Blockchain Material Tracking for Well Completion Quality Assurance
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Solution Overview
Problem
In the hydrocarbon production process, particularly in well completions, there is a lack of effective information sharing and trust among participants in the services supply chain, leading to difficulties in accurately measuring and compensating individual contributions, which hampers the organization of providers and recognition of their value contributions.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a distributed ledger system, such as a blockchain, to collect and share data across supply chain participants, enabling real-time or near real-time updates of provider value contributions by tracking materials like water and proppants through standardized protocols and sensors, ensuring accurate attribution of value.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a distributed ledger system is implemented to track materials and measure contributions, then transparency and trust among participants are enhanced, but device complexity and implementation cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a distributed ledger system as an intermediary mechanism that mediates between supply chain participants. This ledger acts as a neutral, shared record-keeping infrastructure that all participants can access and verify, thereby establishing trust without requiring direct interpersonal trust or complex contractual arrangements between each pair of participants.
Solution Approach 2:
The distributed ledger system serves multiple functions simultaneously: it tracks material flows (water, proppants), records provider contributions, enables quality assurance, and facilitates compensation measurements. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate tracking systems for each purpose, thereby managing complexity while achieving comprehensive supply chain visibility.
2Measurement precision
If distributed ledger tracking is implemented for all materials, then measurement precision of individual contributions improves, but loss of time for data collection and verification increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by continuously tracking and recording material flows and provider contributions in real-time as they occur throughout the supply chain. Data is captured at the source (e.g., when materials are delivered or services rendered) rather than requiring retrospective data collection, thereby enabling precise measurement without time loss during the actual contribution events.
Solution Approach 2:
The distributed ledger provides continuous feedback to all participants about their contributions and the status of material flows. This real-time feedback mechanism eliminates the need for periodic manual verification and reconciliation, as the system automatically updates and maintains accurate records of all contributions as they happen.
3Manufacturing precision
If standardized protocols and sensors are deployed across the supply chain, then manufacturing precision of material tracking improves, but device complexity and implementation cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the tracking system into modular components: standardized sensors for material identification, communication protocols for data transmission, and ledger entries for record-keeping. Each component can be independently implemented and verified, allowing participants to adopt the system in manageable stages rather than requiring complete system replacement.
Solution Approach 2:
The system establishes standardized parameters and protocols for material tracking that can be consistently applied across different participants and materials. By defining common data formats, measurement units, and recording standards, the system achieves high tracking precision without requiring custom complex solutions for each participant.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are provided for performing a well completion. Specifically, a distributed ledger associated with a supply chain for a well completion is accessed. The distributed ledger can include a first entry associated with a first entity in the supply chain that is indicative of an identification of the first entity and characteristics of a material implemented in the well completion. The ledger can also include a second entry associated with a second entity in the supply chain that is indicative of the second entity and the characteristics of the material at the second entity. Integration of the material in the well completion can be controlled based on the first entry and the second entry.