Patent ID: 11913908
Assignee: DRIL-QUIP, INC.
Field: Measurement (Instruments)
Classification: CPC E  G | IPC E  G

Claim 12:
13. A method, comprising:
coupling a wear transducer to a well equipment component, wherein the wear transducer comprises:
a metal coupon including an elongated end;
an ultrasonic sensor coupled to the metal coupon, wherein the ultrasonic sensor comprises a transmitting crystal, a receiving crystal, and a case housing both the transmitting crystal and the receiving crystal; and
a layer of acoustic gel disposed in a space between an end of the case and a surface of the metal coupon,

wherein the elongated end of the wear transducer is extending into a flowpath of the well equipment component when the wear transducer is coupled to the well equipment component;
exposing the elongated end of the metal coupon to an erosive fluid flow through the flowpath;
transmitting ultrasonic signals through the metal coupon toward the elongated end and receiving ultrasonic signal reflections back from the elongated end via the ultrasonic sensor; and
estimating based on the ultrasonic signal reflections received at the ultrasonic sensor an amount of wear on a portion of the well equipment component proximate the wear transducer.