Optical monitoring of threaded connection make-up and break-out processes
A method of making-up or breaking-out tubular string components can include threading tubulars with each other while a camera obtains images of the tubulars, outputting image data from the camera to an image processor that detects optical flow vector fields from the image data, the optical flow vector fields representing displacements of the respective tubulars during the threading, and controlling the threading in response to a difference between the displacements. Another method can include positioning a camera so that the camera simultaneously observes at least two tubulars, threading the tubulars with each other, outputting image data from the camera to an image processor, the image processor detecting optical flow vector fields from the image data, the optical flow vector fields representing displacements of the respective tubulars during the threading, and controlling the threading in response to the image processor detecting the optical flow vector fields.
1. A method of making-up or breaking-out tubular string components for use in a subterranean well, the method comprising:
threading first and second tubulars with each other while a first camera obtains images of the first and second tubulars;
outputting image data from the first camera to an image processor;
the image processor detecting optical flow vector fields from the image data, the optical flow vector fields representing first and second displacements of the respective first and second tubulars during the threading;
controlling the threading in response to a difference between the first and second displacements;
a second camera obtaining images of a threaded third tubular and at least one of the first and second tubulars during the threading; and
the optical flow vector fields representing a third displacement of the third tubular and at least one of the first and second displacements during the threading.
2. The method of claim 1 , in which the first camera obtains images of the threaded third tubular during the threading, and in which the second and third tubulars are threaded together prior to the threading.
3. The method of claim 1 , in which the first camera obtains images of a rotor during the threading.
4. The method of claim 3 , in which the controlling comprises controlling the threading in response to a difference between the first displacement of the first tubular and a third displacement of the rotor, and in which the first and third displacements comprise rotations of the respective first tubular and the rotor.
5. The method of claim 1 , in which the controlling comprises controlling the threading in response to the second displacement of the second tubular being greater than zero, and in which the second displacement comprises a rotation of the second tubular.
6. The method of claim 1 , in which the controlling comprises controlling the threading in response to the first displacement of the first tubular being within a predetermined range, and in which the first displacement comprises a longitudinal displacement of the first tubular.
7. The method of claim 1 , in which the controlling comprises controlling the threading in response to the first displacement of the first tubular being within a predetermined range, and in which the first displacement comprises a rotation of the first tubular.
8. The method of claim 1 , in which the controlling comprises controlling the threading in response to the optical flow vector fields representing a predetermined difference between the first and second displacements.
9. A method of making-up or breaking-out tubular string components for use in a subterranean well, the method comprising:
threading first and second tubulars with each other while a first camera obtains images of the first and second tubulars;
outputting image data from the first camera to an image processor;
the image processor detecting optical flow vector fields from the image data, the optical flow vector fields representing first and second displacements of the respective first and second tubulars during the threading;
controlling the threading in response to a difference between the first and second displacements;
a second camera obtaining images of a rotor and at least one of the first and second tubulars; and
the optical flow vector fields representing a third displacement of the rotor and at least one of the first and second displacements during the threading.
10. The method of claim 9 , in which the first camera obtains images of a threaded third tubular during the threading, and in which the second and third tubulars are threaded together prior to the threading.
11. The method of claim 9 , in which the first camera obtains images of the rotor during the threading.
12. The method of claim 11 , in which the controlling comprises controlling the threading in response to a difference between the first displacement of the first tubular and a third displacement of the rotor, and in which the first and third displacements comprise rotations of the respective first tubular and the rotor.
13. The method of claim 9 , in which the controlling comprises controlling the threading in response to the second displacement of the second tubular being greater than zero, and in which the second displacement comprises a rotation of the second tubular.
14. The method of claim 9 , in which the controlling comprises controlling the threading in response to the first displacement of the first tubular being within a predetermined range, and in which the first displacement comprises a longitudinal displacement of the first tubular.
15. The method of claim 9 , in which the controlling comprises controlling the threading in response to the first displacement of the first tubular being within a predetermined range, and in which the first displacement comprises a rotation of the first tubular.
16. The method of claim 9 , in which the controlling comprises controlling the threading in response to the optical flow vector fields representing a predetermined difference between the first and second displacements.
17. A method of making-up or breaking-out tubular string components for use in a subterranean well, the method comprising:
positioning a first camera at a first location, the first camera thereby simultaneously observing at least threaded first and second tubulars;
threading the first and second tubulars with each other;
outputting image data from the first camera to an image processor;
the image processor detecting optical flow vector fields from the image data, the optical flow vector fields representing first and second displacements of the respective first and second tubulars during the threading;
controlling the threading in response to the image processor detecting the optical flow vector fields;
positioning a second camera at a second location, the second camera thereby simultaneously observing a threaded third tubular and at least one of the first and second tubulars; and
the optical flow vector fields representing a third displacement of the third tubular and at least one of the first and second displacements during the threading.
18. The method of claim 17 , in which the positioning comprises positioning the first camera at the first location, the first camera thereby simultaneously observing at least the first and second tubulars and the threaded third tubular, and in which the second and third tubulars are threaded together prior to the threading.
19. The method of claim 17 , in which the positioning comprises positioning the first camera at the first location, the first camera thereby simultaneously observing at least the first and second tubulars and a rotor.
20. The method of claim 19 , in which the controlling comprises controlling the threading in response to a difference between the first displacement of the first tubular and a third displacement of the rotor, and in which the first and third displacements comprise rotations of the respective first tubular and the rotor.
21. The method of claim 17 , in which the controlling comprises controlling the threading in response to the second displacement of the second tubular being greater than zero, and in which the second displacement comprises a rotation of the second tubular.
22. The method of claim 17 , in which the controlling comprises controlling the threading in response to the first displacement of the first tubular being within a predetermined range, and in which the first displacement comprises a longitudinal displacement of the first tubular.
23. The method of claim 17 , in which the controlling comprises controlling the threading in response to the first displacement of the first tubular being within a predetermined range, and in which the first displacement comprises a rotation of the first tubular.
24. The method of claim 17 , in which the controlling comprises controlling the threading in response to the optical flow vector fields representing a predetermined difference between the first and second displacements.
25. A method of making-up or breaking-out tubular string components for use in a subterranean well, the method comprising:
positioning a first camera at a first location, the first camera thereby simultaneously observing at least threaded first and second tubulars;
threading the first and second tubulars with each other;
outputting image data from the first camera to an image processor;
the image processor detecting optical flow vector fields from the image data, the optical flow vector fields representing first and second displacements of the respective first and second tubulars during the threading;
controlling the threading in response to the image processor detecting the optical flow vector fields;
positioning a second camera at a second location, the second camera thereby simultaneously observing a rotor and at least one of the first and second tubulars; and
the optical flow vector fields representing a third displacement of the rotor and at least one of the first and second displacements during the threading.
26. The method of claim 25 , in which the positioning comprises positioning the first camera at the first location, the first camera thereby simultaneously observing at least the first and second tubulars and a threaded third tubular, and in which the second and third tubulars are threaded together prior to the threading.
27. The method of claim 25 , in which the positioning comprises positioning the first camera at the first location, the first camera thereby simultaneously observing at least the first and second tubulars and the rotor.
28. The method of claim 27 , in which the controlling comprises controlling the threading in response to a difference between the first displacement of the first tubular and a third displacement of the rotor, and in which the first and third displacements comprise rotations of the respective first tubular and the rotor.
29. The method of claim 25 , in which the controlling comprises controlling the threading in response to the second displacement of the second tubular being greater than zero, and in which the second displacement comprises a rotation of the second tubular.
30. The method of claim 25 , in which the controlling comprises controlling the threading in response to the first displacement of the first tubular being within a predetermined range, and in which the first displacement comprises a longitudinal displacement of the first tubular.
31. The method of claim 25 , in which the controlling comprises controlling the threading in response to the first displacement of the first tubular being within a predetermined range, and in which the first displacement comprises a rotation of the first tubular.
32. The method of claim 25 , in which the controlling comprises controlling the threading in response to the optical flow vector fields representing a predetermined difference between the first and second displacements.