# US 12,182,654 B1 · Automating oil and gas drilling site operation processes using artificial intelligence

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- Number: US 12,182,654 B1
- Document ID: US12182654B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 18/339,776
- Filed: 2023-06-22
- Published: 2024-12-26
- Granted: 2024-12-31
- Earliest claimed: 2023-06-22
- Assignees: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
- Applicants: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
- Inventors: Ryan Majdi Arab
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12182654B1

## CPC

- G06K 7/10366: {the interrogation device being adapted for miscellaneous applications}
- G06K 19/07762: {the adhering arrangement making the record carrier wearable, e.g. having the form of a ring, watch, glove or bracelet (record carriers for insertion in the human body for medical purposes A61B90/00; record carriers adapted for attachment to animals A01K11/00)}
- G06K: GRAPHICAL DATA READING (image or video recognition or understanding G06V); PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS

## Abstract

Systems and methods include a computer-implemented method for managing operations. A detailed sequence of drill site operations for each rig in a fleet is used to determine a time schedule for the detailed sequence of drill site operations, identifying routine operational steps and dependent prerequisite activities required to proceed to each next operational step. A critical path for drill site operations is determined based on the time schedules. A shortened critical path is created using machine learning on the drill site operations. Suggestions of possible next steps for an in-progress drilling operation using the shortened critical path are provided in real time. A sequence of operations is optimized using a user-selected suggestion. Materials and services requests are automated. Location information of personnel authorized to perform a task at a rig is collected. A determination is made that the personnel can perform the task. Notifications to perform the task are provided.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A computer-implemented method, comprising:
storing, in a repository at a centralized system, a detailed sequence of drill site operations for each rig of a fleet of rigs;
determining, by the centralized system, for each detailed sequence of drill site operations and using at least the repository, a time schedule for the detailed sequence of drill site operations identifying routine operational steps and dependent prerequisite activities required to proceed to each next operational step in each detailed sequence of drill site operations;
determining, by the centralized system based on at least the time schedules for the detailed sequence of drill site operations for each rig, a critical path for drill site operations;
creating, by the centralized system based on the critical path, a shortened critical path by using machine learning on the drill site operations;
providing, by the centralized system in real time in a user interface and using the shortened critical path, suggestions of possible next steps for an in-progress drilling operation; and
optimizing, by the centralized system using a user-selected suggestion, a sequence of operations for the in-progress drilling operation, comprising:
automating, by the centralized system, materials and services requests;
collecting, by the centralized system, location information of personnel authorized to perform a task at a rig by collecting, from a radio frequency identification (RFID) hub at a ria, locations of RFID chins worn by stand-by personnel and locations of RFID chins installed on a rig equipment and by collecting corresponding identifiers of the stand-by personnel and the rig equipment;
determining, by the centralized system and using the location information, that the personnel can perform the task; and
providing, by the centralized system, notifications to the personnel to perform the task.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein detailed sequence of drill site operations for each rig of a fleet of rigs comprises roles of personnel capable of performing tasks included in the drill site operations.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the time schedule for the detailed sequence of drill site operations comprises durations for performing each task of the drill site operations.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the critical path identifies an order of tasks to be performed and job roles of personnel capable of performing tasks in the order of tasks to be performed.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein providing the suggestions of possible next steps for an in-progress drilling operation comprises generating a display of: 1) tasks to be performed at the rig and 2) personnel and rig equipment for performing the tasks.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein creating the shortened critical path comprises:
recording all possible steps at each stage across the fleet of rigs;
identifying offline/simultaneous activities; and
determining an optimized sequence of drill site operations.

### Claim 7

A non-transitory, computer-readable medium storing one or more instructions executable by a computer system to perform operations comprising:
storing, in a repository at a centralized system, a detailed sequence of drill site operations for each rig of a fleet of rigs;
determining, by the centralized system, for each detailed sequence of drill site operations and using at least the repository, a time schedule for the detailed sequence of drill site operations identifying routine operational steps and dependent prerequisite activities required to proceed to each next operational step in each detailed sequence of drill site operations;
determining, by the centralized system based on at least the time schedules for the detailed sequence of drill site operations for each rig, a critical path for drill site operations;
creating, by the centralized system based on the critical path, a shortened critical path by using machine learning on the drill site operations;
providing, by the centralized system in real time in a user interface and using the shortened critical path, suggestions of possible next steps for an in-progress drilling operation; and
optimizing, by the centralized system using a user-selected suggestion, a sequence of operations for the in-progress drilling operation, comprising:
automating, by the centralized system, materials and services requests;
collecting, by the centralized system, location information of personnel authorized to perform a task at a rig by collecting, from a radio frequency identification (RFID) hub at a ria, locations of RFID chins worn by stand-by personnel and locations of RFID chins installed on a rig equipment and by collecting corresponding identifiers of the stand-by personnel and the rig equipment;
determining, by the centralized system and using the location information, that the personnel can perform the task; and
providing, by the centralized system, notifications to the personnel to perform the task.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 7, wherein detailed sequence of drill site operations for each rig of a fleet of rigs comprises roles of personnel capable of performing tasks included in the drill site operations.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 7, wherein the time schedule for the detailed sequence of drill site operations comprises durations for performing each task of the drill site operations.

### Claim 10 (depends on 7)

The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 7, wherein the critical path identifies an order of tasks to be performed and job roles of personnel capable of performing tasks in the order of tasks to be performed.

### Claim 11 (depends on 7)

The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 7, wherein providing the suggestions of possible next steps for an in-progress drilling operation comprises generating a display of: 1) tasks to be performed at the rig and 2) personnel and rig equipment for performing the tasks.

### Claim 12 (depends on 7)

The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 7, wherein creating the shortened critical path comprises:
recording all possible steps at each stage across the fleet of rigs;
identifying offline/simultaneous activities; and
determining an optimized sequence of drill site operations.

### Claim 13

A computer-implemented system, comprising:
one or more processors; and
a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium coupled to the one or more processors and storing programming instructions for execution by the one or more processors, the programming instructions instructing the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:
storing, in a repository at a centralized system, a detailed sequence of drill site operations for each rig of a fleet of rigs;
determining, by the centralized system, for each detailed sequence of drill site operations and using at least the repository, a time schedule for the detailed sequence of drill site operations identifying routine operational steps and dependent prerequisite activities required to proceed to each next operational step in each detailed sequence of drill site operations;
determining, by the centralized system based on at least the time schedules for the detailed sequence of drill site operations for each rig, a critical path for drill site operations;
creating, by the centralized system based on the critical path, a shortened critical path by using machine learning on the drill site operations;
providing, by the centralized system in real time in a user interface and using the shortened critical path, suggestions of possible next steps for an in-progress drilling operation; and
optimizing, by the centralized system using a user-selected suggestion, a sequence of operations for the in-progress drilling operation, comprising:
automating, by the centralized system, materials and services requests;
collecting, by the centralized system, location information of personnel authorized to perform a task at a rig by collecting, from a radio frequency identification (RFID) hub at a ria, locations of RFID chins worn by stand-by personnel and locations of RFID chins installed on a rig equipment and by collecting corresponding identifiers of the stand-by personnel and the rig equipment;
determining, by the centralized system and using the location information, that the personnel can perform the task; and
providing, by the centralized system, notifications to the personnel to perform the task.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The computer-implemented system of claim 13, wherein detailed sequence of drill site operations for each rig of a fleet of rigs comprises roles of personnel capable of performing tasks included in the drill site operations.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The computer-implemented system of claim 13, wherein the time schedule for the detailed sequence of drill site operations comprises durations for performing each task of the drill site operations.

### Claim 16 (depends on 13)

The computer-implemented system of claim 13, wherein the critical path identifies an order of tasks to be performed and job roles of personnel capable of performing tasks in the order of tasks to be performed.

### Claim 17 (depends on 13)

The computer-implemented system of claim 13, wherein providing the suggestions of possible next steps for an in-progress drilling operation comprises generating a display of: 1) tasks to be performed at the rig and 2) personnel and rig equipment for performing the tasks.
