Process and assembly for identifying and tracking assets
An assembly and process for identifying and tracking assets, such as tubulars, equipment, tools and/or devices. An antenna is electrically connected to a responding device, such as a radio frequency identification device, and this assembly is connected to an asset. The antenna may be positioned about the exterior and/or the interior of the asset and significantly increases the range of signals that may be received and/or broadcast by the responding device. A transceiver may accordingly be positioned a greater distance from the asset without regard to the orientation of the asset and still permit communication between the transceiver and the responding device. In this manner, information that specifically identifies the asset may be compiled in a data base so as to maintain an accurate history of the usage of such assets as tubulars, equipment, tool and/or devices.
1. A process for identifying and tracking assets comprising:
passing a transceiver along an exterior of a generally tubular asset having a responding device and an antenna electrically connected to said responding device and extending about substantially the entire outer circumference of the asset so as to permit communication between said transceiver and said responding device via said antenna without regard to orientation of the asset.
2. The process of claim 1 wherein said responding device is a radio frequency identification device.
3. The process of claim 2 wherein said radio frequency identification device is passive.
4. The process of claim 1 wherein the transceiver is in a stationary position.
5. The process of claim 1 wherein equipment, tools, devices or combinations thereof are secured to the generally tubular asset, at least one of said equipment, tools, devices or combinations thereof having another responding device and another antenna electrically connected to said another responding device and extending about substantially the entire outer circumference of said at least one of said equipment, tools, devices or combinations thereof, said process further comprising:
passing the transceiver along said exterior of said at least one of said equipment, tools, devices or combinations thereof so as to permit communication between said transceiver and said another responding device via said another antenna without regard to orientation of said at least one of said equipment, tools, devices or combinations thereof.
6. A process for identifying and tracking assets comprising:
passing a transceiver through an interior of a generally tubular asset having a responding device and an antenna electrically connected to said responding device and extending about substantially the entire inner circumference of the asset so as to permit communication between said transceiver and said responding device via said antenna without regard to orientation of the asset.
7. The process of claim 6 further comprising:
passing a second transceiver through said interior of said asset.
8. The process of claim 6 wherein equipment, tools, devices or combinations thereof are secured to the generally tubular asset, at least one of said equipment, tools, devices or combinations thereof having another responding device and another antenna electrically connected to said another responding device and extending about substantially the entire inner circumference of said at least one of said equipment, tools, devices or combinations thereof, said process further comprising:
passing the transceiver through said interior of said at least one of said equipment, tools, devices or combinations thereof so as to permit communication between said transceiver and said another responding device via said another antenna without regard to orientation of said at least one of said equipment, tools, devices or combinations thereof.
9. A process for identifying and tracking tubulars comprising:
passing a transceiver through an interior of a tubular having a responding device and an antenna electrically connected to the responding device without regard to rotational orientation of said tubular so as to permit communication between said transceiver and said responding device via said antenna, wherein equipment, tools, devices or combinations thereof are secured to the tubular, at least one of said equipment, tools, devices or combinations thereof having another responding device and another antenna electrically connected to said another responding device and extending about substantially the entire inner circumference of said at least one of said equipment, tools, devices or combinations thereof; and
passing the transceiver through said interior of said at least one of said equipment, tools, devices or combinations thereof so as to permit communication between said transceiver and said another responding device via said another antenna without regard to orientation of said at least one of said equipment, tools, devices or combinations thereof.
10. A process for identifying and tracking tubulars comprising:
passing a transceiver through an interior of a tubular having a responding device and an antenna electrically connected to the responding device without regard to rotational orientation of said tubular so as to permit communication between said transceiver and said responding device via said antenna; and
passing a second transceiver through said interior of said tubular.