INSPECTION TOOL

Abstract

An inspection tool for inspecting oil and/or gas production and/or injection wells and pipes is provided. The tool comprises at least an image sensor, one or more processors or chips and one or more power supplies. The tool further comprises at least a first and a second chamber being insulated from each other. The first chamber comprises the image sensor and is provided with one or more passive cooling means, and the second chamber comprises the one or more processors and is provided with one or more active cooling means. Further, a method for cooling such inspection tool is provided.

Claims

1. An inspection tool for inspecting at least one of oil, gas production, and injection wells and pipes, the inspection tool comprising: an image sensor, at least one of at least one processor and at least one chip, and at least one power supply; at least a first and a second chamber being insulated from each other, the first chamber comprising the image sensor and is provided with at least one of at least one passive means and at least one active cooling means; and the second chamber comprising at least one processor and is provided with at least one active cooling means.

2. The inspection tool according to claim 1, comprising a third chamber insulated from the first chamber and from the second chamber, the third chamber including the at least one power supply and is provided with at least one passive cooling means.

3. The inspection tool according to claim 2, wherein the first chamber provides a front section, the second chamber provides a middle section and the third chamber provides a rear section of the inspection tool.

4. The inspection tool according to claim 3, wherein the front, middle and rear section, respectively, is arranged to be independently removed from the rest of the inspection tool.

5. The inspection tool according to claim 1, wherein the at least one active cooling means are at least one of a Peltier thermoelectric cooling device.

6. The inspection tool according to claim 1, wherein the at least one passive cooling means comprises at least one of heat insulating, reflecting, and storing materials.

7. The inspection tool according to claim 1, further comprising a vacuum provision means adjusted to provide vacuum in at least one of the first and second chamber.

8. The inspection tool according to claim 1, wherein the first and the second chamber are cooled differently according to the temperature requirements and heat production connected to the components in each respective chamber.

9. A method for cooling an inspection tool for inspection of at least one of oil, gas production, injection wells and pipes, the tool including: an image sensor, at least one of at least one processor and at least one chip, and at least one power supply, at least a first and a second chamber being insulated from each other, the first chamber including the image sensor, and the second chamber including the at least one processor, the method comprising: cooling of the first chamber by at least one passive cooling means; and cooling of the second chamber by at least one active cooling means.

Description

FIGURES

[0019] FIG. 1 illustrates an example of an inspection tool for fluid filled pipes according to state of the art,

[0020] FIG. 2 illustrates an example of an embodiment comprising three chambers over which the components of the inspection tool are distributed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] In the following, embodiments herein will be discussed and example embodiments will be described by referring to the accompanying drawings.

[0022] Embodiments herein relate to an inspection tool and to methods for cooling an inspection tool for well pipes in use in the oil and gas industry. An inspection tool for inspecting oil and/or gas production and/or injection wells and pipes will now be described.

[0023] The inspection tool may comprise at least a first and a second chamber being insulated from each other. The first chamber comprises the image sensor and is provided with one or more passive cooling means, and the second chamber comprises the one or more processors and is provided with one or more active cooling means. The inspection tool may comprise a third chamber being insulated from the first chamber and from the second chamber. The third chamber may comprise one or more power supplies and may be provided with one or more passive cooling means. The first chamber may provide a front section, the second chamber may provide a middle section and the third chamber may provide a rear section of the inspection tool.

[0024] In the following, an inspection tool comprising three separate chambers connected to one another will be exemplified. The chambers are separated from one another by airtight sealing means and heat isolating means. The chambers are further shielded against the outer environment by heat isolating or storing materials placed in the cavity of the assembly. The three chambers are further separated from the surrounding environment by a capsule.

[0025] The inspection tool at least comprises an image sensor, one or more processors or chips and one or more power supplies. The internal hardware may be cooled with both passive and active cooling means. As an example, the passive cooling means may be heat insulating, reflecting and/or storing materials. As a further example, the active cooling means may comprise at least one Peltier thermoelectric cooling unit, placed in contact with the heat generating components. The active cooling means may further be in contact with material enabling heat transfer and storage of the internal components, like e.g. materials introduced in the assembly and/or the capsule.

[0026] FIG. 2 is an illustration of one example. It shows an inspection tool comprising three separate chambers being separated from one another via sealing means that generate an air tight seal between the chambers when the capsule is in place. The sealing means also shield the chambers terminally. It may further comprise several passive cooling means. As an example this may be heat insulating, reflecting and/or storing materials. The inspection tool may further comprise one or several active cooling means. As an example such active cooling means may be a Peltier thermoelectric cooling unit.

[0027] In the example embodiment, the front chamber of the assembly may comprise camera sensor, optical means and lighting means. The camera means may be a CMOS camera chip. The lighting means may be a LED lighting source. The camera sensor may be cooled by both active and passive cooling means. In the example embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, the front chamber is only cooled by passive cooling means. The passive cooling means may be heat insulating, reflecting and/or storing materials.

[0028] In the example embodiment of FIG. 2, the middle chamber comprises the camera electronics, which may include processors and chips, which as already mentioned are the most temperature sensitive components of the inspection tool, however also generating heat in operation. The processor may be an FPGA processor.

[0029] The inspection tool may be adapted to cool the first chamber by one or more passive cooling means, and to cool the second chamber by one or more active cooling means.

[0030] According to the example embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, alternatively the middle chamber in an inspection tool comprising three chambers may comprise both passive and active cooling means. The passive cooling means may be heat insulating, reflecting and/or storing materials. The active cooling means does however contribute most to the cooling, and are in this example placed so that heat is removed from the processing means and stored in a heat storing material. As an example, the active cooling means may be placed in contact with the processing means and in contact with heat storing means, for example heat storing material. In an example of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, the active cooling means may be Peltier thermoelectric cooling devices.

[0031] The Peltier thermoelectric cooling devices (thermoelectric coolingTEC) are employed in a wide arrange of domestic products as for example in portable coolers. A Peltier thermoelectric cooling device is a solid state active heat exchanger. The cooling device is built up of at least two semiconductors, one n-type and one p-type, that are placed in parallel to each other and joined together with a thermally conductive plate on top and below. Applying a DC current to the semiconductors creates a temperature difference, causing the side with the cooling plate to absorb heat and to move (through to) towards the side with the heat sink. The cooling ability of the total unit is in proportion to the number of semiconductors in it, and due to recent advances in the semiconductor industry, it is now possible to include a sufficient number of elements in one unit to be included in an inspection tool. A Peltier thermoelectric cooling device will typically have a maximum temperature difference of 60-70 C. between the hot and cold side.

[0032] The active cooling means may also be a liquid cooled element or a fan cooled element.

[0033] In the example embodiment of FIG. 2, the rear chamber incorporates power supply means and communication means. The power supply means may for example be a power supply device and a battery. The communication means may be altered after need and may for example be fiber optics, communication cable and/or storage means.

[0034] The three chambers of the inspection tool described above may preferably be thermally and mechanically insulated from each other. In one embodiment, this is achieved by providing vacuum in at least one of the first and second chamber, e.g. by means of a valve into the respective chamber on which a vacuum pump can be connected.

[0035] Hence, there are three different heat environments to deal with that do not significantly influence each other, and that may be cooled differently according to the temperature requirements and heat production connected to the components in each respective chamber. The front, middle and rear section, respectively, may be arranged to be independently removed from the rest of the inspection tool. Thus, each chamber may individually be replaced or removed for maintenance.

[0036] The above description discloses different example embodiments for illustrative purposes. A person skilled in the art would realize a variety of chambers, chamber components and cooling means within the scope of the appended claims.