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WO-2026093754-A1 - INSPECTION ASSEMBLY FOR IMAGING A PIPELINE

WO2026093754A1WO 2026093754 A1WO2026093754 A1WO 2026093754A1WO-2026093754-A1

Abstract

An inspection apparatus for viewing an internal surface of a pipeline comprises a main body having a longitudinal axis extending generally parallel to a direction of travel of the apparatus through the pipeline. The main body includes a camera, and a light source to illuminate the pipeline within afield of view of the camera. An optical axis of the camera extends in a direction transverse to the axis of the main body. The apparatus further comprises a sealing member attached to the main body, the sealing member forming a seal against the internal surface of the pipeline such that a fluid flowing along the pipeline applies a force to the inspection apparatus to propel the apparatus along the pipeline.

Inventors

  • PECK, SHAUN
  • TANG, RAYMOND

Assignees

  • E.V. OFFSHORE LIMITED

Dates

Publication Date
20260507
Application Date
20251031
Priority Date
20241031

Claims (17)

  1. 1. An inspection apparatus for viewing an internal surface of a pipeline comprising: a main body having a longitudinal axis extending, in use, generally parallel to a direction of travel of the inspection apparatus through said pipeline, the main body including a camera and a light source, the light source being arranged to illuminate said internal surface of said pipeline within a field of view of the camera, and an optical axis of the camera extending in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the main body; and a first sealing member attached to the main body, the first sealing member forming a seal against said internal surface of the pipeline such that, in use, a fluid flowing along said pipeline applies a driving force to the inspection apparatus to propel the apparatus along said pipeline.
  2. 2. An inspection apparatus according to Claim 1 , wherein the first sealing member is disposed forward of the camera along the longitudinal axis of the main body relative to said direction of travel of the inspection apparatus through said pipeline
  3. 3. An inspection apparatus according to Claim 2, further comprising a second sealing member attached to the main body, the second sealing member forming a seal against said internal surface of the pipeline such that, in use, a fluid flowing along said pipeline applies a driving force to the inspection apparatus to propel the apparatus along said pipeline, and wherein the first and second sealing members are spaced apart along the longitudinal axis of the main body, and the camera and the field of view of the camera are disposed between the first and second sealing members.
  4. 4. An inspection apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, in which the optical axis of the camera extends in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the main body.
  5. 5. An inspection apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the main body has a first or front end and a second or rear end relative to a direction of travel of the inspection apparatus through the pipeline in use, and in which the camera is disposed closer to the rear end than to the front end of the main body.
  6. 6. An inspection apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, in which the camera includes a global shutter.
  7. 7. An inspection apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, in which the camera is a first camera, and the inspection apparatus includes at least one additional camera, and wherein the cameras are spaced apart around a circumference of the main body.
  8. 8. An inspection apparatus according to Claim 7, in which each of the cameras is disposed rearward of the first sealing member relative to said direction of travel of the inspection apparatus through said pipeline.
  9. 9. An inspection apparatus according to Claim 3 or any claim dependent on Claim 3, in which the camera is a first camera, and the inspection apparatus includes at least one additional camera, each of the cameras being disposed between the first and second sealing members, and wherein the cameras are spaced apart around a circumference of the main body.
  10. 10. An inspection apparatus according to any one of Claims 7 to 9, in which the cameras lie in a single plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the main body, and in which the fields of view of the cameras cover a full 360° view of said internal surface of said pipeline.
  11. 11. An inspection apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 8, in which the light source is disposed between the first sealing member and the camera in a longitudinal direction.
  12. 12. An inspection apparatus according to Claim 2 or any claim dependent on Claim 2, in which the light source is disposed rearward of the first sealing member relative to said direction of travel of the inspection apparatus through said pipeline.
  13. 13. An inspection apparatus according to Claim 3 or any claim dependent on Claim 3, in which the light source is disposed between the first and second sealing members.
  14. 14. An inspection apparatus according to Claim 12 or Claim 13, in which the light source comprises a first array of light emitters on a first side of the camera or cameras and a second array of light emitters on a second side of the camera or cameras.
  15. 15. An inspection apparatus according to Claim 14, in which the light emitters of the first and second arrays are angled such that the centre lines or optical axes of the beams of light emitted by the light emitters of the first array and the beams of light emitted by the light emitters of the second array are convergent.
  16. 16. An inspection apparatus according to Claim 13, in which the light source comprises a first array of light emitters on a first side of the camera or cameras and a second array of light emitters on a second side of the camera or cameras, and in which the first sealing member is part of a first sealing assembly and the second sealing member is part of a second sealing assembly, and in which the light emitters of the first array are angled such that a fraction of the light emitted by the light emitters of the first array impinges and is reflected by a surface of the first sealing assembly, and the light emitters of the second array are angled such that a fraction of the light emitted by the light emitters of the second array impinges and is reflected by a surface of the second sealing assembly.
  17. 17. An inspection assembly according to Claim 16, in which the surface of the first sealing assembly impinged by light emitted by the light emitters of the first array has a reflective coating, and the surface of the second sealing assembly impinged by light emitted by the light emitters of the second array has a reflective coating.

Description

Inspection Assembly for Imaging a Pipeline FIELD OF THE INVENTION This disclosure relates to an inspection assembly for viewing an internal surface of a pipeline and more particularly to a modular inspection assembly. This disclosure further relates to a modular kit for forming an inspection assembly. This disclosure provides a method of inspecting a pipeline using an inspection assembly, and more particularly to a method of capturing images of an internal surface of a pipeline using an inspection assembly. BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION Pipeline Inspection Gauges (Pigs) are known for use in pipeline cleaning and inspection. Typically a Pig is inserted into a pipeline at a particular point (a launching station), is propelled along the pipeline by the flow of fluid through the pipeline and is then removed from the pipeline at a specific point further downstream (a receiving station). The use of Pigs allows pipes to be cleaned and the condition of the pipes to be inspected without stopping the flow of fluid through the pipe. An intelligent Pig, or Smart Pig, can be used to collect data, typically about the condition of the pipeline, while it is travelling along the pipeline. Some prior art devices, for example, have incorporated sensors to detect pipe defects and corrosion. Data from these sensors are then analysed once the Pig has been retrieved from the pipeline. In order to determine the position of any defect within the pipeline, Pigs often also incorporate some form of location monitoring system, or the location of the Pig is monitored by sensors located above-ground or external to the pipeline. Pipelines often contain fluids at a high temperature, and the fluids may be highly acidic or basic. For these reasons it may be necessary to carefully protect any sensors and electronics that are contained within the Pig. It some circumstances it is desirable to capture images of the internal wall of a pipeline or conduit. Prior art systems have been developed that can travel along a length of pipeline or conduit and which incorporate a video camera. In some of these prior art systems the camera is mounted on a wheeled apparatus, or tractor, to enable the speed of passage of the camera through the pipeline or conduit to be controlled to capture images of sufficient quality for subsequent analysis. Additionally, these systems may incorporate a line or tether linking the camera tractor back to a base station. The tether permits a user to control movement of the camera tractor, permits video images to be streamed back to the base station for observation and permits the camera tractor to be retrieved from the pipeline after use. GB 2502839 A describes a pipeline inspection apparatus that includes sealing means to allow the inspection apparatus to be propelled along a pipeline by a flow of fluid in the pipeline. The inspection apparatus includes an imaging module and a light source to enable images of the internal surface of the pipeline to be captured. It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved conduit inspection assembly that overcomes a disadvantage of prior art devices, whether referred to herein or otherwise. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to a first aspect of this disclosure there is provided an inspection assembly for viewing an internal surface of a conduit, such as a pipeline, the inspection assembly comprising: an imaging module including a camera and a light source, the light source being arranged to illuminate said internal surface of said conduit, and the camera being arranged such that, in use, the camera captures image data of said internal surface of said conduit; a control module including circuitry for handling image data captured by the camera; a power module comprising a power supply; a first sub-assembly comprising one or more of the imaging module, control module and power module, the first sub-assembly having a longitudinal axis extending between first and second ends of the first sub-assembly; a second sub-assembly comprising one or more of the imaging module, control module and power module, the second sub-assembly having a longitudinal axis extending between first and second ends of the second sub-assembly; and a coupling connecting the second end of the first sub-assembly to the first end of the second sub-assembly, the coupling permitting movement of the first subassembly relative to the second sub-assembly such that, in use, an angle between the longitudinal axis of the second sub-assembly and the longitudinal axis of the first sub-assembly may be greater than zero, wherein, each of the first and second sub-assemblies includes a sealing member arranged to seal against said internal surface of the conduit such that, in use, a fluid flowing along said conduit applies a driving force to the inspection assembly to propel the inspection assembly along said conduit. Handling of image data by the circuitry of the control module may include storing image data in a memory