China Petroleum Shengli Oilfield Uses UHF RFID Tags to Track Drill Pipe

Xplorer's UHF RFID tags are made of high-strength steel and polymer to form a patented UHF RFID tag and are specifically designed to be embedded in the hole in the drill pipe joint to track each individual pipe. RFID technology is the key to the task of not being able to track and capture data on individual pipelines. Oil exploration companies often face several problems before adopting RFID technology. They do not know exactly where the drill bit is, how it is used and when it is used. During the drilling process, the drill pipe used to construct the rig unit is stored on the rig's support or on the pipe field's support. In order to find the correct components of the drill string being built, workers often need to climb the drill pipe and use a tape measure to measure the drill pipe. Next, the worker writes the specifications on a piece of paper and then manually enters the data into the computer. In some cases, they may also paint numbers on the drill pipe, but this has limited effect. If the orientation of the drill rod marking on the bracket is wrong, or covered by dirt or worn, the incomplete marking does not have any effect.

The ability to use RFID technology to track individual joints of drill pipes opens up new possibilities for improved documentation and improved process efficiency, saving costs and reducing risk. Regulatory requirements, weather and operating conditions make China's oil fields one of the most challenging asset management environments on the planet. During operation of the lower string, the drill pipe is exposed to high temperatures, extreme pressure and vibration, and chemical corrosion. The Xplorer RFID tag is constructed to reliably withstand downhole pressures up to 30,000 psi.

The Xplorer tag records important information such as ID number, steel number, size and weight, production information, final usage, and asset maintenance records. The stored information is transmitted to the RFID tracking system. By using a handheld RFID reader, workers can capture critical information before and after scanning all drill pipes, and gain real-time visibility when assets need to be cleaned and maintained, and when they need to be scrapped.

This greatly reduces the risk of leaks and ruptures that can lead to failed detections. By collecting raw data in a timely manner, management can use field data to make quick and accurate decisions.