Process and assembly for identifying and tracking assets

• US 20020158120A1
• Filed: 04/27/2001
• Published: 10/31/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC (Weatherford International PLC)
• Original Assignee: Marathon Oil Company (Marathon Oil Corporation)
• Inventors: Zierolf, Joseph A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,014,100 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/375
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 17/006 Accessories for drilling pipes, e.g. cleaners wear protectors E21B17/10; handling drilling pipes E21B19/00; thread protectors B65D59/00

Abstract

An assembly and process for identifying and tracking assets, such as tubulars, equipment, tools and/or devices. An antenna is electrically connected to a responding device, such as a radio frequency identification device, and this assembly is connected to an asset. The antenna may be positioned about the exterior and/or the interior of the asset and significantly increases the range of signals that may be received and/or broadcast by the responding device. A transceiver may accordingly be positioned a greater distance from the asset without regard to the orientation of the asset and still permit communication between the transceiver and the responding device. In this manner, information that specifically identifies the asset may be compiled in a data base so as to maintain an accurate history of the usage of such assets as tubulars, equipment, tool and/or devices.

Claims

1. An assembly for identifying and tracking an asset comprising:

a responding device adapted to be connected to an asset; and

an antenna electrically connected to said responding device.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said responding device is a radio frequency identification device.

3. The assembly of claim 2 wherein said radio frequency identification device is passive.

4. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said antenna extends substantially around the entire outer periphery of said asset.

12. The assembly of claim 1 further comprising:

a second antenna electrically connected to said responding device.

5. The assembly of claim I wherein said asset has a groove in the outer surface thereof and said responding device and said antenna are positioned within said groove.

6. The assembly of claim 5 wherein said responding device is a radio frequency identification device.

7. The assembly of claim 6 wherein said radio frequency identification device is passive.

8. The assembly of claim 5 wherein said groove extends substantially around the entire outer periphery of said asset.

9. The assembly of claim 8 wherein said groove is generally annular.

10. The assembly of claim 8 wherein said antenna extends substantially around the entire outer periphery of said asset.

11. The assembly of claim 5 further comprising:

a sealant positioned in said groove so as to surround and secure said responding device and said antenna in said groove.

13. The assembly of claim 12 wherein said first antenna extends along the outer periphery of said asset and said second antenna extends along the inner periphery of said asset.

14. The assembly of claim 13 wherein said responding device is positioned within a hole in said asset.

15. The assembly of claim 13 wherein at least a portion of the interior of said asset has screw threads.

16. The assembly of claim 13 wherein said second antenna is embedded in a ring having a threaded outer surface that is mater with said screw threads of said interior of said asset.

18. The assembly of claim 17 wherein said responding device is a radio frequency identification device.

19. The assembly of claim 18 wherein said radio frequency identification device is passive.

20. The assembly of claim 17 wherein said antenna extends substantially around the entire outer periphery of said tubular.

21. The assembly of claim 17 wherein said tubular has a groove in the outer surface thereof and said responding device and said antenna are positioned within said groove.

22. The assembly of claim 21 wherein said responding device is a radio frequency identification device.

23. The assembly of claim 22 wherein said radio frequency identification device is passive.

24. The assembly of claim 21 wherein said groove extends substantially around the entire outer periphery of said tubular.

25. The assembly of claim 24 wherein said groove is generally annular.

26. The assembly of claim 24 wherein said antenna extends substantially around the entire outer periphery of said tubular.

27. The assembly of claim 21 further comprising:

a sealant positioned in said groove so as to surround and secure said responding device and said antenna in said groove.

28. The assembly of claim 17 further comprising:

a second antenna electrically connected to said responding device.

29. The assembly of claim 28 wherein said first antenna extends along the outer periphery of said tubular and said second antenna extends along the inner periphery of said tubular.

30. The assembly of claim 29 wherein said responding device is positioned within a hole in said tubular.

31. The assembly of claim 29 wherein at least a portion of the interior of said generally tubular body has screw threads.

32. The assembly of claim 29 wherein said second antenna is embedded in a ring having a threaded outer surface that is mater with said screw threads of said interior of said tubular.

33. The assembly of claim 17 wherein said tubular is drill pipe and the fluid conduit is a drill string for use in a subterranean well.

34. The assembly of claim 17 wherein said tubular is tubing and the fluid conduit is a tubing string for use in a subterranean well.

35. The assembly of claim 17 wherein said tubular is pipe and the fluid conduit is a pipeline.

36. The assembly of claim 17 further comprising:

a tool connected to said tubular;

a second responding device connected to said tool; and

a second antenna electrically connected to said responding device.

38. The assembly of claim 37 wherein said responding device is a radio frequency identification device.

39. The assembly of claim 38 wherein said radio frequency identification device is passive.

40. The assembly of claim 37 wherein said antenna extends substantially around the entire outer periphery of said generally tubular body.

41. The assembly of claim 37 wherein said generally tubular body has a groove in the outer surface thereof and said responding device and said antenna are positioned within said groove.

42. The assembly of claim 41 wherein said responding device is a radio frequency identification device.

43. The assembly of claim 42 wherein said radio frequency identification device is passive.

44. The assembly of claim 41 wherein said groove extends substantially around the entire outer periphery of said generally tubular body.

45. The assembly of claim 44 wherein said groove is generally annular.

46. The assembly of claim 44 wherein said antenna extends substantially around the entire outer periphery of said generally tubular body.

47. The assembly of claim 41 further comprising:

a sealant positioned in said groove so as to surround and secure said responding device and said antenna in said groove.

48. The assembly of claim 37 further comprising:

a second antenna electrically connected to said responding device.

49. The assembly of claim 48 wherein said first antenna extends along the outer periphery of said generally tubular body and said second antenna extends along the inner periphery of said generally tubular body.

50. The assembly of claim 49 wherein said responding device is positioned within a hole in said generally tubular body.

51. The assembly of claim 49 wherein at least a portion of the interior of said generally tubular body has screw threads.

52. The assembly of claim 49 wherein said second antenna is embedded in a ring having a threaded outer surface that is mater with said screw threads of said interior of said generally tubular body.

53. The assembly of claim 37 wherein said tubular is drill pipe and the fluid conduit is a drill string for use in a subterranean well.

54. The assembly of claim 37 wherein said tubular is tubing and the fluid conduit is a tubing string for use in a subterranean well.

55. The assembly of claim 37 wherein said tubular is pipe and the fluid conduit is a pipeline.

57. The process of claim 56 wherein said asset is generally tubular and said transceiver is passed along the exterior of said asset.

58. The process of claim 56 wherein said asset is generally tubular and said transceiver is passed through the interior of said asset.

59. The process of claim 57 further comprising:

passing a second transceiver through the interior of said asset.

60. The process of claim 56 wherein said responding device is a radio frequency identification device.

61. The process of claim 60 wherein said radio frequency identification device is passive.

17. An assembly for use as a fluid conduit comprising:

a tubular;

a responding device connected to said tubular; and

an antenna electrically connected to said responding device.

37. An assembly for use as a fluid conduit comprising:

a tubular;

a collar releasably secured to one end of said tubular, said collar comprising a generally tubular body;

a responding device connected to said generally tubular body; and

an antenna electrically connected to said responding device.

56. A process for identifying and tracking assets comprising:

positioning a transceiver in proximity to an asset having a responding device and an antenna electrically connected to said responding device so as to permit communication between said transceiver and said responding device via said antenna.

62. A process for identifying and tracking tubulars comprising:

positioning a transceiver and a tubular having a responding device and an antenna electrically connected to the responding device in proximity to each other without regard to the rotational orientation of said tubular so as to permit communication between said transceiver and said responding device via said antenna.

63. The process of claim 62 wherein said asset is generally tubular and said transceiver is passed along the exterior of said asset.

64. The process of claim 62 wherein said asset is generally tubular and said transceiver is passed through the interior of said asset.

65. The process of claim 63 further comprising:

passing a second transceiver through the interior of said asset.

66. The process of claim 62 wherein said responding device is a radio frequency identification device.

67. The process of claim 66 wherein said radio frequency identification device is passive.

69. The process of claim 68 wherein said asset is a tubular and said step of positioning occurs without regard to the rotational orientation of said tubular.

68. A process for identifying and tracking assets comprising:

positioning an asset having a responding device connected thereto within a transceiver having a generally annular antenna so as to permit communication between said transceiver and said responding device via said antenna.