RU2769753C1 - Automated measuring system for reading the radio frequency identification rfid tag during drilling - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: oil and gas; mining industries.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to the oil and gas and mining industries, namely to a method for reading information from RFID tags installed on oil and gas drilling equipment. The system is an automatic software and hardware complex installed above the wellhead and consisting of four RFID antennas, a stationary RFID scanner placed in an explosion-proof box, cables connecting RFID antennas to an RFID scanner attached to metal structures under the rotary table of the drilling rig, as well as a network switch and a local server with original software placed in the drilling operator’s cabin above the rotary table of the drilling rig.

EFFECT: improved monitoring of the drilling process by evaluating the changing physical parameters of each individual component of the drill string directly during the drilling process in automatic mode.

1 cl, 6 dwg

Description

The invention relates to the oil and gas and mining industry, namely, to a method for reading information from RFID tags installed on oil and gas drilling equipment

The invention is industrially applicable.

Drill strings used in drilling oil and gas wells consist of various types of pipes. Deep wells often have more than 600 drill pipe joints in the wellbore, in addition to drill pipe, drill strings can include tools such as drill collars, reamers, stabilizers, butt adapters for various threaded connections, relief valves, special logging tools.

Drill pipes are the main part of the drill string intended for lowering into a borehole and lifting a rock cutting tool, transmitting rotation, creating an axial load on the tool, and transporting drilling fluid to the bottom of the well. They also make up a significant part of all the costs of oil and gas production. Therefore, it is important to have effective means of monitoring the entire life cycle of the drill pipe, including its operation directly on the drilling rigs.

At present, the use of RFID technologies by such companies as Schlumberger, France, Petrobas (Petroleo Brasileiro S.A.), Brazil, Weatherford International Ltd., Switzerland, Horizons of Growth LLC, Russia is known.

The application of RFID technology is to install an RFID tag on each pipe, which carries unique information about that particular pipe. Reading information at the right time makes it possible to track the "biography" of the pipe. However, the use of this method faces a problem related to reading RFID tags, since the RFID tag's electromagnetic radiation is strongly shielded in the presence of the metal from which the pipes and other drilling tools are made. These difficulties are overcome for the tasks of warehouse accounting, transportation, logistics, but reliable automated reading of RFID tags directly during the operation of a real drilling rig has not yet been implemented. Theoretical developments had no practical solution. In practice, the procedure is carried out in manual mode, when the operator comes close to the drill pipe with an RFID tag descending into the borehole or back up and reading the RFID tag with a handheld RFID scanner. Since there are hundreds of pipes in the drill string, this method is unacceptable for permanent operation.

Therefore, there is a need not only to detail the drill string by individual components, but also to implement this process in an automatic mode in order to obtain not only predictive, according to the drilling plan, not only estimates of parameters such as operating time, static and dynamic loads, accumulated fatigue, but also estimates associated with each individual drill pipe or other tool that is part of the drill string.

The present invention solves this problem of detailing the drill string, qualitatively improves the monitoring of the drilling process, other tripping operations and provides the ability to evaluate the changing physical parameters of each individual component of the drill string directly in the process of drilling in automatic mode.

To do this, an RFID tag is installed in each drill pipe or other element of the drill string, which includes an electronic circuit with a unique identifier that is read by the claimed measuring complex.

This complex consists of:

1) A stationary RFID scanner that generates a scanning direct electromagnetic wave and reads the reverse wave reflected from the RFID tag,

2) RFID antennas that register electromagnetic fields,

3) A network switch that connects individual elements of the complex,

4) A local server with original software, to which the RFID scanner transfers the collected information for storage and primary processing,

5) Elements of a structured cable network (connecting cables for RFID antennas with an RFID scanner, an RFID scanner with a network switch, a network switch with a local server).

The claimed invention relates to an automated measuring complex mounted above the wellhead for real-time reading of radio frequency identification passive RFID tags installed on oil and gas drilling equipment during drilling.

The complex is an automatic software and hardware system installed above the wellhead and consisting of four RFID antennas, a stationary RFID scanner placed in an explosion-proof box, cables connecting the RFID antennas with the RFID scanner attached to the metal structures under the rotary table drilling rig. As well as a network switch and a local server with original software (software) located in the drilling operator's cabin above the rotary table of the drilling rig.

The objective of the invention is to reliably read passive RFID tags installed on the components of the drill string in order to obtain information about the state of each individual pipe during drilling in automatic mode without the participation of an operator.

The combination of the set number of RFID antennas, their specific location and distance relative to the drill pipe and relative to the stationary RFID scanner provides the ability to read information from RFID tags during drilling in automatic mode.

The problem is solved by placing the optimal number of receiving RFID antennas, taking into account their influence on each other, determining the configuration of their location relative to the drill string, the optimal distance from the pipe and protecting the active equipment of the complex (RFID scanner), taking into account the requirements of fire and explosion safety at oil and gas drilling rigs.

Since the drill pipe string in the well operates in different modes, a number of tests were carried out in all these modes.

During testing, it was found that the optimal number of RFID antennas is four, and the distance of the RFID antenna surface from the outer surface of the drill pipe should be more than thirty centimeters due to possible contact with blowout protection equipment at shorter distances and should be less than one meter due to the limitation according to the reading range of the RFID tag.

To place RFID antennas on a drilling rig, a special mount has been developed, which is not the subject of this application.

It was also found that the length of the connecting cable from the stationary RFID scanner to the RFID antenna affects the reading range of the passive RFID tag. Therefore, the RFID scanner should be installed as close as possible to the RFID antennas, for which it is installed in close proximity to the installation site of the RFID antennas under the rotary table of the drilling rig, and placed in an explosion-proof box for safety reasons. The length of the connecting cable from the stationary RFID scanner to the RFID antenna should be as short as possible due to the strong attenuation of the signal in it, so the scanner is also placed in the space under the rotary table, while the cable length should not exceed ten meters.

The principle layout of the elements of the measuring complex relative to the drill pipe with an RFID tag is as follows: pipe with an RFID tag - RFID antenna - stationary RFID scanner - network switch - local server.

Increasing the number of RFID antennas from one to four improves RFID tag reading. However, the addition of the fifth and subsequent RFID antennas practically does not improve the quality of reading, but harms it due to interference effects, therefore, four RFID antennas are used in this complex.

The geometry of the location of the RFID antennas follows from the axial symmetry due to the rotating pipe, so the RFID antennas are installed at the vertices of a regular polygon, the center of which is the point of the axis of rotation of the pipe, which lies in the same horizontal plane with the centers of the RFID antennas. In this case, the planes of the surfaces of the RFID antennas are oriented to the axis of rotation of the pipe perpendicular to the horizon.

Below is a list of the attached drawings.

Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of a hardware measuring complex, where

1 - drill pipe with RFID tag,

2 - RFID tag,

3 - RFID antenna,

4 - connecting cable of RFID antennas with RFID scanner,

5 - RFID scanner

6 - network switch

7 - local server

9 - connecting cable between RFID scanner and network switch

10 - connecting cable between network switch and local server

11 - explosion-proof box

13 - space under the rotary table

14 - space above the rotary table

Fig. 2 - general view of the hardware measuring complex, where

1 - drill pipe with RFID tag,

2 - RFID tag,

3 - RFID antenna,

4 - antenna connecting cable with RFID scanner,

5 - RFID scanner,

8 - rotary table of the drilling rig

11 - explosion-proof box

12 - wellhead

13 - space under the rotary table

Fig. 3 is a side view of the hardware measuring complex, where

1 - drill pipe with RFID tag.

2 - RFID tag,

3 - RFID antenna,

4 - RFID antenna and RFID scanner connecting cable,

5 - RFID scanner,

8 - rotary table of the drilling rig

11 - explosion-proof box

12 - wellhead

13 - space under the rotary table

Fig. 4 - top view of the hardware measuring complex, where

1 - drill pipe with RFID tag

2 - RFID tag

3 - RFID antenna

4 - connecting cable for RFID antenna and RFID scanner

5 - RFID scanner,

8 - rotary table of the drilling rig

11 - explosion-proof box

12 - wellhead

13 - space under the rotary table.

Fig. 5 - general view of the hardware measuring complex, where

5 - RFID scanner

9 - connecting cable between RFID scanner and network switch

11 - explosion-proof box.

Fig. 6 - general view of the hardware measuring complex, where

3 - RFID antenna

8 - rotary table of the drilling rig

12 - the mouth of the wellbore.

The following describes the implementation of the invention with reference to the attached drawings.

The complex is an automatic software and hardware system installed above the wellhead 12 (Fig. 2, Fig. 3, Fig. 4, Fig. 6), and consisting of four RFID antennas 3 (Fig. 1, Fig. 2, Fig. 3, Fig. 4, Fig. 6), stationary RFID scanner 5 (Fig. 1, Fig. 2, Fig. 3, Fig. 4, Fig. 5), placed in an explosion-proof box 11 (Fig. 1, Fig. 2, Fig. 3, Fig. 4, Fig. 5), cables 4 (Fig. 1, Fig. 2, Fig. 3, Fig. 4) connecting the antennas to the RFID scanner 5 (Fig. 1, Fig. 2, Fig. 3, Fig. 4, Fig. 5) attached to metal structures in space 13 (Fig. 1, Fig. 2, Fig. 3, Fig. 4) under the rotary table 8 of the drilling rig (Fig. 2, Fig. 3, Fig. 4, Fig. 6), as well as a network switch 6 (Fig. 1) connected to the RFID scanner 5 (Fig. 1, Fig. 2, Fig. 3, Fig. 4, Fig. 5 ) connecting cable 10 (Fig. 1), and a local server 7 (Fig. 1) with original software (SW) located in the drilling operator's cabin in space 14 (Fig. 1) above the rotary table 8 of the drilling rig anovki (Fig. 2, Fig. 3, Fig. 4, Fig. 6).

When placing the complex RFID antenna 3 (Fig. 1, Fig. 2, Fig. 3, Fig. 4, Fig. 6) is installed at the vertices of a regular polygon, the center of which is the point of the axis of rotation of the drill pipe 1 (Fig. 4), lying in the same horizontal plane with the centers of the RFID antennas 3 (Fig. 4, Fig. 6), while the planes of the surfaces of the RFID antennas 3 (Fig. 4, Fig. 6) are oriented to the axis of rotation of the pipe 1 (Fig. 4) perpendicular to the horizon and are placed in space 13 (Fig. 1, Fig. 2, Fig. 3, Fig. 4) under the rotary table of the drilling rig 8 (Fig. 2, Fig. 3, Fig. 4, Fig. 6) at a distance of at least 30 centimeters and not more than one meter from the outer surface of the drill pipe 1 (Fig. 1, Fig. 2, Fig. 3, Fig. 4). In this case, the length of the cable from the stationary RFID scanner 5 (Fig. 1, Fig. 2, Fig. 3, Fig. 4, Fig. 5) to the RFID antenna 3 (Fig. 1, Fig. 2, Fig. 3, Fig. 4, Fig. 6) should not exceed ten meters.

And the network switch 6 (Fig. 1) is connected to the RFID scanner 5 (Fig. 1, Fig. 2, Fig. 3, Fig. 4, Fig. 5) with a connecting cable 9 (Fig. 1, Fig. 5), and connecting cable 10 (Fig. 1) with a local server 7 (Fig. 1) with original software (SW). The network switch 6 (Fig. 1) and the local server 7 (Fig. 1) are placed in the drilling operator's cabin in space 14 (Fig. 1) above the rotary table 8 of the drilling rig (Fig. 2, Fig. 3, Fig. 4, Fig. .6).

Claims (12)

Automated measuring complex for reading radio frequency identification RFID tags during drilling, installed on oil and gas drilling equipment above the wellhead, containing: RFID antennas, a stationary RFID scanner, a network switch, a local server, connecting cables, characterized in that what: - the number of RFID antennas is no more than four, - RFID antennas are installed at an equal distance from each other, forming a regular polygon, - RFID antennas are installed at the vertices of a regular polygon, the center of which is the point of the axis of rotation of the drill pipe, which lies in the same horizontal plane with the centers of the RFID antennas, - RFID antenna surface planes are oriented to the drill pipe rotation axis perpendicular to the horizon, - the distance from the RFID antennas to the outer surface of the drill pipe with the RFID tag must be at least thirty centimeters, - the distance from RFID antennas to the outer surface of the drill pipe with RFID tag should be no more than one meter, - the length of the connecting cables from the RFID antennas to the stationary RFID scanner must be no more than ten meters, - RFID antennas are located under the rotary table of the drilling rig and are attached to the metal structures of the rotary table base, - a stationary RFID scanner is placed in the space under the rotary table of the drilling rig, - a stationary RFID scanner is placed in an explosion-proof box installed in the space under the rotary table of the drilling rig, - a network switch and a local server are located in the drilling operator's cabin in the space above the rotary table of the drilling rig.

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