Cement Head Remote Control and Tracking

Abstract

The present disclosure is related to wellbore servicing tools used in the oil and gas industry and, more particularly, to remote control tracking of cement head operations. A system of the present disclosure includes a control device, an onboard device operably connected to a mechanical device of a cement head, and a tracking device, wherein the control device is configured to transmit a user command indicator via (i) a first command signal to the onboard device and (ii) a second command signal to the tracking device, wherein the onboard device is configured to operate the mechanical device in response to the first command signal and transmit a status indicator of the cement head to the tracking device via a report signal, and wherein the tracking device is configured to record the user command indicator and the status indicator.

1 . A system, comprising:
 a control device configured to transmit user command indicators in the form of first command signals and second command signals;   an onboard device operably connected to a mechanical device of a cement head and configured to receive the first command signals from the control device and operate the mechanical device in response thereto, the onboard device being further configured to prepare and transmit a report signal, wherein the report signal encompasses a status indicator of the cement head; and   a tracking device configured to receive the second command signals from the control device and the status indicator from the onboard device, the tracking device being further configured to record the user command indicators and the status indicator.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the user command indicator comprises a time that the control device transmits the user command indicator. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the status indicator comprises a time that the onboard device receives the first command signals, a parameter sensed by a sensor of the onboard device, a time that the onboard device commences an operation of the mechanical device, or a time that the onboard device ceases an operation of the mechanical device. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a report signal wherein the first command signal, the second command signal, and the report signal are wireless signals. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the control device comprises a wireless transmitter, the onboard device comprises a wireless receiver and a wireless transmitter, and the tracking device comprises a wireless receiver. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the onboard device comprises a sensor configured to sense one or more parameters of the cement head. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the mechanical device is a valve, a lever, or a plunger. 
     
     
         8 . A method, comprising transmitting a first command signal to an onboard device from a control device;
 operating a mechanical device of a cement head with the onboard device in response to the first command signal;   transmitting a report signal to a tracking device, the report signal encompassing a status indicator of the cement head;   recording the status indicator from the onboard device with the tracking device;   transmitting the user command indicator from the control device to the tracking device via a second command signal; and   recording the user command indicator with the tracking device.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the user command indicator comprises a time that the control device transmits the user command indicator. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the status indicator comprises a time that the onboard device receives the user command indicator. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the status indicator comprises a parameter sensed by a sensor of the onboard device. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the status indicator comprises a time that the onboard device commences an operation of the mechanical device. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the status indicator comprises a time that the onboard device ceases an operation of the mechanical device. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising wirelessly transmitting and receiving the first command signal, the second command signal, and the report signal. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the first command signal comprises a time that the control device transmits the first command signal. 
     
     
         16 . The system method of  claim 8 , wherein the mechanical device is a valve, a lever, or a plunger. 
     
     
         17 . A method, comprising:
 transmitting a first command signal to an onboard device with a control device;   transmitting a second command signal to a tracking device with the control device;   operating a mechanical device of a cement head with the onboard device in response to the first command signal;   transmitting a status indicator of the cement head from the onboard device to the tracking device via a report signal; and   recording the status indicator and the second command signal with the tracking device.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein one or both of the first and second command signals comprises a time that the control device transmits the first or second command signals. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the status indicator comprises a time that the onboard device receives the first command signal. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the status indicator comprises a parameter sensed by a sensor of the onboard device. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the status indicator comprises a time that the onboard device commences an operation of the mechanical device. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the status indicator comprises a time that the onboard device ceases an operation of the mechanical device. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising wirelessly transmitting and receiving the first command signal, the second command signal, and the report signal. 
     
     
         24 . The system method of  claim 17 , wherein the mechanical device is a valve, a lever, or a plunger.