Weir Oil & Gas, a leading upstream provider of pressure pumping and pressure control equipment and services, has introduced its newly launched SPM Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology and RFID Mobile App at Adipec. 

 

With just a wireless connection, this solution brings greater visibility and functionality to the way service companies manage iron assets from the field, as it combines Weir’s extensive RFID knowledge and backend database with its service and equipment offerings.

 

Until now, maintaining iron assets in the field was an error-prone archaic process that relied on manual data collection. Weir’s RFID technology registers each asset by serial number in seconds. Through this technology alone, a spread of iron – which can number up to 1,000 assets – can be accounted for in a fraction of the time when compared to the manual process of counting and logging serial numbers by hand.  

 

This technology has enabled a Weir customer with 900 pieces of iron to improve accuracy to 100 percent and efficiency by 80 per cent, resulting in estimated annual savings of $94,320. The customer’s process to manually complete a full inventory count with three employees was reduced from three days to five hours with Weir’s SPM technology.

 

Iron equipped with SPM RFID tags can be quickly scanned to efficiently manage inventory, while allowing users to easily determine the inspection status of their iron before putting it into the field.  Weir has placed RFID tags on all iron leaving its factory dating back to 2015 and has the capability to retrofit older pieces. The technology seamlessly works with not only Weir equipment but other manufacturers’ equipment as well.

 

Weir’s proprietary RFID Mobile App, available for iPhone or Android devices, furthers its goal of digitizing the oilfield to benefit service companies of all sizes. This user-friendly, intuitive app is designed to bring many of the benefits of the previously launched SPM® Asset Management Program (A.M.P.) directly to the field. 

 

The RFID Mobile App supports and speeds testing and inspection processes by identifying assets by serial number, which allows personnel to perform an inventory of parts, instantly recall last certificate filed and organise the iron in the database based on its assigned unit. Operators can track every piece of iron anywhere in the world at any moment. 

 

In addition to notable efficiency improvements, the RFID Mobile App eliminates human error involved in manually tracking iron in the field. The SPM technology eliminates transposed numbers and misreading of data by scanning the RFID tag with a Zebra 8500 UFH RFID sled which functions as both an RFID and barcode reader. 

 

Each RFID tag has a unique identifier that is paired to the asset’s serial number to prevent duplication.  When scanned by the RFID scanner the physical service band is effectively digitized allowing the operator to view and edit asset information via the Weir mobile app.

 

“Technology has reshaped our industry over the last ten years, but one basic issue that has continued to burden service companies is pinpointing exactly where all of their iron is located,” said Matthew Trieda, product manager, Weir Oil & Gas. 

 

“We set out to not only help them answer that question, but to go a step further in providing a comprehensive history and insight into asset integrity and performance. After successfully launching this technology in North America, we’re pleased to introduce it internationally.”    

With SPM AMP and RFID Mobile App, users are able to assign assets by crew or unit as well as view Weir inspection certificates, ensuring asset managers know the status of each piece of iron and its location within the fleet in real time. These significant gains in efficiency and accuracy provide asset visibility, which can translate to improved safety in the field.

 

Companies required to show inspection certificates on the jobsite can now quickly access them through the RFID Mobile App and email them to any E&P company representative as needed. This eliminates the time-consuming task of searching stacks of paper for certificates, allowing operators to focus on productivity. 

 

Weir is committed to furthering technology that offers customers greater visibility into their pressure pumping and pressure control systems. The launch of the SPM® RFID mobile app complements Weir’s Pressure Control Intelligent Systems, which effectively removes the guesswork from managed pressure drilling and flow back operations.

 

This announcement is part of Weir’s participation in the 2017 Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference held November 13-16. Throughout the conference, Weir is demonstrating its innovations to improve reliability and efficiency for oil and gas operations in Hall 9, Booth 9536. -- Tradearabia News Service