Pipe tracking system for drilling rigs

Abstract

Pipes, drill strings including pipes, and methods for use on a drilling rig. The method includes obtaining pipe data for individual drill pipes of a drill string, obtaining a well trajectory for a well, obtaining one or more drilling measurements to be used when drilling the well, planning a first drill string based on the pipe data, the well trajectory, and the one or more drilling measurements, predicting an aging of the individual drill pipes in the first drill string while drilling the well using the first drill string, determining that a risk of failure of one or more individual pipes in the first drill string is unacceptable based on the aging of the individual pipes; and planning a second drill string in response to determining that the risk of failure is unacceptable in the first drill string.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pipe for a drill string, comprising:
 a recess;   a memory chip disposed in the recess, the memory chip storing an identification number associated with the pipe; and   an electrode coupled to the memory chip and positioned at a radial outside of the recess, wherein the electrode is configured to receive a signal representing the identification number and to convey the signal to a sensor.   
     
     
         2 . The pipe of  claim 1 , further comprising an insulating material surrounding the memory chip, and a wire connecting the electrode to the memory chip. 
     
     
         3 . The pipe of  claim 2 , further comprising a second electrode wired to the memory chip and positioned at the radial inside of the recess, so as to be in electrical contact with the pipe. 
     
     
         4 . A method, comprising:
 obtaining pipe data for individual drill pipes of a drill string;   obtaining a well trajectory for a well;   obtaining one or more drilling measurements to be used when drilling the well;   planning a first drill string based on the pipe data, the well trajectory, and the one or more drilling measurements;   predicting an aging of the individual drill pipes in the first drill string while drilling the well using the first drill string;   determining that a risk of failure of one or more individual pipes in the first drill string is unacceptable based on the aging of the individual pipes; and   planning a second drill string in response to determining that the risk of failure is unacceptable in the first drill string.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising receiving one or more mud properties for mud to be used in drilling the well, wherein predicting the aging of the individual drill pipes includes accounting for the one or more mud properties. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the pipe data is associated with the individual drill pipes in a database using a pipe identification number, the pipe identification number being stored using an identifier formed at least partially from one or more physical features of the drill pipe that are readable using one or more sensors of a drilling rig. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the pipe data is associated with the individual drill pipes in a database using a pipe identification number, the pipe identification number being stored using memory chips contained within each of the individual drill pipes and readable using a sensor of a drilling rig. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 determining that the risk of failure in the second drill string is acceptable; and   drilling the well using the second drill string.