Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
88075553
SMART MEASUREMENT SYSTEM
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
100011 This application claims priority to, and is a continuation-in-part
of U.S. Pat.
App. No. 14/028,988, entitled "SMART MEASUREMENT SYSTEM," filed on
September 17, 2013.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Oil and natural gas are recognized as valued commodities. These
fluids that
may include comingled by-products are produced from wells that tap specific
subterranean geologic formations. Quantitative measurement of the amounts of
all fluids
drawn from or placed in the geologic formation is valuable information toward
the
development and management of the resource. After the fluids and their
byproducts are
brought to the surface until the fluids are consumed or by-products are
disposed of, the
fluids undergo many processes to purify them. Once suitable for market these
fluids are
transported and commercially traded. To properly manage and account for these
fluids,
repetitive quantitative measurements are often made as the fluids undergo
various stages
of purification, transportation, storage, and trade all prior to consumption.
[0003] Many types of flow meters exist to accommodate a variety of fluid
characteristics and flowing conditions. For example, there may be different
flow meter
types/models for different flow tube line sizes, tube materials, rates of
flow, pressure
ratings, temperature ratings, and accuracy ratings, etc. These varieties of
flow meter types
also vary as some meters express flow quantities in terms of units of mass
while other
types express units of volume. The meter's principle of operation may result
in an initial
measurement of the rate of flow or discrete increments of quantity.
[0004] One such type of flowmeter is a turbine type which possesses an
element that
is in contact with the fluid. It rotates at a variable speed that is
proportional to the volume
rate of fluid flow. Certain types of turbine flow meters are designed to
output one or more
electrical pulses for each discrete increment in volume. The number of pulses
per unit of
volume is referred to as a K-factor. These pulses are captured by a separate
electronic
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device that considers the increment of time and the K-factor. The computed
values of either or
both flow total and flow rate are communicated visually and in various
electrical or electronic
formats. This separate electronic device will subsequently be referred to as
the meter
electronics.
[0005] The meter calibration K-factor values can by derived from
measurements under
test conditions, such as at the factory. Each individual flow meter may have
multiple unique
characteristics that the meter electronics must account for to achieve optimum
measurement
performance. For example, the response curve for a flow meter may not be
linear over the
entire operating range. Therefore, a flow meter may have multiple K-factors,
each at a
different rate of flow. In another example, some flow meter types can require
special
compensation algorithms or be calibrated across a range of fluids or operating
conditions.
[0006] Another type of flow meter is a cone meter that uses a discharge
coefficient with
respect to a flow parameter referred to as a Reynolds number. Cone meters are
flow tested and
shipped with the Reynolds number performance information that is then later
entered into a
flow computer similar to the K-factor values for other meters.
[0007] Normally, it is difficult or tedious to enter multiple K-factors or
other
characterization factors for flow meters into the meter electronics. Manually
entering multiple
characterization points can lead to errors in data. Further, only a limited
amount of data can be
entered. Not having information on a flow meter's characteristics and
operating range can
lead to less accuracy in flow measurements.
SUMMARY
[0007a] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided
a measurement
system for monitoring flow, the measurement system comprising: a meter
associated with
meter characterization data and configured to obtain measurements of the flow;
a data tag
coupled to the meter and comprising an optically-scanned code, the data tag
configured to
store the meter characterization data; and meter electronics comprising a
processing circuit
configured to receive the meter characterization data, the meter
characterization data useable
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88075553
by the meter electronics in processing the measurements; and a portable device
configured to
read the optically-scanned code and transmit the meter characterization data
to the meter
electronics.
10007b1 According to another aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a method
for measuring flow, the method comprising: calibrating a meter and obtaining
characterization
data from the meter; digitally storing the characterization data for the meter
in a data tag, the
data tag comprising an optically-scanned code; attaching the data tag to the
meter; receiving
measurements from the meter and the characterization data for the meter from a
portable
reader configured to read the optically-scanned code of the data tag and
provide the
characterization data to the meter; and processing the received measurements
from the meter
and calibrating the received measurements using the characterization data.
[0007c] According to still another aspect of the present invention, there
is provided a
meter for use with a data tag, the meter comprising a processor configured to:
calibrate the
meter and obtaining characterization data from the meter; digitally store the
characterization
data for the meter in the data tag, the data tag comprising an optically-
scanned code; attach the
data tag to the meter; receive measurements from the meter and the
characterization data for
the meter from a portable reader configured to read the optically-scanned code
of the data tag
and provide the characterization data to the meter; and process the received
measurements
from the meter and calibrating the received measurements using the
characterization data.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] Various features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention
will become
better understood when the following detailed description is read with
reference to the
accompanying figures in which like characters represent like parts throughout
the figures,
wherein:
[0009] FIG. 1 is an illustrative working environment wherein the smart flow
meter device
could operate;
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[0010] FIG. 2 is an illustrative embodiment of a flow meter device, an
embedded
chip, and a portable reader; and
[0011] FIGS. 3 and 4 are illustrative charts that display example
methods for
characterizing data for the flow meter device in accordance with one or more
embodiments.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0012] The following discussion is directed to various embodiments of
the invention.
The drawing figures are not necessarily to scale. Certain features of the
embodiments
may be shown exaggerated in scale or in somewhat schematic form and some
details of
conventional elements may not be shown in the interest of clarity and
conciseness.
Although one or more of these embodiments may be preferred, the embodiments
disclosed should not be interpreted, or otherwise used, as limiting the scope
of the
disclosure, including the claims. It is to be fully recognized that the
different teachings of
the embodiments discussed below may be employed separately or in any suitable
combination to produce desired results. In addition, one skilled in the art
will understand
that the following description has broad application, and the discussion of
any
embodiment is meant only to be exemplary of that embodiment, and not intended
to
intimate that the scope of the disclosure, including the claims, is limited to
that
embodiment.
[0013] Certain terms are used throughout the following description and
claims to
refer to particular features or components. As one skilled in the art will
appreciate,
different persons may refer to the same feature or component by different
names. This
document does not intend to distinguish between components or features that
differ in
name but not function. In the following discussion and in the claims, the
terms
"including" and "comprising" are used in an open-ended fashion, and thus
should be
interpreted to mean "including, but not limited to... ." Also, the term
"couple" or
"couples" is intended to mean either an indirect or direct connection. In
addition, the
terms "axial" and "axially" generally mean along or parallel to a central axis
(e.g., central
axis of a body or a port), while the terms "radial" and "radially" generally
mean
perpendicular to the central axis. The use of "top," "bottom," "above,"
"below," and
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variations of these terms is made for convenience, but does not require any
particular
orientation of the components.
[0014] Some embodiments relate to a measurement system including a
meter
associated with meter characterization data (or characterized by meter
characterization
data) and configured to take meter measurements. The measurement system
includes a
radio frequency identification (RFID) data tag configure to store the meter
characterization data, and meter electronics in communication with the meter
and
including a communication interface in wireless communication with the RFID
tag; and
configured to receive the meter characterization data. The meter
characterization data is
readable by the meter electronics and useable by the meter electronics in
processing the
meter measurements.
[0015] Some embodiments relate to a method of measuring. The method
includes
calibrating a meter and obtaining characterization data from the meter,
digitally storing
the characterization data for the meter in a data tag; attaching the data tag
to the meter,
receiving measurements from the meter and the characterization data for the
meter from a
reader configured to read the data tag, and processing the received
measurements from
the meter and calibrating the measurements using the characterization data.
[0016] Some embodiments relate to a meter for use with a data tag
configured to be
attached to the meter and store characterization data for the meter, the meter
includes a
processor configured to receive the meter measurement data from the meter and
the
characterization data for the meter from the data tag and to process the
received meter
measurement data from the meter and calibrate the meter using the
characterization data.
[0017] To further assist the reader's understanding of the disclosed
systems and
methods, an environment for their use and operation is described. For example,
an
illustrative resource extraction system 100 is shown in FIG. 1, which may
include a well
120 and separator 126. A measurement system 202 is attached to a flowline 128
that is a
fluid connection with a connector 130 and the separator 126. As illustrated
the resource
extraction system 100 may be configured and used to measure hydrocarbons
(e.g., oil
and/or natural gas) and optionally water through the addition or repurposing
of
measurement system 202. When assembled, the separator 126 may couple to the
well 120
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and include a variety of valves, fittings, and controls for operating the
separator 126 to
produce the well 120. As explained below, the flow measurement system 202 may
be
configured to measure the flow of a fluid through the flowline 128. However,
it should
also be appreciated that one or more measurement systems 202 may be used in
any of the
flowlines of the resource extraction system 100, including the gas and water
flowlines.
[0018] FIG. 2 shows an illustrative embodiment of a measurement system
202. The
measurement system 202 can include a measurement device/meter 204, such as a
flow
meter to measure units of fluid passing through the meter 204, and meter
electronics 206.
Although not shown, the measurement system 202 may also include a power
source.
[0019] The meter 204 may be characterizable by one or multiple K-
factors over its
operating range. For the example of a flow meter 204 with multiple K-factors,
the meter
performance could be represented by K-factor values at specified meter output
pulse
frequencies that originated for test data or it could be represented by
mathematical
coefficients that would create a curve that could approximate the multiple K-
factor sets.
The K-factor(s) can account for variations in flow meter dimensions, surface
finish,
bearing drag, magnetic drag, or other tolerance variations occurring during
manufacture.
The K-factor(s) can represent the various number of pulses per unit of volume
at various
frequencies of the flow meter 204 as measured with a gas or as measured with a
liquid.
The K-factor may be in units of frequency or in units of time (i.e., a wave
period) or any
other derivative or origin data that can be used to derive the equivalent of a
K-factor like
meter response versus flow reference. Other meter calibration values can
quantify the
flow effect of fluid density or viscosity.
[0020] Other meter calibration values are contemplated and are included
within the
scope of the invention and claims, e.g., Reynolds number. It should be noted
that the
meter 204 being a flow meter is used for the purpose of description of this
embodiment.
However, any type of sensor could be used in conjunction with the measurement
system
202.
[0021] The meter 204 measurements are communicated to the meter
electronics 206
to be converted to data. As an example, the meter electronics 206 may include
a totalizer
for converting the meter 204 measurements to data and then processing,
storing, or also
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possibly displaying the measurement data. It should be appreciated though that
the meter
electronics 206 may be any type of electronics for receiving measurements from
the
meter 204, such as but not limited to other types of flow computers. The
measurement
data may also be processed and then output to another device for further
analysis. As
shown, the meter electronics 206 may include an electronics board 208 that
includes, for
example, a central processing unit such as a microchip with a processor and
any manner
of integral or independent electronic storage medium. The microchip may
calculate, for
example, fluid flow from data received through the meter 204. The electronics
board 208
microchip also has the capability of loading the K-factor data for the meter
204 into a K-
factor data table such as a database stored on the storage medium. Also
included in the
meter electronics 206 is a communication interface 207 described further
below.
Optionally, the meter electronics 206 may further include a visual indicator
that the meter
204 was operated under a condition outside of its specified operating range.
The actual
condition data may be recorded and displayed on the electronics 206.
[0022] The measurement system 202 may also include one or more data
tags, 210,
such as a passive or active RFID tag, QR code, barcode, and/or the like. Data
regarding
the calibration, or K-factor, data for the meter 204 is stored on the data tag
210. Other
data for the meter 204, such as meter type, may also be stored on the data tag
210. For
example, this other data meter type data could at least include:
a. minimum-rated flow capacity;
b. maximum-rated flow capacity;
c. minimum pulse amplitude or pulse amplitudes at various frequencies;
d. model number;
e. serial number;
f. assigned user tag number;
g. materials of construction;
h. agency certifications; and
i. date of manufacture or calibration.
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[0023] In various embodiments, the data tag may correspond to different
data when
read by different devices. For example, a data tag comprising a QR code may be
configured to correspond to instructions, promotional messages, and/or links
to websites
upon scanning by a generic QR code scanning device (e.g., a "first reader"),
whereas the
same QR code may correspond to meter characterization data if scanned by a
reader
associated with the meter electronics 206 or a portable reader 214. In some
embodiments,
the QR code comprises a dual purpose QR code corresponding to a first set of
data when
scanned by a first reader and a second set of data when scanned by the
portable device.
[0024] The K-factor data may be loaded onto the data tag 210 by the
manufacturer of
the meter 204 or by any person or entity having calibrated the meter 204. The
data tag
210 may be attached to the meter 204 in any suitable form. As shown, the data
tag 210 is
included in a band 212 connected with a portion of the exterior of the meter
204 as shown
by the dotted arrow. In further instances, the data tag 210 is provided
separately from the
band 212, and the band 212 is an adhesive pad, zip tie, hose clamp, cable or
other device
operable to affix the data tag 210 to a structure. The band 212 and/or the
data tag 210
may also include an identification reference that matches an identification
reference on
the meter 204 to ensure quality control in matching the data tag 210 to the
correct meter
204. The identification reference may be visual or may be stored as data
readable by a
device, such as a portable RFID reader, portable QR code reader, portable
barcode
reader, and/or the like.
[0025] The data tag 210 is in communication with the meter electronics
206 through
the communication interface 207, such as a QR code reader and/or an RFID
reader. The
communication interface 207 may be a part of the meter electronics 206 or may
be in
operative communication with the meter electronics 206. In various instances,
the data
tag 210 is in communication with the meter electronics 206 through the
communication
interface 207. The communication interface 207 may be a logical aspect of both
the meter
electronics 206 and a reader device, such as a portable reader. Thus, the
communication
interface 207 may be said to be a portion of a portable reader. In various
embodiments,
the portable reader is a camera phone with a QR code reader software
application. This
portable reader may be in logical communication with, or may be a logical
aspect of the
meter electronics 206. For example, the portable reader may be connected via
an
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interconnection of a communication device of the portable reader with a
communication
device of the meter 204. In various embodiments, the meter electronics 206
includes its
own communication interface 207 which communicates directly with the QR code.
For
instance, the communication interface 207 may also include a QR code reader
that is a
dedicated component of the meter electronics 206.
[0026] Being in communication enables the meter electronics 206 to
synchronize
with the data tag 210 and wirelessly load the K-factor data for the meter 204
from the
data tag 210. The K-factor data for the meter 204 can thus be communicated to
the meter
electronics 206 and used by the electronics 206 to calibrate the meter 204
measurements
and properly calculate the measurement data. For example, a QR code reader
such as a
camera phone running an QR code reading application may transmit the K-factor
data to
the meter electronics 206. This transmission may be effectuated via a wireless
connection
between the camera phone running a QR code reading application and the meter
electronics 206. Such wireless connection may include at least one of
Bluetooth, NFC, or
any other communication technology. Other data regarding the meter 204, such
as the
type of meter and the meter operational range, may also be communicated from
the data
tag 210 to the meter electronics 206, such as via a RFID reader, QR code
reader (e.g.,
camera phone with a QR code reading application), and/or the like. The
communication
interface 207 can be configured to communicate with the data tag 210 for the
meter 204
as well as, in various embodiments, data tags on other flow meters, and can
also be used
to communicate with other measurement systems. Alternatively, the
communication
interface 207 can receive the meter calibration values from a remote terminal
or device.
[0027] The data on the data tag 210 may also be synchronized with other
electronics
than the meter electronics 206. As described above, the meter 204 and data tag
210 can
be labeled with identification references. A portable data reader/writer 214
(such as a
RFID reader, QR code reader, camera phone running a QR code reading device,
etc.)
may then be used to read and store the identification reference in a database.
A quality
control service could later use the portable reader 214 to confirm that the
data tag 210 is
on the correct meter 204. Additionally, data tag 210 information read by the
portable
reader may also be capable of sending data read from the data tag 210 to a
logging
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facility 220, which may be remote from the meter 204 and meter electronics
206. The
logging facility 220 may also receive data from other meters 204.
[0028] As an advantage, the measurement system 202 can remotely read
the meter
calibration values, such as obtaining the meter calibration values from the
meter 204
through the communication interface 207. The values can be read wirelessly,
for
example, over radio-frequency electromagnetic fields, via images from an
optical camera,
or the like. The values can also be read at any time. Alternatively, the meter
calibration
values can be directly entered into the measurement system 202 by a user
through the
user interface 213. In another alternative, the meter calibration values can
be obtained
from other remote devices, such as the portable reader 214 through the
communication
interface 207. In various embodiments, the portable reader 214 takes an image
of the data
tag 210 and, via a software application, decodes data represented by a visual
pattern, such
as a QR code. The portable reader 214 prepares meter calibration data based on
the
decoding, and transmits, the meter calibration data to the meter 204, such as
through a
communication interface 207. Communication interface 207 may receive the meter
calibration data, which may be transmitted via Bluetooth, NFC, wireless,
sonic, optical,
or any technology as desired.
[0029] The meter calibration values are used in operation by the flow
meter
electronics of the flow meter 202 to calibrate a flow measurement. The meter
calibration
values are typically obtained by measurement at the factory, under test
conditions and are
commonly stored in the meter electronics before the flow meter is shipped from
the
factory. In addition, the meter calibration values can be programmed or re-
programmed
into the meter electronics by a user in the field during equipment service
sessions.
Moreover, the meter calibration data may be represented by a printed QR code
that is
provided with the meter and implemented in systems and methods discussed
herein for
the loading of corresponding data into the meter electronics by a user in the
field. As an
advantage, if the meter 204 is re-configured, or repaired, the new calibration
values can
be re-programmed to the meter electronics 206 so that the meter 204 can still
be
identified. This programming is typically facilitated by the data tag 210
attached to the
meter 204, with the re-configured data written to the tag 210 or by an
additional tag 210
that would be supplied with the replacement or retested flow meter parts.
Therefore, the
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user can re-program the meter electronics 206 with correct calibration
information if
required, such as in the event of power loss, memory loss, re-configuration,
etc., of the
meter 204.
[0030] As an alternative, other communication interfaces can be used.
The
communication interface 207 can comprise any type of communication device. In
one
embodiment the communication interface 207 comprises a modem, network card,
etc.,
configured to communicate over a network. The communication interface 207
comprises
a wireless communication device, such as a radio or optical receiver or
transceiver, for
example.
[0031] FIG. 3 illustrates example methods for the use of the
measurement system in
accordance with one or more embodiments. The illustrative flow diagram shows
an
example method for entering and retrieving characterization data from a
measurement
device, such as a flow meter. In block 302, the measurement device is
calibrated at the
factory or lab to determine the characterization data for the device before
being sent to
the customer or distribution. As explained above, the measurement device can
be of any
type. In block 304, the characterization data is collected. For example, the
meter
characterization data may include K-factors for flow over a specified range.
The
characterization data is written onto a data tag such as a RFID tag, as shown
in block 306.
The data tag such as the RFID tag is attached to the measurement device, as
shown in
block 308. The ID tag can also include any other information about the
measurement
device. The characterization information stored on the data tag such as the
RFID tag is
read by the meter electronics at 310 to enable the meter electronics to
process the
measurement information from the meter. FIG. 4 illustrates further example
methods for
the use of the measurement system in accordance with one or more embodiments.
The
illustrative flow diagram shows an example method for entering and retrieving
characterization data from a measurement device, such as a flow meter. In
block 302, the
measurement device is calibrated at the factory or lab to determine the
characterization
data for the device before being sent to the customer or distribution. As
explained above,
the measurement device can be of any type. In block 304, the characterization
data is
collected. For example, the meter characterization data may include K-factors
for flow
over a specified range. The characterization data is written onto a data tag,
such as a QR
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code tag, as shown in block 306. The data tag such as the QR code tag is
attached to the
measurement device, as shown in block 308. The data tag can also include any
other
information about the measurement device. The characterization information
stored on
the data tag is read by a portable reader, such as a camera phone running a QR
code
reader application at 402. In various embodiments, the QR code reader
application is a
logical component of the meter electronics. The portable reader decodes the
data
represented by the QR code and transmits the data to the meter electronics 310
at 404 to
enable the meter electronics to process the measurement information from the
meter. The
meter includes a processor or electronics configured to receive the meter
measurement
data and the characterization data for the meter from the data tag and to
process the
received meter measurement data from the meter and calibrate the meter using
the
characterization data.
[0032] Although the present invention has been described with respect
to specific
details, it is not intended that such details should be regarded as
limitations on the scope
of the invention, except to the extent that they are included in the
accompanying claims.
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