System for acquiring data from a facility and method

• US 20040098218A1
• Filed: 08/11/2003
• Published: 05/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zedi Canada, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Andrew Jarman, Kevin Benterud, Robert Do, Toku Ito
• Inventors: Do, Robert, Ito, Toku, Benterud, Kevin, Jarman, Andrew
• Granted Patent: US 6,963,817 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/138
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 37/0091 by measuring fluid parameters
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 9/005 Solid-state data loggers

Abstract

A field instrument and system for obtaining pressure, flow and temperature data from a facility. The field instrument includes an enclosure having an opening therein. An integrated analog sensor is sealingly contained within the opening. The field instrument further contains an external analog sensor. An analog to digital converter converts the analog signals to digital readings. An external digital sensor is also provided, with the digital output being communicated through a second opening within the enclosure. A control member that receives, stores and processes the digital readings is positioned within the enclosure. A communication module is included to transmit the digital readings to a remote computer. The communication module allows for two way communication between the field instrument and remote computer. The remote computer may be a server that allows for access by many users. The communication module also allows for locally accessing the digital readings via a serial port to a local terminal.

Claims

1. A method of measuring pressure on a hydrocarbon process line, the method comprising:

providing an enclosure having a first opening and a second opening, and wherein said enclosure contains an inner chamber, and wherein an internal analog pressure sensor is housed in said first port;

sealing the first opening and the second opening so that the pressure is precluded from entering or exiting the inner chamber;

collecting a first analog reading with said internal analog pressure sensor;

converting the first analog reading to a first digital reading;

collecting the first digital reading from said internal analog pressure sensor in a control means for receiving, processing, and storing the digital readings, wherein said control means is located within said inner chamber;

collecting a second analog reading with an external analog pressure sensor, and wherein said external analog pressure sensor is communicated through said second opening of said enclosure;

converting the second analog reading to a second digital reading;

transmitting the second digital reading to said control means.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

transferring the digital readings in said control means to a modem communications means for communicating digital data, wherein said modem communications means is located within said inner chamber;

converting the digital readings to a digital packet data in the modem communications means;

transmitting the digital packet data with the modem communications means;

receiving the digital packet data at a remote database engine;

providing a web server interface in the database engine;

linking the database engine to the Internet;

providing a user computer, said user computer having a web browser;

communicating to the Internet;

accessing the database engine;

monitoring the measurements from the user computer.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

sending a signal from the user computer to the database engine, and wherein the signal corresponds to a command to poll said pressure sensor;

transmitting the signal from the database engine to the modem communication means;

receiving the signal in the modem communication means.

4. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

collecting an analog temperature reading with an external analog temperature sensor, and wherein said external pressure temperature sensor is communicated through said second opening of said enclosure;

converting the analog temperature reading to a digital temperature reading;

transmitting the digital temperature reading to said control means.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising:

locally accessing the storage means from a local terminal;

downloading the digital readings into the local terminal.

6. A system for transmitting a pressure reading obtained from an oil and gas facility, said oil and gas facility having a pressure, the system comprising:

an enclosure having a first opening and a second opening, said enclosure forming an internal chamber;

an external digital sensor means, communicated through said first opening, for producing a representative first digital output reading;

an internal analog pressure sensor means, sealingly positioned within said second opening, for producing a representative analog pressure output reading;

means, positioned within said internal chamber and electrically connected to said analog pressure sensor means, for converting the analog pressure output reading into a second digital output reading;

means, positioned within said enclosure, for receiving and storing said first and second digital output readings;

means, electrically connected to said receiving and storing means, for locally accessing said first and second digital output readings.

7. The system of claim 6, further comprising:

means, positioned within said internal chamber, for transmitting said first and second digital output readings;

database means, operatively associated with said transmitting means, for storing said first and second digital output readings in a plurality of data tables, said database means including a data manager means for receiving, retrieving and communicating said digital pressure output readings.

8. The system of claim 7 further comprising:

a central server, located remotely from said well, and wherein said central server is capable of receiving said plurality of data tables.

9. The system of claim 8 further comprising:

user interface means, operatively associated with said database means, for allowing access to said plurality of data tables.

10. The system of claim 9 further comprising a user computer having means for accessing said user interface means.

11. The system of claim 9 further comprises an analog temperature sensor producing an analog temperature signal;

an adapter connected to said temperature sensor, said adapter being received within said second opening; and

means, electrically connected to said temperature sensor, for converting said analog temperature signal to a third digital signal.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein said transmitting means comprising a communications module means for transmitting said digital output readings in a TCP/IP protocol.

13. The system of claim 12 further comprising:

a user computer, and wherein said user computer has loaded thereon a web browser capable of reading said plurality of data tables and a communications link from said user computer to the Internet; and

, encrypting means, operatively associated with said transmitting means, for encrypting said digital output readings being transmitted to said user computer.

14. The system of claim 13 further comprising:

alarm means, operatively connected to the receiving and storing means, for generating an alarm condition when an acquired first, second and third digital readings exceeds a predetermined minimum or maximum digital reading limit and communicating the alarm condition to a local computer and/or external server independent of a polling request from the external server.

15. A process for collecting, transmitting and monitoring a pressure from a facility, the process comprising:

communicating the pressure to a tubular member, wherein the pressure from the facility is communicated to the tubular member;

communicating the pressure from the tubular member to an internal analog pressure sensor;

providing an enclosure having a first port and a second port, and wherein said enclosure contains an inner chamber, and wherein said internal analog pressure sensor is sealingly housed in said first port;

sealing the second port so that the pressure is withheld from the inner chamber so that the pressure is precluded from entering or exiting the inner chamber;

converting the analog pressure reading to a first digital reading;

collecting the first digital reading;

collecting a second digital reading with an external digital sensor, and wherein said external digital sensor is communicated through said second port of said enclosure;

transmitting the second digital reading to said control means.

16. The process of claim 15 further comprising:

transferring the digital readings to a control means for receiving, processing, and storing the digital readings, wherein said control means is located within said inner chamber;

transferring the digital readings in said storage means to a modem communications means for communicating digital data, wherein said modem communications means is located within said inner chamber;

converting the digital readings to a digital packet data in the modem communications means;

transmitting the digital packet data with the modem communications means;

receiving the digital packet data at a remote data base engine.

17. The process of claim 16 wherein said data base engine contains a data manager and the method further comprises:

storing the digital readings in a table format.

18. The process of claim 17 wherein said database engine further contains a central server interface and the process further comprises:

providing a central server communicated with said database engine via the central server interface;

accessing the central server from a user computer;

requesting the digital readings from the user computer;

transmitting the digital readings to the central server;

transmitting the digital readings to the user computer.

19. The process of claim 18 further comprising:

measuring said digital readings;

setting a predetermined digital reading minimum limit and maximum limit;

exceeding said predetermined digital reading minimum or maximum limit;

recording the exceeding of said predetermined digital data reading limit;

producing an exception signal in response to said recording;

sending said exception signal to the database.

20. The process of claim 19 further comprising:

transmitting said exception signal to the central server;

transmitting said exception to the user computer.

21. The process of claim 20 further comprising:

sending said digital readings to a web server;

sending said digital readings data to the Internet;

accessing the Internet with a web browser from a user computer.

22. The process of claim 21 further comprising:

correcting said digital readings for temperature effect corruption by mapping the digital readings to a temperature value in an iterative fashion; and

, back calculating to an adjusted pressure and an adjusted temperature.

23. The process of claim 15 wherein the control means has electrically connected thereto serial communication means for transmitting the processed digital readings, and the process further comprising:

providing a user computer having a direct link to said serial communication means;

connecting to the control means from the user computer with the direct link;

transmitting the digital reading to the user computer.

24. A system for remotely monitoring an oil and gas facility comprising:

a coupling member capable of receiving a pressure from a tubular member;

an internal analog pressure sensor means for monitoring the pressure contained within said coupling member and generating an analog pressure output reading;

means, electrically connected to said internal analog pressure sensor means, for converting the analog reading to a digital pressure reading;

control means, operatively connected to said pressure sensor means, for receiving, storing and retrieving the digital pressure output reading;

a field communication module operatively connected to said control means, and wherein said field communication module transmits said digital pressure output reading;

a closed container having an inner chamber and a first port, and wherein said coupling member is sealingly contained within said first port, and wherein said field communication module and said control means is contained within said inner chamber;

a database engine, said database engine having a database receiving said digital pressure output signal and storing said digital pressure output reading in a table format.

25. The system of claim 24 further comprising:

a web server operatively connected to said database engine with a communications link, and wherein said web server contains a TCP/IP protocol for communication with the Internet;

a user computer having a web browser software package, said web browser software package capable of communication with said web server in order to asynchronous transfer data to and from said database engine and said user computer.

26. The system of claim 25 further comprising:

a predetermined reading level means, operatively associated with said control means, for detecting when said digital pressure output signal exceeds a predetermined threshold;

communication means for communicating said exception to said database engine.

27. The system of claim 24 further comprising:

an external analog temperature sensor means, electrically communicated to said control means through a second port in said closed container, for monitoring a temperature of the tubular member, said temperature sensor means generating an analog output signal that is converted to a digital temperature output signal.

28. The system of claim 27 further comprising:

temperature correction means, operatively associated with said control means, for correcting the digital pressure output reading for temperature fluctuations.

29. The system of claim 28 further comprising:

means, operatively associated with said control means, for locally accessing the digital pressure output readings with a local terminal;

means, operatively associated with said field communication module, for encrypting said digital pressure output readings to said user computer.

30. A device for communicating pressure information from a facility to a data base engine, the device comprising:

a pressure line connected to said facility, said pressure line communicating a pressure from the facility;

an enclosure having an inner chamber, and wherein said enclosure contains a first opening and a second opening therein; and

first adapter means, positioned within said first opening, for sealingly receiving said pressure line within said first opening so that said pressure is sealed from said chamber;

an internal analog pressure sensor means, connected to said pressure line and located within said first adapter, for sensing the pressure and generating an analog reading that is converted to a first digital pressure output reading in response to the pressure;

an external digital pressure sensor means, communicated through said second opening, for producing a second digital pressure output reading;

control means, positioned within said chamber, for receiving, storing and retrieving said digital pressure output readings;

first serial communication means for communicating said second digital pressure output reading to said control means;

a liquid crystal display readout means, operatively communicated with said control means, for displaying said digital pressure output readings;

means, operatively connected to said control means, for transmitting said digital pressure output readings stored in said control means to a data base engine located remotely from said well facility, and wherein said transmitting means includes an antenna member connected to a second adaptor means for sealingly receiving said antenna member within a third opening in said enclosure;

power means, positioned within said chamber, for supplying a power source to said pressure sensor means, said digital means, said LCD readout, said control means, and said transmitting means;

second serial communication means, electrically connected to said control means, for communicating said digital pressure output readings to a local terminal.

31. The device of claim 30 wherein said database engine comprises:

a database means, operatively associated with said database engine, for storing said digital pressure output reading in a table format;

a data manager means for retrieving said digital pressure output reading and communication interface means for communicating said digital pressure output reading, and wherein the device further comprises;

user computer for accessing said digital pressure output reading from said data manager means.

32. The device of claim 31 wherein said enclosure contains a fourth opening, and the device further comprises:

an external analog temperature sensor having a third adapter means for sealingly receiving said temperature sensor in said fourth opening, said temperature sensor producing an analog signal;

converter means, operatively connected to said temperature sensor, for converting said analog signal to a digital temperature signal reading;

and wherein said control means further receives, stores and retrieves said digital temperature signal reading.

33. The device of claim 32 further comprising:

error correction means, operatively associated with said control means, for correcting temperature errors in the digital pressure output readings due to temperature dependency.

34. The device of claim 32 further comprising:

process exceptions means, operatively associated with said control means, for sending an alarm at a predetermined digital pressure reading and communicating an exception to the user computer.

35. The device of claim 33 further comprising:

data encryption means, operatively associated with the transmitting means, for encrypting the output data to the user computer.

36. The device of claim 31 wherein said transmitting means comprises:

a modem connect able to a hardwired land line telephone network.

37. The device of claim 31 wherein said transmitting means is selected from the group consisting of:

a telephone modem connect able to a circuit switched cellular means;

a terrestrial cellular digital packet data modem means;

or,

a digital satellite packet data modem means.