Method of monitoring service operations of a service vehicle at a well site

• US 7,064,677 B2
• Filed: 05/19/2003
• Issued: 06/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Key Energy Services Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Key Energy Services Incorporated
• Inventors: Newman, Frederic M
• Primary Examiner(s): WONG, ALBERT KANG
• Application Number:
  US10/440,633
• Publication Number:
  US 20030196798A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,128 Days
• Field of Search: 340/854.6, 340/870.1, 340/870.11, 166/250.01, 166/275, 166/255.1, 731/522.9, 702/45
• US Class Current: 340/854.6
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/008 Monitoring of down-hole pump systems, e.g. for the detection of "pumped-off" conditions

Abstract

A method monitors servicing operations of a vehicle capable for example of pumping various fluid treatments down into a well being serviced at a well site. The method records the vehicle'"'"'s engine speed and the values of one or more service-related variables, such as pressure, temperature, flow rate, and pump strokes per minute. These variables are recorded as a function of the time of day in accordance with when they were sensed, and are associated with a well site identifier to form a data record. Global Positioning System data associated with the service vehicle assists in determining the well site identifier or can constitute the well site identifier. In some embodiments, the data record is communicated over a wireless communication link from a remote well site to a central office.

Claims

1. A method of monitoring service operations at a well site comprising:

determining a well site identifier of the well site;

sensing a variable associated with the service operation;

storing on an electrical data storage device a first digital value representative of the well site identifier, and a second digital value representative of the variable associated with a fluid, thereby creating a stored data record; and

communicating the stored data record to a remote location relative to the well site.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a time of day that the service operation is being performed, and storing on the electrical data storage device a third digital value representative of the time of day that the fluid was being pumped.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein a service vehicle performs the service operations.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the type of service vehicle is selected from the group consisting of a pump truck, a chemical tank truck, a chemical tank trailer, a cement truck, a cement trailer, a hot-oiler tank truck, a hot-oiler tank trailer, and a portable work-over service rig.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the well site identifier is selected from the group consisting of the well'"'"'s American Petroleum Institute Number, a textual identifier, a bar code label, data stored on a magnetic strip, data stored on an electromagnetic strip, data stored on an integrated circuit chip, data stored on a memory, and a GPS signal.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the memory is selected from the group consisting of a hard drive of a computer, a floppy disc, a compact disk, a ZIP dive, an electronic chip, and magnetic tape.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein communicating the stored data to the remote location is carried out through a wireless communication link.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein communicating the stored data to the remote location is carried out through a modem.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein communicating the stored data to the remote location is carried out through a cellular phone.

10. The method of claim 1, farther comprising determining the engine'"'"'s speed and storing on the electrical data storage device a fourth digital value representative of the engine'"'"'s speed.

19. The method of claim 1l, wherein electronically communicating the data record from the service vehicle to a location remote to the well site comprises a wireless communication link.

21. The method of claim 1l, wherein the at least one variable is selected from the group consisting of the speed of an engine of the service vehicle, well tubing pressure, annulus pressure, pump pressure, and fluid flow rate.

11. A method using a service vehicle for monitoring service operations at a well site, wherein the well site is associated with a well site identifier, comprising:

determining a first value indicative of the well site identifier;

sensing at least one second value associated with the service operation;

creating a data record at the vehicle comprising the first value and the at least one second value;

electronically communicating the data record from the vehicle to a location remote to the well site.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the data record comprises the second value varying as a function of time.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the service vehicle is selected from the group consisting of a pump truck, a chemical tank truck, a chemical tank trailer, a cement truck, a cement trailer, a hot-oiler tank truck, a hot-oiler tank trailer, and a portable work-over service rig.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the first value comprises GPS data.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the first value is embodied at the well site in a media selected from the group consisting of a bar code, a magnetic strip, an electromagnetic strip, an integrated circuit chip, and data stored on a memory.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein determining the first value comprises use of a GPS device associated with the service vehicle.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein determining the first value comprises correlating GPS data to the well site identifier.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the first value is determined using GPS data.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein electronically communicating the data record from the service vehicle to a location remote to the well site comprises use of a modem.

22. The method of claim 11, wherein determining the first value comprises an automated process that occurs when the service vehicle approaches the well site.