Methods and systems for providing a package of sensors to enhance subterranean operations

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9429009-B2
Application number	US-201114113434-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 25, 2011
Priority date	Oct 25, 2011
Publication date	Aug 30, 2016
Grant date	Aug 30, 2016

Abstract

A method and system for autonomously enhancing the performance of rig operations at a rig-site, including subterranean operations at a rig-site. The system may include an integrated control system, wherein the integrated control system monitors one or more parameters of sensor units of the rig operations, and a central computer that can communicate with sensor units reporting the health and operational status of the rig operations. The system may further be upgraded by a package of sensors attached to the various tools that allow the central computer an overall synchronized view of the rig operations.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An integrated system for enhancing the performance of subterranean operations comprising:
an integrated control system;
wherein the integrated control system monitors one or more subterranean operations;
wherein the integrated control system comprises a centralized functional unit communicatively coupled to one or more functional units that require monitoring;
wherein the one or more functional units record data;
wherein the centralized functional unit monitors the one or more functional units based, at least in part, on the recorded data;
a package of sensors, wherein the package of sensors comprises a plurality of sensors, and wherein the plurality of sensors comprises at least two different types of sensors; and
wherein the package of sensors is communicatively coupled to at least one of the one or more functional units, wherein the centralized function unit receives data from the package of sensors corresponding to the at least one of the one or more functional units.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more functional units are selected from the group consisting of a Wireline drum, an underbalanced/managed pressure drilling unit, a tool boxes containing self-check, a fluid skid, and a measurement while drilling toolbox.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more functional units communicate with the integrated control system through a common communication protocol.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the centralized functional unit is communicatively coupled to a remote information handling system.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the centralized functional unit processes information received from the one or more functional units via the package of sensors, and wherein the centralized functional unit uses the processed information to monitor the subterranean operations.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the package of sensors is deployed on a mud supply to enhance the subterranean operations.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the package of sensors is deployed to monitor a return flow.

8. A method for enhancing the performance of subterranean operations comprising:
providing a package of sensors that enhance the performance of subterranean operations, wherein the package of sensors are communicatively coupled to one or more functional units that require monitoring, wherein the package of sensors comprises a plurality of sensors, and wherein the plurality of sensors comprise at least two different types of sensors;
receiving data relating to a subterranean operation from at least one sensor of the package of sensors corresponding to one or more functional units, wherein the function units are communicatively coupled to an integrated control system comprising a centralized function unit; and
recording the data by the one or more functional units;
monitoring, by the centralized function unit, the one or more functional units based, at least in part, on the recorded data.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the one or more functional units are selected from the group consisting of a Wireline drum, an underbalanced/managed pressure drilling unit, a tool boxes containing self-check, a fluid skid, and a measurement while drilling toolbox.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the one or more functional units communicate with the integrated control system through a common communication protocol.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the centralized functional unit is communicatively coupled to a remote information handling system.

12. The method of claim 8 , further comprising processing the data received from the one or more functional units and using the processed data to monitor the subterranean operations.

13. The method of claim 8 , wherein the package of sensors is deployed on a mudsupply to enhance the subterranean operations.

14. The method of claim 8 , wherein the package of sensors is deployed to monitor a return flow.

15. An integrated subterranean operation control system for enhancing the performance of subterranean operations comprising:
an integrated control system comprising a centralized data acquisition server communicatively coupled to one or more functional units that require monitoring;
wherein the one or more functional units record data;
wherein the centralized data acquisition server monitors the one or more functional units based, at least in part, on the recorded data;
a package of sensors, wherein the package of sensors is communicatively coupled to at least one of the one or more functional units to enhance subterranean operations, wherein the package of sensors comprises a plurality of sensors, wherein the plurality of sensors comprises at least two different types of sensors, and wherein the centralized data acquisition server receives the data from at least one sensor of the package of sensors communicatively coupled to one or more functional units.

16. The system of claim 15 , further comprising a bottom hole assembly, wherein a mud supply is enhanced by the package of sensors, wherein the bottom hole assembly provides uniform data regarding its operations.

17. The system of claim 15 , wherein the one or more functional units communicate with the integrated control system through a common communication protocol.

18. The system of claim 15 , wherein the package of sensors is associated with a mud flow, and wherein at least one sensor of the package of sensors associated with the mud flow comprises one or more of a density sensor, a temperature sensor, or a viscosity sensor.

19. The system of claim 15 , wherein the package of sensors is associated with a bottom hole assembly, and wherein at least one sensor of the package of sensors associated with the bottom hole assembly comprises one or more of a density sensor, a temperature sensor, or a viscosity sensor.

20. The system of claim 15 , wherein the package of sensors is associated with a return flow, and wherein at least one sensor of the package of sensors associated with the return flow comprises one or more of a density sensor, a temperature sensor, or a viscosity sensor.

Assignees

• Paulk Marty
• East Jr Loyd Eddie
• Dirksen Ronald Johannes
• Halliburton Energy Services Inc

Inventors

• Paulk Marty
• East Jr Loyd Eddie
• Dirksen Ronald Johannes

Classifications

• E21B21/085

  Underbalanced techniques, i.e. where borehole fluid pressure is below formation pressure · CPC title

• E21B47/07 Primary

  Temperature · 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

• E21B47/00 Primary

  Survey of boreholes or wells (monitoring pressure or flow of drilling fluid E21B21/08) · CPC title

• E21B21/08

  Controlling or monitoring pressure or flow of drilling fluid, e.g. automatic filling of boreholes, automatic control of bottom pressure (valve arrangements therefor E21B21/10) · CPC title