Systems and methods for transferring data from remote sites

Abstract

A system includes a cloud-based computing system communicatively coupled to a first communication network. The system includes one or more remote terminal units (RTUs) configured to control operations of one or more well devices associated with a hydrocarbon well, wherein the one or more RTUs are inaccessible to the first communication network. The system also includes a mobile computing device configured to communicatively couple to the one or more RTUs via a second communication network in response to the mobile computing device being within a coverage range of the second communication network. The mobile computing device is also configured to download data from the one or more RTUs via the second communication network, communicatively couple to the cloud-based computing system in response to detecting access to the first communication network, and transmit the data to the cloud-based computing system via the first communication network.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A drone device, comprising:
 at least one motor; and   a processor configured to:
 receive mapping information comprising one or more locations of one or more remote terminal units (RTUs), wherein the one or more RTUs are configured to control operations of one or more well devices associated with a hydrocarbon well; 
 cause the at least one motor to operate such that the drone device flies to the one or more locations of the one or more RTUs; 
 communicatively couple to the one or more RTUs in response to the drone device being within a coverage range of a first communication network; 
 download data from the one or more RTUs via the first communication network; 
 communicatively couple to a cloud-based computing system in response to detecting access to a second communication network, wherein the one or more RTUs are inaccessible to the second communication network; and 
 transmit the data to the cloud-based computing system via the second communication network. 
   
     
     
         22 . The drone device of  claim 21 , wherein the processor is configured to receive one or more communication signals from the one or more RTUs prior to communicatively coupling to the one or more RTUs. 
     
     
         23 . The drone device of  claim 22 , wherein the processor is configured to adjust an operation of the at least one motor to change a position of the drone device until the processor receives the one or more communication signals. 
     
     
         24 . The drone device of  claim 21 ,
 wherein the processor is configured to perform one or more preliminary analyses on the data prior to transmitting the data to the cloud-based computing system, and   wherein the one or more preliminary analyses comprise generating an alert in response to determining that the data is outside an expected range of values.   
     
     
         25 . The drone device of  claim 24 , wherein the processor is configured to transmit the alert to a local computing device within the hydrocarbon well via the first communication network. 
     
     
         26 . The drone device of  claim 25 , wherein the alert comprises an audio alert, a visual alert, or both. 
     
     
         27 . The drone device of  claim 21 , wherein the processor is configured to scan for identification data sent by the one or more RTUs within the coverage range prior to communicatively coupling to the one or more RTUs. 
     
     
         28 . The drone device of  claim 21 , wherein the processor is configured to:
 send one or more acknowledge messages to the one or more RTUs indicating that the processor has recognized presences of the one or more RTUs; and   receive one or more acknowledgement signals sent by the one or more RTUs, prior to communicatively coupling to the one or more RTUs.   
     
     
         29 . The drone device of  claim 21 , wherein communicatively coupling the processor to the one or more RTUs comprises using short-range Bluetooth communication, short-range infrared (IR) communication, short-range radio frequency (RF) communication, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         30 . A drone device, comprising:
 at least one motor; and   a processor configured to:
 receive mapping information comprising a location of a remote terminal unit (RTU), wherein the RTU is configured to control operation of a well device associated with a hydrocarbon well; 
 cause the at least one motor to operate such that the drone device flies toward the location of the RTU; 
 communicatively couple to the RTU in response to the drone device being within a coverage range of a first communication network; 
 download data from the RTU via the first communication network; 
 perform a preliminary analysis on the data after downloading the data from the RTU, wherein the preliminary analysis comprises generating an alert in response to determining that the data is outside an expected range of values; 
 communicatively couple to a computing system in response to detecting access to a second communication network, wherein the RTU is inaccessible to the second communication network; and 
 transmit the data and results of the preliminary analysis to the computing system via the second communication network in response to the processor communicatively coupling to the computing system and after the processor downloads the data from the RTU. 
   
     
     
         31 . The drone device of  claim 30 , wherein the device is a well device associated with a hydrocarbon well. 
     
     
         32 . The drone device of  claim 30 , wherein the processor is configured to send a command to the RTU to adjust the operation of the well device in response to generating the alert. 
     
     
         33 . The drone device of  claim 30 , wherein the computing system is a cloud-based computing system. 
     
     
         34 . The drone device of  claim 30 , wherein the processor is configured to receive one or more communication signals from the one or more RTUs prior to communicatively coupling to the one or more RTUs. 
     
     
         35 . The drone device of  claim 34 , wherein the processor is configured to adjust an operation of the at least one motor to change a position of the drone device until the processor receives the one or more communication signals. 
     
     
         36 . The drone device of  claim 31 , wherein the processor is configured to transmit the alert to a local computing device within the hydrocarbon well via the first communication network. 
     
     
         37 . The drone device of  claim 31 , wherein the alert comprises an audio alert, a visual alert, or both. 
     
     
         38 . A drone device, comprising:
 a processor configured to:
 communicatively couple to one or more RTUs configured to control operations of one or more devices in response to the drone device being within a coverage range of a first communication network; 
 download data from the one or more RTUs via the first communication network; 
 communicatively couple to a computing system in response to detecting access to a second communication network, wherein the one or more RTUs are inaccessible to the second communication network; and 
 transmit the data to the computing system via the second communication network. 
   
     
     
         39 . The drone device of  claim 38  further comprising at least one motor connected to the processor, wherein the processor is further configured to:
 receive mapping information comprising one or more locations of one or more remote terminal units (RTUs), and 
 cause the at least one motor to operate such that the drone device flies toward the one or more locations of the one or more RTUs. 
 
     
     
         40 . The drone device of  claim 38 , wherein the one or more devices comprise one or more well devices associated with a hydrocarbon well.