System for communicating information between a rig location and a cpmputer network and methods using the system

Abstract

A system for communicating information between a rig location and a computer network. The system includes the computer network disposed on a location remote from the rig location and a computer disposed on the rig location, wherein the computer is communicably linked to the computer network through a communication link.

1 . A system for communicating information between a rig location and a computer network, comprising: 
 the computer network disposed on a location remote from the rig location; and    a computer disposed on the rig location, wherein the computer is communicably linked to the computer network through a communication link.    
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the computer is a portable computer.  
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the communication link is a communication network.  
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the communication network is cellular.  
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the communication link comprises at least one of wire and cable.  
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the computer comprises a device for transmitting and receiving audio information on a substantially real time basis.  
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the computer is a handheld computer.  
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the computer is a personal digital assistant (“PDA”).  
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the computer network comprises a computer on a command center communicably linked to the portable computer.  
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a computer on the rig location, wherein the computer is communicably linked to the computer network.  
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the computer controls one or more equipment on the rig location.  
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising a computer on the rig location, wherein the computer is communicably linked to the portable computer through a wireless communication network.  
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the computer network comprises a plurality of computers.  
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the computer network is communicably linked to a second computer network.  
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the computer network comprises the Internet.  
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the rig location is an off shore rig location.  
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the rig location is an on shore rig location.  
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the rig location is located off shore and the computer network is located on shore.  
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the communication link is a satellite network.  
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the communication link is a wireless network.  
   
   
       21 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the communication link is a fiber optic network.  
   
   
       22 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the portable computer is an explosion proof personal digital assistant.  
   
   
       23 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising a heads up display communicably linked to the portable computer.  
   
   
       24 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising a camera communicably linked to the portable computer.  
   
   
       25 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the portable computer comprises a camera.  
   
   
       26 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising a camera communicably linked to the portable computer; and a heads up display communicably linked to the portable computer, wherein the camera and the heads up display are mounted on a hard hat.  
   
   
       27 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising a camera communicably linked to the portable computer; and a heads up display communicably linked to the portable computer, wherein the camera and the heads up display are part of video conference equipment.  
   
   
       28 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising a sensor communicably linked to the portable computer.  
   
   
       29 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the sensor is one of a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor and a flow meter.  
   
   
       30 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising a sensor communicably linked to the portable computer through a wireless transceiver.  
   
   
       31 . A method for communicating information between a rig location and a computer network disposed on a location remote from the rig location, comprising: 
 sending a signal to a computer within the computer network to request information;    receiving the information from the computer within the computer network; and    displaying the information at the rig location.    
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein displaying the information comprises displaying the information through a portable display.  
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein sending the signal to the computer comprises sending the signal to a command center to request information from the command center.  
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the signal comprises at least one of text, audio and video.  
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the information comprises a set of instructions for a rig operation.  
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein displaying the information comprises displaying at least one of text, still image and video through a heads up display.  
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein displaying the information comprises displaying at least one of text, still image and video through a display on a handheld computer.  
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein displaying the information comprises displaying at least one of text, still image and video through a personal digital assistant.  
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein displaying the information comprises broadcasting audio information.  
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising capturing an image through a camera; and sending the image to the computer within the computer network.  
   
   
       41 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising capturing at least one of temperature, pressure, flow, torque and turn information; and sending the at least one of the temperature, pressure, flow, torque and turn information to the computer on the command center.  
   
   
       42 . The method of  claim 41 , further comprising receiving a set of instructions regarding a rig operation in connection with the at least one of temperature, pressure, flow, torque and turn information.  
   
   
       43 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the rig operation is an offshore rig operation.  
   
   
       44 . A method for displaying a graph indicating pressure difference between bottomhole pressure of a wellbore and formation pressure surrounding the wellbore, comprising: 
 receiving a bottomhole pressure inside the wellbore at a predetermined depth;    comparing the bottomhole pressure with a formation pressure surrounding the wellbore at the predetermined depth; and    displaying a graphical element indicating a pressure difference between the bottomhole pressure and the formation pressure.    
   
   
       45 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein displaying the graphical element comprises displaying a graphical element having a first color to represent a condition where the bottomhole pressure is less than the formation pressure.  
   
   
       46 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the graphical element having the first color indicates an underbalanced condition.  
   
   
       47 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein displaying the graphical element comprises displaying a graphical element with a negative slope to represent a condition where the bottomhole pressure is less than the formation pressure.  
   
   
       48 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein the graphical element with the negative slope indicates an underbalanced condition.  
   
   
       49 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein displaying the graphical element comprises displaying a graphical element with a first color and a negative slope to represent a condition where the bottomhole pressure is less than the formation pressure.  
   
   
       50 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein displaying the graphical element comprises displaying a graphical element with a second color to represent a condition where the bottomhole pressure is substantially equal to the formation pressure.  
   
   
       51 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein the graphical element with the second color indicates a substantially balanced condition.  
   
   
       52 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein displaying the graphical element comprises displaying a bar with a zero slope to represent a condition where the bottomhole pressure is substantially equal to the formation pressure.  
   
   
       53 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein the graphical element with the zero slope indicates a substantially balanced condition.  
   
   
       54 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein displaying the graphical element comprises displaying a graphical element with a second color and a slope of zero to represent a condition where the bottomhole pressure is substantially equal to the formation pressure.  
   
   
       55 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein displaying the graphical element comprises displaying a graphical element with a third color to represent a condition where the bottomhole pressure is greater than the formation pressure.  
   
   
       56 . The method of  claim 55 , wherein the graphical element with the third color indicates an overbalanced condition.  
   
   
       57 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein displaying the graphical element comprises displaying a graphical element with a positive slope to represent a condition where the bottomhole pressure is greater than the formation pressure.  
   
   
       58 . The method of  claim 57 , wherein the graphical element with the positive slope indicates an overbalanced condition.  
   
   
       59 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein displaying the graphical element comprises displaying a graphical element with a third color and a positive slope to represent a condition where the bottomhole pressure is greater than the formation pressure.  
   
   
       60 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein receiving the bottomhole pressure comprises receiving the bottomhole pressure during at least one of a measurements while drilling operation and an underbalanced operation.  
   
   
       61 . A display for generating a graphical user interface, comprising: 
 one or more graphical elements, wherein each graphical element indicates a pressure difference between a bottomhole pressure of a wellbore at a predetermined depth and a formation pressure surrounding the wellbore; and    wherein at least one of the graphical elements represents at least one of an underbalanced condition, a balanced condition and an overbalanced condition.    
   
   
       62 . The display of  claim 61 , wherein the at least one of the graphical elements that represents the underbalanced condition comprises a first color.  
   
   
       63 . The display of  claim 61 , wherein the at least one of the graphical elements that represents the underbalanced condition comprises a bar having a negative slope.  
   
   
       64 . The display of  claim 61 , wherein the at least one of the graphical elements that represents the underbalanced condition comprises a bar having a first color and a negative slope.  
   
   
       65 . The display of  claim 61 , wherein the at least one of the graphical elements that represents the balanced condition comprises a second color.  
   
   
       66 . The display of  claim 61 , wherein the at least one of the graphical elements that represents the balanced condition comprises a bar having a zero slope.  
   
   
       67 . The display of  claim 61 , wherein the at least one of the graphical elements that represents the balanced condition comprises a bar having a second color and a zero slope.  
   
   
       68 . The display of  claim 61 , wherein the at least one of the graphical elements that represents the overbalanced condition comprises a third color.  
   
   
       69 . The display of  claim 61 , wherein the at least one of the graphical elements that represents the overbalanced condition comprises a bar having a positive slope.  
   
   
       70 . The display of  claim 61 , wherein the at least one of the graphical elements that represents the overbalanced condition comprises a bar having a third color and a positive slope.  
   
   
       71 . A method for controlling a drilling operation, comprising: 
 reviewing a display of one or more graphical elements, wherein each graphical element indicates a pressure difference between a bottomhole pressure of a wellbore at a predetermined depth and a formation pressure surrounding the wellbore;    identifying a trend on the graphical elements; and    generating a set of instructions based on the trend.    
   
   
       72 . The method of  claim 71 , wherein at least one of the graphical elements represents at least one of an underbalanced condition, a balanced condition and an overbalanced condition.  
   
   
       73 . The method of  claim 72 , wherein the at least one of the graphical elements that represents the underbalanced condition comprises a bar having a first color and a negative slope.  
   
   
       74 . The method of  claim 72 , wherein the at least one of the graphical elements that represents the balanced condition comprises a bar having a second color and a zero slope.  
   
   
       75 . The method of  claim 72 , wherein the at least one of the graphical elements that represents the overbalanced condition comprises a bar having a third color and a positive slope.  
   
   
       76 . The method of  claim 71 , wherein identifying the trend comprises identifying the trend based on the color and slope of the graphical elements.  
   
   
       77 . The method of  claim 71 , wherein the drilling operation is an underbalanced drilling operation.  
   
   
       78 . The method of  claim 71 , wherein the set of instructions comprises one or more actions to adjust a drilling equipment to avoid one of a balanced and an overbalanced condition.