Patent ID: 8214161

Claim:
A system for detecting tubular flaws comprising: at least one first sensor for scanning a tubular member and, upon detecting a weld line during a revolution, generating a signal representing the circumferential position of the weld line; a processor, electronically coupled to the first sensor, for receiving and analyzing the signal representing the circumferential position of the weld line to determine the location of the weld line on the tubular, wherein the processor is configured to transmit a signal representing the location of the weld line on the tubular; a positioning apparatus having at least one second sensor, the positioning apparatus electronically coupled to the processor, for receiving the signal representing the location of the weld line on the tubular and, in response, adjusting the second sensor's relative position closer to the tubular's weld line on the tubular to scan for flaws; wherein the positioning apparatus comprises a plurality of sensors and wherein the processor is configured to: to determine the position of the closest of said plurality of sensors to the weld line, and to activate said closest sensor to scan for flaws nearby or in the weld line on the tubular.