Machines, systems, computer-implemented methods, and computer program products to test and certify oil and gas equipment

• US 9,915,128 B2
• Filed: 07/01/2016
• Issued: 03/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SPM Oil & Gas Incorporated (Caterpillar Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: SPM Flow Control Inc. (Caterpillar Incorporated)
• Inventors: Hunter, Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Nam V
• Application Number:
  US15/201,045
• Publication Number:
  US 20170058645A1
• Time in Patent Office: 620 Days
• Field of Search: 340 101- 106, 702 6
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 41/00 Equipment or details not covered by groups E21B15/00 - E21B40/00
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 44/00 Automatic control systems specially adapted for drilling operations, i.e. self-operating systems which function to carry out or modify a drilling operation without intervention of a human operator, e.g. computer-controlled drilling systems; Systems specially adapted for monitoring a plurality of drilling variables or conditions
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 11/002 Details, e.g. power supply systems for logging instruments, transmitting or recording data, specially adapted for well logging, also if the prospecting method is irrelevant means for transmitting well survey signals E21B47/12; signal transmission systems in general G08C; transmission in general H04B
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/00 Digital computers in general details G06F1/00 – G06F13/00; Data processing equipment in general
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/72 for local intradevice communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/77 for interrogation

Abstract

Embodiments of machines, systems, computer-implemented methods, and computer program products certify oil and gas well equipment. Embodiments identify a selected well equipment device, a device test specification, and testing sequences to be performed by a corresponding testing apparatus. Embodiments select a testing sequence responsive to the selected device. Embodiments control the testing apparatus for the selected testing sequence so that the corresponding testing apparatus performs the sequence responsive to the device test specification. Embodiments generate testing data for the selected testing sequence and link the testing data for the selected testing sequence to the device identifier for the device so that a certificate can be generated. Embodiments generate a certificate for the selected device responsive to the testing sequences having been performed upon the selected device and link the certificate for the selected device to the device identifier so that the certificate can be readily recalled.

Claims

1. A method for inspecting and certifying oil and gas equipment in a service area, the method comprising:

retrieving, at a mobile device, a device identifier from an electronic tag coupled to a well equipment device in the service area;

communicating the device identifier to one or more servers that use the device identifier to select a sequence of certification operations to be performed to ensure safety of the well equipment device;

receiving the sequence of certification operations from the one or more servers;

instructing, through the mobile device, a user to use an inspection device in the service area to perform the certification operations on the well equipment device;

receiving performance data of the well equipment device responsive to the certification operations being performed;

communicating the performance data to the one or more servers;

receiving an instruction from the one or more servers to discard the well equipment device for being unsafe based on the performance data compared to benchmark parameters associated with the certification operations; and

directing the user to discard the well equipment device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising communicating an indication for discarding the well equipment device to the electronic tag.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising storing the indication for discarding the well equipment device on the electronic tag for access by other mobile devices.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the device identifier is wirelessly retrieved from the electronic tag using a radio frequency transmission between the electronic tag and the mobile device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the well equipment device comprises at least one member of a group comprising:

a ball injector, a crow'"'"'s foot, an air chamber, a crossover, a hose, a pipe, a hose loop, a ball injector tee body, a tee, a wye, a lateral, an ell, a check valve, a plug valve, a wellhead adapter, a swivel a joint, a plug, a relief valve, a densometer, a cross, a frac pump, or a cement pump.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the service area comprises at least one member of a group comprising a service shop floor, a testing warehouse, or a testing trailer.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the inspection device comprises at least one member of a group comprising a wall thickness measuring device, an ultra-sonic wall thickness meter, or a pressure pump.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing, in a database of the one or more servers, a record that the well equipment device has been discarded;

receiving a request with the device identifier from a second mobile device;

determining the well equipment device was previously instructed to be discarded; and

transmitting a message to the second mobile device indicating that the well equipment device is to be discarded based on the accessed record.

9. A system for inspecting and certifying oil and gas equipment in a service area, the system comprising:

memory embodied with computer-executable instructions; and

one or more processors programmed to;

receive a device identifier of an electronic tag affixed to a well equipment device in the service area,

communicate the device identifier over to one or more servers that use the device identifier to select a first sequence of certification operations to be performed on the well equipment device based a service history of the well equipment device,

receive the first sequence of certification operations selected by the one or more servers,

present instructions to a user for using a first inspection device in the service area to perform at least one of the certification operations on the well equipment device,

receive first performance data of the well equipment device from the user or the first inspection device,

communicate the first performance data to the one or more servers,

receive a second sequence of certification operations selected by the one or more servers in response to the first performance data, and

instruct the user or a second inspection device in the service area to perform the second sequence of certification operations.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the one or more processors are further programmed to:

receive second performance data of the well equipment device from the user or the second inspection device responsive to at least one of the second sequence of certification operations, and

communicate the second performance data to the one or more servers for use in certifying the safety of the well equipment device based on the first performance data and the second performance data.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the one or more processors are further programmed to:

receive a certificate the well equipment device passed certification for safe use, and

present the certificate to the user.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the well equipment device comprises hydraulic fracturing flow iron.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the well equipment device comprises at least one member of a group comprising:

a ball injector, a crow'"'"'s foot, an air chamber, a crossover, a hose, a pipe, a hose loop, a ball injector tee body, a tee, a wye, a lateral, an ell, a check valve, a plug valve, a wellhead adapter, a swivel a joint, a plug, a relief valve, a densometer, a cross, a frac pump, or a cement pump.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the service area comprises a service shop floor, a testing warehouse, or a testing trailer.

15. A method for inspecting and certifying oil and gas equipment, the method comprising:

receiving, at a mobile device, a device identifier from an electronic tag coupled to a well equipment device in a service area;

communicating the device identifier to one or more servers configured to use the device identifier in conjunction with service history of the well equipment device to select a first sequence of certification operations to be performed on the well equipment device;

receiving, at the mobile device, the first sequence of certification operations selected by the one or more servers based on the device identifier and the service history of the well equipment device;

instructing, on the mobile device, a user in the service area to perform the certification operations in a sequence;

receiving first performance data of the well equipment device upon performance of the certification operations;

communicating the first performance data from the mobile device to the one or more servers;

receiving a digital certificate indicating the well equipment device is safe for use from the one or more servers; and

transmitting the digital certificate to the electronic tag for storage thereon.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

receiving a second sequence of certification operations selected by the one or more servers in response to the first performance data; and

instructing, through the mobile device, the user in the service area to perform the second sequence of certification operations on the well equipment device.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising transmitting second performance data related to the second sequence of certification operations performed on the well equipment device, wherein the digital certificate is based on the first performance data and the second performance data.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising selecting, at the one or more servers, the certification operations based, at least in part, on the service history of the well equipment device indicating a pass or failure of the well equipment device for a previous certification operation.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the digital certificate indicates the well equipment device passed the sequence of certification operations based on the first performance data.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the well equipment device comprises at least one member of a group comprising:

a ball injector, a crow'"'"'s foot, an air chamber, a crossover, a hose, a pipe, a hose loop, a ball injector tee body, a tee, a wye, a lateral, an ell, a check valve, a plug valve, a wellhead adapter, a swivel a joint, a plug, a relief valve, a densometer, a cross, a frac pump, or a cement pump.