US 11,796,487 B2
Device, unit and method for detecting annular flooding with gamma transmission in a flexible pipe
Carla Alves Marinho Ferreira, Rio de Janeiro (BR); Carlos Eduardo Maia De Souza, Rio de Janeiro (BR); Edgar Francisco Oliveira De Jesus, Rio de Janeiro (BR); Joao Marcio De Castilho Santos, Rio de Janeiro (BR); Nei Mariano Da Fonseca Junior, Rio de Janeiro (BR); and Ricardo Tadeu Lopes, Rio de Janeiro (BR)
Assigned to PETROLEO BRASILEIRO S.A.—PETROBRAS, Rio de Janeiro (BR); and UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DO RIO DE JANEIRO—UFRJ, Rio de Janeiro (BR)
Appl. No. 17/49,775
Filed by PETROLEO BRASILEIRO S.A.—PETROBRAS, Rio de Janiero (BR); and UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DO RIO DE JANEIRO—UFRJ, Rio de Janiero (BR)
PCT Filed Mar. 12, 2020, PCT No. PCT/BR2020/050086
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Oct. 22, 2020,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/181349, PCT Pub. Date Sep. 17, 2020.
Claims priority of application No. 10 2019 004976 6 (BR), filed on Mar. 14, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2021/0247332 A1, Aug. 12, 2021
Int. Cl. G01N 23/18 (2018.01)
CPC G01N 23/18 (2013.01) [G01N 2223/04 (2013.01); G01N 2223/1013 (2013.01); G01N 2223/205 (2013.01); G01N 2223/301 (2013.01); G01N 2223/308 (2013.01); G01N 2223/505 (2013.01); G01N 2223/628 (2013.01)] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A device for detecting annular flooding with gamma transmission in a flexible pipe, the device comprising:
a housing structure comprising a top plate having a circumferential arc formed in a surface of the top plate, wherein the circumferential arc formed in the surface of the top plate is configured to receive the flexible pipe;
a first pressure vessel positioned in an interior of the housing structure, the first pressure vessel comprising an encapsulated radioactive source positioned in the interior of the first pressure vessel and the first pressure vessel is positioned on a first side of the circumferential arc formed in the plate of the housing structure;
a second pressure vessel positioned in the interior of the housing structure, the second pressure vessel comprising radiation sensors in the interior of the second pressure vessel and the second pressure vessel positioned on a second side of the circumferential arc formed in the plate of the housing structure; and
a third pressure vessel positioned in the interior of the housing structure, the third pressure vessel comprising an electronic detection component positioned in the interior of the third pressure vessel for collecting and amplifying signals from the radiation sensors, wherein said radiation sensors are connected to the electronic detection component via an internal cable, and wherein the radiation sensors send information referring to photon counts to the electronic detection component.
 
11. A method for detecting annular flooding with gamma transmission in a flexible pipe comprising:
inspecting on a surface, a sample from a dry flexible pipe with the device, wherein inspecting a sample from a dry flexible pipe with the device comprises:
positioning the device on a circumferential arc of the flexible pipe, in which the device is positioned with a side of a structure is seated on the circumferential arc of the flexible pipe;
initiating exposure of the encapsulated radioactive source by changing position of the encapsulated radioactive source inside a pressure vessel via hydraulic or electric activation;
programming radiation sensors to acquire a certain number of radiation photon counts using an electronic detection component;
terminating exposure of the encapsulated radioactive source by returning to an initial position inside the pressure vessel, when all the radiation sensors have acquired the certain number of radiation photon counts;
sending information regarding the photon counts to an electronic detection component collecting and amplifying signals, and sending the information to the electronic detection component;
wherein the information will be stored as a reference from a dry annular condition of the flexible pipe and compared to calculations at accumulated time intervals so that each of the radiation sensors meets the pre-defined number of counts;
inspecting a desired flexible pipe with the device, wherein the inspecting of the desired flexible pipe with the device comprises:
moving the device to an area close to a section of the desired flexible pipe to be for inspection;
positioning the device on a certain circumferential arc on the desired flexible pipe, wherein the device is positioned with the side of the structure that comprises the certain circumferential arc of the desired flexible pipe;
initiating exposure of the encapsulated radioactive source by changing position of the encapsulated radioactive source inside the pressure vessel via the hydraulic or electric activation;
programming the radiation sensors to acquire the certain number of radiation photon counts using the electronic detection component;
wherein the electronic detection component analyzes desired information collected during the exposure of the certain circumferential arc of a tubular body of the flexible pipe to define a status of an annular space of the desired flexible pipe;
terminating the exposure of the encapsulated radioactive source by returning to the initial position inside the pressure vessel, when all of the radiation sensors have acquired the certain number of the radiation photon counts;
sending the desired information on the radiation photon counts to the electronic detection component for collection and amplification of signals, and sending the desired information to the electronic detection component; and
analyzing and comparing the reference count information against the desired information to determine if there is flooding in the annular space of the desired flexible pipe.