Electromagnetic Guided Wave
Technologies for Addressing Casings
The Successes and Challenges
Robert Geib, Chief Operating Officer
Profile Technologies, Inc.
NACE ECDA SEMINAR 2009
Houston, Texas
January 27, 2009
©2008 Profile Technologies, Inc. All rights reserved
Overview
• Understanding Electromagnetic
Guided Wave (EMW-C)
Technology
• Guidedwave Inspection
Methods
– Similarities and Differences
• Annulus Inspection with EMW
• Applications for ECDA
• Successes and Challenges
©2008 Profile Technologies, Inc. All rights reserved
EMW-C
Background
• The EMW-C is a patented inspection process for
cased and thermally insulated pipe.
• It is a long range electromagnetic scanning method
that has been developed and refined for over 15
years.
• Similar to RADAR, electromagnetic waves (EMW) are
transmitted and received allowing location and
identification of materials and conditions.
• EMW fills the annulus between the carrier pipe and
casing or jacket and travels lengthwise to the end of
casing.
©2008 Profile Technologies, Inc. All rights reserved
EMW-C
Current Uses
•
Long range detection of anomalies and corrosion indicators:
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•
Location of mechanical structures or deformations:
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•
•
•
Corrosion Product
Corrosion Under Insulation (CUI)
Electrolytes (water, soil)
Metallic Shorts
Wet Insulation and Voids
Spacer location
Carrier pipe sag / change in offset
Crushing of the casing.
Down/Upstream location and length of a single or multiple anomalies within a
cased or jacketed section.
Characterization of the magnitude of the anomaly based on data and
equivalency models.
Continuous or periodic monitoring to detect changes over time.
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Permanent connectors may be installed.
©2008 Profile Technologies, Inc. All rights reserved
EMW-C
The Process
Pulse
Generator
Data Collector
Voltage
Divider
•
Coaxial Feed
Lines
Casing
•
•
•
•
Carrier Pipe
Dielectric
EMW Direction •
(Air, Water, Petrolatum,
Polyurethane Insulation, etc.)
©2008 Profile Technologies, Inc. All rights reserved
Connection is made to the carrier and casing
(or jacket) using coaxial connectors and
cables.
A pulse generator creates electromagnetic
waves (EMW) in the annulus (Dielectric).
The casing and carrier pipe guide the waves,
which travel through the annulus and through
the dielectric material(s) in the space between.
The waves are reflected back to the equipment
from material changes in the annulus.
Changes in dielectric material (rust, water,
spacers, wax) are seen as variations of
amplitude and polarity of reflections.
Lengthwise distance to reflectors (anomalies)
are determined by time of return.
EMW-C
Non-Intrusive Connections
Buried Casing Connectors
©2008 Profile Technologies, Inc. All rights reserved
EMW-C
Example of Corrosion Growth
Detection
Data showing change as corrosion increases.
Consecutive data traces with increased corrosion at 10 foot mark.
0
61.75
Baseline
5%
10%
20%
0.35
TDR Return (V)
0.3
0.25
0.2
0.15
0.1
10
0
10
20
30
distance (ft)
©2008 Profile Technologies, Inc. All rights reserved
40
50
60
70
EMW-C
Detection of Shorts
Data showing various pipe to casing short locations.
(Individual data traces overlaid).
0
Baseline
Short at 7.95 ft
Short at 52.3 ft
Short at South End
TDR Return (V)
0.35
0.3
0.25
0.2
0.15
10
0
10
20
30
distance (ft)
©2008 Profile Technologies, Inc. All rights reserved
40
50
60
70
Guided Wave Inspection MethodsSimilarities and Differences
Comparison of Guided Wave Inspection Methods
Method
Wave Type
Wave Source
Waveguide
LRUT, GUL
Mechanical Acoustic
Piezoelectric
Transducers
Pipe cross-section
MsS
Mechanical Acoustic
Magnetostrictive
Sensors
Pipe cross-section
EMW-C™
Electromagnetic
Pulse Transmitter /
Coaxial Connectors
Annular space between pipe
and casing
Cross – Sectional view of pipe and
casing. The dashed sections show the
waveguide and “inspection area” for
each method.
LRUT, GUL, MsS
©2008 Profile Technologies, Inc. All rights reserved
EMW-C
EMW-C
Additional Points
• Though this technology is technically a guided wave method,
the characteristics of GWUT do not necessarily apply.
• EMW-C uses electromagnetic waves which are not affected by
bends and turns and attenuation is caused by (certain)
materials in casing rather than coating on carrier.
©2008 Profile Technologies, Inc. All rights reserved
Annulus Inspection with
EMW
• Using EMW to Inspect the Annulus
provides unique information about the
environment and corrosion conditions
inside the casing.
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Corrosion Product
Trapped Water
Electrolytic Contact
Casing to Carrier Shorts
• Volumetric Component to the Data
‒ Wax fill levels can be verified and monitored
‒ Working with GTI on procedure development
©2008 Profile Technologies, Inc. All rights reserved
Applications for ECDA
• For Pre-Assessment • Collect otherwise “unknown” data about casing construction
• Are Seals working as expected or allowing earth/water inside?
• Are there shorts, if so how far in?
• Are there spacers / are they where expected?
• For Indirect Inspection • Identify locations of possible corrosion / water / shorts – Corrosion
Likelihood
• Can work with other GWUT tools as two complimentary tools
• Where EMW identifies corrosion product or water does GWUT find
metal loss?
• Where EMW identifies as short does GWUT show an indication?
©2008 Profile Technologies, Inc. All rights reserved
Successes and Challenges
• Some Successes • Have been able to inspect full length of most casings from one end.
Both ends for shorted or casing packed with debris.
• Providing data otherwise unavailable – locations of water, spacers,
and electrolytic contact inside the casing.
• Working with operators and GWUT contractors to compare data
findings for ‘complimentary’ requirements.
• Working with GTI to develop wax fill detection.
• Some Challenges• Shorts near launch can attenuate quickly – look from both ends
• Pipe/Casing offset at launch location can limit number of connectors
• Communicating the complimentary differences between
EMW-C and GWUT.
©2008 Profile Technologies, Inc. All rights reserved
Thank You!
For Answers please contact:
Robert Geib, COO
[email protected]
(888)-501-7117
Profile Technologies, Inc.
2 Park Avenue, Suite 201
Manhasset, NY 11030
www.profiletech.net
0.2
Casing East End
Casing West End
C
B
0.1
A
0
0.1
D
Reflection Coefficient
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
0.7
0.8
0.9
1
0
20
40
60
Distance (ft)
©2008 Profile Technologies, Inc. All rights reserved
80
100
120
140