Utilizing Vision Systems at a Wellsite

Abstract

Utilizing vision systems at a wellsite, which may include operating a video camera to generate a video signal comprising images of one or more pieces of equipment or components and receiving the video signal by a processing system, which may then process the images to monitor or determine physical and/or operational characteristics associated with the one or more pieces of equipment in the images. The physical and/or operational characteristics may include amount of stretch of a drill string extending within a wellbore and/or amount of stretch an uppermost tubular of a drill string extending within a wellbore.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 operating a video camera to capture:
 a first image of a mark located on a first tubular while the first tubular is engaged by a top drive and a second tubular coupled with the first tubular is engaged by slips of a drilling rig comprising the top drive; and 
 a second image of the mark while the first tubular remains engaged by the top drive and the second tubular is not engaged by the slips; and 
   determining an amount of stretch of the first tubular by determining a change in position of the mark among the first and second images, wherein determining the mark position change among the first and second images comprises operating a processing system comprising a processor and a memory storing computer program code.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein determining the mark position change among the first and second images comprises determining a quantity of video pixels interposing respective first and second positions of the mark in the first and second images. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein determining the stretch amount is based on the determined quantity of video pixels and a predetermined relationship. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  further comprising converting the determined quantity of video pixels to a physical measurement to determine the stretch amount based on a relationship between:
 the determined quantity of video pixels; 
 a radial distance of the first tubular from the video camera; and 
 a focal length of the video camera. 
 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 operating the video camera to capture additional images of additional marks on additional tubulars as each additional tubular is added to a string of tubulars comprising the first and second tubulars; 
 determining an amount of stretch of each additional tubular by determining a change in position of the additional mark among the first and second images of that additional tubular; and 
 determining an amount of stretch of the string of tubulars based on the determined amount of stretch of each individual tubular. 
 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the mark is or comprises a physical feature of the first tubular. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the mark is or comprises a visual feature that is painted on an outer surface of the first tubular. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the mark is or comprises a visual feature that is etched on an outer surface of the first tubular. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the mark is or comprises a visual feature that is affixed to an outer surface of the first tubular. 
     
     
         10 . A method comprising:
 operating a video camera to generate a video signal comprising images encompassing a mark located on an uppermost tubular of a tubular string comprising a plurality of tubulars extending within a wellbore at an oil and gas wellsite; and   determining a depth (D) at which the tubular string is stuck within the wellbore by:
 pulling the tubular string while determining a resulting amount of stretch (S) of the uppermost tubular; and 
 determining D based at least partially on the determined S. 
   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein:
 determining D at which the tubular string is stuck within the wellbore further comprises, before pulling the tubular string while determining the resulting amount of S of the uppermost tubular:
 pulling the tubular string to its neutral weight; and 
 determining an overpull force (F) based on a weight per unit length (W) of each tubular of the tubular string; 
 
 pulling the tubular string while determining the resulting amount of S of the uppermost tubular comprises pulling the tubular string with the determined F while determining the resulting amount of S of the uppermost tubular; and 
 determining D based at least partially on the determined S comprises determining D based on a predetermined relationship between D, F, W, and S. 
 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the predetermined relationship is D=(S×W)/F. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10  wherein determining the resulting amount of S comprises determining a change in position of the mark within the images. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein determining the change in position of the mark within the images comprises operating a processing system comprising a processor and a memory storing computer program code. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13  wherein determining the change in position of the mark within the images comprises determining a quantity of video pixels interposing respective first and second positions of the mark within corresponding first and second images. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising converting the determined quantity of video pixels to a physical measurement to determine the resulting amount of S based on a relationship between:
 the determined quantity of video pixels; 
 a radial distance of the uppermost tubular from the video camera; and 
 a focal length of the video camera. 
 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the mark is or comprises a physical feature of the uppermost tubular. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the mark is or comprises a visual feature that is painted on an outer surface of the uppermost tubular. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the mark is or comprises a visual feature that is etched on an outer surface of the uppermost tubular. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the mark is or comprises a visual feature that is affixed to an outer surface of the uppermost tubular.