Oilfield equipment identification method and apparatus

• US 6,604,063 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2002
• Issued: 08/05/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Edward E. Patterson, Lawrence A. Denny
• Original Assignee: Edward E. Patterson, Lawrence A. Denny
• Inventors: Denny, Lawrence A., Patterson, Edward E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hoff, Marc S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Raymond, Edward
• Application Number:
  US10/261,551
• Publication Number:
  US 20030028356A1
• Time in Patent Office: 309 Days
• Field of Search: 702/188, 702/180, 702/34, 702/41, 702/9, 702/6, 702/127, 731/520.3, 737/60, 737/63, 737/76, 737/92, 731/524.5, 73/498, 235/380, 235/462.35
• US Class Current: 702/188
• 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: G01V 13/00 Manufacturing, calibrating, cleaning, or repairing instruments or devices covered by groups G01V1/00 – G01V11/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/006 Identification G06F11/2289 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/041 Constructional details G06K19/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07758 arrangements for adhering the record carrier to further objects or living beings, functioning as an identification tag
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49947 by applying separate fastener

Abstract

An oilfield equipment identifying apparatus for tracking selected parameters for each of a plurality of pieces of oilfield equipment adapted to be inserted into a drill string supported by a drilling rig. The drilling rig also supports a drilling device for selectively rotating portions of the drill string to form a well bore. The apparatus comprises a computer loaded with an oilfield equipment database. A reader is provided for inputting into the computer a unique identification code for each piece of oilfield equipment added to the drill string so as to build a grid including a reference to each piece of oilfield equipment. The computer further includes a pipe utilization and identification program for continuously and automatically monitoring the location in the drill string of each piece of oilfield equipment identified in the grid and the cumulative rotating usage and non-rotating usage of each piece of oilfield equipment identified in the grid so as to provide an accurate representation of the historical data of each piece of oilfield equipment identified in the grid.

Claims

1. An identifier assembly adapted to be mounted onto a piece of oilfield equipment to uniquely identify the piece of oilfield equipment, the identifier assembly comprising:

a lid;

an identification tag having a unique identification code stored therein; and

a cup member having a bottom, and a sidewall extending from the bottom so as to define a cavity, the identification tag disposed within the cavity such that the identification tag is interposed in between the lid and the bottom of the cup member to protect the identification tag; and

means for maintaining equilibrium of pressure within the cavity and the surrounding environment.

2. The identifier assembly of claim 1, wherein the bottom of the cup member has an opening formed therethrough to relieve pressure from accumulating behind the identifier assembly when the identifier assembly is mounted on the piece of oilfield equipment.

3. The identifier assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein the lid and the identification tag are sized to have a loose fit within the cavity.

4. The identifier assembly of claim 1, wherein the identification tag is a radio frequency identification tag.

5. An identifier assembly adapted to be mounted onto a piece of oilfield equipment to uniquely identify the piece of oilfield equipment, the identifier assembly comprising:

an identification tag having a unique identification code stored therein; and

means for maintaining equilibrium of pressure about the identification tag with the surrounding environment to prevent ejection of the identification tag from the piece of oilfield equipment.