Abstract:
Systems and methods for collecting, analyzing, transmitting, and acting on information collected from instruments monitoring and controlling equipment used for natural gas well production collection and pipeline insertion platforms (skids). Said instruments may include handheld computing devices like the Apple iPhone, iPad, or other PDAs; said devices using short or long range, wired or wireless communication. The systems and methods reduce costs, errors, inefficiencies, and increase safety by giving the user simple GUI interfaces for data collection and for action items. The said handheld devices can guide the data collector to the skid location using GPS or other location based services, collect data via wired of wireless methods, guide the data collector through manual data input methods or safety action items, compare current readings to past history and evaluate current safety or out-of-tolerance conditions or entries, among other items.

Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY TO PRIOR APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of the filing date of “Systems and Methods for Collecting, Analyzing, Recording and Transmitting fluid Hydrocarbon Production Monitoring and Control Data”, expected to issue as U.S. Pat. No. 8,594,938 on Nov. 26, 2013, as well as its priority document, namely U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/320,210, filed on Apr. 1, 2010, entitled “Systems and Method for Collecting, Analyzing, Recording, and Transmitting Fluid Hydrocarbon Production Monitoring and Control Data”, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference into the present disclosure. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to systems and methods for collecting, analyzing, transmitting, and acting on information collected from instruments monitoring and controlling equipment used for fluid hydrocarbon (principally natural gas) well production including collection platforms, pipeline insertion platforms, and the like. 
     2. Background Information 
     Where natural gas and other fluid hydrocarbons are found in the earth, producers may drill multiple bore holes (wells) in the earth to capture the hydrocarbon products. Producers often aggregate the output from individual wells by routing pipes from nearby individual wells to a common location for connection to a distribution pipeline. The collection of valves, gauges, pumps, filters, and other equipment at the common location are often attached to a rectangular metal structure. The structure, with the attached equipment, is sometimes referred to as a platform or skid. Another aggregation of fluid hydrocarbon production equipment is a pipeline insertion platform. In this application, the term skid includes a variety of aggregated equipment configurations including a collection platform, a pipeline insertion platform, and the like. 
     Typically, producers monitor and control several different characteristics of production including pipeline pressure, instantaneous flow rate, accumulated flow, etc., and control pressures and flows to meet business and safety needs. In current practices, producers often use discrete analog pressure gauges, analog flow meters, and digital flow meters to display key information. Many of these discrete instruments lack any wireless communication or telemetry capability. A person must visually inspect—“read”—each instrument&#39;s display to determine the state of the condition the instrument is monitoring—to get a “reading.” To make the data available for others&#39; uses, a person must record each instrument&#39;s reading, often by handwriting multiple instruments&#39; readings on a paper form. Subsequently, a data entry person may transfer the handwritten information from the paper report into a computer database. 
     Problems with Current Practices 
     Current practices have a number of limitations which increase the cost and decrease the completeness, accuracy, and usefulness of fluid hydrocarbon production monitoring and control data gathered from collection platforms, pipeline insertion platforms, and the like (skids). 
     First, the only way to capture the skid instrument&#39;s data is by a person visually inspecting the instrument. A person must locate, identify, and read the instrument, and then record the reading. The person may misread the instrument, inadvertently skip one or more instruments, or be unable to read the instrument because its indicator is visually obscured by rain, snow, ice, dust, or the like. Even if the person reads the instrument correctly, the person may write down the wrong reading, make an illegible entry, misattribute the reading to a different instrument, damage the paper form, or simply fail to record the reading. When the readings on the paper form are entered into a computer database, other errors may arise. For example, the data value may be entered incorrectly, misattributed, or omitted. 
     Second, human visual inspection, recording, and transcription lack immediate feedback for many data collection and entry errors. The person reading the instrument may not know whether the reading is within a normal range, is indicating an undesired condition, or is indicating a failed instrument that needs to be reset, repaired, or replaced. If a reader fails to read a particular instrument, the reader may not detect the omission until after leaving the site. Similarly, when recording a reading, a reader may not recognize that he has incorrectly attributed a reading from instrument A to instrument B. 
     Third, hard-wired instruments can be costly to install or replace. The instrument is usually attached to the sensing or controlling point, but may require a separate display to indicate the instrument&#39;s reading and has wires connecting the instrument to the display. The wiring and discrete display can add significant costs. For example, a hard-wired instrument has an average installed cost of $1,000. 
     As explained above, current data collection and recording practices not only reduce data accuracy and completeness and increase data acquisition costs, they also undermine the processes for which the data is being collected. Production managers make production, maintenance, and safety decisions based on reported data. Inaccurate data collection and recording or delayed analysis and transmittal may increase costs and reduce profits. In the extreme, such problems may cause damage to the environment or even loss of life. 
     Recent Technologies and Limitations 
     Recent technologies, if used in support of novel systems and methods, can overcome some of the data collection and recording problems related to legacy systems and methods. For example, a modern handheld computer may include features such as short- and long-range wireless communication systems, a digital camera, a geographical position fixing system such as a global navigation satellite system with single meter accuracy, and storage for applications, images, and data. Modern instrument systems offer “bolt-on” instruments that can wirelessly communicate their readings and do not require a separate, remote display. These self-contained instruments may be bolted onto a pipe or manifold which they are to sense. Some bolt-on instruments contain an internal battery that enables the instrument to transmit its data wirelessly to a data collection device or system. These and other technologies can be adapted for use in gas production monitoring and control systems and methods. 
     Desirable Improvements 
     There are many improvements in data collection, analysis, recording, and transmitting systems and methods that gas producers would welcome. For example, as a partial list of desirable improvements, producers want to:
         1. spend less time collecting and entering the data,   2. reduce the cost of collecting and recording the data,   3. increase the accuracy and completeness of the data,   4. decrease the time required to respond to out-of-tolerance readings,   5. reduce wasted resources and lost profits caused by data errors, and   6. reduce the risk of harm to the environment and personnel.
 
Further, it is highly desirable that any systems or methods that accomplish these improvements support skids with both wireless-enabled and non-wireless-enabled instruments.
       

     The present invention includes systems and methods that reduce or eliminate many of the problems with the current practices, provide the desired improvements, and permit future expansions and adaptations. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention includes systems and methods for collecting, analyzing, transmitting, and acting on information collected from instruments monitoring and controlling equipment used for natural gas well production collection and pipeline insertion platforms (skids). 
     One of the embodiments of the present invention includes a system based on a commercially available handheld computing device (HHCD) such as an Apple iPhone, Apple iPad, personal digital assistant (PDA), or a notebook personal computer. The HHCD may include an operating system with a graphical user interface (GUI), such as Apple&#39;s iPhone OS or Microsoft&#39;s Windows Mobile, and one or more custom software applications that execute on the HHCD. 
     In one or more of the embodiments, the HHCD has one or more wired and wireless communication systems for short-range and long-range communications. For purposes of this application, we define three separate terms of convenience pertaining to communication systems: short-range wireless communication systems, short-range wired communication systems, and long-range wireless communication systems. 
     Short-range wireless communication systems are systems that the HHCD uses to communicate with other wireless systems that are generally not more than 100 meters away from the HHCD without using a direct electrical connection between the HHCD and the other system. Such short-range communication systems include commercially available technologies such as Bluetooth®, infrared, and other communication systems that have a typical maximum range up to 100 meters. 
     Short-range wired communication systems are those the HHCD uses to communicate with other systems using a direct electrical connection. Short-range wired communication systems include one or more USB ports and the devices that connect to them including USB-to-USB cables, flash drives, floppy disks, external hard disks, and the like; hard-wired docking connections; and one or more Ethernet ports for local area network and Internet access, and the like. 
     Long-range wireless communication systems are systems the HHCD uses to communicate with other systems that are generally more than 100 meters away from the HHCD without using a direct electrical connection. Such long-range communication systems include modern cellular telephone systems, and other radio frequency (RF) communication systems such as High Frequency (HF) radio systems. 
     Further, this application uses the term “instrument” as a generic descriptor for a category of devices that monitor or control gas production equipment. When used herein as a generic descriptor, instrument includes an individual device (such as a sensor, flow meter, pressure gauge, or the like), multiple discrete devices (like those just listed), and data aggregating devices (such as one or more data stations or control panels). A data station or control panel, as further described below, receives data from at least one instrument. When the data station or control panel receives data from more than one instrument, the station or panel may also include some aggregation and storage of instrument data. 
     Another feature of one or more alternative embodiments is a geographical position fixing system such as a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) embedded in or connected to the HHCD. The GNSS feature may use the NAVSTAR Global Positioning System (GPS) or another commercially available GNSS. This application uses the term GPS to include the NAVSTAR Global Positioning System and all other GNSSs. 
     The systems and methods of the present invention help reduce the costs, errors, inefficiencies, and limitations of the current practices even for skids without any wireless-enabled instruments. However, gas producers can achieve greater savings and efficiencies using skids that are partially or fully equipped with wireless-enabled instruments. 
     When a person is assigned to collect data from a skid, the person—the reader—often must drive to the skid&#39;s location. The HHCD&#39;s GNSS can help the reader drive to the area where the skid is located. If there is more than one skid in the area, the HHCD can help the reader identify the specific skid or skids from which to collect data by comparing the skid&#39;s location, stored in an application in the HHCD, with the reader&#39;s location as determined by the GNSS. Optionally, the reader can use the HHCD to view a stored photograph of the skid for further confirmation of the skid&#39;s identity. Once the reader positively identifies the proper skid, the reader selects the skid in the HHCD, and the HHCD displays a list of instruments from which the reader may gather readings. As the reader approaches an instrument, the HHCD, using the GNSS and the stored locations of each skid&#39;s instruments, may detect the reader&#39;s proximity to the instrument and prompt the reader to enter the instrument&#39;s reading by displaying a stored image of the instrument to be polled along with an interactive form. If the instrument is wireless-enabled, the HHCD can automatically, or with reader permission, wirelessly interrogate the instrument to obtain the reading. If the instrument is not wireless-enabled, the HHCD prompts the user to enter the reading manually using a manual input such as a stylus or finger on a touch-sensitive pad, a dedicated keypad, or the like. The HHCD may then compare the reading to stored or dynamically uploaded norms and alert the reader of a likely data entry error or any abnormal condition reflected by the instrument&#39;s reading. The HHCD may prompt the reader to continue to gather readings from each of the instruments on the skid, and alert the reader if any instrument&#39;s reading has not been recorded in the HHCD. Further, the HHCD can prompt the user to continue the data collection process at nearby skids, and repeat the data collection process for each skid. By automatically or manually entering readings, the HHCD reduces the time to enter the data, prevents illegible entries, reduces misattributed entries, and prompts the reader to confirm out-of-tolerance entries. 
     When the reader wishes to transfer collected data from the HHCD to a centralized data collection computer system, the reader uses one or more of the HHCD&#39;s communication systems to transmit the collected data. If the HHCD acquires service for a cellular telephone system, the HHCD can transmit the data using its cellular telephone communication capability. If such service is not available, the user may transmit the data to a receiving unit on the inspection vehicle, which may either store or retransmit the data. The reader may also return to the centralized data collection system location and use the HHCD&#39;s short-range wired or wireless communication systems to transmit the data to the centralized data collection computer system. Because the central data collection facility receives data communicated directly, or indirectly, from the HHCD to the centralized data collection computer system, the process eliminates data entry by the collection facility, eliminates data transcription errors, and greatly reduces the time to transfer the data. 
     Besides decreasing the costs and increasing the accuracy of collecting, recording, and transmitting data, the present invention also decreases the time to respond to out-of-tolerance readings. If a reader records an instrument reading that is out of normal operating condition limits, the HHCD can display a digital image of, or other information about, the instrument so the reader can confirm that the correct instrument is being read. Further, the HHCD can crosscheck the HHCD&#39;s position with the instrument&#39;s stored or calculated geographical location and notify the reader of any differences. The HHCD can also prompt the reader to take additional actions such as take a digital photograph of the instrument, take some action to reset or re-interrogate the instrument, tag the instrument for maintenance personnel, or perform some other task. The HHCD can also identify the instrument in a maintenance database as one needing repair. In case of a dangerous condition, the HHCD may alert the reader to terminate the inspection, to evacuate all personnel from the area, and optionally alert safety, security, and compliance personnel (e.g., fire, police, EPA) of the dangerous condition. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  represents a schematic plan view of a typical oil and gas field with two examples  16 ,  26  of the various types of collection platform/skids, each one serving a group of natural gas wells  12   a - 12   d  and  22   a - 22   d.    
         FIG. 2  is a top plan view of a typical gas field platform/skid  16  with collection lines and a production line, as well as a variety of flow conduits, tanks, valves, and control mechanisms in place to appropriately measure, monitor, and control the flow of natural gas. 
         FIG. 3  is a side plan view of a typical platform/skid control panel  180  integrating some of the wide variety of instruments and controls associated with the operation of the skid. 
         FIG. 4  represents a schematic diagram of alternate embodiments of the system and method of the present invention utilizing radio-frequency communication between a handheld computing device  62  and electronic data sensors  42 ,  44 ,  46 ,  52  positioned on the platform/skid  16 . 
         FIG. 5  represents a schematic diagram of alternate embodiments of the system and method of the present invention using manual data entry on a handheld computing device  94  from a visual reading of the various digital and analog meters and sensors  82 ,  84 ,  88 ,  92  positioned on the platform/skid  26 . 
         FIG. 6  is a flowchart of the process steps associated with the method for electronic data acquisition. 
         FIG. 7  is a flowchart of an alternate subroutine associated with the method shown in  FIG. 6  which involves the implementation of a graphical user interface that allows the monitoring personnel to step through the collection of data screens associated with the various instruments. 
         FIG. 8  is a flowchart of the process steps involved in the methodology for visually/manually collecting data from sensors and gauges on a skid, entering the data into the handheld computing device, and subsequently establishing a connection between the handheld computing device and a central office processor to transfer the data. 
         FIG. 9  illustrates a touch screen display which allows implementation of a graphical user interface. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Reference is made first to  FIG. 1  representing a schematic plan view of a typical oil and gas field with two examples of the various types of collection platform/skids, each one serving a group of natural gas wells. Each platform/skid is accessible by a vehicular road shown in dashed lines in  FIG. 1 . A first local gas well field collection area  10  includes a number of individual gas wells (well heads)  12   a - 12   d . Gas well to collection platform flow lines  14  connect the individual gas wells to gas collection platform/skid  16 . 
     In the first gas field example provided, gas collection platform/skid  16  is an electronic data collection based platform incorporating one or more wireless data transmission devices. These devices, identified generically on platform/skid  16  with RF wave symbols emanating from various points on the platform, may include one or more gauges, flow meters, and/or sensors that have a short-range wireless communication system and are capable of transmitting the data they collect. These devices may be configured to continuously transmit data, to periodically transmit data, or to transmit data upon being interrogated, depending on the requirements for the particular characteristic being monitored. Certain instruments may also communicate with the HHCD by providing reading information, but may also dynamically upload other information to the HHCD, meaning automatically or in response to the user&#39;s selection, send the HHCD information about the instrument such as its type, features, unique identification, and the like. Connecting gas collection platform/skid  16  to primary gas field production line  30  is collection platform production line  18 . This set of pipelines connects a number of discrete gas well field collection areas together at a point where it is no longer necessary to separately monitor individual field or individual well production. 
     A second local gas field collection area  20  is likewise shown in  FIG. 1  encompassing individual gas wells (well heads)  22   a - 22   d . Gas well to collection platform flow lines  24  conduct the natural gas from each of the individual gas wells  22   a - 22   d  through to gas collection platform/skid  26 . In this example, gas collection platform/skid  26  may be primarily a visual data collection-based skid as opposed to a wireless transmission data collection system. As with the first gas well field collection area, the collected natural gas from platform/skid  26  is conducted to primary gas field collection line  30  by way of collection platform production line  28 . 
     In the second gas field example provided in  FIG. 1  the platform/skid  26  is predominantly characterized as requiring visual inspection for record keeping and monitoring. Much like a home gas or electric meter, the visual data collection-based skid utilizes gauges, meters, and sensors that provide only visual indications of the characteristics they are measuring. As a result, the basic manner of collecting the data involves “reading the meter” and recording (preferably into an electronic handheld device) the numerical information read. In  FIG. 1  therefore, platform/skid  26  is shown to include a variety of discrete analog pressure gauges, digital flow meters (for cumulative flow), and analog flow meters (for instantaneous flow). The details of such devices and the manner in which the system of the present invention can accommodate them are further described below. In practice, implementation of the present invention will likely occur in fields where the data collection is being carried out in mixed modes, utilizing some wireless data collection devices and some visual inspection data collection devices. The system of the present invention is versatile and adaptable to the extent that its use is not dependent upon the implementation of only a single mode of data collection. 
     As indicated above, the collection of data from each of the individual skids can be carried out according to a number of different methods and by way of a variety of protocols. A first method may simply include the visual inspection of a number of metering and monitoring devices situated on the platform. This data may be entered into the HHCD from which it is wirelessly, or through a hard-wired docking connection, communicated through data acquisition software eventually to a centralized data collection system, being relayed through a link in the inspection vehicle or wirelessly through a variety of different regional signal communication lines.  FIG. 1  presents in general, therefore, the field of use of the present invention and the manner in which the systems and methods of the invention are implemented in conjunction with a variety of gas well field collection platforms and/or pipeline insertion platforms areas. 
       FIG. 2  is a top plan view of a typical gas field platform/skid with collection lines and a production line, as well as a variety of flow conduits, tanks, valves, and control mechanisms in place to appropriately measure, monitor, and control the flow of natural gas. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the skid structure shown in  FIG. 2  is provided by way of example only, and that a variety of different skid structures with many different types of gauges, sensors, meters, and detectors, are anticipated as being appropriate for use in conjunction with the systems and methods of the present invention. In  FIG. 2  gas well to collection platform flow lines  14  arrive at the gas collection platform/skid  16  as described above in conjunction with  FIG. 1 . Typically, these collection flow lines are situated near one section of the platform, regardless of the direction from which the various flow lines arrive from the disperse wells. Collection platform production line  18  exits the platform as shown after a number of different metering, monitoring and conditioning efforts are made with the natural gas production. 
     Platform/skid base  40  in the preferred embodiment of the present invention may be a flatbed trailer or a skid module, as is typically utilized in conjunction with the establishment of a central collection point for a natural gas field or for a pipeline insertion point. A variety of different pumps, tanks, reservoirs, separators, dryers, and metering components are incorporated into the flow lines associated with the collection and distribution of the natural gas as it flows from the wells to the primary gas field production line and beyond into natural gas transfer and distribution systems. As shown in  FIG. 2 , a number of different monitoring components are positioned on platform/skid base  40  in conjunction with the various functions that are carried out on the skid. In the example shown in  FIG. 2 , the data collections devices on the skid are characterized as universally wireless, as would be in a preferred embodiment of the invention. Those skilled in the art will recognize how non-wireless devices might be substituted or mixed in with the wireless transmission devices shown. Also as mentioned above, the wireless data transmission devices may generally fall into one of three categories of transmissions: (a) continuous transmission; (b) periodic transmission; or (c) interrogated transmission. The system of the present invention accommodates all of these variations. 
     Initially, some identification of the skid may be provided with skid identification (ID) transmitter  42 . This allows the monitoring individual to identify the location where data is about to be collected and recorded, preferably by way of a wireless communication from the skid ID transmitter  42  to a handheld device or the like by the monitoring individual. Alternately, in a preferred embodiment, the identification of the skid may be carried out by a simple GPS reading taken in proximity to the skid. Such an “automatic” identification would, of course, depend upon a database record associating a particular skid with a geographic location identifiable by GPS coordinates. Such an automatic identification of the data collection location would allow for the elimination of a unique skid ID transmission and could therefore greatly simplify the electronic instrumentation transmitting the data. Each platform/skid could be identical (anonymous) with only the geographic location providing the necessary skid identification. 
     In another alternate embodiment, the skid&#39;s GPS coordinates, the skid&#39;s compass direction orientation, and a predetermined skid configuration are combined so that the handheld computing device can calculate the geographical location of each skid&#39;s instruments and communicate with them accordingly. For example, a skid manufacturer may make multiple skids with a single configuration such as that shown in  FIG. 2 . Each of the instruments on the skid is located at a fixed distance and relative angle from the skid transmitter. With the skid transmitter&#39;s GPS coordinates, the skid&#39;s directional orientation, and the relative angle and distance of each instrument from the skid transmitter, the HHCD can calculate the GPS coordinates of each instrument and display the appropriate monitoring data or data input screen for the nearest instrument. For instance, in  FIG. 2 , if the user is standing at position F ( 54   f ), the HHCD determines the HHCD&#39;s position, determines the nearest instrument, and displays information pertaining to leak detection transmitter  52 . Similarly, if the user is standing at position D, the HHCD can display information pertaining to  44   d  or allow the user to select information pertaining to any of instruments  44   a - 44   d.    
     Associated with gas well to collection platform flow lines  14  may be one or more gas well flow line flow meter gauges  44   a - 44   d . These flow meters would, of course, individually monitor the flow of natural gas from each of the individual wells from within the field collection area that arrive at the platform. Positioned along one edge of the platform/skid base  40  is skid control panel  46  which includes control systems and operational data record/transmission systems associated with the operation of the skid. Typically, this control panel is positioned at a working level on the perimeter of the skid in order to allow easy access by monitoring personnel. An example of the array of instrumentation and controls that might typically be found on such a control panel is described in more detail below with  FIG. 2 . Other instrumentation positioned on platform/skid base  40  may include devices such as liquid separator operational data record/transmitter  48  as well as platform production line flow meter gauge data transmitter  50 . Additionally positioned at various locations on the platform/skid base  40  may be one or more leak detection data record/transmitters  52 . Further included would preferably be an array of flow meters, pressure gauges, and temperature sensors, appropriately positioned on the skid and all capable of communicating their collected data to a receiving device in a manner described in more detail below with  FIGS. 4 &amp; 5 . 
     The various monitoring, metering, and safety sensors positioned on platform/skid base  40  are intended to provide all the necessary data and information to safely maintain the skid as a collection point for natural gas flowing from a plurality of individual wells. The system is intended to not only monitor flow rates for the purposes of inventory management, but also to monitor conditions on the skid, both for the efficient operation of the skid and the safety of the skid and those monitoring it. Also shown in  FIG. 2 , and anticipating the operation of the system of the present invention, are a number of data collection stations shown with multi-point star tags lettered A-G. These data collection stations  54   a - 54   g  provide standardized, semi-isolated locations around the skid where interrogation of the various wireless transmitting devices may occur. As with the skid as a whole, these devices may include an ID within their data signal that associates the data with a particular device in a particular location on the skid. Alternately, and preferably, the data collection stations  54   a - 54   g  may be geographically separated by a sufficient distance to use the station&#39;s GPS coordinates to uniquely identify the station. For example, the only flow meter signal capable of being read at data collection station  54   g  would be flow meter  50  associated with the outflow of gas from the platform. The meter  50  may therefore transmit an anonymous signal that is associated or identified with a specific skid and a specific location on that skid by way of its GPS coordinates. Here again, it is anticipated that the real world will include a mix of devices, some that will require visual inspection, some that will transmit an identifying signal along with their data, and some that will anonymously transmit their data and rely on a GPS coordinate to identify their location. 
       FIG. 3  provides a side plan view of a typical platform/skid control panel  180  integrating some of the wide variety of instruments and controls associated with the operation of the skid. The representation shown in  FIG. 3  is intended to include examples of the various instruments and controls rather than to provide a view of any specific control panel structure. Control panel  180  in practical situations would likely have fewer than all of the instruments and controls that are exhibited in this view. Many of the components shown may comprise discrete components located only in conjunction with the locations they are intended to monitor. In some instances, however, these components (e.g., meters, gauges, sensors, valve controls, lights, alarms, etc.) are consolidated into the skid control panel such that a monitoring person may monitor and control all the instruments on the entire skid from the single location of the control panel. 
     Control panel  180  as shown in  FIG. 3  includes an array of gas well flow line pressure gauges  182  as well as gas well flow line flow meters  184 . Flow meters  184  may include both cumulative flow and instantaneous flow indicators. Also provided on control panel  180  may be control mechanisms such as gas well flow line valve controls  186 . These controls located on panel  180  may, of course, be mechanical, electromechanical, or electronic in their operation. A similar set of instruments and controls may be provided for the output system on the skid with outflow gauges and controls  196 . Other components present on control panel  180  may include additional digital flow meters  190  and additional analog (or digital) pressure gauges  194 . Various re-settable alarms  198  may provide visual and/or audible indications of dangerous or anomalous conditions on the skid. 
     As the systems and methods of the present invention anticipate a variety of different skid structures it is possible that some of the data processing capabilities may be moved to components on the skid and in particular to a so-called “smart” control panel  180 . As described in more detail below, data collection on the skid may be partially accomplished prior to the actual visit by monitoring personnel. It is anticipated that some level of data collection may occur from the various instruments on the skid into a data storage component associated with control panel  180 . Access to such may be provided to the monitoring personnel through both the wireless connection that may be established through proximity to the skid and through manual input and audiovisual display systems  192  present on the control panel. Once again, it is not anticipated that all of the various components and capabilities shown and described in  FIG. 3  will necessarily be present on each skid control panel and as such the view is intended to be merely representative of the variety of different panels that might be encountered. 
     Reference is now made to  FIGS. 4 &amp; 5  which represent schematic diagrams of alternate embodiments of the system and method of the present invention, one ( FIG. 4 ) utilizing radio-frequency communication between a handheld computing device (HHCD) and the electronic data sensors positioned on the platform/skid, and a second ( FIG. 5 ) representing manual data entry on a handheld computing device from a visual reading of the various digital and analog meters and sensors positioned on the platform/skid. 
       FIG. 4  represents a preferred embodiment wherein most, if not all, of the data communication is carried out wirelessly. Gas collection platform/skid  16  is represented schematically in  FIG. 4  primarily as a collection of individual data transmitters carrying out the functions described above. Skid ID transmitter  42 , for example, may be positioned in such a manner as to broadcast a digital signature associated with that particular skid (although as mentioned above, this device may be omitted if the system provides for identification by GPS coordinates). Gas well flow lines flow meter gauges  44  likewise may wirelessly transmit data indicating the metered flow rates (e.g., cumulative flow volume, instantaneous flow, etc.) from the various flow meter gauges positioned on the skid. Control system operational data record/transmitter  46  may provide the data associated with the skid control panel positioned on each skid as described above. Leak detection data record/transmitter  52  in a similar fashion may provide monitoring data associated with the presence or absence of leaks in the natural gas flow lines. The leak detection device has a battery to power its wireless transmitter, where the battery life is typically ten years. These devices shown in  FIG. 4  are intended to be representative of a large array of such data instrumentation position on the skid, all of which may be in data communication with an appropriately configured data collection receiver. 
     Ancillary to the devices on the gas collection platform/skid  16  is another transmitting device that contributes to the collection of data from the particular skid. GPS satellite system  60  is shown as a schematic representation of the typical array of multiple global positioning satellites that contribute their signals to pinpoint the location of the data being collected in a handheld device (for example) as the monitoring personnel might carry the device to each individual skid. In fact, as mentioned above, the accuracy of such systems now makes it possible to discern positions around each individual skid to monitor specific locations on the skid. 
     All of the above data transmitters are configured to transmit data to one or more similarly configured handheld computing devices  62 , which in the preferred embodiment may be a personal data assistant (PDA) configured with Bluetooth® RF communication components and/or cellular communication transceivers. As data is collected from the skid by way of the reception of the signals from each of the above referenced monitors, transmitters, gauges, etc., the information may then be relayed by a number of different methods (through various channels) to a central collection location where the data is accumulated, reported, and used. In  FIG. 4  three paths to downloading this data are represented. A first path using HHCD  62 &#39;s long-range communication system communicates the data that has been collected on HHCD  62  by way of cellular communications tower  64  as part of a regional cellular communications network  66 . According to this communications path, various Internet service provider (ISP) servers  68 , which are connected to the cellular communications network  66 , relay the data to an ISP service line  70  which is in turn connected to an individual IP address location in the form of a central office data processor  72 . The typical central office processor display  74  and central office processor user input device (keyboard)  76  are utilized in conjunction with the final software driven functions associated with the collection of data and the generation of necessary reports, alerts, etc., all utilized in conjunction with the monitoring and inventory of the natural gas well field. 
     An alternate data communications route for downloading the collected data shown in  FIG. 4  involves short-range wired or short-range wireless communication between HHCD  62  and a vehicle-based data collection receiver  63 . In some instances, the individual natural gas fields where data is being collected and monitored are outside the range of regional cellular telephone communications networks and it becomes necessary to transmit the data locally to an electronic data collection device, preferably affixed to or carried in the vehicle that is being used to carry the monitor and control personnel to each location. Implementation of the methods of the present invention would involve a user interrogating the skid and its various sensors and data collection device transmitters and then returning to the vehicle where the HHCD  62  may be docked (physically or by RF signal handshake) to a communications cradle (or a transceiver such as a Bluetooth® device) that automatically downloads the data just collected from the skid being visited. In a preferred embodiment of the systems and methods of the present invention, data communication is carried out primarily through proximity-induced RF connections that are established or broken by moving in and out of a specified range. In this manner, the system operates most transparently to the user, automatically collecting data and then automatically downloading data via the communications relay chain to the central data collection system. 
     A third data communications path disclosed in  FIG. 4  utilizes skid-based local/regional transmitter  65 . The placement of a more powerful regional transmitter device directly on the skid allows for the possibility of direct communication between the skid (and its various electronic instruments) with either a regional cellular network or some other established RF communications network. Such a system might be used in conjunction with HHCD  62  or separate from it. Skid based transmitter  65  may simply be a transceiver capable of “boosting” a relayed data signal from HHCD  62  to a regional transceiver connected to the Internet or some other wide area network. Alternately, the data collection software that might normally be resident on HHCD  62  could be incorporated into a processor on the skid  16  and carry out the data collection function of HHCD  62  directly. This embodiment would, of course, be limited to those geographic areas where such regional communications are readily available. 
     A further alternate embodiment of the present invention may be anticipated from the use of the skid based local/regional transmitter  65 . With the appropriate skid based data processor (not shown) data from each of the various wireless devices (e.g., meters, gauges, sensors, etc.) on the skid may be locally received at a central point on the skid (i.e., at the skid based local/regional transmitter  65 ) and stored until such time as monitoring personnel arrive at the skid to collect the data. In this embodiment, rather than moving about the skid to collect data from each device, HHCD  62  may interrogate the skid as a whole through transmitter  65  and collect the entire batch of skid data at one time. Indexing of the data would, in this embodiment, require the inclusion of transmitter device ID information as part of each of the data signals. Nonetheless, GPS location information would allow HHCD  62  to still identify the skid as a whole without the need for entrained skid ID signal data. 
     Reference is next made to  FIG. 5  for a further alternate embodiment of the present invention that relies less upon the use of fully electronic sensors, gauges, and metering devices positioned on the skid, and instead utilizes many of the standard analog or digital monitoring meters and gauges often associated with older natural gas collection platforms/skids. In  FIG. 5  gas collection platform/skid (visual data collection)  26  is fitted not with electronic data transmitters, but with standard analog or digital display devices. In this example, it may be necessary to utilize skid ID plate  82  that simply provides alphanumeric information regarding the identity of the skid which is keyed into HHCD  94  by the monitoring personnel. In a preferred embodiment, however, HHCD  94  could still benefit from the use of GPS satellite system  60 . As previously discussed, with the skid GPS coordinates, skid orientation, and skid configuration, HHCD  94  can pinpoint not only a specific platform/skid  26  that is being interrogated, but may also allow for the identification of the specific meter, gauge, or sensor that is being viewed at a particular point in time. It is also understood that the real world will likely include a mix of electronic (wireless) devices and older visually inspected meters and gauges. In a preferred embodiment therefore, HHCD  94  includes components that allow it to receive data signals wirelessly from the instruments on the skid or to have such data input into HHCD  94  by way of its manual input means. In this regard, the primary distinction between the embodiments described by  FIG. 4  and those shown here with  FIG. 5  relate to the manner in which the data is downloaded (or relayed) from the handheld device ( 62  or  94 ) to the central office data processor. In the system shown in  FIG. 5  this communication process is carried out entirely without the use of a regional cellular network. 
     Visually collected information from the skid is, as indicated above, input into handheld device  94  from skid ID plate  82  (unless GPS is utilized) while a variety of other types of data are collected visually and entered manually from digital meters  84  (e.g., gas well flow lines flow meter gauges, etc.) and digital meters  88  (e.g., liquid separator flow meter gauges, etc.). There may additionally be analog gauges  92  (e.g., source line pressures, production line pressure, etc.) as well as other types of digital or analog leak detection sensors, temperature gauges, and process condition sensors. In any case, the information may be manually entered into HHCD  94  by the monitoring personnel as they progress about the skid, which data entry may be, in one or more embodiments, by using a manual key input device with an LCD display as shown. 
     Connectable to HHCD  94  is short-range wired communication system  96  which allows the monitoring personnel, upon return to a home base, to dock or otherwise connect HHCD  94  to the central office data processor  72 . In this manner, the data collected at each of the individual skids may be rapidly and accurately downloaded into the software applications structured for recording, reporting, and displaying information on all of the parameters described above. The standard computer processing equipment (including data display  74  and data input keyboard  76 ) operable in conjunction with the central office data processor  72  are utilized to carry out the software functionality associated with this recording, reporting, and displaying the gathered information. 
     Alternately, the system shown in  FIG. 5  may operate in a manner similar to that described above with respect to  FIG. 4 . Instead of carrying HHCD  94  back to the home office for downloading, the device may be connected to a docking station positioned in the vehicle  63  that the monitoring personnel utilize to visit each of the individual natural gas collection fields. Here again, the docking connection to the car mounted electronic data collection equipment may be by HHCD  94 &#39;s short-range wired communication system (e.g., hard wired as in the form of a cradle or cable connector)  97  positioned within the vehicle or may include a short-range wireless communication system  67  prompted by a digital handshake once HHCD  94  is moved within range of the equipment associated with the vehicle. 
     Reference is next made to  FIGS. 6-8  for detailed descriptions of the various process steps associated with the transmission, reception, collection, and consolidation of the data from each of the individual gas well field collection areas.  FIG. 6  is a flowchart of the process steps associated with the method for electronic data acquisition, including the short-range wired or wireless communication between data collection stations on the platform and the HHCD, and the long-range communication between the HHCD and the central office processor. These processes are initiated at Step  100 , wherein daily (or some other periodicity) data collection rounds are begun. The monitoring personnel arrive at the skid at Step  102 , wherein the presence of the HHCD may be automatically detected by the instrumentation on the skid and/or the HHCD may automatically detect the proximity of the skid. Step  104  involves the automatic registration of the skid ID (preferably by digital transmission) and/or the tagging identification of the location with a GPS coordinate reading. Auto registration may simply occur by recognizing a GPS reading and referencing a stored database wherein a particular skid is identified at a particular geographic location. Any of these mechanisms for “awakening” the HHCD and alerting it to the skid to be interrogated may be implemented with the systems and methods of the present invention. A preferred embodiment includes an automatic electronic handshake between one or more wireless devices on the skid which prompts a GPS reading to uniquely identify the skid. 
     Step  106  involves the user proceeding to each of a plurality of skid data stations with the HHCD. Step  108  involves the automatic identification of the station location on the skid, again corresponding with the GPS coordinate data associated with the position of the user holding the HHCD in relation to the skid position, orientation, and configuration. Step  110  involves implementation of a handshake between the HHCD and a data station that is being interrogated and Step  112  involves the actual communication of data between the data station and the HHCD. 
     An alternate subroutine associated with the method shown in  FIG. 6  from Steps  106 - 112  is disclosed in  FIG. 7  and involves implementation of a graphical user interface (see display screen in  FIG. 9 ) that allows the monitoring personnel to step through the collection of data screens associated with the various instruments (e.g., gauges, meters, sensors, and other data generating devices) based upon the known configuration of a particular skid. Referencing this subroutine shown in  FIG. 7 , a first query is made to determine if station verification is required at query Step  108   a . If not, the subroutine returns (Step  108   b ) to the automatic processing in  FIG. 6 . In this case, the data would be automatically allotted to the proper database location by way of the auto-selection identification. If station verification is required, then at Step  108   c  the HHCD displays thumbnail images of data pages for various stations. The user then determines, at query Step  110   a , whether manual selection of a particular station/data page is required. The HHCD may preferably display thumbnail images of multiple stations/data pages on the skid and allow the user to manually select any of the individual stations in (or out of) sequence. A touch screen display (as shown in  FIG. 9  for example) allows the user to simply select a particular station and have that data window enlarged to a point where data might easily be collected from that station. If manual selection of the station/data page is not required, the process skips to Step  110   c  wherein the appropriate data page is maximized for use. If manual selection is required, at Step  110   b  the user identifies and selects the station type or location to identify the appropriate data page to be used. Again, the user may sequentially step through each of the stations/data pages positioned on a skid and thereby insure the collection of all relevant data from any particular location. 
     Subsequent to the above referenced selection routines (operable in the alternative) the station data may be communicated between the HHCD and the data station at Step  112 . Query Step  114  determines whether the last data station on the skid has been interrogated. If not, the process returns to Step  106  where each subsequent station is interrogated. If the last station on the skid has been interrogated, the process proceeds to Step  116  and the system closes the skid data collection. The process then proceeds, through one of the preferred methods described above, to allow the HHCD to transmit the data package it has collected to the central office at Step  118 . The system automatically queries whether or not the user has left the field through an auto detection process at Step  120 . If not, then the overall process repeats itself for the next field location by returning to Step  102  where the user arrives at a skid. If the user chooses to leave the skid(s), the data collection process terminates at data collection termination Step  122 . 
     Reference is next made to  FIG. 8  which is a flowchart of the process steps involved in the methodology for visually/manually collecting data from sensors and gauges on a skid, entering the data into the HHCD, and subsequently establishing a connection between the HHCD and a central office processor to transfer the data. Once again,  FIG. 8  represents a method of the present invention that is used where the variety of wireless sensors, gauges, meters, and controls are not available to the monitoring personnel on a particular skid. According to this method, the data collection rounds are initiated at Step  130  as before, where a gas production monitor and control equipment user arrives at a skid at Step  132 . As the auto-detection of the location of a monitoring effort is coordinated with an external GPS system (not associated with the electronics or lack thereof on the skid) it is possible to utilize the skid&#39;s auto-identification methods of the present invention. Therefore, at Step  134  an identification of the skid ID number may be either input into the HHCD manually and/or associated with the location based upon the GPS reading. Established databases would link a geographical location to a particular skid. As an alternative or an additional step, the user may enter the skid ID number into the HHCD at Step  134 . 
     The user, holding the HHCD, proceeds at Step  136  to each of the plurality of skid data stations, visually observes the readings, and manually enters the data. The user at Step  138  identifies the specific meter/sensor location on the skid and preferably associates it with the GPS data on the HHCD. The user then manually inputs data at Step  140  from the instrument into the HHCD. It will be apparent that a subroutine process similar to that carried out with the method steps shown in  FIG. 7 , as an alternate process to an auto-identification process shown in  FIG. 6 , is also applicable to the manual data entry process shown in  FIG. 8 . In other words, the same application software that allows the user to manually step through various data screens reflecting various types of data stations can be used regardless of whether the data is collected manually, by visual inspection and manual data entry, or automatically, by wireless communication between the HHCD and the instruments. In either case, data is input from an identified station at Step  140  as described above. 
     At query Step  142  a determination is made as to whether the last of the data stations on the skid has been interrogated. If not, the process returns to Step  136  and the collection of data continues. If the last data station on the skid has been interrogated, then at Step  144  the user closes the data collection and moves on to the next skid in the area. If the last skid has not been reached, based upon the auto-detection being made at query Step  146 , the process again returns to Step  132  where a new skid is interrogated. Once the last skid in an area has been interrogated as determined at query Step  146 , the process proceeds to Step  148  where the monitoring personnel return the HHCD to the central office and connect it to the central processor. In one or more alternative embodiments, the user may (as described above) return the HHCD to a location within range of the inspection vehicle&#39;s short-range communication system. In either case, Step  150  involves downloading the collected data from the HHCD to either the central processor at the home office or to the data receiving (or data receiving and retransmitting) system of the user&#39;s vehicle. The manual data collection process then concludes at Step  152  wherein the data collection rounds are terminated. 
     Reference is finally made to  FIG. 9  which provides a screen shot of a typical graphical user interface (GUI) associated with HHCD  62  and used by gas production monitor and control equipment personnel implementing the systems and methods of the present invention. HHCD  62  provides (by way of application software) a screen display  160  that includes one or more thumbnail images  166 ,  168 , &amp;  170  in the form of touch screen buttons that step the user through each of the known or identified stations on a particular skid. The display presents the user with an enlarged window view  162  of the data collection form for a particular station that the HHCD is near or for an instrument or station which the user has selected. This image is maximized to allow the user to input data or to automatically collect it from the station as described above. 
     In one or more embodiments, the next thumbnail data page in line may be selected by the user by touching the touch screen on the appropriate thumbnail  166 ,  168 , or  170  to enlarge to the data collection screen and allow the user to maximize the screen and input data therein. Additional individual stations may be selected by arrow buttons  172  which scroll the user through the various station pages or station type pages. Additional functions on the specific screen display shown may display all stations on the skid and allow the user to manually select the various stations or allow the user to have the HHCD identify the nearest data station based upon the user&#39;s proximity to the station. Standard menus  174  may be provided for entering data and collecting the information either manually, using the manual input means, or automatically, via wireless communications between the HHCD and the instruments. The user may be alerted to the transmission/reception of data through an icon  164  positioned on the display  160 . A similar GUI may be implemented on the specialized HHCD shown and described with the system in  FIG. 5 . Additional components to the data collection software system to implement the various functions and steps of the methods of the present invention should be apparent to those skilled in the art of data collection, database storage, and data communication. 
     This written description enables one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use what is presently considered to be the best mode thereof. Further, one of ordinary skill in the art will understand and appreciate the existence of many (but not all) variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiments, methods, and examples herein. The invention should therefore not be limited by the above described embodiments, methods, and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention as claimed. It is intended instead that any claims with this application, or any claims that may be added or amended, be interpreted to embrace all further modifications, changes, rearrangements, substitutions, alternatives, design choices, and embodiments that may be evident to one of ordinary skill in the art. 
     Although one or more of the foregoing embodiments is the most preferred at present, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize many possible alternatives. For example, one may appreciate that the systems and methods of the present invention include monitoring and controlling fluid hydrocarbon production, including natural gas and its related components and associated fluids, whether the fields and skids are located onshore, offshore, or any combination thereof. Similarly, the handheld computing device (HHCD) includes computing devices that are not necessarily held in the user&#39;s hand, but are rather worn in a headset, embedded in clothing, attached to a remotely piloted vehicle or craft, or in some other configuration of computation and communication capabilities. Likewise, one of ordinary skill in the art can appreciate that the present invention&#39;s means for determining geographical position, such as a global navigation satellite system, includes other position fixing means such as visual bearings from landmarks with known positions, range and bearing from geodetic survey markers, or other geographic position fixing means. One may also appreciate that the short- and long-range communication systems of the present invention include systems using unencrypted communications, encrypted communications, or one or more combinations thereof. Further, regarding a centralized data collection computer system, one of ordinary skill in the art can appreciate that the data aggregating and analyzing functions may be distributed across several different data processors, including such implementations as cloud computing systems, and that the centralized data collection computer system is not limited to a single physical device. In any case, all substantially equivalent systems, articles, and methods should be considered within the scope of the present invention.