The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 30, 2005
Filed:
Nov. 08, 2002
David J. Liney, Chester, GB;
David M. March, Houston, TX (US);
David J. Liney, Chester, GB;
David M. March, Houston, TX (US);
Shell Oil Company, Houston, TX (US);
Abstract
Method is provided for testing electrically heated subsea pipelines that are 'electrical-ready,' that is, equipped for applying electrical power when it is needed for heating the pipeline at any time during the life of the pipeline. Time domain reflectometer apparatus in a water-tight enclosure can be deployed subsea. Electrical connections are made with the pipeline using wet-mateable connectors. Reflected signals from the segment of the pipeline being tested are transmitted to an interface at the surface, where the time domain reflectometer is controlled to send a selected pulse. Reflected signals may be interpreted by observing pulse form and time of receipt or by comparison of pulse forms received at different times during the life of a pipeline. Apparatus for electrically connecting a time domain reflectometer to an electrical-ready pipeline is provided.