Remote Wellbore Servicing via Central Control Network
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current wellbore servicing operations face challenges in remote monitoring and control, requiring skilled personnel to physically attend sites for real-time monitoring and decision-making, which is inefficient and risky, especially in deep or hard-to-reach locations.
Innovation Solution
Establishing a communication network that converts local area network packets to internet protocol packets, enabling remote control and monitoring through a central control site via satellite or wireless links, allowing for real-time video, audio, and data transmission to manage wellbore servicing equipment from a central location, including hydraulic fracturing, acidization, and gel injection operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If skilled personnel physically attend remote wellsites for real-time monitoring and control, then operational decision-making quality is improved, but personnel safety risks increase and operational efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a central control site as an intermediary between operators and remote wellsites. This intermediary enables real-time monitoring and control of wellbore servicing operations through communication networks, allowing skilled personnel to make operational decisions remotely without physically exposing themselves to hazardous conditions at remote locations
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical presence of personnel at remote sites with electronic communication systems and control networks. Video feeds, sensor data, and control signals are transmitted through communication infrastructure, substituting the need for physical attendance with digital transmission mechanisms
2Speed
If skilled personnel physically attend remote wellsites for real-time monitoring, then real-time decision-making is improved, but operational efficiency and cost-effectiveness worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The central control site serves multiple functions simultaneously: monitoring multiple remote wellsites, receiving and analyzing sensor data, controlling wellbore servicing equipment, and providing communication coordination. This multi-functional approach consolidates operations that would otherwise require separate personnel deployments at each site
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple operational functions and multiple wellsite monitoring tasks into a single centralized location. Operators control various wellbore servicing operations across different geographic locations from one central control site, combining resources and capabilities to improve overall operational efficiency
3Reliability
If communication infrastructure is established for remote monitoring, then personnel safety and operational efficiency are improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Gateway devices serve as intermediaries that simplify the communication architecture by providing standardized interfaces between the central control site and remote wellsite equipment. These gateways handle protocol conversion and data formatting, reducing the complexity burden on the overall system
Solution Approach 2:
The communication system implements continuous feedback loops where sensor data from wellbore servicing equipment is transmitted to the central control site, analyzed, and used to adjust operational parameters in real-time. This feedback mechanism ensures reliable monitoring and control while maintaining manageable system complexity through automated response protocols
Data Source
AI summary
A method of servicing a wellbore is provided. The method comprises establishing a communication link between a wellsite and a central control site, wherein the communication link carries sensor, audio, and video data to the central control site and carries command parameters to the wellsite to command wellbore servicing equipment on the wellsite. The data transmitted by the wellsite is analyzed at the central control site, stored in a data store at the central control site, and the results of analysis displayed on a display at the central control site.