Systems and methods of storage and automated self-check and operational status of rig tools

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9563191-B2
Application number	US-201114113429-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 8, 2011
Priority date	Aug 8, 2011
Publication date	Feb 7, 2017
Grant date	Feb 7, 2017

Abstract

A method and system for autonomously monitoring, evaluating, storing and testing tools and other units operated at a rig-site. The system may include a storage facility communicatively coupled to one or more tools, status flags identifying the health and operational status of the tools, and a computer for performing a self-check for determining the operational status for the one or more tools. The system may further include a remotely positioned computer system in communication with the operational status of the tools, and a user terminal in communication with the computer system.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A system for storing and checking the operational status of tools, the system comprising:
a storage facility;
wherein the storage facility is communicatively coupled to one or more tools;
wherein the storage facility comprises a computer communicatively coupled to one or more tools;
at least one memory;
at least one processor, the at least one processor executing the steps comprising:
performing a self-check process to determine operational status for the one or more tools, wherein the self-check process comprises a loopback test, wherein the loopback test tests conductivity and electrical isolation across conductors of the one or more tools is within a designated specification for the one or more tools;
setting a status flag identifying the operational status for the one or more tools based at least in part on the result of the self-check.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the self-check process is initiated by the computer.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the self-check process is initiated by logic in the tool.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the self-check process is initiated based on a predetermined setting.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the predetermined setting is a time unit.

6. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a climate control component to maintain the operational status of the tools.

7. The system of claim 1 , further comprising an external power source, wherein the external power source provides current to the one or more tools.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the computer is communicatively coupled to a remote information handling system.

9. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a centralized data acquisition server, wherein the central data acquisition server comprises a user interface, wherein the user interface is capable of providing access to the system, wherein the access may be one of local or remote to the rig.

10. A method for storing and checking the operational status of tools, the method comprising:
storing one or more tools on a storage facility, wherein the storage facility is communicatively coupled to one or more tools, further wherein the storage facility comprises a computer communicatively coupled to one or more tools;
performing a self-check on the one or more tools, wherein the self-check determines the operational status for the one or more tools, wherein the self-check process comprises a loopback test, wherein the loopback test tests conductivity and electrical isolation across conductors of the one or more tools is within a designated specification for the one or more tools;
setting a status flag identifying the operational status for the one or more tools based at least in part on the result of the self-check.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the self-check is initiated by the computer.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the self-check is initiated by logic in the tool.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the self-check is initiated based on a predetermined time unit setting.

14. The method of claim 10 , further comprising a climate control component to maintain the operational status of the tools.

15. The method of claim 10 , further comprising an external power source, wherein the external power source provides current to the one or more tools.

16. The system of claim 10 , wherein the computer is communicatively coupled to a remote information handling system.

17. The system of claim 10 , further comprising a centralized data acquisition server, wherein the central data acquisition server comprises a user interface, wherein the user interface is capable of providing access to the system, wherein the access may be one of local or remote to the rig.

18. A system for storing and checking the operational status of tools, the system comprising:
a central functional unit at a rig site comprising a central data acquisition server communicatively coupled to one or more functional units;
wherein the one or more functional units comprises a storage facility, wherein the storage facility stores tools;
wherein the storage facility further comprises operational parameters indicating the status of the tools based on a self-check, wherein the self-check process comprises a loopback test, wherein the loopback test tests conductivity and electrical isolation across conductors of the one or more tools is within a designated specification for the one or more tools.

19. The system of claim 18 , wherein the one or more functional units communicate with the central functional unit through a common communication protocol.

20. The system of claim 18 , wherein the storage facility further comprises a climate control component, a computer, external power, and an external communications interface.

Assignees

• Dirksen Ronald Johannes
• Halliburton Energy Services Inc

Inventors

• Dirksen Ronald Johannes

Classifications

• E21B47/00 Primary

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

• G05B15/02 Primary

  electric · CPC title

• G01V13/00 Primary

  Manufacturing, calibrating, cleaning, or repairing instruments or devices covered by groups G01V1/00 – G01V11/00 · CPC title