Drill Floor Retention Feature Wear Detection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for detecting wear in rig equipment during subterranean operations are not effective in real-time, leading to potential slippage of tubular strings, which can damage other equipment due to inadequate periodic maintenance schedules that do not account for all wear factors.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a retention feature and an imaging system that captures images of a visible feature on the tubular string to detect changes in position, allowing a processor to calculate the wear status of the retention feature, enabling real-time monitoring and maintenance scheduling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If periodic maintenance schedule is used for gripper replacement, then maintenance planning is simplified, but wear detection accuracy deteriorates because the schedule does not account for all factors causing wear
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical periodic maintenance schedule with an optical imaging system that uses cameras and image processing algorithms to detect gripper wear in real-time. The system captures images of the tubular string and retention feature, processes them to detect relative movement, and calculates wear status without relying on predetermined time-based intervals.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the imaging system continuously monitors the retention feature's condition and provides real-time wear status information. This feedback loop allows the system to adjust maintenance timing based on actual wear progression rather than following a fixed schedule, improving both accuracy and operational efficiency.
2Reliability
If grippers are replaced on a fixed periodic schedule, then equipment availability is maintained, but real-time wear status monitoring is lost leading to potential slippage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent ensures continuous monitoring of the retention feature by capturing images at multiple time points during tubular string operations. The imaging system operates continuously or at frequent intervals, maintaining an ongoing record of wear progression rather than relying on discrete periodic checks, thus preventing information loss between maintenance intervals.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an imaging system as an intermediary between the retention feature and the monitoring process. This intermediary captures visual data of the tubular string and retention feature interaction, translating physical wear into detectable image variations that can be processed to determine real-time wear status without direct contact with the moving components.
3Measurement precision
If imaging system captures images at multiple positions, then wear detection accuracy is improved, but data processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the image processing task by focusing on specific regions of interest - the retention feature and the tubular string engagement area. Rather than processing entire images, the system identifies and analyzes only the relevant portions containing the visible feature and retention component, reducing computational complexity while maintaining detection accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates simplified representations (copies) of the complex wear detection problem by extracting key visual features from images. The system identifies visible features on the tubular string and tracks their position across multiple images, creating a simplified dataset that captures essential wear information without requiring full-image analysis, thus reducing processing complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for conducting a subterranean operation can include a retention feature in a drill floor with the retention feature configured to suspend a tubular string from the drill floor via engagement of the retention feature with the tubular string, an imaging system configured to capture images of a visible feature on a portion of the tubular string that extends above the drill floor; and a processor configured to detect a change in a position of the visible feature while the tubular string is engaged with the retention feature, and the processor being configured to calculate a wear status of the retention feature based upon the change in the position of the tubular string.