PIPE INSPECTION SYSTEM AND RELATED METHODS

摘要

A method of inspecting pipes to determine features thereof, the method comprising: deploying an apparatus (2) in a pipe (22) or close to an end region of the pipe (22); emitting (1200) an acoustic signal from the apparatus (2); detecting reflected acoustic signals with a detector array (6) of the apparatus (2) and determining (1206) an acoustic intensity from the detected acoustic signals; analysing (1208) the acoustic intensity signals to derive one or more portions thereof with each portion relating to a feature of the pipe (22); determining (1212) an acoustic signature for each of the portions of the intensity signals; comparing (1214) the or each acoustic signature against at least one library of previously determined acoustic signals; and determining, from the comparison the condition of the pipe (22) being inspected.