Patent ID: 11940083
Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
Field: Measurement (Instruments)
Classification: CPC F  G | IPC F  G

Claim 0:
1. A method for determining a thermal condition of a pipeline, comprising:
identifying a pipeline that carries a fluid at a steady-state temperature, the pipeline comprising:
a tubular conduit that comprises a bore that carries the fluid, and
a layer of insulation installed over an exterior surface of the tubular conduit;

changing the steady-state temperature of the fluid by applying a thermal contrast to the pipeline;
based on changing the steady-state temperature, detecting a thermal gradient between the fluid carried in the bore and at least one of the tubular conduit or the layer of insulation at a particular location of the pipeline; and
based on the detected thermal gradient, determining a presence of at least one of water or water vapor between the exterior surface of the tubular conduit and the layer of insulation at the particular location of the pipeline.