Apparatus system and method for gas well site monitoring

• US 20040075566A1
• Filed: 06/25/2003
• Published: 04/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Firemaster Oilfield Services, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Firemaster Oilfield Services, Inc.
• Inventors: Stepanik, Radim, Osberg, Perry
• Granted Patent: US 7,080,544 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/632
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/0075 for multiple spatially distributed sensors, e.g. for environmental monitoring transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/12 responsive to undesired emission of substances, e.g. pollution alarms
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/10 using wireless transmission systems G08B25/009 takes precedence

Abstract

A System and a Method of initializing and using that system are described in various embodiments all suitable for use remotely monitoring gas escapes on oil or gas well-sites, particularly as early warning technologies for use in preventing injury to workers or populations adjacent those well-sites. The system efficiently uses the Internet to securely transmit pre-processed data off-site for a range of different uses either directly to well-site operators or via a server for value-added handling of and convenient access by operators and others to information based on the data. The system conserves both IP addresses and communications bandwidth without compromising access to detailed data respecting well-site status. The novel system includes means for using multiple modes of long-distance communications technology that can be configured manually or that conveniently auto-senses and auto-selects the appropriate communications mode to use for transmitting data off-site via the Internet according to the location of installation of the system and whether or not it has entered an alarm condition.

Claims

1. An electronic system for use on a remote gas or oil well-site to detect and identify gas present in the atmosphere of said well-site and transmit to a location off-site data respecting the gas so identified for the purpose of warning operators of the well-site of the presence of said gas, the system comprising:

at least one sensor means to detect, and generate raw data respecting, at least one noxious gas present in said well-site atmosphere;

means to process said raw data and identify each noxious gas so detected;

a central communication interface for electronically receiving raw data respecting each said noxious gas from each said sensor means, and for transmitting off-site over the Internet processed data respecting each said noxious gas so identified;

wireless local means, for each said means to identify each said noxious gas, to communicate to said central communication interface said raw data respecting each said noxious gas;

at least one wireless long-distance means for transmitting off-site over the Internet said processed data respecting each said noxious gas so identified; and

a portable source of electrical power for supplying said central communication interface.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising means for sensing atmospheric conditions that cause anomalous output from said sensor means to detect, and generate raw data respecting, at least one noxious gas present in said well-site atmosphere.

3. The system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising any suitable camera, video transmitter and video server device for capturing and compressing digital images together with suitable switching means, for transmission using said wireless long-distance means for transmitting off-site over the Internet.

4. The system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising voice communication means integrated with at least one of said at least one wireless long-distance means.

5. The system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising means for detecting the presence and relative signal strength of each of said at least one wireless long-distance means and based thereon for selecting one of said at least one wireless long-distance means.

6. The system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising means for automatically switching between said at least one wireless long-distance means for transmitting off-site over the Internet.

7. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said location off-site comprises an Internet serving call centre for recording, reprocessing, forwarding, viewing, archiving and otherwise handling said processed data respecting each said noxious gas so identified.

8. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said location off-site comprises an IP address specified by a user of said system.

9. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means to process said raw data and identify each noxious gas so detected, includes means for storing and processing said raw data for the purpose of creating and maintaining a data log respecting the nature and presence or concentration of at least one noxious gas over time.

10. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said source of electrical power comprises at least one battery together with solar powered means for charging said at least one battery.

11. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said at least one sensor means comprises means for detecting the percentage of the Lower Explosive Limit (“

LEL”

) level of a flammable gas in the atmosphere of said well site.

12. The system as claimed in claim 1 further wherein said wireless local means comprises a communications relay apparatus that operates at low power within the Radio Frequency portion of the electromagnetic spectrum at any suitable frequency therein.

13. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said wireless long-distance means for transmitting off-site over the Internet comprises a modem adaptable to transmitting through a Cellular Digital Packet Data network using Internet protocol via any suitable router or similar device.

14. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said wireless long-distance means for transmitting off-site over the Internet comprises a satellite transponder accessing a satellite network using Internet protocol via any suitable router or similar device.

15. The method as claimed in claim 14 wherein said satellite transponder comprises a Globalstar transponder.

16. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said sensor means detects the ppm of H₂S or the ppb of SO₂ in the atmosphere adjacent said well site.

17. The system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising an intrinsically safe housing.

18. A method of initializing a system having a central communication interface, for use with means for gas detection and analysis, comprising the steps:

apply power to said central communication interface;

verify communications between said central communication interface and all sensor means;

test each sensor means using bump gas means to send each sensor to alarm;

physically chart the sensor readings; and

use integrated voice phone means to confirm the accuracy of said readings.