Southwest Research Institute

Pavan Kumar Shukla

Jay L Fisher

Biswajit Dasgupta

Adam C Cobb

Charles E Duffer

Sang Young Kim

Alan R Puchot

Todd S Mintz

Osvaldo Pensado

Osvaldo Pensado-Rodriguez

The present invention relates to a system, apparatus or and method to quantify features of relatively small defects or anomalies on a selected surface. Such defects may be associated with localized corrosion, such as pitting, that takes place on the surface of a metal exposed to a metallic environment.

System, apparatus or method for characterizing pitting corrosion

A method for in-situ measuring the corrosion rate of a corroding site on an underground metal structure buried in soil, the structure being under cathodic protection. The structure-to-soil potential at varying depths above the pipeline is measured to a depth above, but not reaching the structure. These measurements are extrapolated to obtain data representing the structure-to-soil potential at the surface of the structure under the probe. The gradient of the electrical potential at this surface is used to calculate the corrosion rate of the defect. A special probe may be used to obtain the potential measurement data.

In-situ measurement of corrosion in buried pipelines using vertically measured pipe-to-soil potential

A method for in-situ detection of coating defects on a buried pipeline. The pipeline is under cathodic protection or otherwise carries a current applied to its pipe walls. A magnetic field sensor array is placed within the pipeline and moved along its length. As the sensor array travels, it detects the magnetic fields within the pipeline. The sensor output is compared with 'expected' data, which represents interior magnetic fields of the pipeline without coating defects. Because electrical current leaks through a coating defect, the current is altered on the pipe wall at the defect. This in turn alters the interior magnetic fields, and a change in the interior magnetic fields indicates a coating defect.

Detection of coating defects on buried pipelines using magnetic field variations within the pipeline

An ultrasonic probe that uses the magnetostrictive effect to generate and detect a surface-coupled guided wave for the purpose of inspecting a thick-walled structure for surface defects. A transmitter sensor and a receiver sensor are especially designed to generate and detect short wavelengths that will couple to only one surface of the plate.

Magnetostrictive probes for surface wave testing of thick walled structures

A system and associated methods for acquiring and analyzing LEIS data from a buried structure, such as a pipeline. A special probe having adjustable electrodes is placed in the soil above the structure. A voltage is applied to the structure, causing more current to emanate from a coating defect than from intact coating. The probe electrodes acquire a response signal, which is analyzed to detect the defect.

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San Antonio, TX, United States of America

Pavan Kumar Shukla