Track drill pipe pipeline using UHF RFID tags

Oilfield drill pipe UHF RFID application uses RFID technology to track drill pipes and pipelines in oil fields to improve the accuracy of oil field Asset MANAGEMENT and reduce oil field accidents.

Sinopec Corp.’s Shengli Oilfield has turned to RFID technology for field testing to track downhole pipelines in its onshore oil fields. This use case is believed to be the first UHF RFID application in the oil and gas industry.

Oilfield Drill Pipe UHF RFID Application

By embedding RFID tags on drill pipes, Shengli Oilfield was able to use UHF RFID handheld readers to track 1,380 drill pipes through seven websites. In February 2016, the pilot had been running for three months, and each well was drilled about 2,500 meters.

Shengli Oilfield then placed an antenna centered on the well to read the tag. During the string tripping operation, the RFID tag information was read. With the success of the UHF RFID application pilot on oilfield drill pipes, Shengli Oilfield will significantly expand the deployment of RFID tags to other drill pipes and sites.

The UHF RFID tag is a patented UHF RFID tag made of high-strength steel and polymer and is specifically designed to be embedded in the hole of the drill pipe joint to track each individual pipe. RFID technology is key to enabling the previously impossible task of tracking and capturing data on individual pipelines. Before adopting RFID technology, oil drilling companies often faced several problems. They don't know exactly where the drill is, how it's used, and when. During the drilling process, the drill pipe used to structure the drilling rig is Stored on brackets on the drilling tower or on brackets in the pipe yard. In order to find the correct components of the drill string being constructed, workers often had to climb onto the drill pipe rack and measure the drill pipe with a tape measure. The worker then writes the specifications on a piece of paper before entering the data into a computer by hand. In some cases, they may also spray-paint identification numbers on the drill pipe, but this will only go a long way. If the drill pipe mark is oriented the wrong way on the bracket, is covered in mud, or is worn, then incomplete marking will have no effect.

The ability to leverage RFID technology to track individual joints in drill pipe opens up new possibilities for improved documentation and process efficiency, resulting in cost savings and reduced risk. Regulatory requirements, weather and operating conditions make China's oil fields one of the most challenging asset management environments on earth. During string tripping operations, drill pipe is exposed to high temperatures, extreme pressure and vibration, as well as chemical corrosion. RFID tags are constructed to reliably withstand downhole pressures up to 30,000 psi.

RFID tags record ID number, steel number, size and weight, production information, final usage, asset maintenance records and other important information. The stored information is transferred to the RFID tracking system. By using handheld RFID Readers, workers can capture critical information before and after scanning all drill pipe and gain real-time visibility into when assets need cleaning and maintenance, and when they need to be scrapped.

This greatly reduces the risk of leaks and ruptures that could lead to detection failure. By collecting raw data in a timely manner, management can use field data to make quick and accurate decisions.

“The advantages of RFID tagging solutions for drilling, subsea and surface operations are undisputed,” said CEO Dennis Khoo. “The more information service pipeline equipment has before it enters the drilling rig, the more likely it is that an incident will be delayed or a catastrophic incident will occur.” The less likely it is.