Modification and Performance Evaluation of Radio Frequency Identification Technology in High-Temperature and High-Pressure Environments

Summary As oil and gas exploration progresses into deeper and ultradeep territories, the radio frequency identification (RFID) tags used in drillpipes are required to demonstrate enhanced resilience to elevated temperatures and pressures. Current research on tags for ultrahigh temperature and ultrahigh pressure environments is relatively scarce. This study focuses on the application of RFID in deeper drilling operations, aiming to further enhance the tags’ temperature and pressure resistance to meet the application requirements. Numerical simulations were conducted to assess the mechanical properties of RFID tags installed on drillpipes of varying dimensions under conditions of elevated temperatures and pressures. This process enabled the optimization of the dimensions of the RFID tags and installation holes. The optimal dimensions for the RFID tag were determined to be φ24.3×7 mm, with the corresponding installation hole being φ24.3×11 mm. To evaluate the high-temperature endurance of the RFID tags, they were subjected to a temperature of 200℃ for a period of time, after which a maximum temperature of 230℃ was applied. Furthermore, a bespoke high-temperature and high-pressure apparatus was used to conduct a 7-day endurance test at 200℃ and 200 MPa. The findings demonstrated that the RFID tags exhibited reliable performance even when subjected to an extreme temperature of 230℃. Furthermore, the RFID tags exhibited consistent performance when subjected to prolonged periods of high temperature and pressure. The efficacy of the RFID tags was further validated through an 11-well field experiment, wherein the embedded tags exhibited no indications of detachment or deterioration. Once removed from the apparatus, the tags were able to be read automatically in real time, thus enabling the automated collection of data from the drillpipe in actual operating conditions. The findings of this study provide valuable insights and establish a foundation for the design and application of RFID tags in the challenging environments of deep and ultradeep oil and gas exploration.