Abstract: Method and system for automating a path study to establish a private network between an access point and a remote asset along an optimal path. A predictive model identifies potential communications paths between the access point and the remote asset based on site data. The potential communications paths each specifies at least one antenna parameter. The machine learning also includes selecting the optimal path from the potential communications paths based at least in part on the network performance requirements of the private network and predicted signal quality along the potential communications paths using the antenna parameter.

Abstract: A telemetry communication system is configured for conserving power of telemetry devices of an industrial plant. The telemetry communication system comprises an external plant device and at least one of a telemetry communication device and an outstation. The telemetry communication device and outstation are configured to activate a primary communication system and a secondary communication system. The primary communication system is configured for executing a primary communication method comprising a low power communication methodology and a low bandwidth communication methodology for communicating with the external plant device. The secondary communication system is configured for executing a secondary communication method comprising a high power communication methodology and a high bandwidth communication methodology for communicating with the external plant device.

Abstract: An authentication system for an industrial plant is configured for authenticating a user device to either permit or deny the user device access to an industrial edge device. The authentication system broadly comprises the industrial edge device, the user device, and the authentication processor. The industrial edge device is configured for at least one of monitoring and controlling an operation within the industrial plant. The user device is configured to communicate with the industrial edge device to request access to the industrial edge device. The authentication processor is associated with the industrial edge device, and the authentication processor is configured to communicate a graphical authentication task to the user device in response to the request for access. The authentication processor is further configured to verify a response to the graphical authentication task from the user device for determining whether to grant the user device access to the industrial edge device.

Abstract: An authentication system for an industrial plant is configured for authenticating a user device to either permit or deny the user device access to an industrial edge device. The authentication system broadly comprises the industrial edge device, the user device, and the authentication processor. The industrial edge device is configured for at least one of monitoring and controlling an operation within the industrial plant. The user device is configured to communicate with the industrial edge device to request access to the industrial edge device. The authentication processor is associated with the industrial edge device, and the authentication processor is configured to communicate an audio authentication task to the user device in response to the request for access. The authentication processor is further configured to verify a response to the audio authentication task from the user device for determining whether to grant the user device access to the industrial edge device.

Abstract: An image generation processor of an automation system executes a tag-to-image tool for visualizing status information associated with an industrial operation. A SCADA server monitors telemetry data from a remote industrial asset and provides supervisory control via a private network. The SCADA server also stores textual status information relating to the industrial operation in one or more tags. The image generation processor executes the tag-to-image tool to automatically generate at least one visual indicator representative of the textual status information stored in the tags and causes the generated visual indicator to be dynamically displayed on a display of a client display device associated with the industrial operation.

Abstract: A system is configured for enabling secure communications among industrial process devices of an industrial system. The industrial system comprises industrial process devices such as an industrial peripheral device and an industrial controller device. The industrial peripheral device is configured to generate an output signal having one or more recurring physical properties. The industrial controller device is configured to operate in training mode to obtain a unique fingerprint signal from the output signal of the industrial peripheral device. The unique fingerprint signal is indicative of the one or more recurring physical properties of the output signal and corresponds to an identity of the industrial peripheral device.

Abstract: A flow meter system and method are provided for monitoring gas flow in a conduit. The flow meter system includes a plurality of components including: a sensor for sensing a flow rate of the gas flow; a communication device for transmitting information corresponding to the sensed flow rate to a remote device; an energy harvesting device for producing electrical energy from the gas flow to power operation of the communication device or other component of the flow meter system; and an energy storage device for storing electrical energy generated by the energy harvesting device.

Abstract: A flow meter system and method are provided for monitoring gas flow in a conduit. The flow meter system includes a plurality of components including: a sensor for sensing a flow rate of the gas flow; a communication device for transmitting information corresponding to the sensed flow rate to a remote device; an energy harvesting device for producing electrical energy from the gas flow to power operation of the communication device or other component of the flow meter system; and an energy storage device for storing electrical energy generated by the energy harvesting device.

Abstract: An image generation processor of an automation system executes a tag-to-image tool for visualizing status information associated with an industrial operation. A SCADA server monitors telemetry data from a remote industrial asset and provides supervisory control via a private network. The SCADA server also stores textual status information relating to the industrial operation in one or more tags. The image generation processor executes the tag-to-image tool to automatically generate at least one visual indicator representative of the textual status information stored in the tags and causes the generated visual indicator to be dynamically displayed on a display of a client display device associated with the industrial operation.

Abstract: Method and system for automating a path study to establish a private network between an access point and a remote asset along an optimal path. A predictive model identifies potential communications paths between the access point and the remote asset based on site data. The potential communications paths each specifies at least one antenna parameter. The machine learning also includes selecting the optimal path from the potential communications paths based at least in part on the network performance requirements of the private network and predicted signal quality along the potential communications paths using the antenna parameter.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for controlling a flow computer for monitoring a fluid. The method and system involve: establishing communications between the flow computer and a remote computing system through an external application programming interface (API) to obtain from the computing system information of fluid composition of the fluid and/or real-time environmental condition(s); and adjusting a flow measurement operation of the flow computer according to the obtained information of the fluid composition and/or real-time environmental condition(s).

Abstract: System/method for real-time monitoring and control of pump operations at a well provide a pump control system that uses pump fillage with a proportional-integral-differential (PID) based algorithm to control positive displacement pump operations. The pump control system/method obtains measured or inferred pump speed from available pump speed data and, using certain pump characteristics provided by the well operator, calculates a theoretical fluid flow rate based on the pump speed. The pump control system/method thereafter compares the calculated theoretical fluid flow rate to a measured or observed fluid flow rate to calculate a pump fillage. The calculated pump fillage is then provided as a process input to the PID based algorithm along with a desired pump fillage from the well operator. The PID based algorithm processes the calculated pump fillage and the desired pump fillage using tuning parameters to determine an optimum pump speed based on the desired pump fillage.

Abstract: Remote configuration of an industrial or remote telemetry device using sound. Acoustic energy directed from a remote programming device to a remote industrial or telemetry device has tones indicating a request to establish communication. By directing further acoustic energy from the remote programming device to the remote industrial or telemetry device, the remote programming device requests information relating to a current configuration of the remote industrial or telemetry device. The remote industrial or telemetry device processes the tones to identify the request and replies with acoustic energy that has associated tones indicating the information relating to the current configuration of the remote industrial or telemetry device.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing power to devices at a well site employ a linear alternator to generate power at a well site. The linear alternator is mounted on a pump at the well site and uses the up-and-down motion of the pump to generate power. The pump may be a nodding donkey head pump or other sucker rod pump mechanisms that operate based on linear vertical motion. The linear vertical motion drives a linear rotor back and forth through a linear stator to induce current in the linear alternator. This allows the linear alternator to convert a portion of the mechanical work performed by the pump into electrical energy that can be supplied to the devices. In some embodiments, the pump-mounted linear alternator can be equipped with a position sensor to directly measure a vertical position of the pump as the alternator travels up and down with the pump.

Abstract: System/method for real-time monitoring and control of pump operations at a well provide a pump control system that uses pump fillage with a proportional-integral-differential (PID) based algorithm to control positive displacement pump operations. The pump control system/method obtains measured or inferred pump speed from available pump speed data and, using certain pump characteristics provided by the well operator, calculates a theoretical fluid flow rate based on the pump speed. The pump control system/method thereafter compares the calculated theoretical fluid flow rate to a measured or observed fluid flow rate to calculate a pump fillage. The calculated pump fillage is then provided as a process input to the PID based algorithm along with a desired pump fillage from the well operator. The PID based algorithm processes the calculated pump fillage and the desired pump fillage using tuning parameters to determine an optimum pump speed based on the desired pump fillage.

Abstract: A load cell system for measuring rod load in a pumpjack. The system includes a tension load cell operatively coupled to a bridle between first and second bridle cables at a location longitudinally spaced between a horsehead and a bridle plate of the pumpjack. The bridle plate is coupled to the first bridle cable at a first connection point and the tension load cell is coupled to the first bridle cable at a second connection point longitudinally spaced between the bridle plate and the horsehead. The load cell system defines a third connection point longitudinally spaced between the second connection point and the horsehead. The load cell system is configured to maintain substantially constant longitudinal distances between the second connection point and each of the first and third connection points during operation of the horsehead.

Abstract: Systems and methods provide real-time optical monitoring and control of well operations using digital cameras and image analysis. The systems and methods deploy one or more digital cameras in place of or in addition to conventional sensors to capture images of a well pump during well operations. The images may then be analyzed using image analysis algorithms and programs to measure a height, position, shape, and other measurements for certain components of the well pump relative to previous images. These image-based measurements may then be used to determine various operational parameters, such as pump speed, pump load, and other operational parameters. The operational parameters may then be processed by a pump control system to optimize pump operations based on the operational parameters.

Abstract: Remote configuration of an industrial or remote telemetry device using sound. Acoustic energy directed from a remote programming device to a remote industrial or telemetry device has tones indicating a request to establish communication. By directing further acoustic energy from the remote programming device to the remote industrial or telemetry device, the remote programming device requests information relating to a current configuration of the remote industrial or telemetry device. The remote industrial or telemetry device processes the tones to identify the request and replies with acoustic energy that has associated tones indicating the information relating to the current configuration of the remote industrial or telemetry device.

Abstract: Systems and methods provide real-time optical monitoring and control of well operations using digital cameras and image analysis. The systems and methods deploy one or more digital cameras in place of or in addition to conventional sensors to capture images of a well pump during well operations. The images may then be analyzed using image analysis algorithms and programs to measure a height, position, shape, and other measurements for certain components of the well pump relative to previous images. These image-based measurements may then be used to determine various operational parameters, such as pump speed, pump load, and other operational parameters. The operational parameters may then be processed by a pump control system to optimize pump operations based on the operational parameters.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing power to devices at a well site employ a linear alternator to generate power at a well site. The linear alternator is mounted on a pump at the well site and uses the up-and-down motion of the pump to generate power. The pump may be a nodding donkey head pump or other sucker rod pump mechanisms that operate based on linear vertical motion. The linear vertical motion drives a linear rotor back and forth through a linear stator to induce current in the linear alternator. This allows the linear alternator to convert a portion of the mechanical work performed by the pump into electrical energy that can be supplied to the devices. In some embodiments, the pump-mounted linear alternator can be equipped with a position sensor to directly measure a vertical position of the pump as the alternator travels up and down with the pump.