Systems and methods for monitored drilling

• US 20090205820A1
• Filed: 01/31/2009
• Published: 08/20/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: National Oilwell Varco LP (NOV, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: National Oilwell Varco LP (NOV, Inc.)
• Inventors: Lam, Clive, Watson, Graham R., Porche, Michael N., Koederitz, William L., Cooke, Aaron C., McClung, Guy L. III, Ellison, Leon, Kammann, Rheinhold, Worms, Manfred
• Granted Patent: US 7,946,356 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 166/250.10
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 10/00 Drill bits specially adapted for deflecting the direction of boring E21B7/064; with means for collecting substances E21B27/00
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 19/06 Elevators, i.e. rod- or tube-gripping devices
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 19/07 Slip-type elevators
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 19/165 Control or monitoring arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 44/00 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 Class Codes: E21B 47/13 by electromagnetic energy, e.g. radio frequency

Abstract

An item (e.g. a drill bit) handling method, the item for use in a well operation, the method including producing information about an item used for a specific well task, the information including design information and intended use information, producing an item identification specific to the item, associating the information with the item identification producing thereby an information package, installing the information package in at least one wave-energizable apparatus, and applying the at least one wave-energizable apparatus to the item. This abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure and is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims, 37 C.F.R. 1.72(b).

Claims

1. An item handling method, the item for use in a well operation, the method comprising

producing information about an item, the item for a specific well task, the information including design information about the item and intended use information about the item,

producing an item identification specific to the item,

associating the information with the item identification producing thereby an information package for the item,

installing the information package in at least one wave-energizable apparatus, and

applying the at least one wave-energizable apparatus to the item.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising

delivering the item to a well operations rig,

reading the information package from the at least one wave-energizable apparatus, and

using the information to facilitate the specific well task.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the item includes

a body, the body having an exterior surface and two spaced-apart ends,

the at least one wave-energizable apparatus on the exterior surface of the body,

the at least one wave-energizable apparatus wrapped in fabric material, the fabric material comprising heat-resistant non-conducting material, and

the at least one wave-energizable apparatus wrapped and positioned on the body so that the at least one wave-energizable apparatus does not contact the body.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising

associating with the item a memory device having information about the item.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising

using information from the memory device to facilitate the specific well task.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one wave-energizable apparatus comprises a first apparatus and a second apparatus, the method further comprising

applying the first apparatus to the item, and

applying the second apparatus to a container for the item.

7. A bit handling method comprising

producing information about a drill bit, the drill bit for a specific drilling task, the information including design information for the bit and intended use information for the drill bit,

producing a bit identification specific to the drill bit,

associating the information with the bit identification producing thereby an information package for the drill bit,

installing the information package in at least one wave-energizable apparatus, and

applying the at least one wave-energizable apparatus to the drill bit.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the bit includes

a body, the body having an exterior surface and two spaced-apart ends,

the at least one wave-energizable apparatus on the exterior surface of the body,

the at least one wave-energizable apparatus wrapped in fabric material, the fabric material comprising heat-resistant non-conducting material, and

the at least one wave-energizable apparatus wrapped and positioned on the body so that the at least one wave-energizable apparatus does not contact the body.

9. The method of claim 7 further comprising

associating with the item a memory device having information about the item.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising

using information from the memory device to facilitate the specific well task.

11. The method of claim 7 further comprising

applying the first apparatus to the item, and

applying the second apparatus to a container for the item.

12. The method of claim 7 wherein the information package is installed in a wave-energizable apparatus applied to a container for the drill bit.

13. The method of claim 7 further comprising

delivering the drill bit to a drilling rig,

reading the information package from the wave-energizable apparatus, and

providing information from the information package to a control system for controlling use of the bit.

14. The method of claim 7 wherein the design information includes metallurgy about the bit, type of the bit, size of the bit, weight of the bit, testing of the bit, test results, manufacturing history of the bit, and quality control documentation for the bit.

15. The method of claim 7 wherein the intended use information includes information about a bottom hole assembly to be used with the bit, goals for use of the bit, and limits on use of the bit.

16. The method of claim 13 further comprising

insuring that the bit is a correct bit for the specific drilling task.

17. The method of claim 13 further comprising

returning the bit to an entity following use of the bit in the specific drilling task, and

identifying the returned bit as the bit that was used in the specific drilling task.

18. The method of claim 13 further comprising

in real time providing use information about use of the bit, and

comparing the use information to information in the information package producing a comparison.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising

changing an operational parameter based on the comparison.

20. The method of claim 18 further comprising

changing the bit based on the comparison.

21. The method of claim 18 further comprising

ceasing the specific drilling task.

22. The method of claim 7 further comprising

adding use information of the bit to the information package following use of the bit.

23. The method of claim 13 further comprising

providing information from the information package and actual use information about the use of the bit in doing the specific drilling task to personnel at the drilling rig and to off-site personnel.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the providing is done in real time.

25. The method of claim 13 wherein the bit information package contains information about multiple possible applications of the bit, the method further comprising

selecting and implementing one application from the multiple possible applications.

26. The method of claim 13 further comprising

providing a notification with the control system of cessation of use of the bit, and

requesting with the control system subsequent action with respect to the bit.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein the subsequent action is at least one of photographing the bit, cleaning the bit, photographing the bit following cleaning, visually observing the bit, and producing a description of the used bit.

28. The method of claim 26 further comprising

producing action information related to a subsequent action, and

installing the action information in the at least one wave-energizable apparatus.

29. An item, the item for use in a well operation in a specific well task, the item comprising

the item having a body,

at least one wave-energizable apparatus on the body,

at least one wave-energizable apparatus having installed therein an information package,

the information package including an item identification and information about the item, and

the information including design information about the item and intended use information about the item.

30. The item of claim 29 wherein the item is a bit.