# US 12,000,260 B2 · Monitoring and diagnosis of equipment health

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- Number: US 12,000,260 B2
- Document ID: US12000260B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/940,036
- Filed: 2020-07-27
- Published: 2022-01-27
- Granted: 2024-06-04
- Earliest claimed: 2020-07-27
- Assignees: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
- Applicants: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
- Inventors: Juan-Carlos Yepez
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12000260B2

## CPC

- E21B 44/00: 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
- E21B 7/00: Special methods or apparatus for drilling
- G05B 19/048: Monitoring; Safety
- G05B 23/0272: {Presentation of monitored results, e.g. selection of status reports to be displayed; Filtering information to the user}
- G06Q 10/06316: {Sequencing of tasks or work}
- G06Q 10/20: Administration of product repair or maintenance
- G06Q 50/02: Agriculture; Fishing; Forestry; Mining
- G06Q 50/08: Construction
- G07C 3/00: Registering or indicating the condition or the working of machines or other apparatus, other than vehicles
- E21B 2200/20: Computer models or simulations, e.g. for reservoirs under production, drill bits
- G05B 2219/24015: Monitoring
- E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G)
- G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- 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

## Abstract

Systems and methods for monitoring and diagnosis of equipment health. An example method may include commencing operation of a monitoring system of a well construction system to cause the monitoring system to receive sensor data facilitated by sensors disposed in association with a corresponding piece of equipment, detect an abnormal condition associated with a piece of equipment based on the sensor data, and output abnormal condition information indicative of the abnormal condition to a first communication device. The method may further include displaying on the first communication device to technical support personnel the abnormal condition information, receiving by the first communication device from the technical support personnel mitigation information indicative of mitigating action to be performed to mitigate the abnormal condition, and transmitting the mitigation information from the first communication device to a second communication device to be viewed by maintenance personnel who are to perform the mitigating action.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An apparatus comprising:
a monitoring system of a well construction system, wherein the well construction system is located at a wellsite and comprises a plurality of pieces of equipment operable to perform well construction operations, and wherein the monitoring system comprises:
a plurality of sensors each disposed in association with a corresponding piece of equipment and operable to facilitate sensor data indicative of operational status of that piece of equipment;
a first communication device at a location remote from the wellsite;
a second communication device; and
a monitoring device comprising a processor and a memory storing an executable program code, wherein during the well construction operations the monitoring device is operable to:
receive the sensor data;
automatically detect an abnormal condition associated with a corresponding piece of equipment based on the sensor data; and
output abnormal condition information indicative of the abnormal condition to the first communication device;
wherein the first communication device is operable to:
responsive to the output of the abnormal condition information associated with the piece of equipment, communicatively connect the first communication device, at the location remote from the wellsite, with the piece of equipment, at the wellsite, associated with the abnormal condition to receive operational information;
display the abnormal condition information and the operational information to technical support personnel;
responsive to the display, receive, from the technical support personnel, mitigation information indicative of action to be performed by maintenance personnel on one or more of the pieces of equipment to mitigate the abnormal condition prior to field escalation at the wellsite; and
output the mitigation information to the second communication device for viewing by the maintenance personnel.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first communication device is or comprises a mobile communication device.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the second communication device is located at the wellsite.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the abnormal condition information comprises sensor data associated with a piece of equipment associated with the abnormal condition.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the abnormal condition information comprises an alert describing the abnormal condition and indicating which piece of equipment is associated with the abnormal condition.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first communication device is operable to:
communicatively connect with the monitoring device; and
receive the abnormal condition information from the monitoring device.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first communication device is operable to:
receive at least a portion of the abnormal condition information from the piece of equipment associated with the abnormal condition.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first communication device is operable to:
display a native human machine interface (HMI) screen of the piece of equipment associated with the abnormal condition, wherein the native HMI screen contains at least a portion of the abnormal condition information and at least a portion of the operational information, wherein the native HMI screen is generated by a corresponding local controller running or otherwise executing a native computer program code to operate or control the corresponding piece of equipment.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the monitoring device is further operable to determine a priority level associated with the abnormal condition, and wherein the priority level is indicative of when the monitoring device will output the abnormal condition information to the first communication device to reduce risk of field escalation at the wellsite prior to receipt of the mitigation information by the second communication device.

### Claim 10

A method comprising:
commencing operation of a monitoring system of a well construction system, wherein the well construction system is located at a wellsite and comprises a plurality of pieces of equipment operable to perform well construction operations, and wherein commencing operation of the monitoring system causes the monitoring system to:
receive sensor data facilitated by a plurality of sensors each disposed in association with a corresponding piece of equipment;
automatically detect an abnormal condition associated with a piece of equipment based on the sensor data;
output abnormal condition information indicative of the abnormal condition to a first communication device at a location remote from the wellsite; and
responsive to the output of the abnormal condition associated with the piece of equipment, communicatively connect the first communication device, at the location remote from the wellsite, with the piece of equipment, at the wellsite, associated with the abnormal condition to receive operational information;
displaying the abnormal condition information and the operational information to technical support personnel via the first communication device;
responsive to the displaying, receiving, by the first communication device and from the technical support personnel, mitigation information indicative of mitigating action to be performed on one or more of the pieces of equipment to mitigate the abnormal condition prior to field escalation at the wellsite; and
transmitting the mitigation information from the first communication device to a second communication device to be viewed by maintenance personnel who are to perform the mitigating action.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10 wherein the first communication device is or comprises a mobile communication device.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10 wherein the second communication device is located at the wellsite.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10 wherein the abnormal condition information comprises:
the sensor data associated with the piece of equipment associated with the abnormal condition; and
an alert describing the abnormal condition and indicating which piece of equipment is associated with the abnormal condition.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13 wherein the mitigation information is further indicative of whether the alert is valid or false.

### Claim 15 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10 further comprising, before receiving the mitigation information and transmitting the mitigation information:
displaying a native human machine interface (HMI) screen of the piece of equipment associated with the abnormal condition, wherein the native HMI screen contains at least a portion of the abnormal condition information and at least a portion of the operational information, wherein the native HMI screen is generated by a corresponding local controller running or otherwise executing a native computer program code to operate or control the corresponding piece of equipment.

### Claim 16

A method comprising:
commencing operation of a monitoring system of a well construction system, wherein the well construction system is located at a wellsite and comprises a plurality of pieces of equipment operable to perform well construction operations, and wherein commencing operation of the monitoring system causes the monitoring system to:
receive sensor data facilitated by a plurality of sensors each disposed in association with a corresponding piece of equipment;
automatically output an alert indicative of an abnormal condition associated with a piece of equipment based on the sensor data;
transmit the alert and abnormal condition sensor data associated with the piece of equipment associated with the abnormal condition to a first communication device located at a location remote from the wellsite; and
responsive to the transmission of the alert and the abnormal condition associated with the piece of equipment, communicatively connect the first communication device, at the location remote from the wellsite, with the piece of equipment, at the wellsite, associated with the abnormal condition to receive operational information;
displaying to technical support personnel, on the first communication device, the alert, the operational information and abnormal condition sensor data;
responsive to the displaying, receiving, by the first communication device and from the technical support personnel, mitigation information indicative of mitigating action to be performed on one or more of the pieces of equipment to mitigate the abnormal condition prior to field escalation at the wellsite; and
transmitting the mitigation information from the first communication device to a second communication device located at the wellsite to be viewed by maintenance personnel who are to perform the mitigating action.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16 wherein the mitigation information is further indicative of whether the alert is valid or false.

### Claim 18 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16 further comprising, before receiving the mitigation information and transmitting the mitigation information:
displaying a native human machine interface (HMI) screen of the piece of equipment associated with the abnormal condition, wherein the native HMI screen contains at least a portion of the abnormal condition sensor data and at least a portion of the operational information, wherein the native HMI screen is generated by a corresponding local controller running or otherwise executing a native computer program code to operate or control the corresponding piece of equipment.

### Claim 19 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16 wherein commencing operation of the monitoring system further causes the monitoring system to determine a priority level associated with the abnormal condition, and wherein the priority level is indicative of when the monitoring system will output the abnormal condition information to the first communication device to reduce risk of field escalation at the wellsite prior to receipt of the mitigation information by the second communication device.

### Claim 20 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first communication device is operable to receive information from one or more other monitoring devices at one or more other wellsites, communicatively connect with pieces of equipment at the one or more other wellsites, and output corresponding mitigation information to the second communication device and/or one or more other second communication devices for viewing by the maintenance personnel and/or other maintenance personnel.