Servicing system for wells

• US 7,006,009 B2
• Filed: 04/01/2002
• Issued: 02/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Key Energy Services Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Key Energy Services Incorporated
• Inventors: Newman, Frederic M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Swarthout, Brent A.
• Application Number:
  US10/113,609
• Publication Number:
  US 20030183382A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,429 Days
• Field of Search: 340/854.5, 340/856.4, 340/853.1, 340/853.9, 340/870.1, 340/870.11, 340/988, 222/1, 222/618, 417/234, 702/5, 702/45, 701/207, 701/214, 166/379, 166/250.15, 166/369, 166/52, 166/53
• US Class Current: 340/854.5
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 37/00 Methods or apparatus for cleaning boreholes or wells E21B21/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C

Abstract

A well servicing system includes a computer-based system that monitors pumping or other service operations at a well site and monitors deliveries and withdrawals of chemicals at a bulk storage station. A GPS device or other location identifier provides a location value that identifies the location of the service vehicle. A GPS reading is triggered by actuation of the vehicle'"'"'s parking brake, and the location value is recorded in association with a process-related transducer value. The transducer value is based on the service vehicle performing some type of service operation either at the well site or at the bulk storage station.

Claims

1. A well servicing system operable at a well site location that is remote relative to a second location, wherein a well is located at the well site location, the well servicing system comprising:

a plurality of storage tanks storing a plurality of chemicals at the second location;

a service vehicle having a plurality of shipping tanks for transporting the plurality of chemicals from the second location to the well site and for pumping the plurality of chemicals into the well;

a parking brake system disposed on the service vehicle, wherein the parking brake system can be actuated to help hold the service vehicle in place;

a GPS device carried by the service vehicle and providing a GPS signal that indicates the service vehicle is at the well site location; and

a computer-based system electrically coupled to the GPS device and responsive to the parking brake system being actuated, such that the computer-based system acts upon the GPS signal in response to the parking brake being actuated.

2. The well servicing system of claim 1, wherein the service vehicle comprises:

an engine that powers the service vehicle as the service vehicle travels from the second location to the well site location;

a hydraulic pump powered by the engine;

a hydraulic motor driven by the hydraulic pump; and

a chemical pump driven by the hydraulic motor, wherein the chemical pump is what pumps the plurality of chemicals into the well.

3. The well servicing system of claim 1, further comprising a transducer carried by the service vehicle from the second location to the well site location, wherein the transducer provides a transducer signal that varies in response to pumping the plurality of chemicals into the well.

4. The well servicing system of claim 3, wherein the transducer is a pressure sensor.

5. The well servicing system of claim 3, wherein the transducer is a flow meter.

6. The well servicing system of claim 3, wherein the transducer is a counter.

7. The well servicing system of claim 3, wherein the service vehicle includes a plurality of valves and the transducer signal varies with the selective opening and closing of the plurality of valves.

8. The well servicing system of claim 3, wherein the computer-based system is electrically coupled to the transducer, such that the GPS signal and the transducer signal are communicated to the computer-based system, and wherein the well servicing system further comprises:

a location value derived by the computer-based system and corresponding to the GPS signal;

a transducer value derived by the computer-based system and corresponding to the transducer signal; and

an output determined by the computer-based system, wherein the output displays the transducer value in association with the location value.

9. The well servicing system of claim 8, wherein the computer-based system includes a time-of-day clock to establish a first time stamp that identifies when the parking brake is actuated, wherein the output further displays the time stamp.

10. The well servicing system of claim 1, wherein the output is a vacuum fluorescent display.

11. A well servicing system operable at a well site location that is remote relative to a second location, wherein a well is located at the well site location, the well servicing system comprising:

a service vehicle having traveled from the second location to the well site location, wherein the service vehicle assists in performing a service operation on the well at the well site location;

a GPS device being carried by the service vehicle from the second location to the well site location, wherein the GPS device provides a GPS signal that indicates that the service vehicle is at the well site location;

a transducer carried by the service vehicle from the second location to the well site location, wherein the transducer provides a transducer signal that varies upon performing the service operation on the well;

a computer-based system electrically coupled to the GPS device and the transducer, such that the GPS signal and the transducer signal are communicated to the computer-based system;

a location value derived by the computer-based system and corresponding to the GPS signal;

a transducer value derived by the computer-based system and corresponding to the transducer signal; and

an output determined by the computer-based system, wherein the output displays the transducer value in association with the location value, whereby the output indicates that the service operation was performed at the well site.

12. The well servicing system of claim 11, wherein the location value is in terms of latitude and longitude.

13. The well servicing system of claim 11, wherein the location value is in terms of an API number.

14. The well servicing system of claim 11 wherein the location value is in terms of a well name.

15. The well serving system of claim 11, wherein the output is a printed report.

16. The well servicing system of claim 11, wherein the output is a monitor.

17. The well servicing system of claim 16, wherein the monitor is a vacuum fluorescent display.

18. The well servicing system of claim 11, wherein the output is created at the well site location.

19. The well servicing system of claim 11, wherein the output is located beyond the well site location.

20. The well servicing system of claim 11, wherein the computer-based system includes a PDA device.

21. The well servicing system of claim 11, wherein the computer-based system includes a portable computer.

22. The well servicing system of claim 11, wherein the computer-based system includes a magnetic memory disc that stores the location value and the transducer value.

23. The well servicing system of claim 11, wherein the computer-based system includes an optical disc that stores the location value and the transducer value.

24. The well servicing system of claim 11, wherein the computer-based system includes a data logger.

25. The well servicing system of claim 11, wherein the service vehicle includes a parking brake system electrically coupled to the computer-based system, such that actuation of the parking brake triggers the computer-based system to register a reading of the GPS signal.

26. The well servicing system of claim 11, wherein the service vehicle includes a hoist that helps in performing the service operation.

27. The well servicing system of claim 11, wherein the service vehicle includes a liquid pump that helps in performing the service operation, wherein the service operation involves pumping a liquid into the well.

28. The well servicing system of claim 27, wherein the service vehicle includes a hydraulic motor that drives the liquid pump.

29. The well servicing system of claim 28, wherein the service vehicle includes an engine that powers the service vehicle as the service vehicle travels from the second location to the well site location, wherein the engine further selectively powers a hydraulic pump that drives the hydraulic motor.

30. The well servicing system of claim 27, wherein the liquid is mostly water.

31. The well servicing system of claim 11, wherein the transducer is a pressure sensor.

32. The well servicing system of claim 11, wherein the transducer is a flow meter.

33. The well servicing system of claim 11, wherein the transducer is a counter.

34. The well servicing system of claim 11, wherein the service vehicle includes an engine and the transducer signal varies with the rotational speed of the engine.

35. The well servicing system of claim 11, wherein the service vehicle includes a plurality of valves and the transducer signal varies with the selective opening and closing of the plurality of valves.

36. The well servicing system of claim 11, wherein the second location includes a plurality of bulk storage tanks for holding a plurality of chemicals, wherein the service vehicle includes a plurality of shipping tanks for transporting the plurality of chemicals from the plurality of bulk storage tanks to the well site location.

37. The well servicing system of claim 11, wherein the second location includes a second well.

38. A well servicing system, for performing a service operation at a well site location that is remote relative to a bulk storage station, wherein a well is located at the well site location, and a first storage tank and a second storage tank are located at the bulk storage station, the well servicing system comprising:

a first tanker containing a first chemical, wherein the first tanker deposits a first incremental amount of the first chemical into the first storage tank, thereby increasing a first stored amount of the first chemical in the first storage tank;

a second tanker containing a second chemical, wherein the second tanker deposits a second incremental amount of the second chemical into the second storage, thereby increasing a second stored amount of the second chemical in the second storage tank;

a service vehicle comprising a first shipping tank and a second shipping tank, wherein the first shipping tank receives a first extracted amount of the first chemical from the first storage tank, the second shipping tank receives a second extracted amount of the second chemical from the second storage tank, and the service vehicle travels from the bulk storage station to the well site to perform the service operation which involves pumping the first chemical and the second chemical into the well;

a first transducer associated with the first storage tank and providing a first signal that varies in response to changing the first stored amount of the first chemical in the first storage tank;

a second transducer associated with the second storage tank and providing a second signal that varies in response to changing the second stored amount of the second chemical in the second storage tank;

a computer-based system in communication with the first transducer and the second transducer such that the computer-based system receives the first signal and the second signal, wherein the computer-based-system includes a time-of-day clock to establish a first time stamp that indicates when the first tanker deposits the first chemical, a second time stamp that indicates when the second tanker deposits the second chemical, and a third time stamp that indicates when the service vehicle receives at least one of the first chemical and the second chemical;

a first increment value derived by the computer-based system and based on the first signal such that the first increment value indicates the first incremental amount of the first chemical that the first tanker deposits into the first storage tank;

a second increment value derived by the computer-based system and based on the second signal such that the second increment value indicates the second incremental amount of the second chemical that the second tanker deposits into the second storage tank;

a first decrement value derived by the computer-based system, wherein the first decrement value indicates the first extracted amount of the first chemical that the service vehicle received from the first storage tank;

a second decrement value derived by the computer-based system, wherein the first decrement value indicates the second extracted amount of the second chemical that the service vehicle received from the second storage tank; and

an output determined by the computer-based system, wherein the output displays the first increment value, the second increment value, the first decrement value, the second decrement value, the first time stamp, the second time stamp, and the third time stamp, whereby the output can provide a basis for creating an ongoing record of a plurality of chemical inventories of the bulk storage station.

39. The well servicing system of claim 38, further comprising a GPS device carried by the service vehicle from the bulk storage station to the well site location, wherein the GPS device provides a GPS signal that indicates that the service vehicle is at the well site location.

40. The well servicing system of claim 38, further comprising a third transducer carried by the service vehicle from the bulk storage station to the well site location, wherein the third transducer provides a third signal that varies upon pumping at least one of the first chemical and the second chemical into the well.

41. The well servicing system of claim 38, further comprising:

a third transducer carried by the service vehicle from the bulk storage station to the well site location, wherein the third transducer provides a third signal that varies upon pumping at least one of the first chemical and the second chemical into the well;

a GPS device carried by the service vehicle from the bulk storage station to the well site location, wherein the GPS device provides a GPS signal that indicates that the service vehicle is at the well site location, wherein the computer-based system is electrically coupled to the GPS device and the third transducer, such that the third signal and the GPS signal are communicated to the computer-based system;

a location value derived by the computer-based system and corresponding to the GPS signal; and

a transducer value derived by the computer-based system and corresponding to the third signal, wherein the output displays the transducer value in association with the location value.

42. The well servicing system of claim 38, wherein the computer-based system includes an input device for receiving an employee identification value of an employee driving the first tanker, wherein the output displays the employee identification value in association with the first increment value.

43. The well servicing system of claim 42, wherein the input device includes a barcode scanner.

44. The well servicing system of claim 42, wherein the input device involves a wireless communication link.

45. The well servicing system of claim 38, wherein the computer-based system includes an input device for receiving an employee identification value of an employee driving the service vehicle, wherein the output displays the employee identification value in association with the first decrement value.

46. The well servicing system of claim 45, wherein the input device includes a barcode scanner.

47. The well servicing system of claim 46, wherein the input device involves a wireless communication link.

48. The well servicing system of claim 38, wherein the computer-based system includes an input device for receiving a company identification value of a company associated with the first tanker, wherein the output displays the company identification value in association with the first increment value.

49. The well servicing system of claim 48, wherein the input device includes a barcode scanner.

50. The well servicing system of claim 48, wherein the input device involves a wireless communication link.

51. The well servicing system of claim 38, wherein the computer-based system includes an input device for receiving a company identification value of a company associated with the service vehicle, wherein the output displays the company identification value in association with the first decrement value.

52. The well servicing system of claim 51, wherein the input device includes a barcode scanner.

53. The well servicing system of claim 51, wherein the input device involves a wireless communication link.

54. The well servicing system of claim 41, wherein the location value is in terms of latitude and longitude.

55. The well servicing system of claim 41, wherein the location value is in terms of an API number.

56. The well servicing system of claim 41, wherein the location value is in terms of a well name.

57. The well serving system of claim 38, wherein the output is a printed report.

58. The well servicing system of claim 38, wherein the output is a monitor.

59. The well servicing system of claim 58, wherein the monitor is a vacuum fluorescent display.

60. The well servicing system of claim 38, wherein the output is created at the well site location by way of the service vehicle.

61. The well servicing system of claim 38, wherein the output is located beyond the well site location.

62. The well servicing system of claim 38, wherein the computer-based system includes a PDA device.

63. The well servicing system of claim 38, wherein the computer-based system includes a portable computer.

64. The well servicing system of claim 41, wherein the computer-based system includes a magnetic memory disc that stores the location value and the transducer value.

65. The well servicing system of claim 41, wherein the computer-based system includes an optical disc that stores the location value and the transducer value.

66. The well servicing system of claim 38, wherein the computer-based system includes a data logger.

67. The well servicing system of claim 41, wherein the service vehicle includes a parking brake system electrically coupled to the computer-based system such that the computer-based system registers a GPS reading upon actuating the parking brake.

68. The well servicing system of claim 38, wherein the service vehicle includes a liquid pump driven by a hydraulic motor.

69. The well servicing system of claim 68, wherein the service vehicle includes an engine that powers the service vehicle as the service vehicle travels from the bulk storage station to the well site location, wherein the engine further selectively powers a hydraulic pump that drives the hydraulic motor.

70. The well servicing system of claim 38, wherein the second chemical is mostly water.

71. The well servicing system of claim 41, wherein the third transducer is a pressure sensor.

72. The well servicing system of claim 41, wherein the third transducer is a flow meter.

73. The well servicing system of claim 41, wherein the third transducer is a counter.

74. The well servicing system of claim 41, wherein the service vehicle includes a plurality of valves and the transducer signal varies with the selective opening and closing of the plurality of valves.