Mobile system for responding to hydrogen sulfide gas at a plurality of remote well sites

• US 6,954,143 B2
• Filed: 05/29/2003
• Issued: 10/11/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shepherd Safety Systems, LLC
• Original Assignee: Gary W. Crook
• Inventors: Crook, Gary W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland, Donnie L.
• Application Number:
  US10/447,438
• Publication Number:
  US 20040239499A1
• Time in Patent Office: 866 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.1, 340/539.22, 340/539.17, 340/531, 340/539.26, 340/539.18, 340/425.5, 340/870.01, 340/870.09, 340/870.16, 340/539.13, 340/870.03, 340632-634, 73/232, 702/24
• US Class Current: 340/539.26
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/12 responsive to undesired emission of substances, e.g. pollution alarms

Abstract

A mobile system travels with a work crew to various remote well sites and monitors the presence of H2S (hydrogen sulfide gas) at those sites. If the concentration of H2S reaches a toxic level, the system notifies a distant host computer of not only the problem but also where the problem exists. Help can then be dispatched to the known area. In some embodiments, the system notifies the work crew when help is on the way.

Claims

1. A mobile system for responding to hydrogen sulfide at a plurality of well sites that are remote relative to a designated host computer, wherein the plurality of well sites includes a first well site and a second well site, comprising:

a mobile hydrogen sulfide monitor that is movable between the first well site and the second well site, wherein the mobile hydrogen sulfide monitor when at the first well site determines whether the hydrogen sulfide at the first well site exceeds an allowable limit, and wherein the mobile sulfide monitor when at the second well site determines whether the hydrogen sulfide at the second well site exceeds the allowable limit;

an alarm associated with the mobile hydrogen sulfide monitor, wherein the alarm is generated at the first well site in response to the mobile hydrogen sulfide monitor determining that the hydrogen sulfide at the first well site exceeds the allowable limit, and wherein the alarm is generated at the second well site in response to the mobile hydrogen sulfide monitor determining that the hydrogen sulfide at the second well site exceeds the allowable limit;

a mobile transmitter associated with the mobile hydrogen sulfide monitor and transmitting an alarm signal as a result of the mobile hydrogen sulfide monitor determining that the hydrogen sulfide exceeds the allowable limit;

a wireless communication link that conveys the alarm signal from the mobile transmitter to the designated host computer,

a first location signal that identifies the location of the first well site, wherein the first location signal is communicated from first well site to the designated host computer when the mobile transmitter is at the first well site and the hydrogen sulfide exceeds the allowable limit; and

a second location signal that identifies the location of the second well site, wherein the second location signal is communicated from second well site to the designated host computer when the mobile transmitter is at the second well site, whereby the designated host computer becomes informed of where the hydrogen sulfide has exceeded the allowable limit.

2. The mobile system of claim 1, further comprising an inquiry signal periodically conveyed from the designated host computer to the remote well site, wherein the alarm signal is inhibited from being conveyed to the designated host computer until the inquiry signal is conveyed to the remote well site.

3. The mobile system of claim 1, further comprising a time delay existing after the alarm is first generated, wherein the time delay provides an opportunity to deactivate the alarm before the time delay expires, wherein the alarm signal is conveyed after expiration of time delay provided the alarm has not been deactivated during the time delay.

4. The mobile system of claim 1, further comprising a global positioning system from which the first location signal and the second location signal are derived.

5. The mobile system of claim 1, further comprising an LBS system from which the first location signal and the second location signal are derived.

6. The mobile system of claim 1, further comprising a service vehicle that carries the mobile hydrogen sulfide monitor and the mobile transmitter, whereby the service vehicle provides mobility of the mobile hydrogen sulfide monitor and the mobile transmitter.

7. The mobile system of claim 1, a fault signal generated in response to a fault associated with the mobile hydrogen sulfide monitor, wherein the fault signal and at least one of the first location signal and the second location signal are communicated to the designated host computer, whereby the designated host computer becomes informed of where the mobile hydrogen sulfide monitor was when the fault occurred.

8. The mobile system of claim 1, further comprising:

a mobile NDB transmitter that can be relocated between the first well site and the second well site; and

a radio signal generated by the NDB transmitter as a result of the hydrogen sulfide exceeding the allowable limit, whereby the radio signal serves as an electronic beacon that directs help to where the hydrogen sulfide has exceeded the allowable limit.

9. A mobile system for responding to hydrogen sulfide at a plurality of well sites that are remote relative to a designated host computer, wherein the plurality of well sites includes a first well site and a second well site, comprising:

a mobile hydrogen sulfide monitor that is movable between the first well site and the second well site, wherein the mobile hydrogen sulfide monitor when at the first well site determines whether the hydrogen sulfide at the first well site exceeds an allowable limit, and wherein the mobile sulfide monitor when at the second well site determines whether the hydrogen sulfide at the second well site exceeds the allowable limit;

an alarm associated with the mobile hydrogen sulfide monitor, wherein the alarm is generated at the first well site in response to the mobile hydrogen sulfide monitor determining that the hydrogen sulfide at the first well site exceeds the allowable limit, and wherein the alarm is generated at the second well site in response to the mobile hydrogen sulfide monitor determining that the hydrogen sulfide at the second well site exceeds the allowable limit;

a mobile transmitter associated with the mobile hydrogen sulfide monitor and transmitting an alarm signal to the designated host computer as a result of the mobile hydrogen sulfide monitor determining that the hydrogen sulfide exceeds the allowable limit;

a wireless communication link that conveys the alarm signal from the mobile transmitter to the designated host computer,

a first location signal that identifies the location of the first well site, wherein the first location signal is communicated from first well site to the designated host computer when the mobile transmitter is at the first well site and the hydrogen sulfide exceeds the allowable limit at the first well site;

a second location signal that identifies the location of the second well site, wherein the second location signal is communicated from second well site to the designated host computer when the mobile transmitter is at the second well site and the hydrogen sulfide exceeds the allowable limit at the second well site, whereby the designated host computer becomes informed of where the hydrogen sulfide has exceeded the allowable limit; and

a fault signal generated in response to a fault associated with the mobile hydrogen sulfide monitor, wherein the fault signal and at least one of the first location signal and the second location signal are communicated to the designated host computer, whereby the designated host computer becomes informed of where the mobile hydrogen sulfide monitor was at when the fault occurred.

10. The mobile system of claim 9, further comprising an inquiry signal periodically conveyed from the designated host computer to the remote well site, wherein the alarm signal is inhibited from being conveyed to the designated host computer until the inquiry signal is conveyed to the remote well site.

11. The mobile system of claim 9, further comprising a time delay existing after the alarm is first generated, wherein the time delay provides an opportunity to deactivate the alarm before the time delay expires, wherein the alarm signal is conveyed after expiration of time delay provided the alarm has not been deactivated during the time delay.

12. The mobile system of claim 9, further comprising a global positioning system from which the first location signal and the second location signal are derived.

13. The mobile system of claim 9, further comprising an LBS system from which the first location signal and the second location signal are derived.

14. The mobile system of claim 9, further comprising a service vehicle that carries the mobile hydrogen sulfide monitor and the mobile transmitter, whereby the service vehicle provides mobility of the mobile hydrogen sulfide monitor and the mobile transmitter.

15. The mobile system of claim 9, further comprising:

a mobile NDB transmitter that can be relocated between the first well site and the second well site; and

a radio signal generated by the NDB transmitter as a result of the hydrogen sulfide exceeding the allowable limit, whereby the radio signal serves as an electronic beacon that directs help to where the hydrogen sulfide has exceeded the allowable limit.

16. A mobile system for responding to hydrogen sulfide at a plurality of well sites that are remote relative to a designated host computer, wherein the plurality of well sites includes a first well site and a second well site, comprising:

a mobile hydrogen sulfide monitor that is movable between the first well site and the second well site, wherein the mobile hydrogen sulfide monitor when at the first well site determines whether the hydrogen sulfide at the first well site exceeds an allowable limit, and wherein the mobile sulfide monitor when at the second well site determines whether the hydrogen sulfide at the second well site exceeds the allowable limit;

an alarm associated with the mobile hydrogen sulfide monitor, wherein the alarm is generated at the first well site in response to the mobile hydrogen sulfide monitor determining that the hydrogen sulfide at the first well site exceeds the allowable limit, and wherein the alarm is generated at the second well site in response to the mobile hydrogen sulfide monitor determining that the hydrogen sulfide at the second well site exceeds the allowable limit;

a mobile transmitter associated with the mobile hydrogen sulfide monitor and providing an alarm signal in response to the mobile hydrogen sulfide monitor determining that the hydrogen sulfide exceeds the allowable limit;

a wireless communication link that conveys the alarm signal from the mobile transmitter to the designated host computer,

a first location signal that identifies the location of the first well site, wherein the first location signal is communicated from first well site to the designated host computer when the mobile transmitter is at the first well site and the hydrogen sulfide exceeds the allowable limit at the first well site;

a second location signal that identifies the location of the second well site, wherein the second location signal is communicated from second well site to the designated host computer when the mobile transmitter is at the second well site and the hydrogen sulfide exceeds the allowable limit at the second well site, whereby the designated host computer becomes informed of where the hydrogen sulfide has exceeded the allowable limit;

an acknowledgement signal conveyed from the designated host computer in response to the designated host computer receiving the alarm signal, wherein the acknowledgement signal is conveyed to the first well site if the alarm signal came therefrom, and the acknowledgement signal is conveyed to the second well site if the alarm signal came therefrom, wherein the acknowledgement signal indicates acknowledgement of the alarm signal being actually communicated to the designated host computer; and

a reassurance signal generated in response to the acknowledgement signal being conveyed to at least one of the first well site and the second well site, wherein the reassurance signal is generated at the first well site if the acknowledgement signal was conveyed thereto, and the reassurance signal is generated at the second well site if the acknowledgement signal was conveyed thereto, wherein the reassurance signal signifies that help will be dispatched to where the hydrogen sulfide has exceeded the allowable limit.

17. The mobile system of claim 16, further comprising an inquiry signal periodically conveyed from the designated host computer to the remote well site, wherein the alarm signal is inhibited from being conveyed to the designated host computer until the inquiry signal is conveyed to the remote well site.

18. The mobile system of claim 16, further comprising a time delay existing after the alarm is first generated, wherein the time delay provides an opportunity to deactivate the alarm before the time delay expires, wherein the alarm signal is conveyed after expiration of time delay provided the alarm has not been deactivated during the time delay.

19. The mobile system of claim 16, further comprising a global positioning system from which the first location signal and the second location signal are derived.

20. The mobile system of claim 16, further comprising an LBS system from which the first location signal and the second location signal are derived.

21. The mobile system of claim 16, further comprising a service vehicle that carries the mobile hydrogen sulfide monitor and the mobile transmitter, whereby the service vehicle provides mobility of the mobile hydrogen sulfide monitor and the mobile transmitter.

22. The mobile system of claim 16, a fault signal generated in response to a fault associated with the mobile hydrogen sulfide monitor, wherein the fault signal and at least one of the first location signal and the second location signal are communicated to the designated host computer, whereby the designated host computer becomes informed of where the mobile hydrogen sulfide monitor was when the fault occurred.

23. The mobile system of claim 16, further comprising:

a mobile NDB transmitter that can be relocated between the first well site and the second well site; and

a radio signal generated by the NDB transmitter as a result of the hydrogen sulfide exceeding the allowable limit, whereby the radio signal serves as an electronic beacon that directs help to where the hydrogen sulfide has exceeded the allowable limit.