Oilfield equipment identification method and apparatus

• US 7,389,205 B2
• Filed: 05/16/2006
• Issued: 06/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Den-Con Electronics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Den-Con Electronics Incorporated
• Inventors: Denny, Lawrence A., Patterson, Edward E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Raymond; Edward
• Application Number:
  US11/435,170
• Publication Number:
  US 20060214011A1
• Time in Patent Office: 763 Days
• Field of Search: 702/188, 702182-185, 702/187, 340/854.8, 235/375, 235/449
• 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 comprising a computer loaded with an oilfield equipment database. A unique identification code is input into the computer for each piece of oilfield equipment in the drill string to form a reference in the oilfield equipment database to each piece of oilfield equipment in the drill string. A drilling monitoring device receives input signals indicative of at least one of rotating and non-rotating usage of the drill string and output signals to the computer wherein the computer continuously and automatically monitors the cumulative rotating usage and non-rotating usage of each piece of oilfield equipment identified in the drill string.

Claims

1. An identifier assembly adapted to be mounted onto a tubular of a drill string to uniquely identify the tubular, the identifier assembly comprising:

a radio-frequency-identification tag having a unique identification code stored therein; and

means for mounting the radio-frequency-identification tag to a tubular such that the radio-frequency-identification tag is disposed outside of an arcuate external perimeter of the tubular.

2. An identifier assembly adapted to be mounted onto a tubular of a drill string to uniquely identify the tubular, the identifier assembly comprising:

a first member having a first end and a second end; and

a second member having a first end and a second end, the first end of the first member being disposed substantially adjacent the first end of the second member, and the second end of the first member is disposed substantially adjacent the second end of the second member, the first member, and the second member being shaped so as to matingly conform about the exterior surface of the piece of oilfield equipment; and

a radio-frequency-identification tag having a unique identification code stored therein, the radio-frequency-identification tag being supported by the first and second members such that the radio-frequency-identification tag is disposed outside of an arcuate external perimeter of the tubular.

3. The identifier assembly of claim 2, wherein the second member includes a layer of resilient material supported on a frame member.

4. The identifier assembly of claim 3, wherein a slot is formed in the layer of resilient material of the second member, the identification tag being disposed in the slot.