Patents Assigned to PA Incorporated
  • Patent number: 4792756
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the extent of axially extending defects in ferromagnetic elements, such as tubing comprising a continuous string for use in an oil or gas well is disclosed. The tubing trip tool detects axial defects, such as sucker rod wear during removal of the tubing from the well. A saturating magnetic field and a fluctuating magnetic field are applied to the tubing and the magnitude of the induced fields and the changes are measured to quantify defects in the tubing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1988
    Assignee: PA Incorporated
    Inventors: Clive C. Lam, Marvin Milewits, James E. Bradfield
  • Patent number: 4715442
    Abstract: A tubing trip tool for use in determining the extent of defects in tubular sections of a continuous tubing string used in subterranean oil and gas wells is disclosed. The tubing trip tool is mounted on a surface rig surrounding the tubing string and defects are magnetically detected during tubing removal from the well bore. The tool comprises a segmented expandable detector head containing elements for measuring average wall thickness and local and axially extending defects. The expandable head is spring loaded and pneumatically actuated. Coupling detectors are located on the ends of the head to count tubing sections and to detect the presence of obstructions on the tubing to prevent damage to the detector head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1987
    Assignee: PA Incorporated
    Inventors: John E. Kahil, Mark S. Jaynes, Kirby R. Harrell
  • Patent number: 4710712
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the extent of defects in ferromagnetic tubular elements comprising a continuous string for use in an oil or gas well is disclosed. The tubing trip tool measures tubing average wall thickness, local defects, such as corrosion pitting, and axial defects, such as sucker rod wear during removal of the tubing from the well. Tubing velocity is also measured, and couplings between tubing sections are detected and counted, in order to specify the axial location of defects on each tube, and also provide a profile of the condition of the overall string. A saturating magnetic field and a fluctuating magnetic field are applied to the tubing and the magnitude of the induced fields and the changes are measured to quantify defects in the tubing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1984
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1987
    Assignee: PA Incorporated
    Inventors: James E. Bradfield, John E. Kahil, Mark S. Jaynes, Gordon L. Moake, Marvin Milewits, Curtis W. Bolton, III, Clive C. Lam, Roderic K. Stanley
  • Patent number: 4704580
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the extent of defects in ferrogmagnetic elements, such as tubing comprising a continuous string for use in an oil or gas well is disclosed. The tubing trip tool measures the depth of local defects, such as corrosion pitting, during removal of the tubing from the well. Tubing velocity is also measured, and couplings between tubing sections are detected and counted, in order to specify the axial location of defects on each tube, and also provide a profile of the condition of the overall string. A saturating magnetic field is applied to the tubing and a comparison of two derivatives of flux leakage is made to quantify defects in the tubing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1984
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1987
    Assignee: PA Incorporated
    Inventors: Gordon L. Moake, James E. Bradfield
  • Patent number: 4698590
    Abstract: A tubing trip tool for use in determining the extent of defects in tubular elements comprising a continuous string used in a subterranean oil or gas well during removal of the string from the well is disclosed. Local defects and axially extending defects, as well as the average wall thickness of the tubular elements, are measured. The position of the defects is determined by measuring the variable velocity of the tubular elements as they are removed from the well. A noncontact velocity detector comprises detector elements generating a first signal dependent upon an applied magnetic field and the velocity of the tubular elements. The first signal is compared to a signal dependent only upon the magnetic field generated in a second element. A pickup coil and Hall effect probes can be used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1986
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1987
    Assignee: PA Incorporated
    Inventors: Gordon L. Moake, Marvin Milewits
  • Patent number: 4636727
    Abstract: A tubing trip tool for use in determining the extent of defects in tubular elements comprising a continuous string used in a subterranean oil or gas well during removal of the string from the well is disclosed. Local defects and axially extending defects, as well as the average wall thickness of the tubular elements, are measured. The position of the defects is determined by measuring the variable velocity of the tubular elements as they are removed from the well and by detecting end couplings having a larger cross-sectional area and the direction in which the end couplings are moving. A string profile of the position of the defects in the continuous string can also be established.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1984
    Date of Patent: January 13, 1987
    Assignee: PA Incorporated
    Inventors: John E. Kahil, Marvin Milewits, James E. Bradfield, Clive C. Lam
  • Patent number: 4629991
    Abstract: A tubing trip tool for use in determining the extent of defects in tubular sections of a continuous tubing string used in subterranean oil and gas wells is disclosed. The tubing trip tool is mounted on a surface rig surrounding the tubing string and defects are magnetically detected during tubing removal from the well bore. The tool comprises a segmented expandable detector head containing elements for measuring average wall thickness and local and axially extending defects. The expandable head is spring loaded and pneumatically actuated. Coupling detectors are located on the ends of the head to count tubing sections and to detect the presence of obstructions on the tubing to prevent damage to the detector head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1984
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1986
    Assignee: PA Incorporated
    Inventor: Walter R. Wheeler
  • Patent number: 4629985
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the extent of defects in ferromagnetic tubular elements comprising a continuous string for use in an oil or gas well is disclosed. The tubing trip tool measures tubing average wall thickness, local defects, and axial defects, such as sucker rod wear during removal of the tubing from the well. Tubing velocity is also measured. A saturating magnetic field and a fluctuating magnetic field are applied to the tubing. Signals corresponding to changes in the induced fields are divided into channels for complete circumferential coverage. Phase shift is then determined by a zero crossing technique to quantify axial defects, such as sucker rod wear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1984
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1986
    Assignee: PA Incorporated
    Inventors: Stylianos Papadimitriou, Clive C. Lam
  • Patent number: 4611170
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for effecting the inspection of a ferromagnetic element, or piping, and particularly piping that is already installed. The invention incorporates a device for indicating wall thickness of a length of the ferromagnetic element, including means for producing a value of magnetic flux extending longitudinally through a portion of the element. A voltage generating device is disposed in surrounding relationship to the element and is movable axially relative to the length of the element containing the value of the magnetic flux. Means for indicating the voltage generated in the voltage generating means by the value of the magnetic flux also are provided. Preferably, an axially split spool is provided which may be closed in surrounding relationship to an installed pipe. A saturation level of magnetic flux is induced in the pipe by a flexible cable which is wrapped around the spool in a multi-turn configuration and supplied with electrical current sufficient to produce saturation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 9, 1986
    Assignee: PA Incorporated
    Inventors: Roderic K. Stanley, Marvin Milewits, Robert C. Knauer, Jr., James E. Bradfield
  • Patent number: 4578642
    Abstract: A tubing trip tool for use in determining the extent of defects in tubular elements comprising a continuous string used in a subterranean oil or gas well during removal of the string from the well is disclosed. Local defects and axially extending defects, as well as the average wall thickness of the tubular elements, are measured. The position of the defects is determined by measuring the variable velocity of the tubular elements as they are removed from the well. A noncontact axial velocity detector comprises detector elements generating a first signal dependent upon an applied magnetic field and the axial velocity of the tubular elements. The first signal is compared to a signal dependent only upon the magnetic field generated in a second element. A pickup coil and Hall effect probes can be used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1984
    Date of Patent: March 25, 1986
    Assignee: PA Incorporated
    Inventors: Gordon L. Moake, Marvin Milewits
  • Patent number: 4555665
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for effecting the inspection of a ferromagnetic element, or piping, and particularly piping that is already installed. The invention incorporates a device for indicating wall thickness of a length of the ferromagnetic element, including means for producing a value of magnetic flux extending longitudinally through a portion of the element. A voltage generating device is disposed in surrounding relationship to the element and is movable axially relative to the length of the element containing the value of the magnetic flux. Means for indicating the voltage generated in the voltage generating means by the value of the magnetic flux also are provided. A saturation level of magnetic flux is induced by a multi-turn supplied with electrical current sufficient to produce saturation. The voltage induced in a central pickup coil is amplified, integrated and correlated to average thickness of the pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1982
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1985
    Assignee: PA Incorporated
    Inventors: Roderic K. Stanley, Marvin Milewits, Robert C. Knauer, Jr., James E. Bradfield
  • Patent number: 4492115
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the extent of defects in ferromagnetic tubular elements comprising a continuous string for use in an oil or gas well is disclosed. The tubing trip tool measures tubing average wall thickness, local defects, such as corrosion pitting, and axial defects, such as sucker rod wear during removal of the tubing from the well. Tubing velocity is also measured, and couplings between tubing sections are detected and counted, in order to specify the axial location of defects on each tube, and also provide a profile of the condition of the overall string. A saturating magnetic field and a fluctuating magnetic field are applied to the tubing and the magnitude of the induced fields and the changes are measured to quantify defects in the tubing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1984
    Date of Patent: January 8, 1985
    Assignee: PA Incorporated
    Inventors: John E. Kahil, Mark S. Jaynes, James E. Bradfield
  • Patent number: 4312320
    Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for removing deposits from material such as drill pipe by subjecting such material to extremely high temperatures in a flame fired furnace. Heated air passing over the material carries with it the volatized deposits and is recirculated within the furnace. As the deposit laden air is recirculated to the burner, the deposits are burned in the flame, thus substantially eliminating the exhaust of contaminants into the surrounding atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1980
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1982
    Assignee: PA Incorporated
    Inventor: Charles E. Jennings
  • Patent number: 4309958
    Abstract: An improved apparatus for maintaining the lance portion of a coating device accurately centered within the bore of a tubular conduit to be coated as the lance is moved axially through such bore. The tubular element of such coating lance is supported by a saddle which in turn is supported between two elongated skids which are respectively engageable with opposed top and bottom surfaces of the conduit bore. Radially projecting pins are respectively provided on each side of the saddle. Two pairs of expanding links are respectively pivotally mounted on each end of the saddle pins in an X configuration and one end of each link is pivotally connected to a pivot mounting bracket formed on one of the skids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1980
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1982
    Assignee: PA Incorporated
    Inventor: Charles E. Jennings