A method of prioritizing anomalies in a buried linear conductor

摘要

A method of prioritizing anomalies in a linear conductor buried under a ground surface includes the steps of obtaining prioritization values for a plurality of anomalies along a linear conductor, and ranking the prioritization values according to magnitude. For each 5 anomaly, a prioritization value is obtained by: locating an anomaly; for each anomaly, determining a current, a depth of cover, and a voltage gradient using spaced voltage probes; using the depth of cover and the voltage gradient, calculating an effective probe spacing of the first and second voltage probes relative to the anomaly on the conductor; and determining the prioritization value of the anomaly based on a linear relationship between the voltage 10 gradient and the product of the current and the effective probe spacing. 2 (4) (6) (5) (7) - (4) B - '