METHOD OF DETECTING ACCIDENT-HAZARDOUS SECTIONS ON GAS PIPLINE ROUTES SUSCEPTIBLE TO STRESS CORROSION CRACKING Russian patent published in 2011 - IPC G01V1/00 

FIELD: physics; geophysics.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to seismic investigations and can be used to detect potentially accident-hazardous sections on gas pipeline routes. Microseismic survey is carried out on the earth's surface over a gas pipeline route. The survey is carried out in passive monitoring mode of the interference field of microseismic oscillations in the 0.1-100 Hz range. For this purpose, the arrangement of wide-range vertical drift velocity sensors which are successively moved along a linear profile is used. The distance between sensors within the arrangement is selected based on the required amount of detail of the investigation: from 100 m - for reconnaissance operations to 5-10 m for detailed operations. Observation at each point takes not less than 45 minutes. Sections with anomalously high level of technical and geodynamic vibrations are determined form the survey results. The obtained data are presented in table form, as well as in form of graphic pictures.

EFFECT: diagnosis of gas pipelines without limitation of their operation mode, without opening the gas pipeline routes and without breaking the pipe insulation.

2 dwg