Universal remote control system for hydrocarbon recovery tools

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10465494-B2
Application number	US-201514733671-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 8, 2015
Priority date	Sep 15, 2014
Publication date	Nov 5, 2019
Grant date	Nov 5, 2019

Abstract

A system for controlling a set of tools for hydrocarbon recovery includes a remote controller and a device controller. The remote controller is communicatively coupled to the device controller. The device controller is generally configured to receive a command to operate one of the plurality of tools from the remote controller. Based on the command, the device controller generates one or more instructions executable by a controller associated with the one of the plurality of tools. The device controller transmits the one or more instructions to the one of the plurality of tools.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A hydrocarbon recovery system including a plurality of tools, comprising:
a remote controller; and
a control device communicatively coupled to the remote controller, the control device configured to:
store screen content related to operation of each a plurality of tools and a control scheme associated with the screen content related to operation of each of the plurality of tools;
receive, from the remote controller, a selection of a tool of the plurality of tools to control through the remote controller;
transmit screen content associated with the selected tool to the remote controller for display on the remote controller;
configure one or more input devices of the remote controller according to a control scheme associated with the selected tool, wherein the control scheme defines mappings between movements of the one or more input devices and actions performed with respect to the selected tool based on the movements of the one or more input devices;
receive a command to operate one of the plurality of tools from the remote controller according to the transmitted screen content and control scheme;
based on the command, generate one or more instructions executable by a controller associated with the one of the plurality of tools; and
transmit the one or more instructions to the one of the plurality of tools.

2. The hydrocarbon recovery system of claim 1 , wherein the screen content comprises one or more menu screens related to operation of one of the plurality of tools from the one of the plurality of tools.

3. The hydrocarbon recovery system of claim 2 , wherein the screen content comprises one or more menu screens related to operation of a new tool.

4. The hydrocarbon recovery system of claim 1 , wherein the remote controller comprises a portable remote controller.

5. The hydrocarbon recovery system of claim 1 , wherein the remote controller comprises:
a touchscreen display;
a processing system configured to generate one or more commands to transmit to the control device based on one or more inputs provided via the touchscreen display; and
a data transceiver configured to transmit the one or more commands to the control device.

6. The hydrocarbon recovery system of claim 1 , wherein the remote controller comprises:
a receiver configured to receive screen data from the control device;
a screen;
a first joystick and a second joystick;
a processing system configured to:
display the received screen data on the screen;
receive input from at least the first and the second joysticks;
modify the screen data displayed on the screen; and
generate one or more commands to transmit to the control device based on the input; and

a transmitter configured to transmit the generated one or more commands to the control device.

7. The hydrocarbon recovery system of claim 6 , wherein the remote controller further comprises one or more switches, and wherein the processing system is configured to generate one or more commands based on a position of each of the one or more switches.

8. The hydrocarbon recovery system of claim 1 , wherein the control device is configured to receive a command to operate one of the plurality of tools from the remote controller via a wireless interface.

9. The hydrocarbon recovery system of claim 1 , wherein the control device comprises:
a data transceiver;
a processor configured to:
receive, via the data transceiver, a first command to operate one of the plurality of tools; and
generate one or more second commands executable by the one of the plurality of tools based on the first command; and

an input/output (I/O) interface configured to transmit the one or more second commands to the one of the plurality of tools.

10. The hydrocarbon recovery system of claim 9 , wherein:
the control device further comprises one or more fluid power units in fluid communication with at least one of the plurality of tools; and
the processor is further configured to actuate at least one of the one or more fluid power units, in response to the first command.

11. The hydrocarbon recovery system of claim 1 , wherein the remote controller and the control device are integrated in a single physical unit.

12. The hydrocarbon recovery system of claim 1 , wherein the command comprises a command to operate a first tool via a second tool coupled to the first tool, and wherein the transmitting one or more instructions comprises transmitting the instruction to the second tool.

13. A method for hydrocarbon recovery, comprising:
receiving, from a remote control device, a selection of a tool of a plurality of hydrocarbon recovery tools to control through the remote control device;
transmitting, to the remote control device, one or more screens associated with the selected tool, the one or more screens including one or more options for operating the selected tool;
configuring one or more input devices of the remote control device according to a control scheme associated with each of the one or more screens associated with the selected tool, wherein the control scheme defines mappings between movements of the one or more input devices of the remote control device and actions performed with respect to the one or more screens based on user input through the one or more input devices;
receiving, from the remote control device, one or more commands related to operation of the selected tool according to the transmitted one or more screens and the control scheme;
based on the received one or more commands, generating one or more commands executable by the selected tool to perform an operation specified by the received one or more commands; and
transmitting the one or more generated commands to the selected tool to cause the selected tool to perform the operation.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the received one or more commands comprise a command to operate the selected tool using parameters for the selected tool modified on one of the one or more screens.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein at least one of the one or more screens comprises one or more screens related to operation of a new tool.

16. The method of claim 13 , wherein the generating one or more commands comprises:
generating one or more electronic instructions to command operation of the tool; and
triggering actuation of one or more fluid power devices in fluid communication with the tool to modify one or more operating parameters of the tool.

17. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, executes a method for hydrocarbon recovery, the method comprising:
receiving, from a remote control device, a selection of a tool of a plurality of hydrocarbon recovery tools to control through the remote control device;
transmitting, to the remote control device, one or more screens associated with the selected tool, the one or more screens including one or more options for operating the selected tool;
configuring one or more input devices of the remote control device according to a control scheme associated with each of the one or more screens associated with the selected tool, wherein the control scheme defines mappings between movements of the one or more input devices of the remote control device and actions performed with respect to the one or more screens based on user input through the one or more input devices;
receiving, from the remote control device, one or more commands related to operation of at least one of the plurality of hydrocarbon recovery tools according to the transmitted one or mor

Assignees

• Weatherford Tech Holdings Llc

Inventors

• Krems Klaus
• Wiedecke Michael
• Helms Martin
• Thomas Benson

Classifications

• G06F17/00

  Digital computing or data processing equipment or methods, specially adapted for specific functions (information retrieval, database structures or file system structures therefor G06F16/00) · CPC title

• E21B43/12 Primary

  Methods or apparatus for controlling the flow of the obtained fluid to or in wells (E21B43/25 takes precedence; valve arrangements E21B34/00) · CPC title

• E21B44/00

  Automatic control systems specially adapted for drilling operations, i.e. self-operating systems which function to carry out or modify a drilling operation without intervention of a human operator, e.g. computer-controlled drilling systems; Systems specially adapted for monitoring a plurality of drilling variables or conditions · CPC title

• E21B19/165

  Control or monitoring arrangements therefor · CPC title

• G05B19/05

  Programmable logic controllers, e.g. simulating logic interconnections of signals according to ladder diagrams or function charts · CPC title