The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 19, 2015
Filed:
Aug. 02, 2011
Duke Loi, Frisco, TX (US);
Tim Mueller, Plano, TX (US);
Kathleen Hanafan, Sugar Land, TX (US);
HM ENERGY, LLC, Houston, TX (US);
Abstract
A method and apparatus for automatic down-hole asset monitoring is provided that monitors tagged down-hole assets wherein the assets travel into and out of an oil or gas well. A rig reader system, a controller and a computer incorporating a graphic user interface are connected to monitor tagged assets moving into and out of a drill head. The rig reader portion may be a ring shaped device having therein an integrated antenna array and radio frequency identification interrogators that interrogate an SAW or RFID tag as it moves through the ring shaped device. The integrated antenna array may include evenly distributed antennas about an interior surface of the ring shaped device that are covered by a radome that seals the antenna array and interrogators against contamination from caustic chemicals and other substances found on or around an oil rig platform. The ring shaped rig reader may be mounted directly below or above a rotary table or a rig's floor or be between a well head of an oil and gas well and the rig floor. The rig reader of an exemplary rig reader system is adapted to withstand a wide temperature range, caustic chemicals, shock and vibration and other elements commonly present on and about an oil or gas rig.