Virtual Sensor Interoperability for Fail-Safe Oilfield Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
In the oil and gas exploration and production sector, there is a lack of effective systems for fail-safe interoperability among data sets, applications, and stakeholders, as well as reliable sensing data for control systems, leading to inefficiencies and potential system failures due to the limitations of physical sensors and point-to-point integration approaches.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a virtual sensor network and integrated system architecture that uses intelligent gateways, edge appliances, and deep learning algorithms to provide standardized interfaces, data processing, and predictive control, enabling reliable and fail-safe data management and control across oilfield operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If physical sensors are used to measure and monitor physical phenomena, then measurement data can be obtained, but the system becomes costly and unreliable due to sensor failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates virtual sensors that replicate the functionality of physical sensors through software models and algorithms. These virtual sensors process data from multiple sources including available physical sensors, historical data, and predictive models to generate sensor readings without requiring physical hardware at every measurement point, thereby reducing cost and failure risk while maintaining measurement capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary layer between physical phenomena and control systems. This layer includes virtual sensors and data processing algorithms that translate and validate sensor data, providing a buffer that prevents direct propagation of sensor failures to control decisions and enables continued operation even when physical sensors fail
2Adaptability or versatility
If point-to-point integration is used to achieve interoperability among applications and stakeholders, then data sharing can be established, but the system becomes limited to single workflows and lacks systematic data integrity control
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal data exchange framework with standardized interfaces and protocols that enable multiple applications and stakeholders to share data across diverse workflows. This universal layer handles data transformation, validation, and routing, allowing the same infrastructure to support various oilfield operations including drilling, production, and maintenance without requiring separate integration solutions for each workflow
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the integration architecture into distinct functional layers: data acquisition layer, virtual sensor layer, data processing layer, and control layer. This segmentation allows each layer to be developed and maintained independently, reducing overall system complexity while enabling systematic control of data integrity through standardized interfaces between layers
3Adaptability or versatility
If each stakeholder develops its own data model representation, then specific requirements can be met, but data integrity and reconciliation become uncontrolled and inconsistent
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the centralized data model validation system monitors and evaluates data model representations from different stakeholders. The system provides feedback on compliance with data integrity rules, identifies conflicts between different stakeholder models, and coordinates reconciliations, ensuring that flexible stakeholder-specific models maintain overall data consistency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a mediator layer between stakeholder-specific data models and the unified system view. This mediator validates, transforms, and reconciles data from different stakeholder models against centralized data integrity rules, allowing stakeholders to maintain their own model representations while ensuring systematic control over data quality and consistency across the entire system
Data Source
AI summary
A method of managing oilfield activity with a control system is provided having a plurality of virtual sensors and integrating the virtual sensors into a virtual sensor network. The method includes determining interdependencies among the virtual sensors, obtaining operational information from the virtual sensors, and providing virtual sensor output to the control system based on the determined interdependencies and the operational information.