Granted Patent B2

US 12,313,600 · App. 18/472,977 · Granted May 27, 2025

Inventors: Sanjiv Kumar (Dhanbad, IN); Abdullah K. Alghannam (Al-Ahsa, SA); Keshabananda Baruah (Abqaiq, SA)

Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY

G01N29/27E21B19/22G01N29/07G01N29/4427G01N29/4445G01N2291/02854G01N2291/106G01N2291/2634

Abstract

Claims (62)

1. A system for monitoring tubing during feeding into a conduit comprising:

a tubing measuring device comprising:

a collar configured to be positioned around the tubing, and

a plurality of sensors comprising:

a plurality of ultrasonic transducers, and

a plurality of fingers,

wherein the plurality of fingers is oriented radially inward from the collar, and

a computer system, wherein the computer system is configured to:

communicably couple to the plurality of ultrasonic transducers, measure a thickness based on ultrasonic signals sent and received by the plurality of ultrasonic transducers,

communicably couple to the plurality of fingers, measure outer dimensions of the tubing by measuring deflection of the plurality of fingers, and trigger alerts based off measurements of tubing thickness and outer dimensions; and

a tubing feed system comprising:

an injector head that directs the tubing into the conduit, and the conduit, wherein the tubing measuring device is disposed around the tubing between the injector head and the conduit, wherein data is continually sent from the plurality of sensors to the computer system, and wherein the computer system triggers the alerts based on the data received from the sensors.

2. The system of claim 1 ,

wherein the computer system is communicably connected to the injector head,

wherein the computer system is configured to monitor and control the feeding of the tubing.

3. The system of claim 1 ,

wherein one or more fingers of the plurality of fingers comprises one or more rollers on a contact end of the one or more fingers.

4. The system of claim 1 ,

wherein the plurality of ultrasonic transducers are connected to the plurality of fingers on the inward end of the plurality of fingers.

5. The system of claim 1 ,

wherein the plurality of ultrasonic transducers are mounted directly to the collar.

6. The system of claim 1 ,

wherein the tubing feed system further comprises a reel that holds the tubing as a coil for unrolling and feeding into the conduit.

7. A method for monitoring tubing conditions during feeding into a conduit comprising:

feeding tubing into the conduit via a tubing feed system comprising:

an injector head that directs the tubing into the conduit,

disposing a tubing measuring device between the injector head and the conduit; and

monitoring the condition of the tubing with the tubing measuring device comprising:

a collar configured to be fitted around the tubing; and

a plurality of sensors comprising:

a plurality of ultrasonic transducers,

wherein the plurality of ultrasonic transducers continuously measure a thickness of the tubing,

wherein the plurality of ultrasonic transducers continuously monitor for defects, and

a plurality of fingers oriented radially inward from the collar, wherein the plurality of fingers continuously measure the outer dimensions of the tubing, and

a computer system configured to:

receive data continually from the plurality of sensors, and trigger an alert based on the data received from the sensors.

8. The method of claim 7 ,

wherein the computer system further comprises preconfigured thresholds for characterizing measurements as at least one of, nominal, minor defects, and major defects.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

triggering an alert if a minor defect is detected by the tubing measuring device.

10. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

stopping feeding of the tubing by the tubing feed system if a major defect is detected by the tubing measuring device.

11. The method of claim 7 ,

wherein the tubing feed system further comprises a reel that holds the tubing as coiled tubing for feeding into the conduit.

12. A non-transient computer-readable medium containing program instructions for causing a computer to perform a method comprising:

feeding tubing into a conduit via a tubing feed system comprising:

an injector head that directs the tubing into the conduit; and

monitoring the condition of the tubing with a tubing measuring device comprising:

a collar configured to be fitted around the tubing; and

a plurality of sensors comprising:

a plurality of ultrasonic transducers, wherein the plurality of ultrasonic transducers continuously measure a thickness of the tubing, wherein the plurality of ultrasonic transducers continuously monitor for defects, and

a plurality of fingers oriented radially inward from the collar, wherein the plurality of fingers continuously measure outer dimensions of the tubing, wherein the computer is configured to:

receive data continually from the plurality of sensors, and

trigger an alert based on the data received from the sensors, wherein the tubing measuring device is disposed between the injector head and the conduit.

13. The non-transient computer-readable medium of claim 12 ,

further comprising threshold data for measurements to be characterized as at least one of nominal, minor defects, and major defects.

14. The non-transient computer-readable medium of claim 13 ,

further comprising instructions for causing the computer to trigger an alert if a minor defect is detected in the tubing.

15. The non-transient computer-readable medium of claim 13 ,

further comprising instructions for causing the computer to stop feeding of the tubing if a major defect is detected in the tubing.

16. The non-transient computer-readable medium of claim 12 ,

further comprising instructions for causing the computer to uncoil the tubing from a reel for feeding into the conduit.

Assignments (2)

Continuity (1)

References Cited (20)