Tool joint positioning

Abstract

Techniques and systems to provide automatic positioning of a tripping apparatus. A system may include a sensor configured to detect an object in proximity of the sensor and generate a signal indicative of detected object. The system may also include a processing device configured to process the signal indicative of the detected object to determine a location of the detected object, retrieve information related to a physical characteristic of a tubular segment, and calculate an indication of the location of a connection point of the tubular segment based upon the location of the detected object and the physical characteristic of the tubular segment.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system, comprising:
 a sensor configured to detect an object in proximity of the sensor and generate a signal indicative of detected object; and   a processing device configured to:
 process the signal indicative of the detected object to determine a location of the detected object; 
 retrieve information related to a physical characteristic of a tubular segment; and 
 calculate an indication of the location of a connection point of the tubular segment based upon the location of the detected object and the physical characteristic of the tubular segment. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processing device is configured to generate an output indicative of the indication of the location of the connection point of the tubular segment. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the processing device is configured to utilize the output to generate a control signal to control movement of a tripping apparatus used in conjunction with a tripping operation. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the processing device is configured to utilize the output to generate a control signal to control an operation of a tripping apparatus used in conjunction with a tripping operation. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the processing device is configured to transmit the output to a controller to control movement of a tripping apparatus used in conjunction with a tripping operation. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the processing device is configured to transmit the output to a controller to control an operation of a tripping apparatus used in conjunction with a tripping operation. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the processing device is configured to utilize the output to generate a control signal to control movement of a movable platform configured to transport a tripping apparatus used in conjunction with a tripping operation. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the processing device is configured to utilize the output to generate a control signal to control an operation of a movable platform configured to transport a tripping apparatus used in conjunction with a tripping operation. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the processing device is configured to transmit the output to a controller to control movement of a movable platform configured to transport a tripping apparatus used in conjunction with a tripping operation. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the processing device is configured to transmit the output to a controller to control an operation of a movable platform configured to transport a tripping apparatus used in conjunction with a tripping operation. 
     
     
         11 . A device, comprising:
 an input configured to receive a signal indicative of a location of a detected object; and   a processor configured to:
 calculate an indication of a location of a connection point of a tubular segment based upon the signal and a physical characteristic of the tubular segment to be used in conjunction with a tripping operation. 
   
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the signal comprises a second indication that the object has passed a sensor, wherein the sensor is configured to be coupled to the input and to generate the signal. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the signal comprises a second indication of an operational characteristic of a portion of a drawworks configured to support the tubular segment. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the input is configured to receive a second signal indicative of second location of the detected object, wherein the processor is configured to calculate a second indication of a location of the connection point of the tubular segment based upon the second signal and the physical characteristic of the tubular segment to be used in conjunction with a tripping operation. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the processor is configured to calculate a velocity of the detected object based upon the indication of the location of the connection point and the second indication of the location of the connection point. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the processor is configured to generate an output indicative of the indication of the location of the connection point of the tubular segment to control a tripping apparatus used in conjunction with the tripping operation. 
     
     
         17 . A method, comprising:
 receiving a signal indicative of a location of a detected object;   retrieving information related to a physical characteristic of a tubular segment;   calculating an indication of the location of a connection point of the tubular segment based upon the signal and the physical characteristic of the tubular segment;   generating an output indicative of the indication of the location of the connection point of the tubular segment; and   utilizing the output in conjunction with a tripping operation.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein utilizing the output in conjunction with the tripping operation comprises generating a control signal to control movement of a tripping apparatus used in conjunction with the tripping operation. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein utilizing the output in conjunction with the tripping operation comprises generating a control signal to control an operation of a tripping apparatus used in conjunction with the tripping operation. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein utilizing the output in conjunction with the tripping operation comprises generating a control signal to an operation of a movable platform configured to transport a tripping apparatus used in conjunction with the tripping operation.