Strain Estimation Using Vetco Deformation Tool Data

Damage to pipelines in the form of indentations and third-party damage has emerged as a key concern for operating reliability and public safety within the pipeline industry. Many operators have conducted detailed surveys of their pipelines for indentations (or simply “dents”) by means of in-line inspection tools designed to detect, measure, and report the presence, size, and location of dents, as well as other deformations such as buckles or wrinkles and ovality.

Described herein is a technique suitable for processing the signal from Tuboscope-Vetco deformation ILI tools in order to derive the local cold strain associated with indentation of the pipe.