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 containing 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 determine physical and/or operational characteristics associated with the one or more pieces of equipment in the images. The video signal may contain images of a first downhole tubular configured for threadedly coupling with a second downhole tubular and conveyance within a wellbore by an oil and/or gas drilling rig, wherein an outer surface of the first downhole tubular may include a geometric pattern for determining azimuthal orientation of the first downhole tubular. The processing system may then determine the azimuthal orientation of the first downhole tubular based on the images of the geometric pattern.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus comprising a first downhole tubular configured for threadedly coupling with a second downhole tubular and conveyance within a wellbore by an oil and/or gas drilling rig, wherein an outer surface of the first downhole tubular comprises a geometric pattern for determining azimuthal orientation of the first downhole tubular. 
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the geometric pattern wraps around the outer surface of the first downhole tubular. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein a length of the geometric pattern viewed along an edge of the first downhole tubular changes with rotation of the first downhole tubular. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the length of the geometric pattern viewed along the edge of the first downhole tubular is indicative of the azimuthal orientation of the first downhole tubular. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the geometric pattern is or comprises a triangle wrapped around the outer surface of the first downhole tubular. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the geometric pattern is painted, etched, and/or affixed to the outer surface of the first downhole tubular. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein:
 the geometric pattern is a first geometric pattern located closer to a box end of the first downhole tubular; 
 the outer surface of the first downhole tubular comprises a second geometric pattern located closer to a pin end of the first downhole tubular; and 
 the second geometric pattern is indicative of the azimuthal orientation of the first downhole tubular. 
 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a video camera operable to generate a video signal comprising images of the geometric pattern; and 
 a processing system comprising a processor and a memory storing a computer program code which, when executed, causes the processing system to determine the azimuthal orientation of the first downhole tubular based on the images of the geometric pattern. 
 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the geometric pattern comprises a reference point azimuthally aligned with or at a known azimuthal offset from a reference point of the first downhole tubular. 
     
     
         10 . A method comprising imparting a geometric pattern onto an outer surface of a downhole tubular, wherein the geometric pattern is for determining azimuthal orientation of the downhole tubular while the downhole tubular is threadedly coupled with another downhole tubular for conveyance within a wellbore. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the geometric pattern wraps around the downhole tubular. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10  wherein a length of the geometric pattern viewed along an edge of the downhole tubular changes with rotation of the downhole tubular. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10  wherein imparting the geometric pattern onto the outer surface of the downhole tubular comprises painting the geometric pattern onto the outer surface of the downhole tubular. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10  wherein imparting the geometric pattern onto the outer surface of the downhole tubular comprises etching the geometric pattern onto the outer surface of the downhole tubular. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10  wherein imparting the geometric pattern onto the outer surface of the downhole tubular comprises affixing the geometric pattern onto the outer surface of the downhole tubular. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the geometric pattern is a first geometric pattern located closer to a pin end of the downhole tubular, wherein the method further comprises imparting a second geometric pattern onto the outer surface of the downhole tubular at a location closer to a box end of the downhole tubular, and wherein the second geometric pattern is for determining the azimuthal orientation of the downhole tubular while the downhole tubular is threadedly coupled with another downhole tubular. 
     
     
         17 . A method comprising:
 operating a video camera to generate a signal comprising images of a geometric pattern on an outer surface of a first downhole tubular while the first downhole tubular is being threadedly coupled with a second downhole tubular at an oil and gas wellsite; and   operating a processing system to process the signal to determine an azimuthal orientation of the first downhole tubular based on the images of the geometric pattern.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein operating the processing system to determine the azimuthal orientation of the first downhole tubular comprises determining a length of the geometric pattern viewed along an edge of the first downhole tubular, and wherein the length of the geometric pattern is indicative of the azimuthal orientation of the first downhole tubular. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising:
 for each subsequent downhole tubular threadedly coupled above the first downhole tubular, generating a signal comprising images of a geometric pattern on an outer surface of each subsequent downhole tubular; and 
 operating the processing system to:
 process each signal to determine an azimuthal orientation of each subsequent downhole tubular; and 
 determine a current azimuthal orientation of the first downhole tubular based on the first azimuthal orientation and the azimuthal orientation of each subsequent downhole tubular. 
 
 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17  wherein:
 the signal is a first signal; 
 the geometric pattern is a first geometric pattern; 
 the azimuthal orientation is a first azimuthal orientation; 
 operating the video camera also generates a second signal comprising images of a second geometric pattern on an outer surface of the second downhole tubular; and 
 the method further comprises operating the processing system to:
 process the second signal to determine a second azimuthal orientation of the second downhole tubular; and 
 determine a current azimuthal orientation of the first downhole tubular based on the first and second azimuthal orientations.