Remote Well Site Bulk Material Tracking System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automation systems for managing consumables at oil and gas wellsites face challenges due to high maintenance and logistics costs, especially when assets are spread over large geographic areas, and issues with wireless connectivity, limiting the scope of implementation and efficiency in resupplying bulk materials.
Innovation Solution
A wellsite system comprising a bulk material transporter, a mobile tagger, and an uplink that measures and logs bulk material output, assigns transfer parameters, and wirelessly transmits data to remote storage, enabling efficient tracking and resupply of bulk materials across multiple assets without requiring frequent maintenance or complex automation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If automation systems are deployed across a large fleet of assets, then management efficiency of consumables is improved, but maintenance costs and logistics complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs disposable or easily replaceable electronic components (tags, data loggers) that can be quickly deployed and removed from assets without requiring complex maintenance infrastructure. These simple devices replace expensive, complex automation systems that would require dedicated maintenance facilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the core tracking function from complex automated management systems, isolating it into simple, standalone components (RFID tags, basic data loggers) that can operate independently without requiring centralized control or frequent maintenance.
2Adaptability or versatility
If assets are spread over a substantial geographic area, then operational flexibility is improved, but wireless connectivity and data transmission reliability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary data storage on local devices (data loggers on transporters, tags on assets) before transmission is needed. This allows data to be captured and stored locally during periods when connectivity may be unavailable, then transmitted later when connection is restored, ensuring no data loss despite intermittent connectivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a dynamic data transmission system that adapts to connectivity conditions. Data is stored locally when disconnected and automatically transmitted when connected, allowing the system to flexibly operate across varying geographic conditions without requiring continuous stable connectivity.
3Device complexity
If manual tracking methods are used, then system complexity is reduced, but labor costs and error rates increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service tracking where assets and transporters automatically identify themselves through RFID tags and data loggers. The system autonomously records transfers, measures consumption, and transmits data without requiring manual intervention, eliminating labor-intensive tracking while keeping the technology simple and inexpensive.
Data Source
AI summary
A wellsite system that includes a bulk material transporter, a mobile tagger, and an uplink. The bulk material transporter includes a supply of a bulk material, a meter to measure output from the supply, and a data logger to log the output as a function of a predetermined parameter. The mobile tagger assigns transfer parameters to each transfer of the bulk material from the supply to one of multiple assets located at the wellsite, including the output measured by the meter. The uplink wirelessly transmits data from the log and the transfer parameters to remote data storage not located at the wellsite.