Pipe joint location detection system and method

Abstract

A pipe joint location detection system includes a main body, at least one magnet, and a plurality of magnetic sensors. The main body has an annular shape defining a central passage, the at least one magnetic is coupled to the main body, the magnet is configured to output a magnetic field, and the plurality of magnetic sensors is coupled to the main body and disposed about a circumference of the main body, wherein each magnetic sensor of the plurality of magnetic sensors is configured to detect a magnetization of a tubular string disposed within the central passage. The pipe joint location detection system also includes a memory comprising data stored thereon, wherein the data includes a first magnetization value associated with a first contour of the tubular string and a second magnetization value associated with a second contour of the tubular string, wherein the first contour is different from the second contour.

1 . A pipe joint location detection system, comprising:
 a main body comprising an annular shape defining a central passage;   at least one magnet coupled to the main body, wherein the at least one magnet is configured to output a magnetic field;   a plurality of magnetic sensors coupled to the main body and disposed about a circumference of the main body, wherein each magnetic sensor of the plurality of magnetic sensors is configured to detect a magnetization of a tubular string disposed within the central passage; and   a memory comprising data stored thereon, wherein the data comprises a first magnetization value associated with a first contour of the tubular string and a second magnetization value associated with a second contour of the tubular string, wherein the first contour is different from the second contour.   
     
     
         2 . The pipe joint location detection system of  claim 1 , wherein the first contour comprises a radially outermost surface of the tubular string. 
     
     
         3 . The pipe joint location detection system of  claim 2 , wherein the second contour comprises an indention in the radially outermost surface of the tubular string. 
     
     
         4 . The pipe joint location detection system of  claim 3 , wherein the second contour comprises a chamfer disposed an axial end of a section of tubular of the tubular string. 
     
     
         5 . The pipe joint location detection system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one magnet is disposed on a side of the main body opposite at least one magnetic sensor of the plurality of magnetic sensors. 
     
     
         6 . The pipe joint location detection system of  claim 1 , wherein each magnetic sensor of the plurality of magnetic sensors is disposed generally equidistantly about the circumference of the main body relative to one another. 
     
     
         7 . The pipe joint location detection system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one magnet and the plurality of magnetic sensors are disposed internal to the main body. 
     
     
         8 . The pipe joint location detection system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of magnetic sensors comprises a first plurality of magnetic sensors arranged in a first array and a second plurality of magnetic sensors arranged in a second array, wherein the first plurality of magnetic sensors is disposed at a first axial point of the main body relative to a central axis of the main body, and the second plurality of magnetic sensors is disposed at a second axial point of the main body relative to the central axis of the main body, wherein the first axial point and the second axial point are different from one another. 
     
     
         9 . The pipe joint location detection system of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one magnet is disposed at a third axial point of the main body relative to the central axis of the main body, wherein the third axial point is axially between the first axial point and the second axial point relative to the central axis of the main body. 
     
     
         10 . The pipe joint location detection system of  claim 1 , wherein the main body comprises a first second and a second section, the first second and the second section cooperatively form the annular shape, and the first second and the second section are coupled to one another by a hinge. 
     
     
         11 . A method for detecting a joint location of a tubular string, comprising:
 magnetizing the tubular string with a magnetic field generated by a magnet of a joint location detection system disposed adjacent to the tubular string;   detecting a first magnetization value of the tubular string with a first magnetic sensor of the joint location detection system disposed adjacent to the tubular string, wherein the first magnetization value corresponds to a first geometry of the tubular string; and   detecting a second magnetization value of the tubular string with the first magnetic sensor, wherein the second magnetization value corresponds to a second geometry of the tubular string, wherein the second geometry is different from the first geometry.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first geometry is a radially outermost diameter of the tubular string, and wherein the second geometry an indention of the radially outermost diameter, and the indention is radially aligned with the joint location of the tubular string relative to a central axis of the joint location detection system. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , comprising passing the tubular string through an annular ring of the joint location detection system, wherein the annular ring comprises the magnet and the first magnetic sensor. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , comprising detecting a tilt in the tubular string relative to a central axis of a wellbore, wherein detecting the tilt in the tubular string relative to the central axis of the wellbore comprises detecting the first magnetization value with the first magnetic sensor and detecting a third magnetization value with a second magnetic sensor of the joint location detection system, wherein the first magnetic sensor and the second magnetic sensor are disposed at a common axial location of the joint location detection system relative to a central axis of the joint location detection system, and wherein the first magnetization value and the third magnetization value are different from one another. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , comprising calibrating the joint location detection system, wherein calibrating the joint location detection system comprises radially aligning the first geometry of the tubular string with the first magnetic sensor relative to a central axis of the pipe joint detection system and storing the first magnetization value in a memory of the joint location detection system and radially aligning the second geometry of the tubular string with the first magnetic sensor relative to the central axis of the pipe joint detection system and storing the second magnetization value in the memory of the joint location detection system. 
     
     
         16 . A system, comprising:
 a tubular string comprising a first tubular and a second tubular, wherein the first tubular and the second tubular are coupled to one another via a joint; and   a joint location detection system, comprising:
 a magnet configured to output a magnetic field; 
 a plurality of magnetic sensors, wherein each magnetic sensor of the plurality of magnetic sensors is configured to detect a magnetization of the tubular string; and 
 a memory comprising data stored thereon, wherein the data comprises a first magnetization value associated with a first contour of the tubular string and a second magnetization value associated with a second contour of the tubular string, wherein the first contour is different from the second contour, and the joint comprises the second contour. 
   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the first geometry comprises a radially outermost diameter of the first tubular and/or the second tubular, and the second geometry comprises a first chamfer of the first tubular and/or a second chamfer of the second tubular. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the joint location detection system comprises a main body, the main body comprises an annular ring, and the magnet and the plurality of magnetic sensors are coupled to the main body. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the annular ring defines a central passage and the tubular string is disposed within the central passage. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the plurality of magnetic sensors comprises a first plurality of magnetic sensors arranged in a first array and a second plurality of magnetic sensors arranged in a second array, wherein the first plurality of magnetic sensors is disposed at a first axial point of the main body relative to a central axis of the main body, and the second plurality of magnetic sensors is disposed at a second axial point of the main body relative to the central axis of the main body, wherein the first axial point and the second axial point are different from one another.