US 6,677,861 B1 · Monitoring system

Abstract

The present invention provides a tool assembly for use in field applications to monitor at least one condition in a well or other hole. The tool assembly may include a computing unit for directing operation of the tool assembly and may be sized to be operable in a hole having a diameter of 1 inch, and in some cases even smaller. In one aspect, the tool assembly is designed to significantly conserve power. Sensor readings may be taken at different schedules to conserve power when frequent readings are not required. Also, internal electronics of the tool assembly can be operated at a low voltage. In one aspect, the tool assembly is assemblable by simple rotatable engagement of the components, with electrical interconnections being made automatically by the rotatable engagement without keying of components. In another aspect, the tool assembly is networkable with other like tool assemblies and monitorable from a central location. In yet another embodiment, the tool assembly may include a tool bundle with a plurality of different sensor capabilities useful as a multi-parameter probe when tool diameter is not a big concern.

Claims39

Dependent claims

A system for monitoring at least one remotely located tool assembly comprising:

a communication network to which at least one remotely located tool assembly which is configured to monitor at least one condition is connectable, wherein said communications network provides for conduction of electrical signals to and from the at least one tool assembly;
and
a centralized processing device connectable to the communications network, said centralized processing device comprising:
means to determine the communications network's configuration through transmission of a general identification message over the network and processing of at least one return message from the at least one tool assembly connected to the communications network, wherein the return message includes identification and operational information for the at least one tool assembly;
means to selectively access each of the at least one tool assembly in communication with the centralized processing device;
and
means to communicate with the at least one tool assembly so as to access, amend, and retrieve information stored in the at least one tool assembly.

4 more elements

A networked monitoring system comprising:

a centralized processing device configurable to connect to a communications network so as to transmit and/or receive messages over the communications network;
a least one configurable tool assembly electrically connectable to the communications network, wherein said at least one tool assembly is configured to receive and process the at least one message transmitted over the communications network from the centralized processing device and to perform at least one function in response to receipt of the at least one message which includes transmitting identification information to the centralized processing device;
and
wherein the centralized processing device is further configured to determine the communications network's configuration through receipt and processing of the identification information, the central processing device selectively communicates with the at least one configurable tool assembly over the communications network so as to perform at least one of:
activate and deactivate the at least one tool assembly, add, remove, and/or amend programming of the at least one tool assembly, and/or extract data from the at least one tool assembly.

2 more elements

An apparatus for communicating and/or monitoring at least one tool assembly device connected to a communications network, comprising:

a communications interface configurable to connect to the communications network and provide for transmission and receipt of message over the data network;
communications processing means for identifying the at least one tool assembly connected to the communications network through exchange of messages wherein a reply message from the at least one tool assembly includes identification information for the at least one tool assembly;
tool assembly processing means which is configured to communicate over the communications network with the at least one tool assembly so as control operations of the at least tool assembly;
and
a user interface through which data relating to the operations of the at least one tool assembly may be viewed and/or manually entered.

2 more elements

A method of monitoring operations of at least one tool assembly over a communications network comprising the steps of:

establishing a connection over the communications network;
generating and transmitting a general identification message over the communications network to which the at least one tool assembly connected to the communications network will receive;
receiving any reply messages transmitted over the communications network from the at least one tool assembly and processing any configuration information for the at least one tool assembly included therein;
logging the at least one tool assembly in memory as being connected to the communications network;
transmitting at least one message specifically addressed to the at least one tool assembly over the communications network, wherein the message includes command information relating to the operation of the at least one tool assembly;
and
receiving at least one operational reply message from the at least one tool assembly which includes information relating to performance of the at least one tool assembly.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Monitoring system

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Monitoring system

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Abstract

Claims39