Managing a workflow for an oilfield operation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10740730-B2
Application number	US-201313931328-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 28, 2013
Priority date	Dec 30, 2010
Publication date	Aug 11, 2020
Grant date	Aug 11, 2020

Abstract

Various implementations described herein are directed to a method for managing a workflow for an oilfield operation. The method may include receiving a request to perform the task workflow. The method may also include loading an adapted task workflow based on historical information. The method may further include receiving an input pertaining to one or more tasks of the adapted task workflow. In addition, the method may include determining whether the one or more tasks have been completed based on the received input.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions which, when executed by a mobile computer, cause the mobile computer to:
receive a request to wirelessly download a default task workflow and historical information for oilfield pumping equipment used in an oilfield operation from a server computer;
generate an adapted task workflow by loading the default task workflow and changing the default task workflow based on the historical information such that the adapted task workflow consists of tasks yet to be completed;
display on a screen of the mobile computer the adapted task workflow in groups of the tasks yet to be completed, wherein each group of tasks yet to be completed comprises maintenance and/or inspection tasks to be performed at a different stage of operations of the oilfield pumping equipment, wherein a first one of the groups of tasks yet to be completed comprises maintenance and/or inspection tasks to be performed with an engine of the oilfield pumping equipment turned off, and wherein a second one of the groups of tasks yet to be completed comprises maintenance and/or inspection tasks to be performed with the engine of the oilfield pumping equipment turned on;
receive a first input from a human user pertaining to one or more tasks of the adapted task workflow;
receive a second input from one or more sensors disposed in association with one or more units of the oilfield pumping equipment used during performance of the oilfield operation, wherein the one or more sensors comprise pressure potentiometers, capacitance transducers, piezoresistive sensors, or electropneumatic transducers, and wherein the second input comprises a real-time analogue data stream;
determine whether one or more of the tasks have been completed based on the received first and/or second input, wherein the first input pertaining to the one or more tasks comprises an interpretation of the second input;
change the adapted task workflow based on the determination of whether the one or more tasks have been completed; and
wirelessly transmit the received first input, the received second input, and the changed adapted task workflow to the server computer.

2. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1 , wherein the first or second input comprises one or more numerical values falling outside of a predetermined range and wherein the computer executable instructions further cause the computer to display an alert regarding the one or more numerical values falling outside of the predetermined range.

3. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1 , wherein the first or second input comprises a fail designation and wherein the computer executable instructions further cause the computer to add one or more previously completed tasks to the adapted task workflow.

4. A workflow management system comprising one or more sensors disposed in association with one or more units of oilfield equipment used in an oilfield operation, wherein the one or more sensors are configured to collect operating status of the associated unit(s), maintenance status of the associated unit(s), or both, wherein the workflow management system further comprises a mobile computer and a server computer, and wherein the server computer comprises:
a processor; and
a memory comprising program instructions executable by the processor to:
receive a request to load a default task workflow and historical information for the oilfield equipment used in the oilfield operation;
load the default task workflow and the historical information;
generate an adapted task workflow by adapting the default task workflow with the historical information such that the adapted task workflow comprises tasks yet to be completed;
divide the tasks yet to be completed into groups, wherein each group of tasks yet to be completed comprises maintenance and/or inspection tasks to be performed at a different corresponding stage of operations of the oilfield equipment;
output the adapted task workflow to a video output device of the mobile computer to display the adapted task workflow arranged by the groups of tasks yet to be completed;
receive an input transmitted wirelessly from the mobile computer pertaining to one or more tasks of the adapted task workflow, wherein the mobile computer is operable to receive the input from a human user, wherein the input is based on sensor data output by the one or more sensors, wherein the one or more sensors comprise pressure potentiometers, capacitance transducers, piezoresistive sensors, or electropneumatic transducers, wherein the mobile computer is communicatively connected with the one or more sensors and operable to receive the sensor data, and wherein the sensor data comprises one or more real-time analogue data streams relating to an operating status of the one or more units of the oilfield equipment, a maintenance status of the one or more units of the oilfield equipment, or both;
determine whether the one or more tasks to which the received input pertains have been completed based on the received input;
change the adapted task workflow based on the determination; and
output the changed adapted task workflow to the video output device to display the changed adapted task workflow.

5. The workflow management system of claim 4 , wherein the received input comprises a numerical value that falls within a specified range and wherein the one or more tasks to which the received input pertains are determined to be completed based on the numerical value that falls within the specified range.

6. The workflow management system of claim 4 , wherein the received input comprises a numerical value that falls outside of a specified range and wherein the one or more tasks to which the received input pertains are determined to be completed based on a trend analysis of one or more past oilfield operations.

7. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1 , wherein:
the computer executable instruction further cause the mobile computer to:
display the adapted task workflow;
periodically store the input at the server computer at a predetermined period of time; and
periodically store data regarding one or more tasks completed by a user at the server computer; and

the input comprises either:
one or more numerical values falling outside of a predetermined range, in which case the computer executable instructions further cause the mobile computer to display an alert regarding the one or more numerical values falling outside of the predetermined range; or
a fail designation, in which case the computer executable instructions further cause the mobile computer to add one or more previously completed tasks to the adapted task workflow.

8. The computer system of claim 4 , wherein:
the adapted task workflow comprises one or more maintenance tasks; and
the input comprises either:
a numerical value that falls within a specified range, in which case the one or more tasks are determined to be completed based on the numerical value that falls within the specified range; or
the input comprises a numerical value that falls outside of a specified range, in which case the one or more tasks are determined to be completed based on a trend analysis of one or more past oilfield operations.

9. A communications interface device comprising an input device, a processor, and a memory storing a dedicated workflow application, wherein the dedicated workflow application comprises program instructions executable by the processor to:
display a list of oilfield equipment units;
receive, via the input device, a user selection of one of the listed oilfield equipment units;
wirelessly access a default task workflo

Assignees

• Schlumberger Technology Corp

Inventors

• Altamirano Arturo E
• Goddard Brian
• Chen Yang
• Lu Chuanqing
• Thomeer Hubertus V

Classifications

• E21B43/2607

  Surface equipment specially adapted for fracturing operations · CPC title

• E21B41/00

  Equipment or details not covered by groups E21B15/00 - E21B40/00 · CPC title

• G06Q30/06

  Buying, selling or leasing transactions · CPC title

• E21B43/16

  Enhanced recovery methods for obtaining hydrocarbons · CPC title

• E21B43/267

  reinforcing fractures by propping · CPC title