| 摘要 |
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for monitoring the condition of a buried pipeline. In an embodiment of the invention, there is introduced an alternating electric current to the pipeline, and an amplitude of an electric current signal produced by the current in the pipeline is measured at receivers located along the pipeline. The measurement of electric current amplitude can be compared with reference data to determine whether the condition of the pipeline has changed, for example, through time. In another embodiment, the measurement can be compared with reference data to determine the location of a defect in the insulative coating applied to the pipe. |
