Patent EA-001130-B1 (EA)
Title: Method and apparatus for testing bonded tubular joints
Inventor: HOLLINGSWORTH JIMMY LAWRENCE
IPC: G01N3/00
Filed: 1998-09-08
Abstract: 1. A method of testing a joint (114, 214) formed by bonding of two tubulars (101,102,201,202), the method comprises the steps of: a) holding one of said tubulars (101, 102); b) applying a force to displace the other of said tubulars (101, 102) relative to said first tubular (102,202); c) removing said force; and d) comparing the final position of said other tubular (101, 102) with the position which it occupied prior to step (b) by means of a sensor (107,207) mounted remote from joint. 2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said force is preferably applied so that said other tubular (101,102) will move relative to said one tubular (101,201) in more than one direction. 3. A method according to claim 2, wherein said force is applied so that the centre of the other tubular(102,202) will move in substantially a circle around the longitudinal axis of said one tubular (101, 201). 4. A method according to any preceding claim, including the steps of holding said one tubular in slips. 5. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein said force is applied to the upper extremity of said other tubular (102,202) or close thereto such that said upper extremity is urged to make an orbital movement relative to the longitudinal axis of the first tubular (101, 201). 6. A method according to claim 1, wherein said sensor (107) is mounted on said one tubular (101). 7. A method according to claim 6, wherein said sensor (107, 207) is incorporated in a device (106), which is used to displace said other tubular relative to said one tubular. 8. A method according to claim 1, wherein step (a) is effected using a beam of lazer light as a reference. 9. A method according to claim 8, including the step of mounting a target on one of said one (101, 102) and said other tubular (201, 202), mounting at least one lazer on or fast with respect to the other of said one and said other tubular prior to step (b), activating said lazer to create a signal on said target indicative of the relative position(s) of said lazer(s) and said target; creating a signal on said target indicative of the relative position(s) of said lazer(s) and said target after step (d), and comparing said signals. 10. An apparatus for testing a joint formed by bonding of two tubulars (101, 102, 201, 202), which apparatus comprises: a) a fixing device (103) to hold one of said tubulars (101, 201); b) a head (106) to grip the other tubular (201, 202); c) means to move said head (106) relative to the fixing device (103) to displace said other tubular (102, 202) relative to said one tubular (101, 201); and d) means to allow said head (106) to move to a position dictated by said other tubular member (102, 202), characterized in that said apparatus further comprises a sensor (107, 207) mounted remote of said joint responsive to the position of said other tubular member (102,202). 11. An apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said sensor (107, 207) is responsive to the position of said head (106). 12. An apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein said sensor (107, 207) is responsive to the position of said head (106) in a generally horizontal plane.