Drilling rig riser identification apparatus

• US 20090208295A1
• 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: Ellison, Leon, Kinert, Nathan, McClung, Guy L. III, Lam, Clive, Kammann, Rheinhold, Worms, Manfred
• Granted Patent: US 9,784,041 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 405/224.200
• 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 17/01 Risers
• 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

A riser having a riser body having an interior surface, an exterior surface, and two spaced-apart ends, at least one identification assembly on the riser body, the identification assembly having an assembly body and a wave energizable apparatus in the body, the assembly body having an interior surface, an exterior surface, and a channel therethrough in which is positioned part of the riser body, the assembly body releasably secured on the riser body, and the wave energizable apparatus positioned within the assembly body. 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. A member comprising

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

wave energizable identification apparatus on the exterior surface of the body,

the wave energizable identification apparatus wrapped in fabric material, the fabric material comprising heat-resistant non-conducting material,

the wave energizable identification apparatus wrapped and positioned on the body so that the wave energizable identification apparatus does not contact the body, and

wherein the member is a riser.

2. The member of claim 1 wherein

the fabric material comprises at least one layer of material wrapped around the wave energizable identification apparatus.

3. The member of claim 2 wherein

the wave energizable identification apparatus and the fabric material in which the wave energizable identification apparatus are wrapped is heat shrink material.

4. The member of claim 1 wherein the wave energizable identification apparatus is radio frequency identification apparatus with integrated circuit apparatus and antenna apparatus.

5. A riser comprising

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

at least one identification assembly on the riser body,

the identification assembly having an assembly body and a wave energizable apparatus in the body,

the assembly body having an interior surface, an exterior surface, and a channel therethrough in which is positioned part of the riser body,

the assembly body releasably secured on the riser body, and

the wave energizable apparatus positioned within the assembly body.

6. The riser of claim 5 wherein the assembly body has two ends connected together by one of adhesive, fastener, and releasably cooperating fastener material.

7. The riser of claim 6 wherein each end is a stepped end so that the identification assembly can accommodate risers of different outside diameters.

8. The riser of claim 5 wherein the assembly body has at least one recess for a strap.

9. The riser of claim 8 wherein a strap is within the at least one recess, the strap securing the identification assembly to the riser body.

10. The riser of claim 5 wherein the assembly body has at least one projection projecting therefrom.

11. The riser of claim 5 wherein the wave-energizable apparatus is shielded by a shield within the assembly body.

12. The riser of claim 10 wherein the at least one projection is a first projection positioned over the wave-energizable apparatus.

13. The riser of claim 10 wherein a strap is within the at least one recess, the strap securing the identification assembly to the riser body and wherein the strap has a portion that projects out of the at least one recess over the wave-energizable apparatus.

14. The riser of claim 5 further comprising

a recess in the assembly body adjacent the identification assembly for direction energy for energizing the wave-energizable apparatus to the wave-energizable apparatus.

15. The riser of claim 5 wherein the wave-energizable apparatus includes information regarding the riser.

16. The riser of claim 15 wherein the information includes information regarding at least one of:

riser design information;

riser identity information;

riser use information;

riser installation information;

riser test information;

riser quality control information;

riser observation information.

17. A riser comprising

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

an identification assembly on the riser body,

the identification assembly having an assembly body and a plurality of wave energizable apparatuses in the body,

the assembly body having an interior surface, an exterior surface, and a channel therethrough in which is positioned part of the riser body,

the assembly body releasably secured on the riser body,

each wave energizable apparatus spaced-apart and positioned within the assembly body,

the assembly body having two ends, the two ends connected together,

the two ends of the assembly body connected together by one of adhesive, fastener, and releasably cooperating fastener material,

the assembly body having at least one recess for a strap,

a strap within the at least one recess, the strap securing the identification assembly to the riser body, and

the assembly body having at least one projection projecting therefrom.

18. A riser identification assembly for securement to a riser, the riser having a riser body around which the riser identification assembly is securable, the riser identification assembly comprising

an assembly body securable around a riser, and

a wave-energizable apparatus within the assembly body, the wave energizable apparatus including information about the riser.

19. The riser identification assembly of claim 18 wherein the assembly body has two ends, the two ends connected together by one of adhesive, fastener, and releasably cooperating fastener material, and wherein the assembly body has at least one recess for a strap forcing the riser identification assembly to a riser.

20. A method for identifying a riser, the riser having a riser body, the method comprising

activating a wave-energizable apparatus that is releasably secured within an identification assembly, the identification assembly secured around the riser body, and

reading identity information from the wave-energizable apparatus to identify the riser.