GB2247904A - Identifying metal articles - Google Patents

Identifying metal articles Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2247904A
GB2247904A GB9019995A GB9019995A GB2247904A GB 2247904 A GB2247904 A GB 2247904A GB 9019995 A GB9019995 A GB 9019995A GB 9019995 A GB9019995 A GB 9019995A GB 2247904 A GB2247904 A GB 2247904A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
article
storage device
tag
data storage
data
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB9019995A
Other versions
GB9019995D0 (en
Inventor
Paul Christopher Gilhooley
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
AXL SYSTEMS Ltd
Original Assignee
AXL SYSTEMS Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by AXL SYSTEMS Ltd filed Critical AXL SYSTEMS Ltd
Priority to GB9019995A priority Critical patent/GB2247904A/en
Publication of GB9019995D0 publication Critical patent/GB9019995D0/en
Priority to PCT/GB1991/001565 priority patent/WO1992005533A1/en
Publication of GB2247904A publication Critical patent/GB2247904A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B47/00—Survey of boreholes or wells
    • E21B47/01—Devices for supporting measuring instruments on drill bits, pipes, rods or wirelines; Protecting measuring instruments in boreholes against heat, shock, pressure or the like
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07C—TIME OR ATTENDANCE REGISTERS; REGISTERING OR INDICATING THE WORKING OF MACHINES; GENERATING RANDOM NUMBERS; VOTING OR LOTTERY APPARATUS; ARRANGEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS FOR CHECKING NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
    • G07C3/00—Registering or indicating the condition or the working of machines or other apparatus, other than vehicles
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B17/00—Drilling rods or pipes; Flexible drill strings; Kellies; Drill collars; Sucker rods; Cables; Casings; Tubings
    • E21B17/006—Accessories for drilling pipes, e.g. cleaners
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B19/00—Handling rods, casings, tubes or the like outside the borehole, e.g. in the derrick; Apparatus for feeding the rods or cables
    • E21B19/20—Combined feeding from rack and connecting, e.g. automatically
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B44/00—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
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B47/00—Survey of boreholes or wells
    • E21B47/007—Measuring stresses in a pipe string or casing
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B47/00—Survey of boreholes or wells
    • E21B47/26—Storing data down-hole, e.g. in a memory or on a record carrier
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01V—GEOPHYSICS; GRAVITATIONAL MEASUREMENTS; DETECTING MASSES OR OBJECTS; TAGS
    • G01V15/00—Tags attached to, or associated with, an object, in order to enable detection of the object
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
    • G06K7/00—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns
    • G06K7/0008—General problems related to the reading of electronic memory record carriers, independent of its reading method, e.g. power transfer
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G21—NUCLEAR PHYSICS; NUCLEAR ENGINEERING
    • G21C—NUCLEAR REACTORS
    • G21C17/00—Monitoring; Testing ; Maintaining
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E30/00—Energy generation of nuclear origin
    • Y02E30/30—Nuclear fission reactors

Abstract

An article of metal (10) has a data storage device or tag (12) embedded therein, the tag (12) being arranged for electrostatically and/or electromagnetically coupling to an external read/write sensor. The article may comprise a drill pipe used in boring in oil or gas exploration. The tag (12) stores data identifying the article and also historical data as to the previous working life of the article: the latter data can be updated.

Description

Identifying Metal Articles This invention relates to arrangements for identifying metal articles.
It is known in the oil and gas exploration industries and in the chemical and petrochemical industries to clearly identify items such as pipes, valves, flanges and pressure vessels by marking them with a serial number. The history of a particular item can be discovered by looking up its serial number in record files. Due to the large amount of paperwork and difficulty of accessing the information required, this system has been replaced with a bar coding system in several instances..
The serial number of the item is represented by a unique pattern of alternate light and dark lines which can be read by a light emitting scanner. A microcomputer is connected to the scanner and decodes the signals from the scanner thus identifying the item scanned. The item's history is held in storage in the computer and is displayed once it has been scanned. The bar codes are either printed on adhesive labels and stuck to the item, or are printed on a tag which is affixed to the item. Adhesive labels tend to peel off after periods of time, and also may wear off if the surface of the item is subjected to abrasion. Tags affixed to the item can become separated from it, preventing identification of that item.
Further, the information about the item is only available to people who have a disk or other medium containing the information. Therefore a person who buys the item secondhand knows nothing about its history even if he had the correct hardware to read the bar code.
We have now devised arrangements whereby articles may be provided with a tag which will not become worn or separated from the article and which can store data about the article's history without the need for a separately stored case history.
In accordance with this invention there is provided an article of metal having a data storage device embedded therein, the data storage device being arranged for electrostatically and/or electromagnetically coupling to an external sensor.
Preferably a hole is formed in the metal article, and the data storage device is disposed in the hole.
Preferably the hole is subsequently plugged with a material to prevent the data storage device from becoming dislodged.
Preferably the material is an expoxy resin.
This invention may be applied to a wide variety of articles in many different industries, including the oil and gas exploration industries and the chemical and petrochemical industries. In particular, drill pipes used in boring, in the oil and gas exploration industries may be provided with embedded data storage devices in accordance with this invention.
An embodiment of this invention will now be described by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a section of drill pipe in which a data storage device is embedded, in accordance with this invention, and; FIGURE 2 is a block diagram of a system for automatically identifying the drill pipe of Figure 1.
Referring to Figure 1 there is shown a section of drill pipe 10. The section comprises an elongate cylindrical member in which a hole 11 is formed radially inwards. The hole 11 extends along only part of the diameter of the drill pipe 10.
A cylindrical tag or data storage device 12 is disposed axially within the hole 11. A blanking member 13 fills the opening of the hole 11 and contains the tag 12 therein.
Figure 2 shows the drill pipe 10, which comprises an elongate shaft 32 having opposite ends 30, 31 formed with female and male couplings respectively. A sensor element 20 is laterally mounted a short distance away from the axis of the drill pipe 10 and has its output connected to a tag interface unit 21. A microprocessor controlled tag read/write unit 22 connects the tag interface unit 21 to a computer system 23.
The computer system 23 includes a magnetic storage medium 40 and cathode ray tube 41. An output 24 from the computer may connect to any networking or process control system (not shown).
In use drill pipes of up to 100 ft in length e.g. 10, are coupled together to form a drill string. A drill tip or roller bit is fitted to the first drill pipe e.g. 10, which is suspended from a drilling derrick. The drill pipe is rotated via a turntable connected to a square rod at its top.
Once the drill pipe has penetrated the earth a suitable distance, another drill pipe may be fitted. This process is repeated until the drill reaches its required depth, which is often 6000 metres. The strain on the drill pipes is quite considerable especially when they are rotating at 900 RPM, with drilling progress rates of 20 metres/hour. The last drill pipe in the string is subjected to the most torque, whilst lower drill pipes are subjected to bending and strain.
It is important that no drill pipes break, which would result in loss of the drilling equipment and a great deal of time wasted. Therefore it is vital to know exactly what stress, strains and torques each section of drill pipe has been subjected to before it is used. The system shown in figure 2 shows a drill pipe 10 in which an electromagnetic tag 11 has been embedded. In other embodiments however alternative tag coupling arrangements may be adopted. A sensor 20 is mounted laterally on the drilling derrick away from the axis of the drill pipe 10. As the drill pipe 10 rotates and advances into the earth, its section having the tag 12 embedded in it passes the sensor. The sensor 20 excites the tag electromagnetically as it passes. Once excited the tag 12 transmits a code e.g. 64 bits as its identity. The tag can also be read/written with bits of variable data.
The information contained in the tag 12 will include its serial number, and history about its previous working life e.g. the position in which it has been used in any string, repair details, bends, torques and stresses. Other details may also be provided.
This data can be updated, read or written whilst the drill is being advanced or withdrawn, the parameters being measured by ancillary measuring equipment.
The tag sensor 20 is connected to a computer 23 via two interfaces 21, 22. The computer 23 interprets and analyses the data F from the tag 12 and displays it on a screen 41, it also may provide details for storage on magentic or other storage media 40. An output 24 may connect to a process flow system to stop the drilling if a faulty drill pipe 10 is identified for example.
In another embodiment the tag sensor may be hand held to interrogate the tag 12 before the drill 10 is used.
Alternatively the teachings of this invention are applicable to other areas where it is important to know the history of a particular piece of equipment e.g. a valve in a nuclear power station. The data contained in the valve may contain maintenance records for example.
A person having a tag reader and associated software can learn the full history of any piece of equipment fitted with a tag. Thus a person buying secondhand knows exactly what he is buying.

Claims (8)

Claims
1) An article of metal having a data storage device embedded therein, the data storage device being arranged for electrostatically and/or electromagnetically coupling to an external sensor.
2) An article as claimed in claim 1, formed with a hole in which the data storage device is disposed.
3) An article as claimed in claim 2, in which the hole is plugged with a material over the data storage device to prevent the latter becoming dislodged.
4) An article as claimed in claim 3, in which the material with which the hole is plugged comprises an epoxy resin.
5) An article as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the data storage device stores data identifying the article.
6) An article as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the data storage device stores historical data as to the previous working life of the article.
7) An article as claimed in claim 6, in which said historical data can be read from the storage device and can be updated.
8) An article of metal as claimed in any preceding claim, which is drill pipe used in boring in the oil or gas exploration.
GB9019995A 1990-09-13 1990-09-13 Identifying metal articles Withdrawn GB2247904A (en)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9019995A GB2247904A (en) 1990-09-13 1990-09-13 Identifying metal articles
PCT/GB1991/001565 WO1992005533A1 (en) 1990-09-13 1991-09-12 Identifying metal articles

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9019995A GB2247904A (en) 1990-09-13 1990-09-13 Identifying metal articles

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB9019995D0 GB9019995D0 (en) 1990-10-24
GB2247904A true GB2247904A (en) 1992-03-18

Family

ID=10682125

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB9019995A Withdrawn GB2247904A (en) 1990-09-13 1990-09-13 Identifying metal articles

Country Status (2)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2247904A (en)
WO (1) WO1992005533A1 (en)

Cited By (18)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1997026563A1 (en) * 1996-01-18 1997-07-24 Sander Gmbh & Co. Kg Sewage system with electronic marker
WO2000003268A1 (en) * 1998-07-10 2000-01-20 Schlumberger Holdings Limited Streamer identification
WO2002006632A2 (en) * 2000-07-14 2002-01-24 The Texas A & M University System System and method for communicating information associated with a drilling component
US6597175B1 (en) * 1999-09-07 2003-07-22 Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. Electromagnetic detector apparatus and method for oil or gas well, and circuit-bearing displaceable object to be detected therein
WO2003062588A1 (en) * 2002-01-16 2003-07-31 Koomey Paul C Radio frequency identification tags for oil drill strings
DE10246777A1 (en) * 2002-03-21 2003-10-02 Endress & Hauser Wetzer Gmbh Device for identifying sample container and/or for preparing information connected with sample container comprises electronic label assigned to container
FR2842245A1 (en) * 2002-07-11 2004-01-16 Inst Francais Du Petrole Managing fatigue in tube used for drilling comprises using individual means of identification to record parameter giving cumulative fatigue for tube
EP1445419A1 (en) * 2003-02-06 2004-08-11 Weatherford/Lamb, Inc. Method and apparatus for controlling wellbore equipment
GB2433628A (en) * 2005-10-28 2007-06-27 Hewlett Packard Development Co Component history tag
US7264050B2 (en) 2000-09-22 2007-09-04 Weatherford/Lamb, Inc. Method and apparatus for controlling wellbore equipment
WO2009020810A1 (en) * 2007-08-07 2009-02-12 Tubemaster Inc Device and method for identifying the row number on a tubesheet
US20110175343A1 (en) * 2005-01-31 2011-07-21 Pipe Maintenance, Inc. Identification system for drill pipes and the like
US8463664B2 (en) 2005-11-28 2013-06-11 Weatherford/Lamb, Inc. Serialization and database methods for tubulars and oilfield equipment
WO2013036139A3 (en) * 2011-09-09 2013-09-26 National Oilwell Varco Norway As A tally system for oil field use and a method of operation of a tally system
US9115573B2 (en) 2004-11-12 2015-08-25 Petrowell Limited Remote actuation of a downhole tool
US20160291201A1 (en) * 2015-03-30 2016-10-06 Schlumberger Technology Corporation Pipe tracking system for drilling rigs
WO2018093273A1 (en) * 2016-11-21 2018-05-24 Vinterfjord As Monitoring and audit system and method
US10262168B2 (en) 2007-05-09 2019-04-16 Weatherford Technology Holdings, Llc Antenna for use in a downhole tubular

Families Citing this family (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
NO306963B1 (en) * 1997-09-18 2000-01-17 Genius Maritim Bergen As V Sty Identification system based on barcodes and specially adapted drill rods
US6347292B1 (en) 1999-02-17 2002-02-12 Den-Con Electronics, Inc. Oilfield equipment identification method and apparatus
GB0720421D0 (en) 2007-10-19 2007-11-28 Petrowell Ltd Method and apparatus for completing a well
GB0804306D0 (en) 2008-03-07 2008-04-16 Petrowell Ltd Device
GB0914650D0 (en) 2009-08-21 2009-09-30 Petrowell Ltd Apparatus and method
CN102110317B (en) * 2010-12-30 2014-08-27 北京市三一重机有限公司 Construction storage system of rotary drilling rig
GB2496913B (en) 2011-11-28 2018-02-21 Weatherford Uk Ltd Torque limiting device

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0056872A1 (en) * 1981-01-22 1982-08-04 Kisojiban Consultants Co., Ltd. Method and apparatus for surveying ground
GB2164681A (en) * 1984-09-22 1986-03-26 Standard Telephones Cables Plc Drill pipe telemetry
US4578991A (en) * 1984-11-15 1986-04-01 Texaco Inc. System for identifying individual drill pipe
GB2180124A (en) * 1985-09-09 1987-03-18 Nl Industries Inc Method and apparatus for communicating with downhole measurement-while-drilling equipment when said equipment is on the surface

Family Cites Families (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2907265A1 (en) * 1979-02-24 1980-08-28 Beerwerth Ernst Walter Dipl Vo Beer barrel identification data acquisition and evaluation - using binary coded edge strip scanned optically, magnetically, or ultrasonically
US4698631A (en) * 1986-12-17 1987-10-06 Hughes Tool Company Surface acoustic wave pipe identification system

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0056872A1 (en) * 1981-01-22 1982-08-04 Kisojiban Consultants Co., Ltd. Method and apparatus for surveying ground
GB2164681A (en) * 1984-09-22 1986-03-26 Standard Telephones Cables Plc Drill pipe telemetry
US4578991A (en) * 1984-11-15 1986-04-01 Texaco Inc. System for identifying individual drill pipe
GB2180124A (en) * 1985-09-09 1987-03-18 Nl Industries Inc Method and apparatus for communicating with downhole measurement-while-drilling equipment when said equipment is on the surface

Cited By (25)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1997026563A1 (en) * 1996-01-18 1997-07-24 Sander Gmbh & Co. Kg Sewage system with electronic marker
WO2000003268A1 (en) * 1998-07-10 2000-01-20 Schlumberger Holdings Limited Streamer identification
US6597175B1 (en) * 1999-09-07 2003-07-22 Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. Electromagnetic detector apparatus and method for oil or gas well, and circuit-bearing displaceable object to be detected therein
WO2002006632A2 (en) * 2000-07-14 2002-01-24 The Texas A & M University System System and method for communicating information associated with a drilling component
WO2002006632A3 (en) * 2000-07-14 2002-08-29 Texas A & M Univ Sys System and method for communicating information associated with a drilling component
US7264050B2 (en) 2000-09-22 2007-09-04 Weatherford/Lamb, Inc. Method and apparatus for controlling wellbore equipment
WO2003062588A1 (en) * 2002-01-16 2003-07-31 Koomey Paul C Radio frequency identification tags for oil drill strings
DE10246777A1 (en) * 2002-03-21 2003-10-02 Endress & Hauser Wetzer Gmbh Device for identifying sample container and/or for preparing information connected with sample container comprises electronic label assigned to container
FR2842245A1 (en) * 2002-07-11 2004-01-16 Inst Francais Du Petrole Managing fatigue in tube used for drilling comprises using individual means of identification to record parameter giving cumulative fatigue for tube
EP1445419A1 (en) * 2003-02-06 2004-08-11 Weatherford/Lamb, Inc. Method and apparatus for controlling wellbore equipment
US6896055B2 (en) 2003-02-06 2005-05-24 Weatherford/Lamb, Inc. Method and apparatus for controlling wellbore equipment
US9115573B2 (en) 2004-11-12 2015-08-25 Petrowell Limited Remote actuation of a downhole tool
US20110175343A1 (en) * 2005-01-31 2011-07-21 Pipe Maintenance, Inc. Identification system for drill pipes and the like
GB2433628A (en) * 2005-10-28 2007-06-27 Hewlett Packard Development Co Component history tag
GB2433628B (en) * 2005-10-28 2011-05-18 Hewlett Packard Development Co Method of providing history and compliance information for objects
US8463664B2 (en) 2005-11-28 2013-06-11 Weatherford/Lamb, Inc. Serialization and database methods for tubulars and oilfield equipment
US9824347B2 (en) 2005-11-28 2017-11-21 Weatherford Technology Holdings, Llc Serialization and database methods for tubulars and oilfield equipment
US10825008B2 (en) 2005-11-28 2020-11-03 Weatherford Technology Holdings, Inc. Serialization and database methods for tubulars and oilfield equipment
US10262168B2 (en) 2007-05-09 2019-04-16 Weatherford Technology Holdings, Llc Antenna for use in a downhole tubular
US7765948B2 (en) 2007-08-07 2010-08-03 Tubemaster, Inc. Device and method for identifying the row number on a tubesheet
WO2009020810A1 (en) * 2007-08-07 2009-02-12 Tubemaster Inc Device and method for identifying the row number on a tubesheet
WO2013036139A3 (en) * 2011-09-09 2013-09-26 National Oilwell Varco Norway As A tally system for oil field use and a method of operation of a tally system
US20160291201A1 (en) * 2015-03-30 2016-10-06 Schlumberger Technology Corporation Pipe tracking system for drilling rigs
US11029444B2 (en) * 2015-03-30 2021-06-08 Schlumberger Technology Corporation Pipe tracking system for drilling rigs
WO2018093273A1 (en) * 2016-11-21 2018-05-24 Vinterfjord As Monitoring and audit system and method

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO1992005533A1 (en) 1992-04-02
GB9019995D0 (en) 1990-10-24

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WAP Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1)