Activity data capture system for a well service vehicle

• US 7,006,920 B2
• Filed: 10/01/2004
• Issued: 02/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Key Energy Services Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Key Energy Services Incorporated
• Inventors: Newman, Frederic M., Herring, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): MCELHENY JR, DONALD E
• Application Number:
  US10/957,309
• Publication Number:
  US 20050103491A1
• Time in Patent Office: 515 Days
• Field of Search: 702/6, 702/14, 702/16, 702/7, 702/8, 702/9, 702/10, 367/69, 367/76
• US Class Current: 702/6
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 41/00 Equipment or details not covered by groups E21B15/00 - E21B40/00

Abstract

The present invention is directed to incrementing a well service rig in such a manner that activity-based and/or time-based data for the well site is recorded. The acquired data can be transmitted via wired, wireless, satellite or physical to a data center preferably controlled by the work-over rig owner, but alternately controlled by the well owner or another. The data can thereafter be used to provide the customer a detailed invoice or a searchable, secure web-based database. With such information, the customer can schedule other services at the well site. Further, the customer will have access to detailed data on the actual service performed. The present invention fosters a synergistic relationship among the customer and the service companies that promotes a safe environment by monitoring crew work activities and equipment speeds; improving productivity; reducing operation expenses through improved job processes; and better data management and reduced operational failures.

Claims

1. A method of servicing a well at a wellsite, comprising:

measuring a variable associated with servicing the well, electronically recording the measured variable on a first computer;

inputting non-numerical activity data associated with servicing the well into a second computer;

transferring the electronically recorded measured variable and activity data from the wellsite to a central location.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the measured variable is selected from the group consisting of hook load, tong torque, engine RPM, hydrogen sulfide concentration, block position, engine oil pressure, clutch air pressure, and global position.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the non-numerical activity is selected from the group consisting of rigging up a well service unit, pulling rods, pulling tubing, running tubing, running rods, rigging down the well service unit, nippling up a BOP, nippling down a BOP, fishing, jarring, swabbing, drilling, clean out, killing the well, circulating fluid, unseating pumps, setting a tubing anchor, releasing a tubing anchor, setting a packer, releasing a packer, well stimulation, cementing, logging, perforating, and inspecting the well.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the means of transferring the electronically recorded measured variable and activity data from the wellsite to a central location is selected from the group consisting of transmitting via a modem over a cellular phone, transmitting via a satellite hookup, transmitting via a wireless communication device, and transmitting by saving the recorded measured variable and activity data on a data storage medium and physically transferring the data storage medium to the central location.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the data storage medium is selected from the group consisting of a floppy disk, CD, and memory storage device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein after the electronically recorded measured variable is transferred to the central location, it is made available on the INTERNET.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein after the electronically recorded activity data is transferred to the central location, it is made available on the INTERNET.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first computer and the second computer are the same.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the non-numerical activity data associated with servicing the well is inputted into the second computer by typing it in using a keyboard.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the non-numerical activity data associated with servicing the well is inputted into the second computer by pressing a pre-programmed button associated with a specific activity.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the pre-programmed buttons provide a hierarchy of non-numerical activity data available for input.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the hierarchy of non-numerical activity is broken down in to activity identifiers.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the activity identifiers are selected from the group consisting of global day in/day out well servicing activities, internal routine activities, and external routine activities.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the global day in/day out well servicing activities are selected from the group consisting of rigging up a work-over rig, pulling rods, laying down rods, pulling tubing, laying down tubing, picking up tubing, running tubing, picking up rods, running rods, and rigging down the work-over rig.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the internal routine activities are selected from the group consisting of rigging up an auxiliary service unit, rigging down an auxiliary service unit, longstroke, cut paraffin, nipple up a BOP, nipple down a BOP, fishing, jarring, swabbing, flowback, drilling, clean out, well control activities, killing a well, circulating fluid within a well, unseating pumps, setting a release tubing anchor, releasing a tubing anchor, setting a packer, releasing a packer, picking up drill collars, laying down drill collars, picking up tools, and laying down tools.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the internal routine activities are selected from the group consisting of rigging up third party servicing equipment, rigging down third party servicing equipment, well stimulation, cementing, logging, perforating, and inspecting the well.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the non-numerical activity data is classified with a progression classification based on how the activity is progressing to completion.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein a variance identifier is assigned to each progression classification.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the variance identifier describes a change in work conditions.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the activity classifications are selected from the group consisting of “

on task;

routine,”

“

on task;

extend,”

“

on task;

re-sequence,”

“

exception;

suspend,”

“

exception;

wait,” and

“

exception down.”

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the non-numerical activity data can be changed at any time.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein the measured variable and the activity data are provided by a third party service provider.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the third party service provider communicates with the first or second computer using a method selected from the group consisting of an electromagnetic signal, a magnetic identity card, a wired communication device, or a wireless communication device.

24. A mobile well service vehicle, comprising:

a transducer for measuring a variable associated with servicing a well,

a means for electronically recording the measured variable,

a means for electronically recording non-numerical activity data associated with servicing the well;

a means for transferring the electronically recorded measured variable and activity data from the wellsite to a central location.

25. The mobile well service vehicle of claim 24, wherein the measured variable is selected from the group consisting of hook load, tong torque, engine RPM, hydrogen sulfide concentration, block position, engine oil pressure, clutch air pressure, and global position.

26. The mobile well service vehicle of claim 24, wherein the non- numerical activity is selected from the group consisting of rigging up a well service unit, pulling rods, pulling tubing, running tubing, running rods, rigging down the well service unit, nippling up a BOP, nippling down a BOP, fishing, jarring, swabbing, drilling, clean out, killing the well, circulating fluid, unseating pumps, setting a tubing anchor, releasing a tubing anchor, setting a packer, releasing a packer, well stimulation, cementing, logging, perforating, and inspecting the well.

27. The mobile well service vehicle of claim 24, wherein the means of transferring the electronically recorded measured variable and activity data from the wellsite to a central location is selected from the group consisting of transmitting via a modem over a cellular phone, transmitting via a satellite hookup, transmitting via a wireless communication device, and transmitting by saving the recorded measured variable and activity data on a data storage medium and physically transferring the data storage medium to the central location.

28. The mobile well service vehicle of claim 27, wherein the data storage medium is selected from the group consisting of a floppy disk, CD, and memory storage device.

29. The mobile well service vehicle of claim 24, wherein the means for electronically recording the measured variable and the means for electronically recording non-numerical activity data associated with servicing the well are the same.

30. The mobile well service vehicle of claim 24, wherein means for recording the non-numerical activity data associated with servicing the well is entering the data into a computer using a keyboard.

31. The mobile well service vehicle of claim 24, wherein means for recording the non-numerical activity data associated with servicing the well is entering the data into a computer using pre-programmed buttons associated with a specific activity.

32. The mobile well service vehicle of claim 31, wherein the pre-programmed buttons provide a hierarchy of non-numerical activity data available for input.

33. The mobile well service vehicle of claim 32, wherein the hierarchy of non-numerical activity is broken down in to activity identifiers.

34. The mobile well service vehicle of claim 33, wherein the activity identifiers are selected from the group consisting of global day in/day out well servicing activities, internal routine activities, and external routine activities.

35. The mobile well service vehicle of claim 34, wherein the global day in/day out well servicing activities are selected from the group consisting of rigging up a work-over rig, pulling rods, laying down rods, pulling tubing, laying down tubing, picking up tubing, running tubing, picking up rods, running rods, and rigging down the work-over rig.

36. The mobile well service vehicle of claim 34, wherein the internal routine activities are selected from the group consisting of rigging up an auxiliary service unit, rigging down an auxiliary service unit, longstroke, cut paraffin, nipple up a BOP, nipple down a BOP, fishing, jarring, swabbing, flowback, drilling, clean out, well control activities, killing a well, circulating fluid within a well, unseating pumps, setting a release tubing anchor, releasing a tubing anchor, setting a packer, releasing a packer, picking up drill collars, laying down drill collars, picking up tools, and laying down tools.

37. The mobile well service vehicle of claim 34, wherein the internal routine activities are selected from the group consisting of rigging up third party servicing equipment, rigging down third party servicing equipment, well stimulation, cementing, logging, perforating, and inspecting the well.

38. The mobile well service vehicle of claim 24, wherein the non-numerical activity data is classified with a progression classification based on how the activity is progressing to completion.

39. The mobile well service vehicle of claim 38, wherein a variance identifier is assigned to each progression classification.

40. The mobile well service vehicle of claim 39, wherein the variance identifier describes a change in work conditions.

41. The mobile well service vehicle of claim 38, wherein the activity classifications are selected from the group consisting of “

on task;

routine,”

“

on task;

extend,”

“

on task;

re-sequence,”

“

exception;

suspend,”

“

exception;

wait,” and

“

exception down.”

42. The mobile well service vehicle of claim 38, wherein the non-numerical activity data can be changed at any time.

43. A method of servicing a well at a wellsite, comprising:

inputting non-numerical activity data associated with servicing the well into a computer;

transferring the non-numerical activity data from the wellsite to a central location.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein the non-numerical activity is selected from the group consisting of rigging up a well service unit, pulling rods, pulling tubing, running tubing, running rods, rigging down the well service unit, nippling up a BOP, nippling down a BOP, fishing, jarring, swabbing, drilling, clean out, killing the well, circulating fluid, unseating pumps, setting a tubing anchor, releasing a tubing anchor, setting a packer, releasing a packer, well stimulation, cementing, logging, perforating, and inspecting the well.

45. The method of claim 43, wherein the means of transferring the electronically recorded activity data from the wellsite to a central location is selected from the group consisting of transmitting via a modem over a cellular phone, transmitting via a satellite hookup, transmitting via a wireless communication device, and transmitting by saving the recorded measured variable and activity data on a data storage medium and physically transferring the data storage medium to the central location.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein the data storage medium is selected from the group consisting of a floppy disk, CD, and memory storage device.

47. The method of claim 43, wherein after the electronically recorded activity data is transferred to the central location, it is made available on the INTERNET.

48. The method of claim 43, wherein the non-numerical activity data associated with servicing the well is inputted into the computer by typing it in using a keyboard.

49. The method of claim 43, wherein the non-numerical activity data associated with servicing the well is inputted into the computer by pressing a pre-programmed button associated with a specific activity.

50. The method of claim 49, wherein the pre-programmed buttons provide a hierarchy of non-numerical activity data available for input.

51. The method of claim 50, wherein the hierarchy of non-numerical activity is broken down in to activity identifiers.

52. The method of claim 51, wherein the activity identifiers are selected from the group consisting of global day in/day out well servicing activities, internal routine activities, and external routine activities.

53. The method of claim 52, wherein the global day in/day out well servicing activities are selected from the group consisting of rigging up a work-over rig, pulling rods, laying down rods, pulling tubing, laying down tubing, picking up tubing, running tubing, picking up rods, running rods, and rigging down the work-over rig.

54. The method of claim 52, wherein the internal routine activities are selected from the group consisting of rigging up an auxiliary service unit, rigging down an auxiliary service unit, longstroke, cut paraffin, nipple up a BOP, nipple down a BOP, fishing, jarring, swabbing, flowback, drilling, clean out, well control activities, killing a well, circulating fluid within a well, unseating pumps, setting a release tubing anchor, releasing a tubing anchor, setting a packer, releasing a packer, picking up drill collars, laying down drill collars, picking up tools, and laying down tools.

55. The method of claim 52, wherein the internal routine activities are selected from the group consisting of rigging up third party servicing equipment, rigging down third party servicing equipment, well stimulation, cementing, logging, perforating, and inspecting the well.

56. The method of claim 43, wherein the non-numerical activity data is classified with a progression classification based on how the activity is progressing to completion.

57. The method of claim 56, wherein a variance identifier is assigned to each progression classification.

58. The method of claim 57, wherein the variance identifier describes a change in work conditions.

59. The method of claim 56, wherein the activity classifications are selected from the group consisting of “

on task;

routine,”

“

on task;

extend,”

“

on task;

re-sequence,”

“

exception;

suspend,”

“

exception;

wait,” and

“

exception down.”

60. The method of claim 56, wherein the non-numerical activity data can be changed at any time.

61. The method of claim 43, wherein the activity data is provided by a third party service provider.

62. The method of claim 61, wherein the third party service provider communicates with the computer using a method selected from the group consisting of an electromagnetic signal, a magnetic identity card, a wired communication device, or a wireless communication device.