Method for inspecting down hole drilling systems for flaws using ultrasonics

摘要

A method for inspecting down hole drilling systems for identifying indications of flaws in material. The method can include removing particulate, disposing a wave coupling medium on an area of interest, attaching a probe to a sound carrying wedge, engaging the sound carrying wedge over the wave coupling medium, transmitting inspection signals to the area of interest, manipulating the probe to produce detection signals, transmitting the detection signals to a data storage, presenting the detection signals and a known reference level to a user, and comparing the detection signals to the known reference level to determine if the detection signals are within a standard deviation of the known reference level. The method can include adapting a sound carrying wedge to form-fittingly couple to an area of interest of a down hole drilling system.

主权项

1. A method for inspecting down hole drilling systems for identifying indications of flaws in material, the method comprising:
a. removing particulate from a down hole drilling system; b. disposing a wave coupling medium on an area of interest of the down hole drilling system, wherein the wave coupling medium is capable of transmitting ultrasonic waves; c. attaching a probe to a sound carrying wedge, wherein the probe comprises an ultrasonic emitter array comprising a plurality of ultrasonic emitter elements configured to be independently actuated, wherein each ultrasonic emitter element is actuated concurrently with another ultrasonic emitter element, or each ultrasonic emitter element is actuated singly, and wherein the sound carrying wedge is adapted to couple to the area of interest; d. engaging the sound carrying wedge with the probe attached thereto over the wave coupling medium; e. transmitting a plurality of inspection signals to the area of interest by actuating the ultrasonic emitter array to provide the plurality of inspection signals, wherein the plurality of inspection signals is focused on a specific area and at a specific distance and further wherein the sound carrying wedge is adapted to receive the plurality of inspection signals and to disperse the plurality of inspection signals at a plurality of predetermined inspection signal angles into the area of interest; f. manipulating the probe along the area of interest while actuating the ultrasonic emitter to produce at least one detection signal, wherein the at least one detection signal is a reflected inspection signal; g. transmitting the at least one detection signal to a data storage in communication with a processor; h. using computer instructions stored in the data storage to present the at least one detection signal and a known reference level stored in the data storage to a user; and i. comparing the at least one detection signal to the known reference level to determine if the at least one detection signal is within a standard deviation of the known reference level.