Patent ID: 8217783
Filing Date: 2012-07-10
Classification: G01M,G06K

Abstract:
1. A method of conserving energy and preventing environmental contamination by identifying the location of leaks of oil, gas, water or other natural resources transported in subsurface pipelines, comprising the steps of: adhering an elongated continuous tape having ribbons of Radio-Frequency Identifier (RFID) tags mounted thereon axially to an inner wall of the pipeline, the RFID tags being encoded with and configured to transmit identifiers uniquely identifying each of the tags; recording the RFID tag identifiers as the tape is being installed in the pipeline using an RFID reader and a recording medium; associating the RFID tag identifiers with a map location of a section of the pipeline by comparing the length of tape from a starting point of the tape to the RFID tag with a map or plat of the pipeline; equipping a mobile pipeline leak detector device with an RFID tag reader; sending the mobile pipeline leak detector through the pipeline; reading the identifier of an RFID tag in a section of the pipeline having a leak using the RFID reader on the mobile leak detector; receiving the RFID tag identifier by wireless signal; storing the RFID tag identifier; and associating the RFID tag identifier at the location of the leak with the map location of the pipeline leak.