Method of managing work orders at a well site

Abstract

A method of managing work orders that well companies issue to contractors working at remote well sites, involves a wireless communication link between two computers. Work orders specifying work to be done to a well are stored on a home base computer. Using the wireless communication link, the work orders are communicated to a mobile computer at the well site. This allows a contractor to refer to the work order while the work is being performed, and allows the contractor to immediately notify the well company when the job is done. The mobile computer can be transported between well sites by carrying the computer on a service vehicle, which the contractor uses in performing service operations specified in work orders. While the service vehicle is at a well site, other independent contractors can share the same computer, thus creating a central station for collecting and displaying work order related information.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A method of managing work of a first contractor at a well site, wherein the first contractor uses a first service vehicle to facilitate performing the work for a company, comprising: 
 storing a first work order on a first computer associated with the company, wherein the first computer is at a remote location relative to the well site, and the first work order identifies a first service operation that is to be performed by the first contractor at the well site;    transporting a second computer to the well site using the first service vehicle;    providing a wireless communication link between the first computer and the second computer;    communicating the work order from the first computer to the second computer through the wireless communication link;    inputting into the second computer first input that indicates that the first service operation identified by the first work order has been performed by the first contractor;    communicating from the second computer to the first computer information that indicates that the first input has been inputted into the second computer, thereby notifying the company that the first service operation has been performed; and    displaying on the second computer feedback that indicates that the information has been made available to the first computer, thereby affirming that the company has been notified that the first service operation has been performed.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising communicating from the first computer to the second computer confirmation that indicates whether the company acknowledges receipt of the first input.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising inputting second input into at least one of the first computer and the second computer, wherein the second input indicates a representative of the company approves the first input, whereby the representative accepts that the first input indicates that the first service operation has actually been performed.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the work involves pumping.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the work involves pumping cement.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the work involves pumping an acid.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the work involves manipulating sucker rods.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the work involves manipulating tubing.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the work involves perforating a well pipe.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the work involves downhole logging.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising accessing the work order from the well site by entering a well site identifier into the second computer.  
     
     
         12 . A method of managing work of a first contractor and a second contractor at a well site, comprising: 
 storing a first work order on a first computer at a remote location relative to the well site, wherein the first work order identifies a first service operation able to be performed by the first contractor;    storing a second work order on the first computer at a remote location relative to the well site, wherein the second work order identifies a second service operation able to be performed by the second contractor;    transporting a second computer to the well site;    providing a wireless communication link between the first computer and the second computer;    communicating the first work order and the second work order from the first computer to the second computer through the wireless communication link;    inputting into the second computer first input that indicates that the first service operation of the first work order has been performed by the first contractor;    inputting into the second computer second input that indicates that the second service operation of the second work order has been performed by the second contractor; and    displaying on the second computer feedback that indicates that the information has been made available to the first computer, thereby affirming that the company has been notified that the first service operation and the second service operation have been performed.    
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the first service operation and the second service operation are performed for a company associated with the first computer.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising: using a first service vehicle to assist the first contractor in performing the first service operation; and using a second service vehicle to assist the second contractor in performing the second service operation.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising using the first service vehicle in transporting the second computer to the well site.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , inputting third input into at least one of the first computer and the second computer, wherein the third input indicates that a representative of the company approves the first input and the second input.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising displaying on the second computer feedback that indicates that the information has been communicated to the first computer, thereby affirming that the company has been notified that the first service operation has been performed.  
     
     
         18 . A method of managing work at a well site, wherein the work is to be performed by a first contractor and a second contractor doing work for a company, wherein the first contractor has a first service vehicle and the second contractor has a second service vehicle, comprising: 
 storing a first work order on a first computer associated with the company, wherein the first computer is at a remote location relative to the well site, and the first work order identifies a first service operation that is to be performed by the first contractor at the well site;    using the first service vehicle to assist the first contractor in performing the first service operation;    storing a second work order on the first computer, wherein the second work order identifies a second service operation that is to be performed by the second contractor at the well site;    using the second service vehicle to assist the second contractor in performing the second service operation;    transporting a second computer to the well site using the first service vehicle;    providing a wireless communication link between the first computer and the second computer;    communicating the first work order and the second work order from the first computer to the second computer through the wireless communication link;    inputting into the second computer first input that indicates that the first service operation identified by the first work order has been performed by the first contractor;    inputting into the second computer second input that indicates that the second service operation identified by the second work order has been performed by the second contractor;    inputting third input into at least one of the first computer and the second computer, wherein the third input indicates that a representative of the company approves the first input and the second input;    communicating from the second computer to the first computer information that indicates that the first input and the second input have been inputted into the second computer; thereby notifying the company that the first service operation has been performed by the first contractor and the second service operation has been performed by the second contractor; and    displaying on the second computer feedback that indicates that the information has been communicated to the first computer, thereby affirming that the company has been notified that the first service operation and the second service operation have been performed.    
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the work involves pumping.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the work involves manipulating sucker rods.