IP Library Granted Patent US 12,462,364
Granted Patent B2
US 12,462,364 · App. 18/344,557 · Granted Nov 4, 2025

Reducing the risk of dropped strings though the implementation of image processing

Inventor: Euan Martin Murdoch (Aberdeenshire, GB)
Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
G06T7/0002E21B19/06G06T7/70G06V10/764G06T2207/20081
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,462,364
App. No.
18/344,557
Granted
Nov 4, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method and a system for reducing the risk of dopped string through the implementation of image processing are disclosed. The method includes obtaining a plurality of images of a rotary table, a lower elevator latching position, and an upper elevator position from a rig and analyzing the plurality of images of the rotary table, the lower elevator latching position, and the upper elevator position with an artificial intelligence (AI) model to detect a type of the elevators and a latching string component. Further, an operability of the elevators and an operability of the latching string component, and a compatibility between the latching string component and the elevators are determined. Additionally, an instruction based on the determined compatibility is generated, the instruction allowing a latching process to continue or initiating an interlock to stop the latching process.

Claims (43)

1 . A method comprising:

obtaining, using a camera, a plurality of images of a rotary table, a lower elevator latching position, and an upper elevator position from a rig;

analyzing, using a computer processor, the plurality of images of the rotary table, the lower elevator latching position, and the upper elevator position with an artificial intelligence (AI) model to detect a type of the elevators and a latching string component;

determining, using the computer processor, an operability of the elevators and an operability of the latching string component;

determining, using the computer processor, a compatibility between the latching string component and the elevators; and

generating, using the computer processor, an instruction based on the determined compatibility, the instruction allowing a latching or lifting process to continue or initiating an interlock to stop the latching process or preventing blocks from being raised and lifting the string.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining, using the computer processor, a compatibility between the latching string component and slips, the latching string component being set in the slips, and

determining, using the computer processor, whether a dog collar is correctly sized and fitted.

3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising generating, using the computer processor, a report on the determined operability and compatibility of the latching string component and the elevators and the generated instruction, and

displaying, using a graphical user interface, the report to a user.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the AI model is pretrained with the plurality of images of the rotary table, the lower elevator latching position, and the upper elevator position.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the operability of the elevators includes the elevators being correctly latched and an elevator locking pin being fitter, and wherein the operability of the latching string includes correctly fitting slips of the latching string.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the compatibility between the latching string component and the elevators is determined by comparing a size of the elevators and a size of the latching string component.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of images is obtained in real time.

8 . A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions executable by a computer processor, the instructions comprising functionality for:

obtaining, using a camera, a plurality of images of a rotary table, a lower elevator latching position, and an upper elevator position from a rig;

analyzing the plurality of images of the rotary table, the lower elevator latching position, and the upper elevator position with an artificial intelligence (AI) model to detect a type of the elevators and a latching string component;

determining an operability of the elevators and an operability of the latching string component;

determining a compatibility between the latching string component and the elevators; and

generating an instruction based on the determined compatibility, the instruction allowing a latching or lifting process to continue or initiating an interlock to stop the latching process or preventing blocks from being raised and lifting the string.

9 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8 , further comprising determining, using the computer processor, a compatibility between the latching string component and slips, the latching string component being set in the slips, and

determining, using the computer processor, whether a dog collar is correctly sized and fitted.

10 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9 , further comprising generating, using the computer processor, a report on the determined operability and compatibility of the latching string component and the elevators and the generated instruction, and

displaying, using a graphical user interface, the report to a user.

11 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8 , wherein the AI model is pretrained with the plurality of images of the rotary table, the lower elevator latching position, and the upper elevator position.

12 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8 , wherein the operability of the elevators includes the elevators being correctly latched and an elevator locking pin being fitter, and wherein the operability of the latching string includes correctly fitting slips of the latching string.

13 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8 , wherein the compatibility between the latching string component and the elevators is determined by comparing a size of the elevators and a size of the latching string component.

14 . A system comprising:

a camera; and

an image recognition simulator comprising a computer processor, wherein the image recognition simulator is coupled to the camera, the image recognition simulator comprising functionality for:

obtaining, using the camera, a plurality of images of a rotary table, a lower elevator latching position, and an upper elevator position from a rig;

analyzing the plurality of images of the rotary table, the lower elevator latching position, and the upper elevator position with an artificial intelligence (AI) model to detect a type of the elevators and a latching string component;

determining an operability of the elevators and an operability of the latching string component;

determining a compatibility between the latching string component and the elevators; and

generating an instruction based on the determined compatibility, the instruction allowing a latching or lifting process to continue or initiating an interlock to stop the latching process or preventing blocks from being raised and lifting the string.

15 . The system of claim 14 , further comprising determining, using the computer processor, a compatibility between the latching string component and slips, the latching string component being set in the slips, and

determining, using the computer processor, whether a dog collar is correctly sized and fitted.

16 . The system of claim 14 , further comprising generating, using the computer processor, a report on the determined operability and compatibility of the latching string component and the elevators and the generated instruction, and

displaying, using a graphical user interface, the report to a user.

17 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the AI model is pretrained with the plurality of images of the rotary table, the lower elevator latching position, and the upper elevator position.

18 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the operability of the elevators includes the elevators being correctly latched and an elevator locking pin being fitter, and wherein the operability of the latching string includes correctly fitting slips of the latching string.

19 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the compatibility between the latching string component and the elevators is determined by comparing a size of the elevators and a size of the latching string component.

20 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the plurality of images is obtained in real time.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 25, 2023
From: ARAMCO OVERSEAS COMPANY UK LTD
To: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
Reel/Frame 065336/0505 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 21, 2023
From: MURDOCH, EUAN MARTIN
To: ARAMCO OVERSEAS COMPANY UK LTD
Reel/Frame 064654/0109 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20250005728A1 · Jan 2, 2025
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