Patent ID: 6937030

Claim:
A method for testing for an electrical defect in a segment of an electrical-ready pipe-in-pipe subsea pipeline, the segment having an inner pipe and a concentric outer pipe electrically connected by conducting bulkheads at each end of the segment, comprising: placing a time domain reflectometer in proximity to a mid-line electrical connector in the segment, the reflectometer being located in a watertight enclosure capable of withstanding a selected external pressure; electrically connecting a wet-mateable connector between the time domain reflectometer and the mid-line electrical connector in the segment, the mid-line electrical connector being separately electrically connected to the inner pipe and to the outer pipe; supplying electrical power to the reflectometer to initiate the reflectometer so as to send an electrical pulse of a selected voltage amplitude in the range of 1-10,000 volts and width through the wet-mateable connector to the inner pipe and collecting at the reflectometer a reflected electrical signal through the wet-mateable connector; transmitting the reflected electrical signal from the reflectometer to an interface; and interpreting the reflected electrical signal to test for the electrical defect.