Tool identification
AssigneeWeatherford Technology Holdings, LLC
InventorsChristina Karin Hebebrand, Bjoern Thiemann, Martin Liess, Frank Wern, Aicam Zouhair, John Fielding Ownby
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A modular top drive system for construction of a wellbore includes an identification reader for automatically identifying tools during operation for rig up and tool exchange. The identification reader may be disposed in one of a tool storage unit, a tool change unit or a top drive unit. Drilling tools, cementing tools and casing tools with one or more identification devices may be used with the modular top drive system. The one or more identification devices may be radio frequency identification devices, barcodes, text tags, micro-controllers, or combinations thereof.
Claims20
A method of operating a modular top drive system, comprising:
- positioning a tool adjacent a top drive unit and within a range of an identification reader, wherein positioning the tool comprises:
- retrieving the tool from a tool storage unit;
- and
- transporting the tool to a plurality of slips positioned underneath the top drive unit;
- reading one or more identification devices on the tool using the identification reader;
- determining whether the tool is a correct tool using a tool identification information obtained from the one or more identification devices;
- if the tool is the correct tool,
- configuring the top drive unit according to the tool identification information;
- and
- engaging the tool to the top drive unit;
- if the tool is not the correct tool, positioning another tool adjacent to the top drive unit.
A modular top drive system, comprising:
- a top drive unit for selectively connecting to a tool;
- an identification reader configured to obtain identity information from identification devices in the tool;
- a connection pad positioned on an exterior surface of the top drive unit, wherein the connection pad is configured to provide electrical power to the identification devices in the tool connected to the top drive unit;
- and
- a central control unit connectable to the top drive unit and the identification reader.
A tool for construction of a wellbore, comprising:
- a coupling for connecting to a top drive unit by a friction structure or by a load bearing head;
- one or more identification devices including identification information of the tool;
- and
- a conductive pad positioned on an exterior surface of the coupling, the conductive pad is connected to the one or more identification devices by a wire;
- wherein the one or more identification devices are active identification device powered by an external power supply through the conductive pad and the wire.
A method of operating a modular top drive system, comprising:
- positioning a tool adjacent a top drive unit and within a range of an identification reader;
- reading one or more identification devices on the tool using the identification reader to obtain a tool identification information;
- sending the tool identification information to a central control unit;
- determining whether the tool is a correct tool using the tool identification information;
- if the tool is the correct tool,
- configuring the top drive unit according to the tool identification information, wherein configuring the top drive unit comprises sending a command to the top drive unit from the central control unit;
- and
- engaging the tool to the top drive unit;
- if the tool is not the correct tool, positioning another tool adjacent to the top drive unit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.