Patent ID: 7082822
Filing Date: 2006-08-01
Classification: E21B,G01B,G01N,G03B

Abstract:
1. A method of inspecting a drilling riser, the method comprising the steps of: (a) lowering the drilling riser from a platform into seawater and allowing the seawater to enter the riser; (b) disconnecting a lower marine riser package of the drilling riser from a blowout preventer and flushing an inner diameter of the drilling riser with a fluid prior to deploying he an inspection apparatus; (c) deploying the inspection apparatus on a line into the drilling riser, the inspection apparatus including at least one acoustical transducer; (d) centralizing the apparatus in the drilling riser with the transducer spaced inward from a wall of the riser by an annular clearance; and (e) periodically causing the transducer to emit an acoustical signal through the seawater in the annular clearance and into the wall of the drilling riser and detecting a return acoustical signal from the wall of the drilling riser.