System and Method for Optimizing an Operation of a Sensor Used with Wellbore Equipment

• US 20140077964A1
• Filed: 09/19/2012
• Published: 03/20/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Beligere, Sudheer, Eswaran, Sivaprakash, Reddy Rajula, Gangi, Shivaprakash Yagati, Veeresh, Ravipati, Murali
• Granted Patent: US 9,816,370 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/853.3
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/00 Survey of boreholes or wells monitoring pressure or flow of drilling fluid E21B21/08
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/06 Measuring temperature or pressure

Abstract

Apparatus and associated methods may relate to a sensor controller configured to apply predetermined criteria to determine when a parameter value sampled by a sensor module meets the predetermined criteria, and in response to making such a determination, adjust a commanded data rate including an update time period. In an illustrative example, the predetermined criteria may be independently defined for each sensor in a network. In examples with a network of sensors, the sensor controller may dictate sensor module operation at differentiated data rates. In an illustrative example, a sensor controller may communicate with a series of pressure level sensor modules connected to a drilling apparatus in a mud logging application. Upon detection of a pressure level change that exceeds a critical condition as determined through comparison with the predetermined criteria, the sensor controller may increase or decrease a data rate of the respective sensor module, for example.

Claims

1. A method for optimizing a data rate of a sensor used with well operation equipment for an oil or gas well, the method comprising:

receiving at least one parameter value from a sensor module, said parameter value being transmitted by the sensor module at a first data rate;

receiving a predetermined parameter threshold associated with a second data rate;

comparing said at least one parameter value transmitted from said sensor module to said predetermined parameter threshold;

determining whether said at least one parameter value transmitted from said sensor module is within said predetermined parameter threshold;

generating a command signal for transmission if said at least one parameter value transmitted from said sensor module is within said predetermined parameter threshold, said command signal comprising said second data rate; and

transmitting said generated command signal to said sensor module to command said sensor module to transmit subsequent parameter value signals at said second data rate.

2. The method of claim 1, including a step of wirelessly receiving said at least one parameter value at said first data rate.

3. The method of claim 1, including a step of wirelessly transmitting said generated command signal.

4. The method of claim 1, including a step of associating said predetermined parameter threshold with a critical condition.

5. The method of claim 4, including a step of associating said critical condition with a high pressure level.

6. The method of claim 4, including a step of associating said critical condition with a low pressure level.

7. The method of claim 4, including a step of associating said critical condition with a high temperature level.

8. The method of claim 4, including a step of associating said critical condition with a low temperature level.

9. The method of claim 1, including a step of associating a higher frequency to said second data rate than said first data rate.

10. The method of claim 1, including a step of associating a lower frequency to said second data rate than said first data rate.

11. The method of claim 1, including steps of comparing a rate of change of historical said parameter values with a rate of change threshold and assigning a third data rate to said sensor module if said rate of change of said parameter values is greater than said rate of change threshold.

12. The method of claim 1, further including a step of generating a command signal for transmission to a second sensor module comprising a third data rate, said third data being different than said second data rate.

13. A computer program product tangibly embodied in a storage device as a set of program instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to cause operations to be performed to optimize a data rate of a sensor used with well operation equipment for an oil or gas well be performed, the operations comprising:

receiving at least one parameter value from a sensor module, said parameter value being transmitted by the sensor module at a first data rate;

receiving a predetermined parameter threshold associated with a second data rate;

comparing said at least one parameter value transmitted from said sensor module to said predetermined parameter threshold;

determining whether said at least one parameter value transmitted from said sensor module is within said predetermined parameter threshold;

generating a command signal for transmission if said at least one parameter value transmitted from said sensor module is within said predetermined parameter threshold, said command signal comprising said second data rate; and

transmitting said generated command signal to said sensor module to command said sensor module to transmit subsequent parameter value signals at said second data rate.

14. The computer program product of claim 13, including a step of providing a wireless communications channel for said at least one parameter value at said first data rate and said generated command signal.

15. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the operations further include associating said predetermined parameter threshold with a critical condition.

16. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the operations further include associating said critical condition with a high pressure level.

17. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the operations further include associating a higher frequency to said second data rate than said first data rate.

18. A system to optimize a data rate of a sensor used in well operation equipment for an oil or gas well, the system comprising:

a sensor module assigned to well operation equipment and having an update rate for monitoring at least one parameter; and

means for varying said update rate responsive to parameters received from said sensor module.

19. The system of claim 18, further including a controller in communication with said sensor module, said controller configured to compare said at least one parameter transmitted from said sensor module to a predetermined parameter threshold associated with a critical condition.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein said critical condition is associated with a high pressure level.