of stabilizing devices, and

wherein the first riser inspection comprises:

conveying the inspection tool in an internal diameter of the marine riser while the marine riser is filled with seawater,

detecting information on the marine riser with the inspection tool while conveying the inspection tool through the marine riser, and

collecting data with the inspection tool corresponding to the information detected by the inspection tool, and

after performing the first riser inspection, connecting the marine riser, LMRP, and BOP stack to a first wellhead to perform a first well access operation,

after performing the first well access operation, disconnecting the marine riser, LMRP, and BOP stack from the first wellhead, then

moving the marine riser, LMRP, and BOP stack to a location above a second wellhead,

performing a second riser inspection with the inspection tool with the marine riser in the unconnected well configuration above the second wellhead such that the marine riser is filled with seawater, and wherein the second riser inspection comprises:

conveying the inspection tool in the internal diameter of the marine riser,

detecting information on the marine riser with the inspection tool while conveying the inspection tool through the marine riser, and

collecting data with the inspection tool corresponding to the information detected by the inspection tool.

13. The inspection method of claim 12 , wherein the inspection tool is conveyed through a wireline, and the collected data is transmitted to a controller in real time.

14. The inspection method of claim 13 , wherein the inspection tool is powered by the wireline.

15. The inspection method of claim 12 , wherein the inspection tool is conveyed through a slickline, and the collected data is transmitted to a controller after the first riser inspection or the second riser inspection is completed.

16. The inspection method of claim 15 , wherein the inspection tool is powered by an internal battery.

17. The inspection method of claim 16 , wherein the inspection tool comprises a memory unit for storing data collected during inspection.

18. The inspection method of claim 12 , wherein the inspection tool further comprises a camera system that takes images or videos during the first riser inspection.

19. The inspection method of claim 12 , wherein the inspection tool comprises a plurality of ultrasonic transducer devices located on an outer surface of the inspection tool.

20. The inspection method of claim 12 , wherein the seawater in the marine riser acts as a conductor through which ultrasonic waves are transmitted and received by the plurality of ultrasonic transducer devices to determine a wall thickness of the marine riser.