WO2002058362A2 - Wireless network system - Google Patents

Abstract

A communication system which provides for real-time data acquisition, voice communication (A), video monitoring (VIDEO) and high-speed Internet and network access from remote geographical locations is disclosed. The system includes a main receiver interconnected to a router (H), the router is interconnected to an Internet server from which data may be retrieved by a central user. The main receiver is connected to one or more remote sites by means of transmitters and/or relay stations which are spacedly positioned form the main receiver. The transmitters are wirelessly interconnected with data generating apparatus.

Description

WIRELESS NETWORK SYSTEM

PRIORITY CLAIM This application claims the benefit of the filing date of United States

Provisional Patent Application Serial Number 60/262,025, filed January 16, 2001, for OILFIELD WIRELESS NETWORK SYSTEM (OFWNS) - REAL TIME DATA DELIVERY SYSTEM (RTDDS).

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates generally to communication systems. More particularly, the invention pertains to a communications system that allows for real-time data acquisition, voice communications, video monitoring, and high-speed Internet and network access from remote geographical locations. It provides all of the traditional communication needs of such locations. The invention facilitates the replacement of several different unrelated and proprietary systems by one multi-use, shared and highspeed system that can carry 800 to 2000 times more data than the systems it replaces.

BACKGROUND Communications constitute an indispensable part of modern day life. Provision of high speed communications in urban environments is easily obtained given current technologies. In contrast to the availability of communications, capabilities in urban environments, communication capabilities in rural and isolated wilderness areas are generally limited. Those capabilities which are available tend to be very expensive, subject to disruption and otherwise less dependable than their urban counterparts. The availability of high speed communications in isolated geographical areas is of particular importance to the energy industry which oftentimes must locate its extraction facilities in such areas.

Communications are an indispensable part of oil field operations, and yet have been the most difficult and most expensive to obtain. Different communications systems are required for each service the oil field needs. The communications are broken down into three main components: 1) Voice communications 2) Data communications for field devices 3) Data communications for field personal. Noice communications typically consist of cell phones, which can cost oil companies as much as $32,000/Month per field. Cell phones give poor to average quality phone connections, with spot coverage areas. Cell phones also allow for third parties to easily listen in to the private phone conversations since such phones utilize a rai^^'o frequency that can be picked up by almost any scanner. Another available option are satellite phones which are 3 times as expensive as cell phones for service charges or "air time" and require expensive specialized equipment to operate.

Data communications for collecting the current operating parameters from the oil fields measurement meters that measure the amount of production of an individual well or a larger production facility are typically expensive, proprietary and custom to each company. Companies have two traditional options for collecting of data. Radios which are either licensed or unlicensed operate in the spread spectrum brand of 900 MHz. Radio manufacturers, such as Motorola or MDS provide data radios that can transmit at data rates up to 9600 bits per second. These radios operate off of a repeater type system where a repeater site at a central or hill top location is used to control, transmit and direct communications between all of the oil fields well site communication links. This means that only one well can communicate at a time through the repeater station and back to the master radio. This takes typically 20 seconds to collect one well, and when a field typically contains 300 to 1000 wells it can take several hours to perform one collection of the field. A collection gives information pertaining to the current operating parameters of each well in the field. Its production, last 24 hours production, current pressures and temperatures are typically recorded.

The licensed solution is not practical in many areas because available licenses may be already exhausted, not allocated or unavailable. The other approach requires using spread spectrum technology that requires no license. Since such an approach requires no license anyone can use it. As a result, any user of this technology must accept any interference received from other companies. Fields utilizing spread spectrum radio technology have become very congested and are at the point of over saturation of radio frequency in the 900Mhz unlicensed band. As a result, no company can effectively utilize this particular communication system for their independent purposes. These radios are proprietary in nature and can only support one company system. This, in turn, requires each company to invest in a separate and unique system even when they operate side by side with other companies in the same field. The data capacity of this system is typically limited between 9600 bits per second to 128000 bits per second. Other options include CDPD technology where companies lease "dead space" in cell phone radio networks to achieve the collection of data packets at 128000 bits per second. CDPD requires airtime charges similar to cell phones and can run as high as 60000 dollars a month.

Satellites are used in remote locations to collect field information at rates as high as 8000/Month per facility. The data rates are again limited between 4800 and 128000 bits per second.

In view of the lack of available communications capabilities, flow computers, sophisticated meter devices that measure production parameters as current production, temperature, pressure and track historical information are required at these sites. Since there is no ability to collect operational information instantaneously, flow computers are required to calculate and store the current operating parameters at the location itself. These flow computers perform calculations to AGA standards every second and compute the correct average for storage into its system memory for up to 30 days. This information is then downloaded by traditional communication systems into a specialized data management system that allows for the data to eventually be analyzed and archived.

Data communications for the field personnel to obtain access to their corporate networks, Internet or other data systems are limited to Cell Phones or Satellites data systems. The data transmission rate for such systems is between 4800 and 128000 bits per second. The reliability of cell phones to transmit data is extremely poor, making it impossible for field personnel to transmit large reports or files, gain access to internet sites containing needed information, or effectively access any corporate network remotely. They also incur expensive use charges as high as .40 a minute for cell phones and 1.20 minute for satellite systems. Given the difficulties and costs of presently providing high speed communications in isolated geographical locations, and the continuing demands for such capabilities in a myriad of industries, there continues to be a need for a system of providing such a capability.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION A new technology introduced recently to the U.S. market over the last 3 years involves the implementation of radios that enable the creation of wireless networks conforming to the Ethernet standard. Wireless Ethernet utilizes an unlicensed spread spectrum radio signal. This type of signal takes a narrow band signal and spreads it over a broadened frequency band typically in the range of 2400-2483.5 Mhz. In the instant invention, the radios operating in the unlicensed 2.4 Ghz, 900 Mhz and 5.8 Ghz bands are preferred. They follow a specification outlined as 802.11, 801.11 B and RFC 1042 IEEE standards. The sole intention of their market is for the Office, Home, Home Office, and warehouse environment with indoor applications and small outdoor applications intended. Their effective range of communications were set up for no more than 2000 feet. The products themselves were meant as quick solutions for extending network connectivity within buildings up to lOBase T or 10 million bytes a second network connectivity without wires. Any manufacturer that conforms to the 802.11 or RFC 1042 standard in theory can inter-operate with any other. Leaders in this field are Aironet Communications that was purchased by Cisco Systems in 2000. Other companies that make products for this market are Lucent Technologies, Compaq, Symbol Technologies, Samsung and Harris. There are 100's of companies making components that conform to this standard, all intended for the Office, Home Office and indoor application from hand held PDA's to laptops with built in wireless Ethernet cards. Apple computer was one of the First companies to introduce 802.1 IB wireless Ethernet cards built into their computers, and now Dell computer offers the same solution for their laptops.

The current invention takes this wireless Ethernet technology which conforms to the open standards of 802.1 IB and 802.11 and has invented a method by which this indoor technology can be extended to an outdoor area, (e.g., an oil production field) and provide coverage up to 100 Miles.

This invention allows for the creation of a public use and shared infrastructure in an oil field environment whereas voice, high speed data and video communications can all be achieved from using one system that is 800 to 2000 times the capacity of all the traditional oil field communication solutions.

The instant invention accordingly provides a system having an infrastructure having an enhanced resistance to interference especially of the type created by various weather phenomena. The invention furthermore provides for a structure for increasing bandwidth up to 11 MHz. This increase is notable in view of the 19 Kbps capacity of cellular phones and 64 Kb s for satellite phones. The new system uses a very low power requirement, of less than 1 watt while providing a secure Ethernet wireless communication system for laptops and desk top computers. The new system permits the user to transmit from isolated geographical locations, making it unnecessary for the user to leave the site to obtain suitable bandwidth capability.

The invention creates a solution by which several companies, operators, contractors and service companies in one location can all interoperate over one communication solution achieving all of their communication needs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS Fig. 1 illustrates an open field operating model defined as the best mode of implementation for this technology;

Fig. 2 is a schematic view of a communications network according to the instant invention.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a mobile tower of the invention shown in the process of being erected.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the mobile tower of Fig. 3; and Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the mobile tower of Fig. 3 shown in a fully installed condition.

BEST MODE(S) FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION In its simplest form, the invention, known hereinafter as "Oil Field Wireless Network System" (OFWNS) is a real-time data delivery system (RTDDS) that provides a communication interface, with rules, procedures, custom software and implementations that provides solutions for every aspect of the oil field communication networks through one system that is shared by every company, personnel and device in the field. It uses wireless Ethernet defined by the 802.11, 802.1 IB IEEE standards and RFC 1042 standard to create a multi-use and shared network structure providing for voice, high-speed data, video monitoring and streaming and real time process control and monitoring. It is a participatory network in which every company, operator and user in the oil field, whether related or not, independent or combined, have equal and shared access to one infrastructure and each user of the system becomes a relay or repeater of the system for other users providing extensive coverage throughout the field.

The instant invention may be utilized in conjunction with the system disclosed in International Patent Application PCT/US60/04022 published 24 August 2000 in the International Publication No. WO 00/48461. The entire contents of the aforementioned International Patent Application is hereby incorporated by reference. The combination of the instant invention together with the system disclosed in the International Patent Application (hereinafter "IW DDCS") allows for the simultaneous and instantaneous association of thousands of wells from several different fields into a real-time data analysis system. Because of the real time^'and instantaneous collection ability of this system, flow meters and flow computers are no longer required at the field location. Only simple devices are needed that stream the current operational parameters through analog or digital methods across this wireless Ethernet network into a master database collection facility at a central location. When flow computers are still used, the instant system allows for the collection, management and processing of the data as fast as the flow computer can collect it.

Preferred Implementation and Best Mode of the Invention Referenced FIG. 2

A main access tower is created (A) that consists of a Cisco Aironet AIR-BR342 802.1 IB radio or equivalent. The towers height depends upon line of site and field topology typically 140 feet to as high as 500 feet. Average height is 70 Feet. Tower has an omni directional antenna that radiates signal in 360 degrees from its base. Output power is 500 Mili Watts per FCC specifications. Main access tower provides the root or master radio to which all field communications and data flow ultimately ends up. A Cisco 3662 Router (H) with 128 Meg of ram and 8 Meg of Flash running IOS Version 11.3(2)xa4 or later connects to the radio through its first Ethernet interface 0/0. The router connects to leased circuit Tl or equivalent that connects to the Internet (J) through an internal CSD/DSU WIC1-T1 card in its WAN slot, and several FXO cards in its Network Interface_^Slots VIC-2FXO connect to lines provided by a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) for voice communications. The connection between the Access Point (AIR-BR342) and the router is a CAT 5 cable of proper length, or a point-to-point radio hop consisting of Microwave facilities, Ethernet bridging radio or some other means of connection. Distance between main access tower and main Cisco router may be several hundred or thousand miles. Some leased circuit or combination of circuits provides a traditional connection from the oil field wireless network point of main connection to the physical wired interface.

Secondary access towers (AA) can be located around the field to connect the network coverage to different areas of the field depending on topology, obstructions, distance and other related factors. Drilling rigs (B) operated by several different companies are turned into repeaters using the AIR-BR342 Cisco radio or 802.11 B compliant access point and bridge to provide network connectivity for the drilling rig, and also to extend the coverage of the open network (OFWNS) structure. Each rig operated by different companies become participants in the network as well as mobile and remote repeating stations. A rig may repeat for another rig that cannot connect to the main access tower, and a rig may repeat through several rigs and secondary access sites before it reaches the main access tower. A specially designed box is welded to the top of the crown into which an air-tight water proof box is placed that contains 1 AIR- BR342 radio or 802.1 IB Access point equivalent with an integrated bridge radio or external 802.1 IB bridge, Poliphaser for lightening protection. Possibly radio amps within FCC guidelines, and an external RF cable that attaches to an OMNI directional antenna mounted on the top of the crown on a fabricated 2-inch pipe. Another power cord is extended from the box to the rig power source typically below the crown lights. The rig crown radio (RCR) provides a wireless connection to every device around the rig for several miles. Typically 6 to 10 miles depending on obstructions. Each rig has Voice/Fax, Video, and high-speed data communications. By using drilling rigs, mobile facilities, and fixed facilities in the field as both relay sites, access points and repeaters, the effective coverage of radios that were intended for indoor applications no more than 1500 feet is extended to several miles, potentially several hundred miles depending on the correct amount of relay stations and towers. Each company and user that uses the system uses his or her access radio to connect to the network, and as well becomes a repeater for any other company or user in the field. The effectiveness of this invention is that no one company owns the infrastructure, rather participates in its structure by nature of their presence in the field. The infrastructure is managed by a third and independent party that provides for the management of the network topology.

Service company C) moves around the field performing service operations for the oil field. At any point in the field they can connect to the network by relaying off of drilling rigs, access sites, or another service company, vehicles or facilities that act as relay stations. From anywhere in the field service company C) has access to toll quality voice communications, fax communications, video monitoring of their operations that can be viewed via the internet from anywhere in the world, handheld internet device access as laptops or PDA's can participate in video and internet conferencing with other companies in the field, outside the field and from any corporate office or home connection that has internet access.

Remote Field Staff (D) can extend outside the service companies main operation and still participate in the network. From within the field, remote operators can perform real time process control of valves, machinery, equipment and operations using their laptop, an Internet browser running the IW-DDCS system, or any traditional software package. As well any outside engineer or user can effect the same control over the field for any system, remote, mobile, or stationary that has control enabled using the IW-DDCS patent pending system or any traditional system.

Flow Computers (E) and field measurement systems and devices are connected to the network through a serial to Ethernet converter (F) and Ethernet radio as Lucent's Orinoco EE-C Ethernet radio compliant with the 802.1 IB specifications. The production information the flow computer monitors for a well, or pipeline facility can now be monitored real-time and instantaneous and simultaneous with all wells and monitoring stations in that field. Using software as the IW-DDCS control and monitoring can be managed through a web browser and any Internet connection. The serial connection to the flow meter can be extended to any internet connection outside of the field, from anywhere in the world, where any traditional (SCAD A) software package that requires a serial port to communicate with flow meters can now communicate with the field meters as though a serial cable existed from point A to point B. Where Point A is the field meter, and point B is a computer running SCADA software on a computer requiring serial type communications anywhere in the world there is an internet connection. Production wells with flow computers can also act as repeaters for any of the users of the system. The Ethernet system in conjunction with IW-DDCS makes the flow computer obsolete since data can be collected real-time and processed and managed offsite and a central location using the IW-DDCS software through an internet connection, or leased circuit connection to the production field. Field personnel vehicles (G) (shown schematically) become mobile offices with toll quality phones/faxes, video cameras, and laptop computers with high-speed internet access, corporate networks WAN access at 10 base T speeds, and mobile repeaters. The laptop computers are also equipped with a GPS transceiver attached to the serial port, that through software developed for this purpose allows for the field personnel to know exactly where they are in the field and all of the current operational parameters for the facilities, wells and equipment in their immediate location. All an operator or field personnel needs to do is drive to a well location and the real time gps oil field information system (RTGOFIS) will tell them instantly all available information about the well location. The current production, the historical production, the history of the well, all of the parts and manufacture part numbers the well contains and all information relating to that well from its inception to completion. This software system, a part of the Oil Field Wireless Network System (OFWNS) and RTDDS, provides for real-time database management and information access based on users navigational coordinates of LAT and LONG as provided by a GPS transceiver anywhere in an OFWNS operated oil or gas field.

The instant system may also utilize mobile towers to expand the capability of the system. Mobile towers may also be utilized to deliver network connectivity to remote oil and gas field operation areas up to 40 miles apart in areas where no other communication option exists nor are viable. The mobile tower solutions are a low cost light industrial design built on a standard utility trailer which is reinforced using steel channel. One embodiment of a mobile tower is shown in Fig.s 3-5. As shown outriggers are added to support the trailer with the tower at its full height. The systems are portable and can be pulled by any standard size vehicle. At full height up to 80 feet they can be climbed by field staff to install equipment or otherwise. The towers are erected on the ground in 10 foot sections and then winched up on a hinge tower base, using a standard truck winch in about 40 seconds. The communication box on the trailer consists of 2 radios, in this case one 2.4 Ghz Cisco Aironet wireless Ethernet Radio and one 2.4 Ghz Maxtec wireless Ethernet Radio. The Cisco radio is attached to a directional dish and operates in "bridge mode" connecting the tower into the main network to other tower sites up to 20 miles away. In certain cases the Cisco Radio may be replaced with a 5.8 Ghz Western Multiplex point to point Ethernet bridge for distances up to 40 miles away.

The Maxtec Access point is attached to a sector antenna with coverage anywhere from 4 degrees to 240 degrees and in some cases 360 degrees. Drilling rigs, mobile vehicles, automation wells and the like will connect to the network through the access point attached to the sector antenna and then bridge back through the 2.4 Cisco or 5.8 Ghz Western Multiplex system to the network. Several towers may be placed within site of each other and used to hop over hills, obstructions or long distances. Mobile tower M at the farthest point hops through Mobile tower N, which connects through Mobile tower O which connects through fixed tower H where it reaches the internet through the wide area network connection. This allows extension of the network to 100 miles and beyond.

This allows for efficient utilization of a remote network. Drilling rig operators have reported speeds in excess of 1 million bits per second of connectivity to the internet using standard laptops 30 miles from any land line, and 300 miles from the internet connection point. Prior to this system the fastest speeds obtainable in these remote fields were 128 bits per second using satellite systems that cost 80 percent more than the instant solution. The latency which is defined as the amount of time for data to travel from the client site (drilling rig) to the destination site across the internet is defined in milliseconds. Satellites typically have a latency of 900 milliseconds and sometimes as high as 1 second. The instant mobile solution allows for latency's of 20 milliseconds across the main network and 120 milliseconds from the remote fields to a central operational location. The wireless network uses 64 bit and 128 bit encryption standards. The network runs at 11 Million Bytes a Second or equivalent to a 10 base T network. It accommodates all network protocols and provides for voice, video and data communications over a shared and multi-use single infrastructure. It provides for real- time process control and monitoring of wells, production facilities and field systems. It makes the flow computer obsolete and provides a method through IW-DDCS software to give oil companies complete real-time and historical information of the production fields from any internet com ection in the world.

Claims

CLAIMS What is claimed is:

1. A communication system comprising: a main tower; an antenna associated with said main tower; a radio receiver associated with said antenna; a router connected to said radio receiver; a interconnection structure for interconnecting said router to an Internet server; a plurality of secondary towers spacedly positioned from said main tower, each secondary tower having a respective auxiliary radio transmitter associated therewith; and apparatus for retrieving data from said Internet server.

2. The communication system of claim 1, further comprising interconnection structure for interconnecting said router to a PSTN network.

3. The communication system of claim 1, further comprising at least one wireless phone configured for communicating with at least one of said auxiliary radios.

4. The communication system of claim 1, further comprising a computer configured for wireless communication with at least one of said auxiliary radios.

5. The communication system of claim 1, further comprising an apparatus for monitoring a flow characteristic of an oil well, and communication structure for relaying data from said apparatus to at least one of said auxiliary radios.

6. The communication system of claim 5, wherein said communication stmcture is configured to relay said data through wireless transmission.

7. The communication system of claim 1, further comprising a video camera configured for relaying data to at least one of said auxiliary radios.

8. The communication system of claim 7, wherein said video camera is configured do relay said data wirelessly.

9. The communication system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of said secondary towers is a mobile tower.

10. A method of transmitting data from a first geographical location to a second geographical location, said method comprising: transmitting said data from said first geographical location via a first wireless apparatus to a first receiver; relaying said data from said first receiver to a main receiver via a second wireless apparatus; relaying said data from said main receiver to a router; relaying said data from said router to an internet server; retaining said data from said internet server at said second geographical location.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said main receiver is an omnidirectional antenna.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein said first receiver is associated with a tower.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said tower is mobile.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein said main receiver is associated with a main tower.

15. The communications system of claim 1 wherein said antenna is an omnidirectional antenna.

16. A communication system comprising: a main receiver; a router connected to said main receiver; a interconnection structure for interconnecting said router to an Internet server; apparatus for retrieving data from said Internet server; a plurality of primary receiver/transmitters spacedly positioned from said main receiver configured for transmitting data to said main receiver; a plurality of secondary transmitters, said primary receiver/transmitters being configured to receive and relay data from at least one secondary transmitter.