Patent ID: 7941282
Filing Date: 2011-05-10
Classification: F17D,G01B,G01N

Abstract:
1. A method of estimating the integrity of a pipeline, comprising the steps of: receiving sampled measurement data of pipeline wall thickness loss for the pipeline, the measurement data obtained at a plurality of sample locations along the pipeline; calculating sample statistics of the sampled measurement data; applying the calculated sample statistics to a discriminant function, the discriminant function arranged to identify one of a plurality of candidate statistical distributions for accuracy in estimating an extreme value of pipeline wall thickness loss, each of the plurality of candidate statistical distributions based on wall thickness loss measurements of a corresponding one of a plurality of reference pipelines; operating a computer system to evaluate an extreme value quantile of the identified candidate statistical distribution as fit to the sampled measurement data to obtain an estimate of an extreme value of pipeline wall thickness loss for the pipeline.