Abstract:
A system operating on one or more computers for accessing sensing data is operable to retrieve time-based measurement data from a system storing the time-based measurement data, display the time-based measurement data in a user interface, and receive an input corresponding to a time of an event of interest in the time-based measurement data. The system is further operable to retrieve sensing data from a sensing system generally corresponding to the time of the event of interest and display the sensing data in the user interface.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application 61/111,407, filed on Nov. 5, 2008. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to accessing and visualizing data. 
         [0004]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0005]    Distributed temperature sensing (DTS) systems are used in many oilfield installations to determine temperatures at various depths within a well. For example, a DTS system may provide temperature indications at about one meter intervals along a length of a well. One series of measurements may include, for example, hundreds of measurements. Typically, such a series of measurements is made at periodic time intervals, such as, for example, at one minute intervals, one hour intervals, or the like. Measured temperatures are typically displayed for a given point in time as a two-dimensional graph, in which a first axis corresponds to well length and a second axis corresponds to temperature. 
         [0006]    Over time, the number of temperature measurement series for a single well may number in the thousands. Choosing which measurement series to display can be a trial and error process. For example, a well may have exhibited a reduced flow rate. It is often desirable to inspect well temperatures to determine if there is a correlation between the reduced flow rate and a change in well temperature. Finding the correct temperature measurement series, however, may take several iterations, considerable time, and considerable computer resources. 
         [0007]    There are many systems and methods for accessing data well known in the art; however, considerable shortcomings remain. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    In one aspect, the present invention provides a system operating on one or more computers for accessing DTS data. The system is operable to retrieve data from a supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system, or other system storing time-based measurement data, display the data in a user interface, and receive an input corresponding to a time of an event of interest in the data. The system is further operable to retrieve data from a DTS system generally corresponding to the time of the event of interest and display the DTS data in the user interface. 
         [0009]    In another aspect, the present invention provides a method for operating one or more computers for accessing DTS data. The method comprises retrieving data from a SCADA system, or other system storing time-based measurement data, displaying the data in a user interface, and receiving an input corresponding to a time of an event of interest in the data. The method further comprises retrieving data from a DTS system generally corresponding to the time of the event of interest and displaying the DTS data in the user interface. 
         [0010]    In yet another aspect, the present invention provides a software for accessing DTS data. The software is embodied in a computer-readable medium and, when executed, is operable to retrieve data from a SCADA system, or other system storing time-based measurement data, display the data in a user interface, and receive an input corresponding to a time of an event of interest in the data. The software, when executed, is further operable to retrieve data from a DTS system generally corresponding to the time of the event of interest and display the DTS data in the user interface. 
         [0011]    The present invention provides significant advantages, including: (1) providing a way to link DTS data with time-based sensor data; (2) providing a way to view DTS data for a time period corresponding to an event of interest described in time-based sensor data; and (3) providing a way to view only desired DTS data profiles, without loading all DTS profiles into computer memory before viewing. 
         [0012]    Additional objectives, features and advantages will be apparent in the written description which follows. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    The novel features of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. However, the invention itself, as well as a preferred mode of use, and further objectives and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which the leftmost significant digit in the reference numerals denote the first figure in which the respective reference numeral appears, wherein: 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  is a stylized, block diagram depicting an illustrative embodiment of a system for accessing DTS data; 
           [0015]      FIGS. 2 and 3  are depictions of an illustrative embodiment of a user interface of the system of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a flowchart depicting an illustrative method of using the system of  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is a flowchart depicting an illustrative method of accessing DTS data, which may be performed by the system of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
       [0018]    While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the description herein of specific embodiments is not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0019]    Illustrative embodiments of the invention are described below. In the interest of clarity, not all features of an actual implementation are described in this specification. It will be appreciated that in the development of any such actual embodiment, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made to achieve the developer&#39;s specific goals, such as compliance with system-related and business-related constraints, which will vary from one implementation to another. Moreover, it will be appreciated that such a development effort might be complex and time-consuming but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking for those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure. 
         [0020]    The present invention relates to a system for accessing distributed temperature data that is linked to time-based sensor data. In one embodiment, the system accesses a database of a SCADA system, such as a SCADA historian, in which sensor data, such as pressure data, single-point temperature data, flow rate data, or the like, resides. The data of interest is displayed on a user interface, such as a graphical user interface, in tabular and/or graphical forms. The system also accesses a database of a DTS system for temperature data corresponding to a specified sensory event, such as a pressure anomaly, a single-point temperature anomaly, a flow rate anomaly, or the like, represented as data residing in the SCADA system database. For example, when an anomaly is identified in the SCADA system database data, either by computing means or by human means, one or more temperature series from the DTS system database are displayed on the user interface. 
         [0021]      FIG. 1  depicts a stylized, graphical representation of a system for accessing DTS data residing in a database  101  of a DTS system  103  based upon a selected event represented by sensor data residing in a database  105  of a SCADA system  107 . DTS data is derived from one or more sensory outputs of a corresponding one or more distributed temperature sensors  109  and database  101 . DTS system  103  comprises a DTS system host  111  operably associated with the one or more distributed temperature sensors  109 . SCADA system  107  comprises a SCADA host  113  operably associated with one or more sensors  115 , such as one or more pressure sensors, one or more single-point temperature sensors, one or more flow rate sensors, or the like, and database  105 . In one embodiment, SCADA host  113  is operably associated with one or more controls  117 , such as valve controls, pump controls, temperature controls, or the like. The one or more sensors  115  and/or the one or more controls  117  may communicate with SCADA host  113  via other equipment and/or devices, such as remote terminal units  119  and  121 , respectively. SCADA system  107  receives inputs from the one or more sensors  115 , transforms the inputs into time-based data, and records the data in database  105 . SCADA system  107  further includes a human interface, which may be rendered on a display  123  of SCADA host  113 . The human interface or a portion thereof may be rendered on other displays, such as a display of combined access computer  125 , which is described in greater detail herein. In one embodiment, sensor data residing in database  105  of SCADA system  107  is managed by a SCADA historian residing on SCADA host  113 . 
         [0022]    Still referring to  FIG. 1 , combined access computer  125  comprises hardware and software embodied in a computer-readable medium  126 , which are embodied in at least combined access computer  125 , that access data residing in DTS database  101  and SCADA database  105 . Combined access computer  125  includes a user interface  127  that, in the illustrated embodiment, is a graphical user interface. In one embodiment, the combined access computer  125  and the hardware and software embodied in combined access computer  125  access data residing in DTS database  101  and SCADA database  105 . In another embodiment, the system for accessing DTS data residing in database  101  of DTS system  103  based upon a selected event represented by sensor data residing in database  105  of SCADA system  107  further comprises one or both of DTS system  103  and SCADA system  107 . 
         [0023]      FIG. 2  depicts an exemplary user interface  127 . It should be noted that, while user interface  127  is depicted as having a particular configuration in  FIG. 2 , the scope of the present invention is not so limited. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , user interface  127  includes two informational zones, a SCADA or discrete sensor zone  201  and a DTS zone  203 . In the view shown in  FIG. 2 , SCADA data is rendered in zone  201  but no data is rendered in DTS zone  203 . While many different types of data from sensors  115 , controls  117 , (both shown in  FIG. 1 ) or the like may be rendered in SCADA zone  201 , “average horizontal temperature,” represented by a line  205 , and “flow rate,” represented by a line  207 , for “Well  2 ” are graphically depicted. Various data may be selected for rendering and display in a selection area  208  of user interface  127 . SCADA zone  201  further provides gridlines and reference values for the data rendered in zone  201 . For example, in the illustrated embodiment, gridlines and reference values are provided in zone  201  for temperature, flow rate, and time, e.g., date and time of day. It should be noted that data for any combination of sensors and/or any combination of wells can be rendered in zone  201 . SCADA data is inspected, either by human means or computer means, to find one or more events of interest. For example,  FIG. 2  depicts an anomaly in average horizontal temperature, generally at  209 , and an anomaly in flow rate, generally at  211 . To display DTS data corresponding to a particular time, such as the time at which anomalies  209  and  211  occurred, a pointing device, such as a mouse, tablet pen, or the like, is used to place a pointer  213  at the time of interest and the pointing device is actuated. 
         [0024]      FIG. 3  additionally depicts an exemplary embodiment of the results rendered in DTS zone  203  of user interface  127  upon entering the time of interest in SCADA zone  201 . In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 3 , DTS data from one or more times generally corresponding to the time and wells selected in SCADA zone  201  are displayed. For example, data for a time prior to the time selected in SCADA zone  201  is graphically displayed as line  301 , while data for a time after the time selected in SCADA zone  201  is graphically displayed as line  303 . DTS zone  203  further provides gridlines and reference values for the data rendered in zone  203 . Thus, for one or more times generally corresponding to a particular time of interest, determined from SCADA data, data from one or more distributed temperature sensing runs can readily be rendered. 
         [0025]      FIG. 4  provides a flowchart depicting an illustrative embodiment of a method for using the system of  FIG. 1 . In the illustrated embodiment, the method starts at block  401 . The operator of the method selects one or more wells of interest (block  403 ), such as in selection area  208  of SCADA zone  201  in user interface  127  (each shown in  FIG. 2 ). One or more sensors of interest are selected (block  405 ), such as in selection area  208 . The SCADA data for the selected one or more wells and the one or more sensors is rendered and displayed, such as in SCADA zone  201 , by the system and inspected to determine events of interest (block  407 ). If an event is found (block  409 ), the time corresponding to the event is selected (block  411 ). DTS data corresponding to the selected time is rendered and displayed, such as in DTS zone  203 , by the system and inspected (block  413 ). It should be noted that DTS data for a plurality of times that fall about the selected time may be rendered and displayed. If no event is found in the SCADA data (block  409 ) and/or after the DTS data has been inspected (block  413 ), a determination is made whether to inspect other SCADA data (block  415 ). If an inspection of other SCADA data is desired, the method restarts at block  403  to select one or more wells of interest. If no other inspection of SCADA data is desired, the method ends at block  417 . 
         [0026]      FIG. 5  provides a flowchart depicting an illustrative embodiment of a method for accessing DTS data that may be performed using the system of  FIG. 1 . In the illustrated embodiment, the method starts at block  501 . Based upon the one or more wells and the one or more sensors selected, such as in blocks  403  and  405  of the method shown in  FIG. 4 , sensor data is retrieved from SCADA system  107  (block  503 ). The retrieved SCADA data is rendered and displayed in graphical and/or textual forms (block  505 ). When an event of interest is found (block  507 ), such as in block  409  of the method shown in  FIG. 4 , and the time corresponding to the event is selected, such as in block  411  of the method shown in  FIG. 4 , a record is made of the time of the event of interest (block  509 ). Data corresponding to the time of the event of interest is retrieved from DTS system  103  (block  511 ), rendered, and displayed (block  513 ). It should be noted that DTS data for a plurality of times that fall about the selected time may be rendered and displayed. The method ends at block  515 . 
         [0027]    While the present invention is described herein as being operatively associated with one or more wells, the scope of the present invention is not so limited. Rather, the present invention contemplates the present system being a part of many different types of implementations. 
         [0028]    The particular embodiments disclosed above are illustrative only, as the invention may be modified and practiced in different but equivalent manners apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachings herein. Furthermore, no limitations are intended to the details of construction or design herein shown, other than as described in the claims below. Although the present invention is shown in a limited number of forms, it is not limited to just these forms, but is amenable to various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof.