Systems and methods for collecting, analyzing, recording, and transmitting fluid hydrocarbon production monitoring and control data

1. A system for collecting and processing information from monitoring and control systems for fluid hydrocarbon handling installations used in the conveyance of fluid hydrocarbons from production fields, comprising:

a. a handheld computing device comprising a data processor and an assembly of subsystems in wired communication with said data processor, said subsystems including a manual data input device, a data display device, a data storage subsystem, a wireless communication subsystem, and a geographical position fixing subsystem;

b. said handheld computing device containing and being adapted to execute application software;

c. said application software being adapted to process data exchanged with said wireless communication subsystem to enable a person holding the handheld computing device to communicate with a first wireless communication module associated with an instrument panel processor of a fluid hydrocarbon handling installation, said instrument panel processor receiving first and second data sets relative to pressurized fluid contained by, respectively, first and second fluid conveyance structures of said fluid hydrocarbon handling installation;

d. said application software being adapted to use data from said geographical position fixing system to detect said handheld computing device's geographical position; and

e. said application software being further adapted to cause said data display device to display information relating to one of said first and second data sets based on said handheld computing device's proximity to the corresponding one of said first and second structures.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said application software is further adapted to promote a display of information on said data display device relating to said first data set more than it promotes a display of information on said data display device relating to said second data set when said handheld computing device is closer to said first structure than said second structure, and to promote a display of information on said data display device relating to said second data set more than it promotes a display of information on said data display device relating to said first data set when said handheld computing device is closer to said second structure than said first structure.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising a first transducer module included in said fluid hydrocarbon handling installation, and wherein:

a. said transducer module comprises a short-range wireless transmitter;

b. the short-range wireless transmitter of said transducer module is powered by a multi-year battery pack and is affixed to said fluid hydrocarbon handling station in close proximity to said first structure; and

c. said first transducer module is adapted to transmit said first data set to a short range wireless receiver of said panel processor using the short-range wireless transmitter of said first transducer module.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein said handheld computing device includes long-range wireless communication system in wireless communication with a remote, centralized data collection computer system.

5. The system of claim 3 further comprising:

a. an inspection vehicle equipped with a short-range wired or short-range wireless communication system capable of communicating with said handheld computing device's said short-range wired or said short-range wireless communication system; and wherein

b. said inspection vehicle is also equipped with a long-range communication system capable of communicating with a remote, centralized data collection computer system.

6. The system of claim 5 further comprising an inspection vehicle with a data receiving and/or retransmission system.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising validating the information by comparing the instrument reading against a known standard and a history of previous readings.

8. A system for collecting and transmitting information from fluid hydrocarbon production monitoring and control equipment comprising:

a. a handheld computing device with a data processor in wired communication with a manual data input device, a text and graphics display device, a data storage system, a short-range wired communication system, a short-range wireless communication system, a long-range wireless communication system, and a geographical position fixing system;

b. said handheld computing device executing an operating system, graphical user interface, and application software that enable a person to monitor instruments and control equipment associated with said fluid hydrocarbon production monitoring and control equipment using said handheld computing device;

c. said application software detecting said handheld computing device's geographical position using said geographical position fixing system;

d. said application software providing the handheld computing device's user with information relating to said instruments based on said handheld computing device's proximity to said instruments;

e. said application software prompting said user to enter readings based on interactive stored forms that include stored or dynamically uploaded characteristics of at least one of said instruments;

f. said short-range wireless communication system in wireless communication with at least one of said instruments; and

g. said handheld computing device in communication with a centralized data collection computer system via said handheld computing device's said short-range wired communication system, said short-range wireless communication system, or said long-range wireless communication system.

9. A method for collecting and transmitting information from fluid hydrocarbon production monitoring and control equipment comprising:

a. using a handheld computing device wherein said handheld computing device comprises:

(1) a handheld computing device with a data processor in wired communication with a manual data input device, a text and graphics display device, a data storage system, a short-range wired communication system, a short-range wireless communication system, a long-range wireless communication system, and a geographical position fixing system;

(2) said handheld computing device executing an operating system, graphical user interface, and application software that enable a person to monitor instruments and control equipment associated with said fluid hydrocarbon production monitoring and control equipment using said handheld computing device;

(3) said application software detecting said handheld computing device's geographical position using said geographical position fixing system;

(4) said application software providing said handheld computing device's user with information relating to said instruments based on said handheld computing device's proximity to said instruments;

(5) said application software prompting said user to enter readings based on interactive stored forms that include stored or dynamically uploaded characteristics of at least one of said instruments;

(6) said short-range wireless communication system in wireless communication with at least one of said instruments; and

(7) said handheld computing device in communication with a centralized data collection computer system via said handheld computing device's short-range wired communication system, said short-range wireless communication system, or said long-range wireless communication system.

b. using said handheld computing device to manually, automatically, or manually and automatically collect data from gas production monitoring and controlling instruments; and

c. transmitting said data to a centralized data collection computer system.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising application software that determines whether any of said instruments is indicating an unsafe condition, and uses said handheld computing device's said long-range wireless communication system to automatically notify emergency response personnel upon detection of such condition.