Patent ID: 7997138

Claim:
Method for predicting performance of tubular goods, comprising: a. positioning an ultrasonic detection means which is capable of measuring the thickness of a discrete section of the wall of a tubular good in a plurality of adjacent, partially overlapping sampling positions spaced longitudinally and circumferentially along an area to be inspected of the wall of a tubular good; b. at each sampling position, causing said ultrasonic detection means to determine the thickness of a discrete portion of the wall of said tubular good; c. for each sampling position, determining the longitudinal position of said ultrasonic detection means along the axis of said tubular good and the circumferential position of said ultrasonic detection means about the circumference of said tubular good; d. recording the measurements of wall thickness in an associated relationship with their corresponding longitudinal positions and circumferential positions to form a computer-readable, three dimensional representation of the wall of the tubular good over the area to be inspected; and e. using the three-dimensional representation in computations to predict the effect of specific stress conditions on the tubular good.