Well Reporting System

Tool tracking

Internal linking of tools

By convention: Any tool record with a serial number must exist in the Well Equipment Inventory.

The tool record in the Well Equipment Inventory is assigned an internal ID number. This number is actually stored in the BHA Tally record instead of – as you would expect – the tool serial number.  The serial number is displayed on screen (or printed if you like) to keep the internal ID number completely hidden from the end-user. 

This may appear complex at first, but it ensures that all BHA records of that tool refer to the same record in the Well Equipment Inventory without the risk of mismatches due to the same serial number entered in different manners (e.g.  AA-123 or aa-123), making them distinct in the context of database searches or summaries.  Using the internal ID number, tool tracking is always accurate.

As a result of the internal ID number, it is also possible to have multiple records for the same serial number in the Equipment Inventory. Each instance will be treated as a different tool starting “as new” (or zero hours).  This is particularly useful for tools sent in and returning to location after a full service (e.g. mud motors, rotary steerable systems).

Tool records of records for groups of tools (e.g. 12x HWDP) may be entered without a serial number in the BHA composition but without a serial number.  If there is a requirement to track rotary hours on such tools, it is recommended to split them in individual records with a serial number and enter them in the Inventory.

Convenient data input

To make data input as easy as possible, avoiding repetitive tasks, several features for handling tool records have been implemented in the Well Reporting System:

When selecting a serial number from the drop-down list in the BHA composition (tally) sheet, all other field values – including the tool’s profile points – are copied from the Inventory to the BHA tool record.  Only input of the Tool Class is required to filter the Inventory serial numbers for that class.

An entire BHA tally may be copied from a previous BHA. This is particularly useful when re-running a BHA with only a few changes.  The BHA can be copied and only a few changes will be required.

Inventory tool records may also be generated “in reverse” to eliminate switching between the BHA tally sheet and Equipment Inventory.  With the exception of the serial number, all data for the tool is entered on the BHA tally sheet.  Once complete, the user can click a button and will be prompted to input a serial number.  When the serial number is committed, the BHA tool record will be updated with the serial number and copied (including profile points) into the Equipment Inventory.  From then on the tool can be selected from the Inventory with a single mouse-click!

Using drag & drop, tool records may be copied between Inventories, between Inventory and BHA as well as between BHA’s.  The only limitation is that when dragging & dropping tool records between different wells, the serial number may or may not be copied over depending from where to where the copy action takes place.  This is a result of the convention that a serial number in the BHA must exist in the Inventory.  Hence when dragging and dropping from a BHA on well #1 to a BHA on well #2, the serial number will not be copied (as the serial number is not in the Inventory of well #2).  On the other hand, when dragging & dropping from Inventory to Inventory, the serial number will be copied.  To preserve the serial number, copy from Inventory or BHA to Inventory and then from Inventory to BHA; that’s how flexible the system is!!