Ultrasonic transducers are imbedded into sacrificial metal coupons which are located in the vicinity of underground or aboveground structures, such as a pipe or tank, which allow for the measurement of the effectiveness of impressed current cathodic protection systems and can be used to determine the corrosion rate of the structure that is being protected. When excited by a pulser-receiver excitation pulse, the ultrasonic transducers can be used to determine the thickness of the coupon and its rate of change over time. The sacrificial metal coupon ultrasonic transducer assembly can be located in the vicinity of underground piping, under or inside of a tank, underground or underwater, or inserted into structures where absolute material loss values or material loss rate of change is being monitored.

A sacrificial metal coupon is provided with one or more ultrasonic transducers which, when excited by a pulser-receiver excitation pulse, determines the thickness of the coupon and its rate of change over time. The sacrificial metal coupon ultrasonic transducer assembly can be inserted into the liquid stream of a pipe, under or inside of a tank, underground or underwater, or inserted into structures where absolute material loss values or material loss rate of change is being monitored.

A method for determining a corrosion rate includes receiving an input signal including corrosion data from a sensor. A signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and a type of noise is determined from the input signal. A corrosion rate computation method is selected based on the SNR and the type of noise. The corrosion rate is determined, using a processor, based on a selected corrosion rate computation method.

Systems and sensor elements for indirect monitoring of cumulative damage to downhole components having a sensor body defining an internal cavity, at least one electrical wear element located within the sensor body, wherein a portion of the at least one electrical wear element electrically extends from the internal cavity, through the sensor body, and to an exterior of the sensor body, and an abrasive substance located within the internal cavity, the abrasive substance moveable within the internal cavity to contact and erode material of the at least one electrical wear element, wherein erosion of the at least one electrical wear element causes a resistance of the at least one electrical wear element to increase.

Techniques for optical monitoring of corrosion are described herein. In an example embodiment, an optical monitor includes a target disposed within the optical monitor and exposed to ambient air, where exposure to the ambient air produces a change in an optical property of the target. The optical monitor also includes a light emitter to illuminate the target and an optical detector to generate a signal based on light reflected from the target. A processing device disposed within the optical monitor is configured to activate the light emitter and to receive and process the signal from the optical detector.

The invention relates to a corrosion sensor (1) to be used on the surface of a corrosion piece of a substantially metal material, such as a metal pipe or metal sheet, to indicate the corrosion degree and corrosion speed, the corrosion sensor (1) having detection elements, which are manufactured substantially from iron, and the corrosion sensor having connection sites associated with the detection elements for the measurement means. The corrosion sensor (1) has, in the detection elements, at least two shoulders (2-4), each having a different thickness; and at least one external resistance (6-8). The invention further relates to a method for monitoring the condition of a thermally insulated structure.

A device for improving the accuracy and precision of measuring equipment changes due to corrosion, erosion, build-up of material, and combinations thereof. Increased control over the placement and removal of a coupon within the equipment is provided. Embodiments of the coupon provide multiple approaches for such measurements such as e.g., weight changes, thickness changes, inspection and analysis of the contacting surface of the coupon, and combination. Improved measurements with coupons using probes such as e.g., ultrasonic transducers is also described.

In an embodiment, a current internal corrosion level at a current time is read from an internal corrosion sensor that is internal to a computer. An internal corrosion difference is calculated between the current internal corrosion level and a previous internal corrosion level. Upon determining that the internal corrosion difference is more than a first threshold amount, a first action is performed that decreases an internal temperature of the computer. In a further embodiment, upon determining that the internal corrosion difference is less than a second threshold amount, a second action is performed that allows the internal temperature of the computer to increase.

A method and apparatus for generating lube oil varnish samples and testing them under flow conditions is set forth herein. The method and apparatus are also used for the evaluation of the efficiency of varnish cleaners.

The present invention relates to an integrity monitoring spool system and apparatus. The system and apparatus brings different types of sensors together in a single forging or pipeline spool with one common electronics module for all the sensors which facilitates additional subsea processing using data comparisons across devices to enhance the quality and accuracy of the data reported. The common electronics module includes individual sensor measurement electronics circuits which connect directly to the individual sensors transducers and pass excitation and measurement signals to and from one another via signal wires inside high pressure metal tubing. Furthermore, by combining the data from the different intrusive and non-intrusive sensors in one common electronics module and processing the data subsea in real-time, the accuracy and quality of the sensor data can be greatly enhanced by comparing, cross-checking, combining and processing data from the various different sensors subsea in real-time.