System And Method For Managing And/Or Using Data For Tools In A Wellbore

Abstract

A system and a method manage and use data related to a wellbore or a drill string. The system and the method may provide remote access to tools in a drill string using a network. In addition, the tools have access to the data. In a disclosed embodiment, the tools are able to automatically access the data needed to optimize or improve function of the tools.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method for managing data using a first network, the method comprising:
 connecting a plurality of tools to a drill string;   transmitting the data from at least one of the tools to a linking tool in communication with the plurality of tools wherein the linking tool is positioned within the drill string and further wherein the linking tool converts a first protocol associated with the data to a second protocol associated with the network;   transmitting the data from the linking tool to the first network;   communicating with the plurality of tools using wired drill pipe wherein the wired drill pipe is connected to the first network and further wherein the wired drill pipe has a plurality of wired drill pipe joints connected to each other further wherein the linking tool uses the wired drill pipe to transmit the data from the plurality of linking tools to the first network; and   determining a time for service of at least one of the plurality of tools and generating a work order based on the time for service wherein the time for service is determined and the work order is generated automatically by at least one of the plurality of tools.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the work order is transmitted without instructions from the first network. 
     
     
         3 . A method for using data related to a tool positioned in a wellbore, the method comprising:
 connecting a tool to a drill string;   positioning the tool in a wellbore;   obtaining the data related to the tool;   providing a network in communication with the tool;   determining whether to transmit the data to the network with the tool without instructions from the network; and   transmitting the data from the tool to the network using a wired drill pipe that has a plurality of wired drill pipe joints connected to each other.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  further comprising:
 generating a report based on the data with the tool; and 
 transmitting a message to a terminal remote from the wellbore and in communication with the network wherein the message indicates information related to the report. 
 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the data relates to diagnostic information of the tool and further wherein a portion of the data relates to predicted performance of the tool. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3  further comprising:
 generating a recommendation with the tool; and 
 transmitting the recommendation to the network wherein the tool adjusts operations of the tool based on user input communicated to the tool using the network. 
 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 3  further comprising:
 providing a database in communication with the network wherein the database stores information related to the drill string and the wellbore; and 
 automatically requesting information from the database with the tool wherein at least a portion of the information is related to a constraint of the tool. 
 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 3  further comprising the step of:
 adjusting operations of the tool based on the data without instructions from the network. 
 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 3  further comprising the step of:
 transmitting a message from the network to the tool wherein the message requests additional data and further wherein the tool transmits the additional data to the network. 
 
     
     
         10 . A system for using data using a terminal associated with a wellbore or a drill string, the system comprising:
 a database storing the data and positioned uphole from the wellbore;   a tool positioned within the wellbore wherein the tool obtains information associated with the wellbore or the drill string and further wherein the tool automatically requests at least a portion of the data from the database and automatically performs an action based on the information or the data.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10  wherein the tool is a rotary steerable system that has a trajectory and further wherein the action comprises the rotary steerable system automatically changing the trajectory based on the portion of the data. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10  wherein the action is the tool optimizing performance of the tool using at least a portion of the data.