Pipe tracking system for drilling rigs

A method comprising:

• applying a first tag on a pipe while moving the pipe from a pipe rack of a drilling rig to a catwalk of the drilling rig, wherein the first tag is configured to be rendered inoperative in a downhole environment of a well being constructed by the drilling rig;
• then
• reading a first tag identifier from the first tag;
• then:
• transmitting first tag data representing the read first tag identifier to a database;
• storing the transmitted first tag data in the database;
• measuring one or more physical parameters of the pipe;
• transmitting measurement data representing the measured one or more physical parameters to the database;
• and
• storing the transmitted measurement data in the database in association with the stored first tag data;
• then
• automatically updating a pipe tally based on the stored first tag data and the stored measurement data associated with the stored first tag data, wherein the pipe tally comprises order data indicative of an order of the pipe and a plurality of additional pipes in the well;
• then
• deploying the pipe into the downhole environment, thus rendering the first tag inoperable;
• then
• performing an operation in the well while the pipe is in the downhole environment;
• then
• removing the pipe from the well;
• then
• applying a second tag on the pipe;
• then
• reading a second tag identifier from the second tag;
• then
• transmitting second tag data representing the read second tag identifier to the database;
• then
• linking the transmitted second tag data to the stored measurement data that was previously associated with the first tag data based on the order data of the pipe tally;
• then
• storing the transmitted second tag data in the database in association with the stored measurement data in the database.

A method comprising:

• obtaining:
• an automated pipe tally of a plurality of pipes in a first pipe string in a first well, wherein the automated pipe tally comprises an order of the plurality of pipes in the first pipe string, measured physical parameters of each pipe of the plurality of pipes, and a plurality of first identifiers each unique to a corresponding pipe of the plurality of pipes and associated with the measured physical parameters of that pipe;
• and
• characteristics of the first well, including geometry and drilling parameters of the first well;
• then:
• removing an oilfield tubular from the first pipe string, wherein the oilfield tubular is one of the pipes of the plurality of pipes;
• applying a tag to the oilfield tubular after removing the oilfield tubular from the first pipe string, wherein the tag comprises a second identifier;
• and
• reading the second identifier from the tag;
• linking the second identifier with the measured physical parameters of the oilfield tubular based on the order of the plurality of pipes in the first pipe string;
• storing the second identifier in association with the measured physical parameters of the oilfield tubular in a database;
• and
• determining a remaining fatigue life of the oilfield tubular;
• then, based on the determined remaining fatigue life, determining not to retire the oilfield tubular;
• and
• then determining a position at which to include the oilfield tubular in a second pipe string to be used in a second well, wherein determining the position is based on characteristics of the second well and the determined remaining fatigue life.