WO2012115717A2

WO2012115717A2 - Nanotag indentification systems and methods

Info

Publication number: WO2012115717A2
Application number: PCT/US2012/000105
Authority: WO
Inventors: Guy L. Mcclung, Iii
Original assignee: Mcclung Guy L Iii
Priority date: 2011-02-24
Filing date: 2012-02-23
Publication date: 2012-08-30
Also published as: WO2012115717A3

Abstract

A thing with a very small identifier, a "NanoTag," or "NanoCode," wherein the NanoTag is one of: nanotransmitter; nano device; nanomaterial; nanomaterial in a known order; sequence or pattern on or in a thing; nanomaterial of a certain known type or types in or on a thing and/or in or on a thing in a certain order, sequence and/or pattern; and McNano (wherein the McNano is one of: microdevice, nanodevice, nanorobot, micro-resonant device, nanotransmitter, and nano RF ID device) or wherein the NanoCode includes nanomaterial.

Description

NanoTag Identification Systems and Methods

Inventor: Guy L. McCIung, HI

[0001 ] This invention is directed to NanoTags and to systems and methods employing them and, in certain aspects, using them for identification and related methods and operations. The present application and invention claim priority from these United States Applications Serial Nos.: 13/373,283 filed 1 1/09/201 1 ; 13/374,573 filed 01/03/2012; 61/463,951 filed 02/24/201 1 ; 61/573,894 filed 09/14/201 1 ; and 61/458,444 filed 11/22/2010.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

[0002] The present invention provides, in certain aspects, a thing with a NanoTag. "NanoTag" or "NanoTag identifier" includes: nanotransmitters; nano devices; nanomaterial ("nanomaterial" as defined below); nanomaterial in a known order; sequence or pattern on or in a thing; nanomaterial of a certain known type or types in or on a thing and/or in or on a thing in a certain order, sequence and/or pattern; and/or McNanos ("McNano" as defined below). In certain particular aspects, a NanoTag has a largest dimension or an overall outer diameter which is one of: less than about 1000 microns; less than 500 microns; less than 250 microns; less than 100 microns; less than 50 microns; less than 20 microns; less than 10 microns; less than 5; less than 1 micron; 500 nanometers; 250 nanometers; 200 nanometers; 100 nanometers; 50 nanometers; 25 nanometers; 10 nanometers; 5 nanometers; less than 500 nanometers; less than 250 nanometers; less than 100 nanometers; less than 50 nanometers 25; less than 10 nanometers; and less than 5 nanometers. In one aspect, a NanoTag is less than about 150 nanometers in each of width, length and thickness. In certain aspects, a NanoTag is not visible to the human eye; while in other aspects, it is.

[0003] In certain aspects, the thing with a NanoTag or NanoTags has the NanoTag(s) therein or thereon and the thing is one of : item, apparatus, equipment, tubular casing, drill collar (magnetic or nonmagnetic), pipe, drill pipe, riser, tubing, thread protector, centralizer, stabilizer, control line protector, mill, plug, cementing plug, and riser; whipstock, tubular handler, tubular manipulator, tubular rotator, top drive, tong, spinner, downhole motor, elevator, spiders, powered mouse hole, and pipe handler, sucker rod, and drill bit, shale shaker, blowout preventer, shaker screen, tubular handler, and tubular manipulator.

[0004] In certain aspects, the thing with a NanoTag or NanoTags is any object, fluid, slurry, vapor, gas, material, item or thing; while in other aspects, the thing is a thing usable in a wellbore operation, the wellbore operation being one of: a tubular rotation operation and the tubular is one of casing, tubing, riser, tubular member, pipe, drill pipe, string of tubulars, drill string, quill, shaft, drive shaft and hollow shaft; drilling, casing, casing while drilling, casing drilling, reaming, underreaming, joint make-up, joint breakout, milling, managed pressure drilling, underbalanced drilling, tubular running, tubular running with continuous circulation, controlling bit face orientation during operations with a bit, conducting well operations based on mechanical specific energy considerations, and automatic drilling.

[0005] "McNanos" include: microdevices, nanodevices, nanorobots, micro-resonant devices ("MRDs"), nanotransmitters, and/or nano RFID devices ("nano RFIDs" or "nanotags")- Such very small devices are referred to herein collectively as "McNano" devices or "McNanos". McNano devices are used, according to the present invention, in a variety of operations and with a variety of things, items and equipment- and in each use described below of a McNano, it is to be understood that in addition to any described use or function, the presence of the McNano serves as an identifier of the thing, item, fluid, or equipment that the McNano is used on or in, so it is one type of NanoTag identifier.. In certain embodiments, at least one, one, or a plurality of such McNano device are used in equipment, systems, and operations in the oil and gas industries, e.g. in rig operations, well formation, well completion, well production, fluid processing, solids control, and testing methods and with equipment used in these methods. In certain aspects, the McNano device(s) are coated, sheathed, or layered with protective and/or strengthening material, e.g., but not limited to plastic, metal, polytetrafluoroethylene, and/or ballistic material to cope with a wellbore environment (e.g. but not limited to, environments of extreme temperature or environments of corrosive or caustic materials or fluids) in which a McNano device is used (and this can be true for an McNano device disclosed herein and any such device described below on any method according to the present invention).

[0006] Certain McNano devices used in equipment and methods according to the present invention are those disclosed in U.S. Pub. No. 2009/0027280 and are small micro-resonant devices (MRDs) that can receive an excitation signal and generate and transmit an emission signal, and can be tracked in an oil and gas industry method or environment, e.g., devices that are on the order of about 5 to 100 microns in diameter (or in largest dimension) or up to about 1000 microns in diameter or in largest dimension; or much smaller, down to about 5 nanometers in diameter or in largest dimension.

[0007] McNano devices can include monolithic MRDs that include an antenna component that receives an excitation signal and transmits an emission signal; and a resonator component that receives an excitation signal and generates a corresponding emission signal; and, optionally an outer coating that envelopes the device and isolates the device from its environment; and which coating, in certain aspects according to the present invention, specifically protect a device from fluids and materials encountered in oil and gas operations, within equipment used in such operations, and within oil and gas wells. These devices can have an overall diameter (or largest dimension) of less than about 1000 microns, e.g., 100 or 10 microns, and a Q value of greater than about 5, e.g., greater than 10, 50, 100, or much higher, and the emission signal can be (i) a resonant frequency of the device emitted at a delayed time compared to the excitation signal (or at a time after the excitation signal has stopped), (ii) a frequency different than the excitation signal; (iii) a signal at a different polarization than the excitation signal, or (iv) a resonant frequency of the device which upon excitation by an excitation field (e.g., a magnetic field), distorts the applied excitation field. [0008] In such McNano devices, the antenna component and the resonator component can be the same component, i.e., one component that functions as both an antenna and as a resonator. The devices can also be designed such that the resonant frequency is proportional to an applied magnetic field, e.g., by fabricating the resonator of a magnetic metal or alloy to induce magnetic field dependence to the resonant frequency.

[0009] In certain embodiments, the invention features McNano devices which are MRDS as in U.S. Pub. No.

2009/0027280 in the form of cylindrical or prismatic length extender bars that include a transducer material, e.g., a piezoelectric or magnetostrictive transducer material, and that have a length of less than about 100 microns and a diameter of less than about 100 microns; and optionally an outer coating that envelopes the device and isolates the device from its environment in a well or in equipment used in oil and gas operations. In certain aspects, these McNanos can resonate at a resonant frequency of greater than about 50 MHz after receiving an excitation signal at the reonant frequency.

[0010] An outer layer for such McNano devices can include a hydrophilic material encompassing the device or a hydrophobic material encompassing the device and/or a protective sheath, layer, or coating.

[001 1 ] In other embodiments, the McNano devices are in the form of devices that include a hermetically-sealed housing having walls forming an internal chamber; a cantilever arranged within the internal chamber and having a free end and a fixed end connected to a wall of the housing; and an electrode arranged within the internal chamber in parallel and spaced from the cantilever; wherein, in certain aspects, the overall size of the device is no larger than about 1000 microns, e.g., no larger than 100 or 10 microns.

[0012] In certain aspects, in a well, near a well, and/or in or near equipment used in well operations, McNano devices are located and/or tracked (e.g. by an "apparatus S") by generating an excitation signal randomly at any location at which they appear or in a target area in which the device might be located; receiving an emission signal from the one or more McNanos, if any, e.g., in a target area; and processing the emission signal to determine the location of the device(s).

[0013] In various methods, the McNano devices can have an overall diameter or largest dimension of about 10 microns or less. In embodiments in which the emission signal is a resonant frequency of the device, the device can further include a magnetic material to induce magnetic field dependence to the resonant frequency, and the methods can further include exposing the device or the device in a target area to a magnetic field.

[0014] In certain methods according to the present invention, a target area can be within a well, within a tubular, within cement, and/or within equipment, and the emission signal can be any suitable frequency. McNano devices can be attached to an object, and then used to track the object within a well, within and/or through a piece of equipment, and/or within a target area.

[0015] McNano devices may have an overall outer diameter or largest dimension of less. than about 1000 microns, and can be much smaller, e.g., less than 500, 250, 100, 50, 20, 10, 5, or 1 micron, or even on the nanometer scale, e.g., 500, 250, 200, 100, 50, 25, 10, or 5 nanometers. McNanos can be individual, standalone, monolithic devices, or can be made of a set of or a plurality of McNanos, e.g. nano-resonant devices, that are each on the nanoscale, e.g., in certain aspects, about 500 nanometers or less, e.g., less than 250, 100, 50, 25, 10, or 5 nanometers in size. Mcnano devices may be between 0.1 inch to 1.0 inch or more in largest dimenstion.

[0016] The McNano devices can either (i) individually produce a resonant signal, e.g. when detected, or when acting in concert in a particular target location, or a set of McNano devices can produce a collective signal of sufficient power to be detected in the same way that a signal from one device is detected, or (ii) individually do not produce a signal, but assemble, e.g., self-assemble, at a location or at a target location to form a McNano device, e.g. micro-resonant device, to produce a detectable signal or collectively act to produce a detectable signal. Once congregated or self- assembled at a location or at a target location, a set of McNano devices can act like a single device. Alternatively, the McNano devices can each individually produce a detectable signal.

[0017] The McNano devices can be designed and fabricated so that their resonant frequency is sensitive to their surrounding temperature, chemistry, pH, thus making them useful as local sensors with detectable readout (e.g. RF readout). McNano devices with metal or with metallic layers can be detected by conventional metal detection devices and apparatuses.

[0018] The McNano device(s) can be micron-sized devices that can generate and emit signals at resonant frequencies not present (or at very low levels) in a location, a target location, or in and oil and gas well environment. In certain aspects, these individual devices, e.g., located in a target environment, can be located in three-dimensional space and tracked anywhere in the target environment using conventional methods and apparatuses. If an RF device is used, one or more can be used to locate the presence of the McNano devices and can also determine the 3-D location, e.g., by using three separate RF devices. Alternatively, one can use even a single antenna (RF device) if it is focused and rotated around the target.

[0019] In certain aspects, McNano devices are monolithic devices, i.e., they are fabricated entirely on a single silicon chip or substrate. They can also be standalone devices, in that they can operate without the need for any connection to another circuit or device. Their power requirements can be provided from an on-board power source or from detectors used to detect, track and image them. They can be detected individually, or e.g. when they are composed of a set of nano-scale McNano devices, they can be detected when congregated at a location or at a target location within a target environment or area.

[0020] In certain embodiments, McNano devices can have a coating, sheath, or layer that insulates them from a fluid, a material, or an environment. The coating can be hermetically sealed to keep its interior free from fluids, e.g., liquids and/or gases in an environment. [0021 ] Certain McNano devices convert mechanical motion into an electrical signal (as in in U.S. Pub. No.

2009/0027280).

[0022] A simple tracking device (e.g. an "apparatus S") for tracking McNano devices can have a single send/receive antenna that is focused to a precise point in 3-D space. To create an image of a large object, the antenna is scanned in three dimensions, e.g., in a circular, up/down, and in out, thus probing the entire 3-D space occupied by the large object. Another device has a ring of antennae, or multiple rings of different diameter, that are scanned in one direction, e.g., up and down, to reconstruct a 3-D location of a McNano. Another device includes a large, but finite, number of antennae that reconstruct the position of Mcnano devices in 3-D space without moving.

[0023] McNanos can also sense for pH, specific chemicals, etc. encountered in an oil and gas well.

[0024] In one aspect of the invention, a McNano device is a nano radio frequency identification (RFID) device that includes a radio frequency (RF) section configured to send an RF signal and at least one antenna operatively coupled to the RF section for emitting the RF signal, and the nano RFID device is configured to be less than about 150 nanometers in each of width, length and thickness.

[0025] In another aspect, a method for using a McNano device that is nano radio frequency identification (RFID) device, the nano RFID device includes a radio frequency (RF) section configured to emit an RF signal and at least one antenna operatively coupled to the RF section to emit the signal, wherein the nano RFID device is configured to be less than about 150 nanometers in each of width, length and thickness, the method including configuring identification data within the nano RFID device that identifies the RFID device and embedding the nano RFID device within an item or composition for tracking the item or composition. Identification data can similarly be configured in other McNanos. A McNano device can be energized and/or interrogated with an RF signal.

[0026] The method and device of the invention includes, in certain aspects, providing a nano radio frequency identification (RFID) device (RFID tag) of about 150 nanometers or smaller in dimension. In some embodiments, the RFID device may include semiconductors as small as is 90 nanometers, perhaps with some chips configured and provided at the 65 nanometer, 45 nanometer and/or 30 nanometer size level. The technology for included electrical circuitry in such a McNano or in any other suitable McNano may include CMOS or related technology for low power consumption.

[0027] A McNano device for use in methods according to the present invention may include a nano RFID device with a radio frequency circuit (RF) that may be configured to respond to a received RF signal and to provide identifying information of the nano RFID device which may be associated with a composition, item, product, person, or similar object. Optionally, and as is true for any McNano device, in some applications, the nano RF circuit may provide identifying information of the device when not triggered by a received RF signal; and identifying information may be electronically encoded alphanumeric data to uniquely identify the nano-RFID device. The RF circuit may also be configured with a memory, such as, but not limited to, EEROM or EEPROM, for example, to store other information that may be transmitted along with the identifying information.

[0028] The nano RFID device may also include antennae that may receive an RF signal and also emit a response signal as generated by an RF circuit. The antennae may be at least one, or two, carbon nano tubes or other nano materials suitable for RF reception and emission such as transmitting an outbound backscatter signal. As is true of any McNano device, a nano RFID device may have a protective layer, sheath, or coating such as a plastic coating, polytetrafluoroethylene coating, or other suitable composition that provides environmental protection for the nano-RFID device. The nano-RFID device may have a size of about 150 nanometers, or smaller, in all dimensions (length, width and thickness).

[0029] A McNano device that has an active nano RFID component may include an active nano RFID device and may include a radio frequency circuit (RF) that is configured to receive a RF signal and configured to emit data as initiated by the RF circuit or as initiated by a micro-circuit(e.g., a micro-processor, or the like) that provides additional processing and control capability. The emitted data may include identifying information of the active nano RFID device, which may be associated with a composition, item, product, object, person, or similar object. The identifying information may be electronically encoded alphanumeric data to uniquely identify the nano-RFID device. The active nano device may also be configured with a memory, such as EEROM or EEPROM, for example, to store the identifying data, and/or other information that may be transmitted along with the identifying information.

[0030] The McNano device may include (as is true for any Mcnano device) an active nano device and a nano power source such as a nano battery or a power generator, for example. The power source may be fabricated as a nano chemical-battery as is known in the art. The power source may be configured to provide power to an RF circuit of the device, a micro-circuit, and/or memory.- The power source may provide sufficient power to cause a stronger response signal, hence greater transmission distances, as compared with a passive nano RFID. Antennae may receive an RF signal and also emit a response signal as generated by the RF circuit that may be initiated by the micro-circuit. The antennae may be at least one, or two or more, carbon nano tubes or other nano materials suitable for RF reception and emission such as transmitting outbound backscatter signal. The RF circuit and the micro-circuit may be combined in some embodiments.

[0031 ] In one method a McNano device in a well operation is a nano-RFID which may be provided, and initialized or configured with identifying data unique to the particular device, and/or unique to an item, composition, person or object associated with the device. This may be (as is true for any McNano device), for example, a serial number, a product code, a name, an encoded identifier, or the like. The device may be embedded in, connected to, or attached to, a composition or material, item, or product or introduced into a fluid or a flow stream. The composition etc. may be tracked and the resulting identification information received by a reception apparatus or system (e.g. an "apparatus S") and processed according to an application or system using the device.

[0032] In some applications, the identification information within a McNano device (including, but not limited to a nano RFID device) may be duplicated among more than one device, so that more than one device may have the same identification information, or at least a subset of the same information. This capability may be useful in those applications where an associated item might have multiple devices. In such a case, the identification data may be the same identifying data in all the devices in an item or object.

[0033] In certain embodiments, a McNano device may contain temperature, pressure, mechanical (e.g., harmonic) electrical, and/or chemical sensors. In one embodiment, the device may also contain a radio transmitter capable of transmitting continuous, interval, or on-demand signals. The transmitter may contain a power supply, such as a battery. Both the transmitter and power supply may be incorporated on a body or on a ingle chip. The apparatus may contain remotely programmable subdevices or units capable of detecting and analyzing operations and fluid parameters, e.g., but not limited to, temperature, pH, pressure, and electrical and chemical sensors according to time and location.

[0034] Related technology that may provide an expanded description of various techniques and principles herein may be found in one or more publications such as, for example: "Nanophysics and Nanotechnology: An Introduction to Modern Concepts in Nanoscience," Edward L. Wolf, Wiley-VCH; 2 edition (October 2006); "Springer Handbook of Nanotechnology," Springer, 2nd rev. and extended ed. edition (March 2007); "Introduction to Nanoscale Science and Technology (Nanostructure Science and Technology)," Springer, I .sup.st edition (June 2004); "Fundamentals of Microfabrication: The Science of Miniaturization," Marc J. Madou, CRC, 2 edition (Mar. 13 , 2002); "RPID Essentials (Theory in Practice)," O'Reilly Media, Inc. (January 2006); "RFID Applied" by Jerry Banks, David Hanny, Manuel A. Pachano, Les G. Thompson, Wiley (Mar. 30, 2007); "Carbon Nanotubes: Properties and Applications" by Michael J. O'Connell, CRC (May 2006); and "Nanoscale Science and Technology" by Robert Kelsall, Ian Hamley, Mark Geoghegan, Wiley (April 2005), all publications referred to herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety.

[0035] "Nanomaterial" includes any known nanomaterial including, but not limited to, nanotubes, nanorods, nanowires, nanoparticles, nanostructures, nanofibers, nanofabric, nanocylinders, nanotextiles, nanographene, nanographene ribbons, transformed nanomaterials, functionalized nanomaterial, metallized nanomaterial, nanofabric, carbon nanomaterials, e.g., but not limited to, carbon nanotubes, and electrically conductive nanotubes, including including single walled nanotubes, multi-walled nanotubes, functionalized nanotubes and metallized nanotubes, and combinations of pieces or particles of nanomaterial, e.g., agglomerations thereof, and nanostructures; and "Nanomaterial" as used herein may include any suitable known nanomaterial or combination of nanomaterial that effects the desired function, including, but is not limited to: nanotubes, nanostructures, nanocomposites, nanopastes, nanohorns, coated nanomaterial, nanomatrices, ceramic nanomatrices, nanoplatlets, nanoflakes, carbon nanotubes (CNTs), single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs), multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWNTs), double-wall carbon nanotubes (DWNTs), buckytubes, small-diameter carbon nanotubes, fullerene tubes, tubular fullerenes, graphite fibrils, carbon nanofibers, and combinations thereof; such nanotubes and carbon nanotubes can be of a variety and range of suitable lengths, diameters, number of tube walls, and chiralities

(helicities), and can be made by any suitable known technique; the nanotubes may be functionalized using any known functionalization; the nanotubes may be initially in a suitable known solution or dispersion; the nanotubes may be purified or unpurified; CNTs may include purified CNTs, unpurified CNTs (raw, as-produced), and combinations thereof;. In some such embodiments, the CNTs are selected from the group including SWNTs, MWNTs, carbon nanofibers, CNTs in elastomeric nanocomposites; nanomaterial present in ranges from about 0.0001 wt. % to about 90 wt. %; in other aspects, the amount of CNTs is relatively low, i.e., 4 wt. %; some, all, or at least some of the nanomaterial, e.g., CNTs, are functionalized in a manner selected from the group including sidewall functionalization and end functionalization, and combinations thereof; the amount of functionalized nanomaterial or CNTs can range from about 0.0001 weight percent to about 90 weight percent of the weight of a resulting material or nanocomposite; and/or the nanomaterials may have have a diameter in the range 10-500 nm, a diameter in the range 100 to 150 nm and/or a length in the range 1 -10 mumicrons; and/or any nanomaterial disclosed in any patent or application mentioned herein and/or any nanomaterial mentioned in or described in U.S. Patents 8,038,479; 7,097,820; 8,084,012; 8,038,479; 8,080,487; 8,105,964 8,096,353; 8,096,353;

6,537,515; 7,581,645; 6,420,293; 8,084,505; and/or in U.S. Patent Applications Serial Nos. 12/243, 165; 1 1/973,465: 12/430,265; 11/577,750; 12/282,408; and/or 12/847,594.

[0036] The present invention, in certain aspects, provides a thing, e.g., but not limited to, an item, an apparatus, or a tubular (e.g. but not limited to a pipe, tubing, casing, riser, drill collar, drill pipe) with a NanoTag therein, thereon, and/or affixed exteriorly or interiorly thereto .

[0037] The present invention, in certain aspects, provides a wrapped in heat and/or impact resistant material, optionally held in place by heat resistant glue or adhesive, e.g. epoxy material which may optionally encase the NanoTag.

Optionally the material is covered with a layer or layers of impact resistant material and wrapped with multiple layers of wrapping material such as epoxy bonded wrap material.

[0038 In certain aspects the present invention discloses an apparatus which includes a tag reader used near or adjacent a thing with one or more NanoTags; e.g., but not limited to, a rig with a rig floor having thereon or embedded therein or positioned therebelow a tag reader system which reads NanoTags in pipe or other apparatus placed on the rig floor above the tag reader system.

[0039] Any and all reader systems, manually-operated reader systems, and other fixed reader systems useful in methods and systems according to the present invention may be, in certain aspects, in communication with one or more control systems, e.g. computers, computerized systems, consoles, and/or control system located on or near an apparatus, system, or machine, e.g. but not limited to a rig, on site, and/or remotely from the apparatus, system, machine, rig, etc. either via lines and/or cables or wirelessly. Such system can provide identification, inventory, and quality control functions and, in one aspect, are useful to insure that desired tubulars, and only desired tubulars, go downhole and/or that desired apparatus, and only desired apparatus, is used on a rig.

[0040] Such systems can also be used with certain NanoTags to record thereon or therein historical information related to current use of a thing, an item, apparatus or of a tubular member; e.g., but not limited to, that this particular thing, item, apparatus, or tubular member is being used at this time in this particular location or string, and/or with particular operating parameters, e.g.,torque applied thereto by this particular apparatus. DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0041] NanoTags in the drawing figures are not to scale. It is to be understood that any NanoTag shown in any drawing as on a thing may be, within the scope of the present invention, within the things and/or covered with protective material.

[0042] FIG. 1 A is a schematic view of a thing according to the present invention.

[0043] FIG. I B is a side crosssection view of an end of a pipe according to the present invention.

[0044] FIG. 2 is a side view of a torus according to the present invention.

[0045] FIG. 3A is a side view, partially in cross-section, of a tubular according to the present invention.

[0046] FIG. 3B is an enlarged view of a box end of the tubular of FIG. 3A.

[0047] FIG. 3C is an enlarged view of a pin end of the tubular of FIG. 3 A.

[0048] FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a system according to the present invention.

[0049] FIG. 5 is a schematic side view of a drilling rig system according to the present invention. FIG. 12B is an enlarged view of part of the system of FIG. 12A.

[0050] FIG. 6A is a side view of a top drive according to the present invention. [0051] FIG. 6B is an enlarged view of part of the top drive of FIG. 6A.

[0052] FIG. 7 is a schematic view of a system according to the present invention.

[0053] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a blowout preventer according to the present invention.

[0054] FIG. 9 is a side view of a tubular according to the present invention.

[0055] FIG. 10 .is an enlargement of part of FIG. 9.

[0056] FIG. 1 1 is a side view of a shaker according to the present invention.

[0057] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a screen assembly according to the present invention. [0058] FIG. 13A is an end view of a screen assembly according to the present invention.

[0059] FIG. 13B is a side view of the screen assembly of FIG. 13A.

[0060] FIG. 13C is a perspective view of part of the screen assembly of FIG. 13A.

[0061 ] FIG. 14A is a perspective view of an apparatus according to the present invention.

[0062] FIG. 14B is a perspective view of an apparatus according to the present invention.

[0063] FIG. 14C is a perspective view of an apparatus according to the present invention.

[0064] FIG. 15 is a schematic view of a system according to the present invention.

[0065} FIG. 16A is a schematic view of a system according to the present invention.

[0066] FIG. 16B is a schematic view of a system according to the present invention.

[0067] FIG. 17A is a schematic view of a system according to the present invention.

[0068] FIG. 17B is a schematic view of a system according to the present invention.

[0069] FIG. 17C is a schematic view of a system according to the present invention.

[0070] FIG. 18A is a side view, partially cutaway, of a system according to the present invention.

[0071] FIG. 18B is a crosssection view of a system according to the present invention.

[0072] FIG. 19 is a schematic view of a system according to the present invention.

[0073] FIG. 20A is a schematic view of a device according to the present invention.

[0074] FIG. 20B is a schematic view of a device according to the present invention.

[0075] FIG. 21 is a schematic view of a system according to the present invention. [0076] FIG. 22A is a top schematic views of a thing according to the present invention.

[0076] FIG. 22B is a side view of the thing of Fig. 21 A.

[0077] FIG. 23 is a schematic view of a thing according to the present invention.

[0078] FIG. 24 is a schematic view of a thing according to the present invention.

[0079] FIG. 25 is a schematic view of a thing according to the present invention.

[0080] FIG. 26A is a schematic view of a thing according to the present invention.

[0081] FIG. 26B is a schematic view of a thing according to the present invention.

[0082] FIG. 27 is a schematic view of a system according to the present invention.

[0083] FIG. 28 is a schematic view of a system according to the present invention.

[0084] FIG. 29 is a schematic views of a system according to the present invention.

[0085] FIG. 30 is a schematic view of a system according to the present invention.

[0086] FIG. 31 is a schematic view of a system according to the present invention.

[0087] FIG. 32 is a schematic views of a system according to the present invention.

[0088] FIG. 33 is a schematic view of barcodes according to the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS

[0089] Fig. 1 A shows a Thing T according to the present invention with at least one NanoTag A therein; at least one NanoTag B thereon: and/or at least one NanoTag C thereon covered with a protector D. The protector D may be any layer, layers, coating, or protection disclosed herein for enacasing, covering or protecting a NanoTag or any suitable known layer, etc.. It is within the scope of this invention for the at least one NanoTag A, or B and/or C to be two NanoTags, three NanoTags, or a plurality of NanoTags more than three. Optionally, at least one reader apparatus RA (like any disclosed or refered to herein) (or a plurality of them) is used with the Thing T.

[0090] The Thing T may be, for example, and not by way of limitation: item, apparatus, equipment, tubular casing, drill collar (magnetic or nonmagnetic), pipe, drill pipe, riser, tubing, thread protector, centralizer, stabilizer, control line protector, mill, plug, cementing plug, riser, fluid, slurry, whipstock, tubular handler, tubular manipulator, tubular rotator, top drive, tong, spinner, motor, downhole motor, elevator, spiders, powered mouse hole, and pipe handler, sucker rod, and drill bit, shale shaker, blowout preventer, shaker screen, tubular handler, and tubular manipulator.

[0091] FIG. IB shows a pin end 10 of a drill pipe according to the present invention which has a sealing shoulder 12 and a threaded end portion 14. A typical flow channel 18 extends through the drill pipe from one end to the other. A recess 20 in the top 16 (as viewed in FIG. I B) of the pin end 10 extends around the entire circumference of the top 16. This recess 20 is shown with a generally rectangular shape, but it is within the scope of this invention to provide a recess with any desired cross-sectional shape.

[0092] In one aspect an entire drill pipe piece with a pin end 10 is like the tubular shown in FIG. 3 A or the drill pipe of FIG. 15. The recess 20 (as is true for any recess of any embodiment disclosed herein) may be at any depth from the end of the pin end and may, according to the present invention, be located so that no thread is adjacent the recess.

[0093] In one aspect, the recess 20 is about 5 mm wide and 5 mm deep; but it is within the scope of certain embodiments of the present invention to have such a recess that is of any suitable dimensions and, in one aspect, is between 1 mm and 10 mm wide and between 2 mm and 20 mm deep.

[0094] An optional cap ring 22 is installed over the recess 20 which seals the space within the recess 20. This cap ring 22 (as may be any cap ring of any embodiment herein) may be made of any suitable material, including, but not limited to: metal, aluminum, zinc, brass, bronze, steel, stainless steel, iron, silver, gold, platinum, titanium, aluminum alloys, zinc alloys, or carbon steel; composite; plastic, fiberglass, fiber material such as ARAMID (Trademark) fiber material; KEVLAR (Trademark) or other similar material; ceramic; or cermet. The cap ring 22 may be sealingly installed using glue, adhesive, and/or welding (e.g., but not limited to Tig, Mig, and resistance welding and laser welding processes).

[0095] Disposed within the recess 20 beneath the cap ring 22, as shown in FIG. 1 B, is a NanoTag 28. The NanoTag 28 may be a nano device which is a read-only device or a read-write device. It is within the scope of this invention to provide one, two, three or more such devices in a recess 20 (or in any recess of any embodiment herein).

[0096] FIG. 2H shows a torus according to the present invention insertable into any recess disclosed herein which has a body, a central opening, and a series of voids . With such a torus made of metal, the voids can be sensed by any sensing apparatus or method disclosed herein and provide a unique sensible signature for the torus and for any item employing such a torus. Any torus described herein may have such a series of voids and any such series of voids may, according to the present invention, contain any desired number (one or more) of voids of any desired dimensions. In one particular aspect, a series of voids provides a barcode which is readable by suitable known barcode reading devices and/or one or more NanoTags that are identifiable and/or readable.

[0097] A torus can be used with or without a cap ring. As desired, as is true of any torus according to the present invention, one, two, or more NanoTags may be used within or on the torus body. Voids may be made by machining, by drilling, by etching, by laser etching, by hardfacing or using a photovoltaic process.

[0098] FIG. 2 shows a torus 47 according to the present invention useful in any recess of any embodiment herein which has one or more NanoTags 47a (therein and/or thereon) and an optional series of sensible ridges 48a-48f which can be made by adding material to a torus body 49 (such a torus may have visually readable indicia, e.g. alpha ((letter)) and/or numeric characters). Any torus, ring, or cap ring herein may have one or more such ridges and the ridges can have different cross-sections (e.g. as in FIG. 2H) or similar cross-sections and they can be any suitable material, including, but not limited to metal, plastic, epoxy, carbides, and hardfacing. Also, according to the present invention, a cap ring with one or more NanoTags and/or any other sensible material and/or indicia disclosed herein may be placed around and secured to a tubular's pin end or box end without using a recess. What is rerpresented by the torus 47 may, according to the present invention, be any thing with any shape or size. The torus 47 is generally circular as seen from above and may have a channel or opening 47b.

[0099] It is within the scope of the present invention to provide a tubular having a box end and a pin end (each threaded or not) (e.g. casing, riser, pipe, drill pipe, drill collar, tubing), each end with a NanoTag or nanoTags in a recess therein (as any recess described herein) with or without a cap ring (as any described herein). FIGS. 3A-3C show a generally cylindrical hollow tubular member 480 according to the present invention with a flow channel 480a therethrough from top to bottom and which has a threaded pin end 481 and a threaded box end 482. The threaded box end 482 has a circumferential recess 483 with a NanoTag 484 therein. The NanoTag may be any NanoTag according to the present invention. In one particular aspect the NanoTag has an IC 485 and an antenna 486 which encircles the box end.

Optionally, filler material 487 in the recess 483 encases and protects the IC 485 and the antenna 486; and an optional circular cap ring 488 closes off the recess. The NanoTag and its parts and the cap ring may be as any disclosed or referred to herein. Optionally, the tubular member 480 may have a shoulder recess 483a with a NanoTag 484a with an IC 485a and an antenna 486a. Filler material 487a (optional) encases the NanoTag 484a and, optionally, a cap ring 488a closes off the recess.

[0100] The pin end 481 has a circumferential recess 491 in which is disposed a NanoTag 492, optionally with an IC 493 and an antenna 494 around the pin end. As with the box end, filler material and/or a cap ring may be used with the recess 491. Antenna size is related to how easy it is to energize an IC and, therefore, the larger the antenna, the easier [less power needed and/or able to energize at a greater distance] to energize: and, due to the relatively large circumference of some tubulars, energizing end antennas is facilitated.

[0101] The present invention provides improvements according to the prior art systems and apparatuses in U.S. Pat. No. 6,480,81 1 B2 issued Nov. 12, 2002 (incorporated fully herein for all purposes) which include one or more NanoTags in or on the things of this patent. According to the present invention any item (e.g. a screen) or any oilfield equipment disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,604,063 B2 may have one, two (or more) NanoTags (e.g., on the thing or item; or one in an end, and/or one in a side).

[0102] An equipment identifying apparatus according to the present invention (which may be for any thing and, in one aspect, is an oilfield dequipment apparatus) may be used with any thing or item, including, but not limited to, pipe, or equipment as in FIG. 4 with one, two (or more) NanoTags on respective pieces of oilfield equipment. The NanoTags may be any disclosed or referred to herein . The NanoTags may be in recesses; and/or one or more NanoTags may be affixed exteriorly to a piece of oilfield equipment. Each of the NanoTags may be, in one aspect, capable of displaying, embodying, and/or transmitting a unique identification code for each piece of pipe or oilfield equipment. The piece of equipment may, inter alia, be a screen or shaker.

[0103] FIG. 4 shows a system 250 according to the present invention for rotating pieces of drill pipe 1 14 which have at least one NanoTag 1 12 and/or one NanoTag in a pin end (or box end, or both) recess according to the present invention to connect a pin connection 252 of the piece 1 14 to a box connection 254 of an adjacently disposed piece 1 14 in a well known manner. Each piece 1 14 may have a NanoTag in its pin end and/or box end. The system 250 includes a reader system 250a (shown schematically) for reading the NanoTag in the pin end recess prior to makeup of a joint. The apparatus 250 can be, for example, but not by way of limitation, an Iron Roughneck, an ST-80 Iron Roughneck, or an AR 5000 Automated Iron Roughneck from Varco International and/or apparatus as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,603,464; 4,348,920; and 4,765,401. The reader system 250a may be located at any appropriate location on or in the apparatus 250.

[0104] The apparatus 250 is supported on wheels 256 which engage tracks (not shown) positioned on the rig floor 151 for moving the apparatus 250 towards and away from the well bore. Formed on an upper end of the apparatus 250 is a pipe spinner assembly 258 (or tong or rotating device) for selectively engaging and turning the piece 1 14 to connect the pin connection 252 to the box connection 254. Optionally the assembly 258 has a NankoTag reader 258a. An optional funnel-shaped mudguard 260 can be disposed below the pipe spinner assembly 258. The mudguard 260 defines a mudguard bore 262, which is sized and adapted so as to receive the piece 1 14 of oilfield equipment therethrough.

[0105] The apparatus 250 also may include a tong or a torque assembly or torque wrench 263 disposed below the pipe spinner assembly 258. An opening 264 is formed through the mudguard 260 and communicates with a mudguard bore 262. Optionally an oilfield equipment identifying apparatus 1 10 includes a fixed mount reader 266 for automating the reading of the NanoTags, rather than the hand-held wand 156. In one embodiment a flange 268 is located substantially adjacent to the opening 264 so as to position the fixed mount reader 266 through the opening 264 whereby the fixed mount reader 266 is located adjacent to the piece 114 of oilfield equipment when the piece 114 of oilfield equipment is moved and is being spun by the pipe spinner assembly 258.

[0106] The reader(s) of the apparatus 250 are interconnected with an in communication with suitable control apparatus, e.g. as any disclosed herein. In certain aspects, the fixed mount reader 266 can be located on the apparatus 250 below the pipe spinner assembly 258 and above the torque assembly or torque wrench 263, or within or on the spinner assembly 258; or within or on the torque wrench 263.

[0107] The prior art discloses a variety of tubular members including, but not limited to casing, pipe, risers, drill pipe, drill collars, and tubing, around which are emplaced a variety of encompassing items, e.g., but not limited to centralizers, stabilizers, and buoyant members. According to the present invention these items are provided with one or more

NanoTags, which in certain particular may be used with antenna(s) within and encircling the item and /or with a body or relatively massive part thereof protecting the NanoTag.

[0108] The present inventiondiscloses a buoyant drill pipe which is similar to such pipes as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,443,244 (incorporated fully herein for all purposes), but which, has improvements according to the present invention. The drill pipe has a pin end and a box end 2at ends of a hollow tubular body having a flow channel therethrough. A buoyant element is on or encompasses the tubular body . Within the buoyant element is at least one NanoTag .

[0109] It is within the scope of the present invention to provide a stabilizer as is used in oil and gas wellbore operations with one or more NanoTags

[01 10] It is within the scope of the present invention to provide a centralizer with one or more NanoTags as disclosed herein. A centralizer according to the present invention may be like the centralizers disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,095,981 (incorporated fully herein), but with improvements according to the present invention. Such a centralizer may be placed on a tubular with a hollow body and the centralizer may have a plurality of spaced-apart ribs projecting outwardly from the body . A plurality of screws may releasably secure the body around the tubular. A NanoTage is located within the body. Optionally the NanoTag is used with an IC and an antenna and a plug (or filler material) seals off a recess in which the IC is located. Optionally, or in addition to the NanoTag one or more NanoTags are affixed exteriorly of the centralizer , optionally under a layer or multiple layers of wrap material . [01 1 1] Another centralizer according to the present invention is like centralizers (or stabilizers) disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,984,633 (incorporated fully herein for all purposes), but which has improvements according to the present invention. Such a new centralizer has a hollow tubular body with a plurality of spaced-apart ribs projecting outwardly therefrom. A NanoTag - optionally with an IC and an antenna - is disposed within the body with the IC within one of the ribs and the antenna within and encircling part of the body . Optionally, or in addition to the NanoTag , one or more nanoTags is affixed exteriorly to and on the centralizer under a layer or layers of wrap material.

[01 12] Often thread protectors are used at the threaded ends of tubular members to prevent damage to the threads. It is within the scope of the present invention to provide a thread protector, either a threaded thread protector or a non-threaded thread protector, with one or more NanoTags as disclosed herein. The present invention provides thread protectors like those disclosed in U.S. Patent 6,367,508 (incorporated fully herein), but with improvements according to the present invention. Such a new thread protector, according to the present invention protects threads of a pin end of a tubular which has aNanoTag within a body. Optionally an RFIDT is used which has optionally, and in one particular aspect, an IC and an antenna . Another thread protector according to the present invention protects threads of a box end of a tubular ands has a body and a NanoTag - optionally used with an IC and an antenna within the body. Such bodies are generally cylindrical and the antenna encircles a part of the body. Optionally such a thread protector has a NanoTag a within a recess of the body . Optionally, any thread protector herein may be provided with a recess according to the present invention as described herein with a NanoTag and/or torus and/or cap ring according to the present invention (as may any item according to the present invention). Optionally, or in addition to an interior NanoTag, one or more nanoTags is affixed exteriorly to a thread protector under a layer or layers of wrap material .

[01 13] A thread protector according to the present invention is like thread protectors disclosed in U.S. Patent 6,367,508 Bl (incorporated fully herein), but with improvements according to the present invention. Such a new thread protector for protecting an end of a tubular has a body with upper opposed spaced-apart sidewalls and a NanoTag 304 - optionally used with an IC and an antenna - disposed between portions of the two sidewalls. Optionally, an amount of filler material (or a cap ring as described above) is placed over theNanoTag. Optionally, or as an alternative, a NanoTag is provided within the body and optionally is used with an IC and an antenna.

[01 14] A thread protector according to the present invention is like the thread protectors disclosed in U.S. Patent 5,148,835 (incorporated fully herein), but with improvements according to the present invention. Such a new thread protector has a body with two ends and a strap apparatus with a selectively lockable closure mechanism that permits the thread protector to be installed on threads of a tubular member. A NanoTag - optionally used with an IC and an antenna - is disposed within the body. The antenna may be connected or secured to, or part of, the strap apparatus and activation of the lockable closure mechanism may complete a circuit through the antenna. In one aspect the antenna has ends connected to metallic parts and the antenna is operational when these parts are in contact. The bodies of any thread protector according to the present invention may be made of any material referred to herein, including, but not limited to, any metal or plastic referred to herein or in the patents incorporated by reference herein. [01 15] FIG. 5 shows a system 400 according to the present invention which has a rig 410 that includes a vertical de ick or mast 412 having a crown block 414 at its upper end and a horizontal rig floor 416 at its lower end. Drill line 41 8 is fixed to deadline anchor 420, which is commonly provided with hook load sensor 421 , and extends upwardly to crown block 414 having a plurality of sheaves (not shown). From block 414, drill line 418 extends downwardly to traveling block 422 that similarly includes a plurality of sheaves (not shown). Drill line 418 extends back and forth between the sheaves of crown block 414 and the sheaves of traveling block 422, then extends downwardly from crown block 414 to drawworks 424 having rotating drum 426 upon which drill line 418 is wrapped in layers. The rotation of drum 426 causes drill line 418 to be taken in or out, which raises or lowers traveling block 422 as required. Drawworks 424 may be provided with a sensor 427 which monitors the rotation of drum 426. Alternatively, sensor 427 may be located in crown block 414 to monitor the rotation of one or more of the sheaves therein. Hook 428 and any elevator 430 is attached to traveling block 422. Hook 428 is used to attach kelly 432 to traveling block 422 during drilling operations, and elevators 430 are used to attach drill string 434 to traveling block 422 during tripping operations. Shown schematically the elevator 430 has a reader 431 (which may be any reader disclosed or referred to herein and which is interconnected with and in communication with suitable control apparatus, e.g. as any disclosed herein, as is the case for reader 439 and a reader 444). Drill string 434 is made up of a plurality of individual drill pipe pieces, a grouping of which are typically stored within mast 412 as joints 435 (singles, doubles, or triples) in a pipe rack. Drill string 434 extends down into wellbore 436 and terminates at its lower end with bottom hole assembly (BHA) 437 that typically includes a drill bit, several heavy drilling collars, and instrumentation devices commonly referred to as measurement-while-drilling (MWD) or logging- while-drilling (LWD) tools. A mouse hole 438, which may have a spring at the bottom thereof, extends through and below rig floor 416 and serves the purpose of storing next pipe 440 to be attached to the drill string 434. With drill pipe according to the present invention having a NanoTag 448 in a pin end 442, a reader apparatus 439 at the bottom of the mouse hole 438 can read the NanoTag and/or energize an antenna used with the NanoTag (as is true of any reader- NanoTag combination herein according to the present invention) and identify the drill pipe 440. Optionally, if the drill pipe 440 has a NanoTag in a box end 443, a reader apparatus can read the NanoTag, and/or in one aspect, energize an antenna used with the NanoTag 446 and identify the drill pipe 440. Optionally, the drill bit 437 has at least one NanoTag 437a (any disclosed herein) (shown schematically). Optionally, or in addition to the NanoTag 448, the drill pipe 440 has one or more NanoTags 448a affixed exteriorly to the drill pipe 440 (see, e.g., FIGS. 9, 10) under wrap layers 448b.

[01 16] During a drilling operation, power rotating means (not shown) rotates a rotary table (not shown) having rotary bushing 442 releasably attached thereto located on rig floor 416. Kelly 432, which passes through rotary bushing 442 and is free to move vertically therein, is rotated by the rotary table and rotates drill string 434 and BHA 437 attached thereto.

During the drilling operation, after kelly 432 has reached its lowest point commonly referred to as the "kelly down" position, the new drill pipe 440 in the mouse hole 438 is added to the drill string 434 by reeling in drill line 418 onto rotating drum 426 until traveling block 422 raises kelly 432 and the top portion of drill string 434 above rig floor 41 6.

Slips 445, which may be manual or hydraulic, are placed around the top portion of drill string 434 and into the rotary table such that a slight lowering of traveling block 422 causes slips 445 to be firmly wedged between drill string 434 and the rotary table. At this time, drill string 434 is "in-slips" since its weight is supported thereby as opposed to when the weight is supported by traveling block 422, or "out-of-slips". Once drill string 434 is in-slips, kelly 432 is disconnected from string 434 and moved over to and secured to new pipe 440 in mouse hole 438. New pipe 440 is then hoisted out of mouse hole 438 by raising travelling block 422, and attached to drill string 434. Traveling block 422 is then slightly raised which allows slips 445 to be removed from the rotary table. Traveling block 422 is then lowered and drilling resumed.

"Tripping-out" is the process where some or all of drill string 434 is removed from wellbore 436. In a trip-out, kelly 432 is disconnected from drill string 434, set aside, and detached from hook 428. Elevators 430 are then lowered and used to grasp the uppermost pipe of drill string 434 extending above rig floor 416. Drawworks 424 reel in drill line 418 which hoists drill string 434 until the section of drill string 434 (usually a "triple") to be removed is suspended above rig floor 416. String 434 is then placed in-slips, and the section removed and stored in the pipe rack. "Tripping-in" is the process where some or all of drill string 434 is replaced in wellbore 436 and is basically the opposite of tripping out. In some drilling rigs, rotating the drill string is accomplished by a device commonly referred to as a "top drive" (not shown). This device is fixed to hook 428 and replaces kelly 432, rotary bushing 442, and the rotary table. Pipe added to drill string 434 is connected to the bottom of the top drive. As with rotary table drives, additional pipe may either come from mouse hole 438 in singles, or from the pipe racks as singles, doubles, or triples. Optionally, drilling is accomplished with a downhole motor system 434a which has at least one NanoTag 434b (shown schematically in FIG. 5).

[01 17] The reader apparatus 439 is in communication with a control apparatus 449 (e.g. any computerized or PLC system used with a top drive and/or any referred to or disclosed herein or in any reference cited herein) which selectively controls the reader apparatus 439, receives signals from it and, in certain aspects, processes those signals and transmits them to other computing and/or control apparatus. Similarly when the optional reader apparatus 444 is used, it also is in communication with the control apparatus 449 and is controlled thereby. With a reader at the pin end and a reader at the box end, the length of the piece of drill pipe be determined and/or its passage beyond a certain point. In one aspect the reader apparatus 439 is deleted and the reader apparatus 444 reads the NanoTag (or NanoTags) in and/or on the drill pipe 440 as the drill pipe 440 passes by the reader apparatus 444 as the drill pipe 440 is either lowered into the mouse hole 438 or raised out of it. The reader apparatus 444 may be located on or underneath the rig floor 416. It is within the scope of the present invention to use a reader apparatus 439 and/or a reader apparatus 444 in association with any system's mouse hole or rat hole (e.g., but not limited to, systems as disclosed in U.S. Patents 5, 107,705; 4,610,3 15; and in the prior art cited therein), and with so-called "mouse hole sleeves" and mouse hole scabbards" as disclosed in, e.g. U.S. Patent 5,351 ,767; 4,834,604; and in the prior art references cited in these two patents. With respect to the drilling operation depicted in FIG. 5 (and, any drilling operation referred to herein according to the present invention) the drilling may be "casing drilling" and the drill pipe can be casing.

[01 1 8] In one system according to the present invention which has a mouse hole associated with a rig , the mouse hole includes a mouse hole scabbard (e.g. like the one in U.S. Patent 4,834,604, but with improvements according to the present invention). The mouse hole scabbard includes a reader apparatus (like any such apparatus described or referred to herein) with connection apparatus via which a line or cable connects the reader apparatus to control apparatus. It is within the scope of the present invention to provide, optionally, reader apparatuses (e.g., other than adjacent the pipe or adjacent a mouse hole, or tubular preparation hole) on the rig. Optionally, one or more antenna energizers are provided on a rig and reader apparatuses are located elsewhere. According to the present invention a scabbard can be made of nonmagnetic metal, plastic, polytetrafluoroethylene, fiberglass or composite to facilitate energizing of an antenna used with a NanoTag located within the scabbard. Optionally a scabbard may be tapered to prevent a pipe end from contacting or damaging the reader apparatus .[01 19] Various prior art systems employ apparatuses known as "powered mouse holes" or "rotating mouse hole tools". It is within the scope of the present invention to improve such systems with a reader apparatus for identifying a tubular within the powered mouse hole. In one system according to the present invention which includes a rig system and a powered mouse hole, the powered mouse hole is like the powered mouse hole disclosed in U.S. Patent 5,351,767 (incorporated fully herein for all purposes) with the addition of a reader apparatus for reading and/or for communicating with a NanoTag or NanoTags. The powered mouse hole has a receptacle for receiving an end of a tubular member. A reader apparatus is located at the bottom of the receptacle (which may be like any reader apparatus disclosed or referred to herein). A line or cable connects the reader apparatus to control apparatus.

Optionally optionally a reader apparatus is in communication with control apparatus and is located adjacent the top of the receptacle .

[0120] The present invention provides a rotating mouse hole tool which is like the PHANTOM MOUSE (Trademark) tool which is commercially-available, but the tool has an upper ring on a circular receptacle which has an energizing antenna for energizing an antenna used with a NanoTag on a tubular or in an end of a tubular placed into the receptacle. The antenna encircles the top of the receptacle. The antenna is connected to reader apparatus (like any disclosed or referred to herein) which may be mounted on the tool or adjacent thereto.

[0121 ] The prior art discloses a wide variety of top drive units (see, e.g., U.S. Patents 4,421 , 179; 4,529,045; 6,257,349; 6,024,181; 5,921 ,329; 5,794,723 ; 5,755,296; 5,501,286; 5,388,651; 5,368,1 12; and 5, 107,940 and the references cited therein). The present invention discloses improved top drives which have one, two, or more readers for reading and/or for communicating with one or a plurality of NanoTags. It is within the scope of the present invention to locate a reader and/or antenna energizer at any convenient place on a top drive from which a NanoTag in or on a tubular or other item or thing can be sensed, identified, read and/or energized and/or read and/or written to (which is true and can be the case for any reader herein). Such locations are, in certain aspects, at a point past which a tubular or a part thereof with a NanoTag moves.

[0122] FIGS. 6A and 6B show a top drive system 500 according to the present invention (which may be like the top drives of U.S. Patent 6,679,333-incorporated fully herein- but with a reader 501 located within a top drive assembly portion 502. The reader 501 is located for reading (reading includes merely sensing) a NanoTag 503 on or in a tubular 504 which is being held within the top drive assembly portion 502. Alternatively, or in addition to the reader 501 , a reader 507 is located in a gripper section 505 which can sense, energize and or read the NanoTag 503 as the gripper section moves into the tubular 504. In particular aspects, the tubular is a piece of drill pipe or a piece of casing. Appropriate cables or lines 508, 509, respectively connect the readers 501 , 507 to control apparatus (not shown, as any described or referred to herein).

[0123] It is within the scope of the present invention to provide a cementing plug (or pipeline pig) with one or more NanoTags. Inone particular aspect the NanoTags are simply sensed and/or read; in another particular aspcect they are used with an antenna that encircles a generally circular part or portion of the plug or pig and with an IC embedded in a body part of the plug or pig and/or with an IC and/or antenna in a recess (as any recess described or referred to herein) and/or with one or more NanoTags affixed exteriorly of the plug or pig.

[0124] It is within the scope of the present invention to provide a whipstock with one or more NanoTags. In certain aspects, but not all, it is used with circular antenna that encircles a generally circular part of a generally cylindrical part of a whipstock. In one aspect a whipstock according to the present invention is like a whipstock disclosed in U.S. Patent 6, 105,675 (incorporated fully herein for all purposes), but with a NanoTag in a part of the whipstock . The nanoTag may, optionally, be used with an antenna and an IC (each like any as disclosed or referred to herein). Optionally, or in addition to the NanoTag , one or more NanoTags are affixed exteriorly to the whipstock under a wrap layer or wrap layers 541 b (see, e.g., FIGS. 9, 10).

[0125] A NanoTag (as any disclosed herein) may, according to the present invention, be provided in a generally cylindrical part of a mill or milling tool used in downhole milling operations. Also with respect to certain mills that have a tubular portion, one or both ends of such a mill may have one or more NanoTags therein or thereon according to the present invention.

[0126] A mill according to the present invention which is like the mill disclosed in U.S. Patent 5,620,051 (incorporated fully herein), but which has a NanoTag in a threaded pin end of a body of the mill. The NanoTag may be emplaced and/or mounted in the pin end as is any similar NanoTag disclosed herein. Optionally a nanoTag may be emplaced within a milling section. Optionally, or in addition to the NanoTag , one or more NanoTags a may be affixed exteriorly of the mill under a wrap layer or wrap layers 551b (see, e.g., FIGS. 9, 10).

[0127] The prior art discloses a variety of pipe handlers and pipe manipulators, some with gripping mechanisms for gripping pipe. It is within the scope of the present invention to provide a pipe handler with a NanoTag reader for sensing, reading, interrogating, and/or energizing a NanoTag in a tubular member which is located in one of the embodiments of the present invention as described herein. Often an end of a tubular is near, adjacent, or passing by a part of a pipe handler. A NanoTag on or in a tubular according to the present invention can be sensed by a reader apparatus and a signal can be transmitted therefrom to control apparatus regarding the tubular's identity or other information stored in the NanoTag or indicated by the NanoTag.

[0128] Pipe manipulators which are like pipe manipulators disclosed in U.S. Patent 4,077,525, incorporated fully herein, have improvements according to the present invention). The Manipulators have movable arms and a pipe grippe. Each manipulator has a NanoTag reader apparatus-apparatus. Optionally, such a reader apparatus is located on a gripper mechanism.

[0129] FIG. 7 shows a tubular inspection system 600 (which may be any known tubular inspection system, including those which move with respect to a tubular and those with respect to which a tubular moves, including, but not limited to those disclosed in U.S. Patents 6,622,561 ; 6,578,422; 5,534,775; 5,043,663; 5,030,91 1; 4,792,756; 4,710,712; 4,636,727; 4,629,985; 4,718,277; 5,914,596; 5,585,565; 5,600,069; 5,303,592; 5,291 ,272; and Int'l Patent Application WO 98/16842 published Apr. 23, 1998 and in the references cited therein) which is used to inspect a tubular 610 (e.g., but not limited to pipe, casing, tubing, collar). which has at least one NanoTag 602 . In one particular aspect, the NanoTag 602 is used with an IC 604 and an antenna 606 and/or there may be at least one NanoTag 602a affixed exteriorly thereof according to the present invention. The tubular 610 may be any tubular disclosed herein and it may have any NanoTag(s), recess, recesses, cap ring, and/or sensible material and/or indicia disclosed herein.

[0130] It is within the scope of the present invention to provide a blowout preventer according to the present invention with one or more NanoTags therein or thereron, e.g. on an exterior body part, on or in a flange, side outlet, on or in a seal, and/or door or bonnet of a blowout preventer. FIG. 8 shows a blowout preventer 670 according to the present invention which has a main body 672, a flow bore 674 therethrough from top to bottom, a bottom flange 676, a top flange 678, a side outlet 682, and four ram-enclosing bonnets 680. A NanoTag 690 is like any disclosed herein. In one aspect it is sensed or read by a reared, In one aspect it is used wth an antenna 691 encircling and within the top flange 678 with an IC 692 connected thereto. A NanoTag 692 is like any disclosed herein. Optionally inone aspect it is used with an antenna 694 encircling and within the bottom flange 676 with an IC 695.

[0131 ]A NanoTag (like any disclosed herein) is, optionally, used with an antenna 697 encircling and within a bonnet 680 with an IC 698. A NanoTag 684 (like any disclosed herein) is, optionally , used with an antenna 685 encircling and within a flange 689 of the side outlet 682, with an IC 686. Optionally, or in addition to the other NanoTagss at least one NanoTag 690a is affixed exteriorly to the blowout preventer 670 under wrap layers 690b (see, e.g., FIG. 9, 10) and/or at least one NanoTag 690c is affixed exteriorly to the blowout preventer 270 under wrap layers 690d (see, e.g., FIG. 9, 10). A NanoTag 670t is used in or on a seal ST (shown schematically) which may be any seal used in a blowout preventer..

[0132] FIGS. 9 and 10 show a tool joint 700 according to the present invention with NanoTag 720 according to the present invention applied exteriorly thereto. The tool joint 700 has a pin end 702 with a threaded pin 704, a joint body portion 706, an upset area 707 and a tube body portion 708. The joint body portion 706 has a larger OD than the tube body portion 708. The "WELDLINE" is an area in which the tool joint is welded (e.g. inertia welded) by the manufacturer to the upset area.

[0133] Although NanoTags encased in a non-conductor or otherwise enclosed or protected can be emplaced directly on a tubular (or other item or apparatus according to the present invention), as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 the NanoTags to be applied to the tool joint 700 may be first enclosed within non-conducting material, e.g. any suitable heat-resistant material, e.g., but not limited to, RYTON (Trademark) fabric membrane wrapping material, prior to emplacing them on the tool joint 700. In one particular aspect, one, two, three, or four wraps, folds, or layers of commercially available RYT-

WRAP (Trademark) material commercially from Tuboscope, Inc. a related company of the owner of the present invention is used which, in one particular aspect, includes three layers of RYT-WRAP (Trademark) fabric membrane material adhered together and encased in epoxy. As shown, three NanoTags 720 are wrapped three times in the RYT-WRAP

(Trademark) material 722 so that no part of any of them will contact the metal of the tool joint 700. In one aspect such a wrapping of RYT-WRAP (Trademark) material includes RYTON (Trademark) fabric membrane material with cured epoxy wrapped around a tubular body (initially the material is saturated in place with liquid epoxy that is allowed to cure).

Prior to emplacing the wrapped NanoTags 720 on the tool joint 700, the area to which they are to be affixed is, preferably, cleaned using suitable cleaning materials, by buffing, and/or by sandblasting as shown in FIG. 27. Any desired number of

NanoTags may be used. As shown in FIG. 29A, in this embodiment three NanoTags 720 are equally spaced apart around the exterior of the tool joint 700.

[0134] According to the present invention, NanoTags may be applied exteriorly to any thing, item, apparatus, or tubular at any exterior location thereon with any or all of the layers and/or wraps disclosed herein. In the particular tool joint 700 as disclosed in FIG. 9, the NanoTags 720 are applied about two to three inches from a thirty-five degree taper 709 of the joint body portion 706 .Optionally, as shown in FIG. 10, either in the initial layers or wraps which enclose the NanoTags 720 or in any other layer or wrap, an identification tag 724 is included with the NanoTagss, either a single such tag or one tag for each NanoTag. In one aspect the tag(s) 724 are plastic or fiberglass. In another aspect the tag(s) 724 are metal, e.g. steel, stainless steel, aluminum, aluminum alloy, zinc, zinc alloy, bronze, or brass. In one aspect, if metal is used, the tag(s) 724 are not in contact with a NanoTag.

[0135] The present invention, therefore, in at least certain aspects, provides a method for reading, energizing, locating, and/or sensing a NanoTag or NanoTags in a member, the member being a thing and/or the member in one aspect having a body. In certain aspects, the body being of any shape; and, in one aspect, having at least a portion thereof with a generally cylindrical portion, the generally cylindrical portion having a circumference, NanoTag(s) within the body or the generally cylindrical portion of the body, and the NanoTag(s) in one aspect used with antenna apparatus encircling the circumference of the cylindrical portion of the body. Such a method can include energizing the NanoTag(s) by directing energizing energy to the antenna apparatus, the NanoTag(s) upon being energized producing a signal, positioning the member adjacent sensing apparatus, and sensing with the sensing apparatus the signal produced. Such a method may include one or some (in any possible combination) of the following: wherein the sensing apparatus is on an item from the group consisting of rig, elevator, spider, derrick, tubular handler, tubular manipulator, tubular rotator, top drive, mouse hole, powered mouse hole, or floor; wherein the sensing apparatus is in communication with and is controlled by computer apparatus (e.g. including but not limited to, computer system(s), programmable logic control ler(s) and/or microprocessor system(s)), the method further including controlling the sensing apparatus with the computer apparatus; wherein the energizing is effected by energizing apparatus in communication with and controlled by computer apparatus, the method further including controlling the energizing apparatus with the computer apparatus; wherein the signal is an identification signal identifying the member and the sensing apparatus produces and conveys a corresponding signal to computer apparatus, the computer apparatus including a programmable portion programmed to receive and analyze the corresponding signal, and the computer apparatus for producing an analysis signal indicative of accepting or rejecting the member based on said analysis, the method further including the NanoTag(s) producing an identification signal received by the sensing apparatus, the sensing apparatus producing a corresponding signal indicative of identification of the member and conveying the corresponding signal to the computer apparatus, and the computer apparatus analyzing the corresponding signal and producing the analysis signal; wherein the computer apparatus conveys the analysis signal to handling apparatus for handling the member, the handling apparatus operable to accept or reject the member based on the analysis signal; wherein the member is a tubular member for use in well operations and the handling apparatus is a tubular member handling apparatus; wherein the tubular member handling apparatus is from the group consisting of tubular manipulator, tubular rotator, top drive, tong, spinner, downhole motor, elevator, spider, powered mouse hole, and pipe handler; wherein the handling apparatus has handling sensing apparatus thereon for sensing a signal from the NanoTag(s), and wherein the handling apparatus includes communication apparatus in communication with computer apparatus, the method further including sending a handling signal from the communication apparatus to the computer apparatus corresponding to the signal produced by NanoTag(s); wherein the computer apparatus controls the handling apparatus; wherein the member is a tubular member and wherein the sensing apparatus is connected to and in communication with a tubular inspection system, the method further including conveying a secondary signal from the sensing apparatus to the tubular inspection system, the secondary signal corresponding to the signal produced by the NanoTag(s); and/or wherein the signal produced by the NanoTag(s) identifies the tubular member.

[0136] FIG. 1 1 shows a shaker 750 according to the present invention. Material to be treated (e.g. drilling fluid with solids) by the shaker 750 is introduced from a tank 751. Material and fluid flows onto screening apparatuses 752-755 which are mounted in a shaker basket 756. Any of the screening apparatuses 753-755 may be horizontal (see the screening apparatus 753) or inclined uphill (see the screening apparatuses 752, 754, 755). Vibratory apparatus 757 vibrates the basket 756 and the screen apparatus 752-755. A flowback pan 754a under the screening apparatus 754 receives fluid flowing through the screening apparatus 754 which flows down to a container 758 and a flowback pan 755a directs material to the screening apparatus 755. A NanoTag or NanoTag(s) 750t may be applied to any part of the shaker 750. Material and/or fluid flowing through the screening apparatuses 753-755 flows down into a sump, tank or container 758. The basket 756 is mounted on a frame with springs (not shown). Material not flowing through the screening apparatuses, e.g. separated out solids, flows off the end of the screening apparatus 754 down onto the screening apparatus 755.

Material separated out by the screening apparatus 755 flows on top thereof and off the end thereof. The screen apparatuses 753-755 may be any known screens or screen assemblies used with vibratory separators or shale shakers.

[0137] Each screen apparatus 753-755 may have a NanoTag 750t and/or a NanoTag 753i-755i, respectively, therein or thereon and/or the shaker 750 has NanoTags 750i therein and/or thereon. As is the case with several screens on various shale shakers, the screens 752, 754, and 755 may be flat, inclined up so that materials thereon must climb "uphill" to exit off the end of the screen, or inclined down. Optionally the shaker 750 is provided with a reader apparatus 759 (e.g. as any disclosed herein or in the prior art) to read and monitor the NanoTag(s) on the shaker and/or on screens mounted on the shaker 750 and/or on other parts of the shaker 750.

[0138] Optionally, the reader apparatus communicates with a control system 759a (on site or remote). The control system 759a can monitor all the NankoTags. With respect to a particular screen assembly, the control system 759a receives signals, including identification signals, from the screen assembly and it (or any interconnected computer system 759c, on site or remote) determines whether that particular screen assembly is suitable for use on the shaker 750. If via sensors 750s the control system determines that the particular screen assembly is not suitable for the material being processed and/or flow rates, the control system and/or computer system can send a signal and/or an alarm and/or can automatically shut the shaker down. Signals from or associated swith the NanoTags can indicate, e.g., motor manufacturing date, last service date, motor refurbishment date, etc. Signals from or associatetd with the NanoTags can indicate nominal rated motor force so the control system can ensure correct motor force (operation at correct frequency and operation with correct weights))

[0139] It is within the scope of the present invention to use NanoTag(s) with (in or on) a shaker screen and/or with (in or on) a screen used with a shaker. FIG. 12 shows a screen assembly 790 according to the present invention which has a frame 7 1 with crossmembers 793a and cross rods 793b with multiple screen mesh layers 792, 794, 796. Epoxy material connects the mesh layers to the frame 791. NanoTags 790t and/or 795 may be used on an exterior portion of the frame 791 optionally with a protective tape, covering or encasement 798 (which may be encasement, layer(s), mass of material, tape(s), and/or wraps disclosed herein). Optionally, a protective covering, etc., encircles the portion of the frame 791 adjacent the apparatus 795. Optionally, or instead of the apparatus 795, a NanoTag 797 is on an inner portion of the frame 791 and is protected by an encasement, tape, or protective covering 797 (which may be any encasement, tape(s), mass of material, layer(s) and/or wrap(s) disclosed). It is within the scope of the present invention to provide one or more apparatuses 790t, 795 and/or one or more apparatuses 797 on or in any portion of any screen or screen assembly used with a vibratory separator or shale shaker, including but not limited to, on frames, plates, supports, lips, ledges, crossmembers, rods, structural parts, and seal structures of such screens or screen assemblies.

[01 0] FIGS. 13A-13C show a screen assembly 840 according to the present invention which has a tubular frame 842 made of hollow tubulars with ends 844 and interconnected sides 845. A screening material layer or combination of layers 850 is secured to the tubular frame 842 with suitable glue and/or adhesives. A plurality of spaced-apart crossmembers 843 extend between and have ends 844 connected to the sides 845. The screen assembly 840 may, in one particular aspect, have a multi-layer combination 850 of layers of screening material adhered together with adhesive or epoxy or glued together with moisture curing hot melt glue in a glue pattern 862. The multi-layer combination 860 is secured to the tubular frame 842, e.g. with any suitable adhesive, e.g. cured epoxy. [01 1] It is within the scope of the present invention to position and/or mount a NanoTag or nanoTags on or within any part of a screen or screen assembly for a vibratory separator or shaker, including, but not limited to, within a hollow frame member or tubular, within a hole or recess, or within a side mounting structure of a screen or screen assembly and/or to use any structure disclosed herein for connecting a NanoTag to a screen or for mounting a NanoTag on a screen. The screen assembly 840 has a NanoTag 841 secured in an amount of material 846 (e.g., plastic, epoxy, fiberglass, gel, aerogel, silica aerogel, wood, metal, composite) within an end 844 of the screen assembly 840 and a NanoTag 847 in an amount of material 847a within a side 845. NanoTags 848 and 849 are adhesively secured exteriorly to parts of the frame 842 and/or have a layer or layers of encasement or tape 848a, 849a over them.

[0142] Often known identification tags or labels, e.g. made of plastic or metal, are used on screens and screen assemblies to convey information about the screen or screen assembly. It is within the scope of the present invention to include on or within such labels or tags one or more NanoTags. For example, a label or tag 851 on the frame 842 (FIG. 13CD) has information 852 about the screen 840 and on or embedded within the label or tag 851 is a NanoTag 853.

[0143] Optionally, a NanoTag is used with an antenna and is connected thereto and is located within a screen frame. Optionally, the NanoTag is any NanoTag disclosed herein which is not used with an antenna. It is within the scope of the present invention when a NanoTag being used has an antenna connected thereto or extending therefrom, to adhere the antenna to part of the screen or screen assembly and/or to locate the antenna within part of the screen or screen assembly (e.g. within a frame member, hookstrip, or side mount) and/or to locate such an antenna in a mass of material.

[0144] According to the present invention a NanoTag can be applied to, connected to, or disposed within a screen assembly using a solid mass within which is located the energizable identification apparatus. FIG. 14A shows a mass 951 of material within which is a NanoTag 959. The mass 951 is sized and configured for insertion into a recess, notch, hollow, channel or opening of a screen assembly (or other apparatus) to facilitate installation of the NanoTag 959. The mass 951 can be held in place with a friction fit and/or adhesive, glue, welding, and/or tape. The material of the mass 951 can be metal, plastic, composite, wood, ceramic, cermet, gel, aerogel, silica aerogel, fiberglass, nonmagnetic metal, or polytetrafluoroethylene. The material can be rigid and relatively unbending or it can be soft and/or flexible. An enlarged end 951a of the mass 951 is optional.

[0145] FIG. 14B shows a mass 1 1 1 (made, e.g. of any material mentioned for the mass 951) with a NanoTag 1 159 therein. The NanoTag 1 159 is any NanoTag disclosed herein or, in one aspect, has an antenna 1 158 connectecd thereto or extending therefrom and disposed within the mass 1551 . With a flexible or sufficiently non-rigid mass 1 151 (and with the mass 951) a slit or recess 1 157 of any desired length within the mass 1 151 may be provided for inserting the NanoTag 1 159 and antenna 1 158 into the mass 1 151 and/or for removable emplacement of the NanoTag 1 159.

[0146] FIG. 14C shows a mass 1 141 (e.g. like the masses 951 , 1 151 and made of the materials mentioned above) with a nanoTags 1 142 therein (or it may, according to the present invention, be thereon). The mass 1 141 has a recess 1 143 sized, located, and configured for receipt therein of a part or a portion of a screen or screen assembly so that the mass 1 141 is easily installable on the screen or screen assembly. A friction fit between the mass 1 141 and the part or portion of the screen assembly can hold the mass 1 141 in place (e.g. on a frame, plate, mount, hookstrip, or support of a screen or screen assembly) and/or connectors, fasteners and/or adhesive may be used to hold the mass 1 141 in place.

[0147] The present invention, therefore, provides in certain, but not necessarily all embodiments, a screen apparatus for use on a vibratory separator (e.g., but not limited to, a shale shaker for processing drilling fluid material), the screen apparatus including a support, screening material on the support, and a NanoTag or NanoTags on, in or contacting the support for identifying the screen apparatus.

[0148] Referring now to Fig. 15, a drilling rig 30 according to the present invention is depicted schematically as a land rig, but other rigs (e.g., offshore rigs, jack-up rigs, semisubmersibles, drill ships, and the like) are within the scope of the present invention (and this is true for the embodiments of rigs and wellbore operations described below also). In conjunction with an operator interface, e.g. an interface I, a control system CS controls certain operations of the rig. The rig 30 includes a derrick 31 that is supported on the ground above a rig floor RF. The rig 30 includes lifting gear, which includes a crown block CB mounted to the derrick 31 and a traveling block TB. The crown block and the traveling block are interconnected by a cable CL that is driven by drawworks 33 to control the upward and downward movement of the traveling block. The traveling block carries a hook H from which is suspended a top drive system 37 which includes a variable frequency drive controller VD, a motor M (or motors) and a drive shaft DS. The top drive system 37 rotates a drillstring DT to which the drive shaft is connected in a wellbore W. The drillstring is coupled to the top drive system through an instrumented sub IS which can include sensors that provide information, e.g., drillstring torque information. The drillstring may be any typical drillstring and, in one aspect, includes a plurality of interconnected sections of drill pipe DP a bottom hole assembly BHA, which includes appropriate stabilizers, drill collars, and/or an apparatus or device, in one aspect, a suite of measurement while drilling (MWD) instruments including a steering tool ST to provide bit face angle information. Optionally a bent sub BS is used with a downhole or mud motor MM and a bit BT, connected to the BHA.

[0149] Drilling fluid DF with McNano device(s) 38 (not shown to scale) is delivered to the drillstring by mud pumps MP through a mud hose MH. During rotary drilling, the drillstring is rotated within the bore hole by the top drive system. Fluid from the well, McNano device(s) 38, and cuttings produced as the bit drills into the earth are moved out of bore hole by mud pumps. The fluid from the well flows to solids control equipment SC which may include one or more shale shakers SS with one or more shale shaker screens SSS; one or more centrifuges C; and/or other fluid processing equipment X (e.g., but not limited to, degassers, desilters, desanders, and hydrocyclones).

[0150] The control system CS controls the apparatuses and equipment of the system 30 and is in communication with apparatuses S (like the apparatuses S. Any suitable known information transmitting system or apparatus used in wellbore communications may be used, including, but not limited to, wired and wireless systems (as is true for any system according to the present invention disclosed herein); and, as is also true for any system herein, such information may be conveyed to the surface site of the drilling rig and/or conveyed to a remote site for control thereform or use thereat, e.g, but not limited to, by satellite systems or the Internet.

[015 1 ] Methods according to the present invention include identifying a thing using a NanoTag, drilling a wellbore utilizing a casing string that will be cemented into the wellbore as the drill string. The casing string, each piece thereof, a drill bit, any equipment associated with the drillbit, and equipment and apparatus used in cementing, the fluid used during drilling, and/or the cement may have one McNano device or a plurality of McNano devices to provide a function thereof or multiple functions thereof to facilitate and enhance the casing drilling and/or cementing operation. When it is necessary to wait several hours to insure that the cement is adequately set up prior to removing surface equipment, such as the plug container, and then reassembling the wellhead, cement setting can be indicated by McNano device(s) measuring cement parameters) indicative of setting and information related thereto can be obtained from the device(s) with apparatuses S and transmitted to appropriate reception apparatus at the surface.

[0152] Figs. 16A and 16B illustrate methods according to the present invention for testing the integrity of casing within a wellbore ("WELLBORE"); Fig. 16A, casing which has not been cemented and Fig. 16B casing which has been cemented (like numerals indicate like things in these two drawing figures). As shown in Fig. 16A, a stream 101 is introduced into the interior of the casing ("CASING"). A float apparatus 102 is closed so that the stream 101 cannot flow from the casing into an annulus 103. The stream 101 has a McNano device or devices 108 which can be detected by apparatuses S. If an apparatus S outside the casing (either on the casing or in the wellbore) detects a McNano device 108, this means that the device exited the casing either through a hole or defect in the casing or through an opening or path through an area at which two pieces of casing are connected, e.g. at a threaded joint or at a welded joint. Thus detection of a McNano device outside the casing indicates a lack of casing integrity. The apparatuses S communicate with a system 109 to convey the information regarding the detection of the McNano device(s) outside the casing and of the failure of casing integrity. By using multiple apparatuses S the location of the failure can be pinpointed or indicated when a first apparatus S first indicates detection of a McNano device.

[0153] As shown in Fig. 16B, when the casing has been cemented in the wellbore, the casing can also be tested for integrity and the cement too can be tested. With apparatuses S on the casing, on the wellbore, and/or in the cement, the presence of McNano device(s) 108 in the cement can be detected, indicating a flaw or void in the cement. In one aspect, the float apparatus 102 is open for such a test. In other aspects, it is closed.

[[0154] Figs. 1 7 A - 17C show a method 1 10 according to the present invention for following the progress of an amount of fluid 1 14 down a casing 1 1 1 and then up into an annulus 1 13 of a wellbore W. The amount of fluid 1 14 has a

McNano device or devices 1 18 which are detected by apparatuses S within the casing 1 1 1 , apparatuses S within and outside a float apparatus 1 12, and apparatuses S within or on the wellbore W. Sequential detection of the McNano device(s) indicates that flow path is clear. Cessation of detection at any particular point can indicate a blockage at that point. Fluid flow rate can also be determined using the device(s) 1 18 and the apparatuses S. The apparatuses S are in communication with a control system (not shown) like any disclosed herein. Also, the method 1 10 can disclose the location of the fluid 1 14 at any given time; its temperature; the pressure at its location; and the pH. Optionally, the fluid 1 14 is selectively heatable by activating the device(s) 1 18.

[0155] Methods according to the present invention can be used to test the integrity and seal of threaded connections. A method 120 according to the present invention for exterior testing shown in Fig. 18A employs a flow 129 of fluid with McNano device(s) 128 which flows to the location of a threaded connection 124 of tubulars 122 (e.g., pipe, risers, tubing, casing). Optionally, a blocker 123 blocks off part of the interior of the connection. The fluid 129 flows adjacent the connection 124. If the connection is good, no fluid escapes along the threads to the exterior of the connection. If the connection is not good, fluid 129 escapes and an apparatus S (or apparatuses S may be used) detects a McNano device 128 (or devices) which has passed through the connection. Optionally, an enclosure E is around the apparatus S.

[0156] A method 125 according to the present invention for interior testing shown in Fig. 18B employs a fluid

129a with McNano device(s) 128 which flows, if there is a bad connection 127 between tubulars 121a and 122a, through the connection 127 to the interior of the connection. Optionally, blockers 126 isolate a space within the connection in which is one or more apparatuses S which can detect McNano device(s) 128 which are in the fluid 129a and which have passed through the connection 127. In both Figs. 18A and 18B the fluids can be pumped and/or vacuumed from one location to another and the fluid may be gas or liquid.

[0157] Fig. 19 shows a method 130 according to the present invention in which a thing 13 1 is tracked in a wellbore W as the thing 131 moves in a tubular T. The thing 131 has one or more McNano devices 138 which are sensed by apparatuses S. A signal from a particular apparatus S provides an indication of the location of the thing 13 1 within the tubular T. The apparatuses S in other drawing figures can be used with any control system or computer or

communication system disclosed herein or as disclosed in any patent or patent application referred to herein (and this is true for any apparatus S disclosed herein in any embodiment hereof).

[0158] In any tank or flow conduit or apparatus of the system, a McNano device or devices may be used to selectively add or introduce material to what is present in the tank, flow conduit, or apparatus; e.g., but not limited to, adding to drilling fluid or m[0160]ud; e.g., but not limited to, adding drilling lfuid additives; and e.g., but not limited to, materials to change viscosity or density. An apparatus S can activate a McNano device which carries such material to, when desired, release the material. This is true for McNano device(s) in any fluid and any flow system and any drilling mud system disclosed herein in which it is desired to selectively introduce additional material to a fluid.

[0159] It is within the scope of the present invention to employ any known power supply or power source for powering a NanoTag which is the type of NanoTag that is powered, an apparatus S or a McNano device. Known power supplies include batteries, voltaic cells, wireline transmission systems, solar power systems, microgenerators, wind power systems, geoenergy systems, and downhole motors; including, but not limited to, those disclosed in and those in references listed in U.S. Patents 7,834,777; 6,554,074; 6,745,844 and 6,672,409. [0160] As shown in Fig. 20 A, a McNano device 190 according to the present invention for use in operations (rig operations, wellbore operations) may have a body 191 made of a first material and a part (or parts) 192 made of a second material. The first material 191 has a first density different from a second density which is the density of the second material of the part(s) 192. In one apsect, either material is used to increase the buoyancy of the McNano device 190, e.g., but not limited to, to facilitate the ability of the McNano device to combine with a fluid used in operations, to facilitate the introduction of the McNano device into a flow stream or into or through an apparatus or conduit, and/or to facilitate the ability of the McNano device to flow with a fluid.

[0161 ] As shown in Fig. 20B, a McNano device 193 according to the present invention for use in operations (rig operations, wellbore operations) may have a body 194 made of a first material and a less dense material 195 within the body 194 and/or a less dense material 196 on the body 196. The material 195 and/or the material 196 may be used to adjust the density of the McNano device 193 and/or to increase the buoyancy of the McNano device 193, e..g, but not limited to, to facilitate the ability of the McNano device to combine with a fluid used in operations, to facilitate the introduction of the McNano device into a flow stream or into or through an apparatus or conduit, and/or to facilitate the ability of the McNano device to flow with a fluid.

[0162] It is within the scope of the present invention to hold a McNano device at a given location, e.g, in a conduit, in an apparatus, in a flow path, or in a device, and to then selectively release it to perform a desired function. It is within the scope of the present invention to selectively stop a moving McNano device at a desired location in a conduit, etc. As shown in Fig. 21, a McNano device 208 with magnetically attractive material 209 therein and/or thereon is held stationary within a memeber 200 by a magnet apparatus 201 (e.g., but not limited to, any magnet, electromagnet, or electromagnet device or apparatus). Removal of a magnet 201 or cessastion of power to an electromagnet 201 results in release of the McNano device 208.

[0163] It is within the scope of the present invention to use a NanoTag that is an amount or amounts of nanomaterial present on or in a thing. This presence which is ascertainable with any known method for detecting the presence of nanomaterial (which is in many instances the use of known material detection methods and/or instruments and/or apparatuses which can detect the type of material that is used for the nanomaterial) can then indicate that this is indeed the thing to be identified, inventoried, traced, used, checked, tested, replaced, shipped, transported, destroyed, etc. Figs. 22A and 22B show a thing 2000 which has amounts 2000a, 2000b, 2000c, and 2000d of nanomaterial thereon. As is the case for every depiction of nano scale things or materials herein, these amounts are grossly out of scale, but shown this way for the purpose of disclosure. The amounts 2000a, 2000b, 2000c, and 2000d are of different widths as viewed from above.

These amounts and their width differences are detectable and can then, much like a barcode, provide identification, etc. In certain aspects, the actual nanomaterial is of a type of material that lends itself to detection with a particular detector; e.g., and not limited to, metal for metal detection, fluorescent for light detection, reflective for light detection, magnetically attractive for magnetic detection, radioactive for radiation detection, etc. [0164] Amounts of nanomaterial for use as a NanoTag may be used in a certain shape or pattern. For example, as shown in Fig. 23, a thing 2010 has an amount of nanomaterial 2012 theron of a certain shape which is distinguishable.

Optionally, amounts of nanomaterial in a series of different (or of the same) shapes may be used as a NanoTag. For example, the thing 2010 has thereon amounts of nanomaterial 2014, 2016, and 2018.

[0165] Any of the amounts of nanomaterial used as a NanoTag may be within a thing. For example, a thing 2020 shown in Fig. 24 has an amount of nanomaterial 2022 therein. Amounts of nanomaterial of different shapes may be used within a thing as a NanoTag.

[0166] Fig. 25 illuutrates that a thing may have amounts of nanomaterial of different shapes and/or of different widths within the thing rather than on it. A thing 2030 has amounts of nanomaterial 2032, 2034, 2036, and 2038 therein. As with any amount of nanomaterial within a thing as a NanoTag, these amounts and their differences are detectable for identification, etc.

[0167] In one particular aspect an amount of nanomaterial used as a NanoTag is magnetically attractive material. As shown in Fig. 26A, a thing 2040 has therein an amount 2042 of magnetically attractive nanomaterial. As shown in Fig. 26B, a thing 2050 has therein an amount 2052 of magnetically attractive nanomaterial. A magnet, magnet apparatus, or magnetic material detector may be used to detect and/or identify etc. the things with amounts of magnetically attractive material.

[0168] An amount or amounts of nanomaterial according to the present invention, including, but not limited to a

NanoTag, used to identify, individuate, or to mark a thing has specific parameters, dimensions, shape, aspects, location(s), relative location, qualities, and characteristic(s) - all collectively referred to herein as "properties." Any known sensor, detector, analyzer, sensing system, inspection system, individuation system, or identification system used to sense or detect any such property can be used with an amount or amounts of nanomaterial used according to the present invention to identify, individuate, and/or to mark a thing. Such systems-shown schematically in various figures and labeled PS (for "property system") can be direct systems that actually come in contact with an amount or amounts of nanomaterial or remote systems (passive or active) that do not contact the amount or amounts of nanoamterial; and a property system PS can detect, notice, and/or sense e.g.: presence of nanomaterial; nature of the nanomaterial (e.g., metal, plastic, paper, wood, glass, fiberglass, composite) including, but not limited to, specific substances, alloys, or elements (e.g., carbon, copper, bronze, tin, stainless steel, PTFE, lead, iron, steel, glass); or texture of the material; W

relative location of amounts of nanomaterial, e.g., but not limited to, relative distance between amounts of nanomaterial, spacing between amounts of nanomaterial, and angular disposition of amounts of nanomaterial with respect to each other; sensing systems that either use light and/or laser light to sense or systems which are non-light based, e.g., but not limited to, systems that use sound, touch, feel, non-light spectrum electromagnetic energy or waves, and spectrographic or chemical sensing and/or analysis to detect the presence of an amount or amounts of nanomaterial in or on a thing, and/or the nature of the substances or elements that make up the amount or amount in or on a thing and/or location etc.

[0169] "Property system" includes, but is not limited to: spectrographic systems; X-ray systems; ultrasonic systems (e.g., but not limited to, those used to detect flaws, shapes, or thickness); laser systems; reading systems, e.g., those used in barcode scanning systems; magnetic detection systems; and guided wave systems; including, but not limited to, systems as disclosed or referred to in U.S. Patents 7,171 ,854; 6,945,113; 6,748,808; 7,080,557; 6,862,099; 6,931.748; 6,772,636; 6,622,561; and 6,745, 136-all said patents incorporated fully herein for all purposes; and "property system" includes apparatuses and devices, control systems, and a computer or computers associated and/or used with such systems, and hardware and software used with such computer(s)..

[0170] In any embodiment disclosed herein and described above, any NanoTag, NanoTag Identifier or

NanoDevice may be or may be replaced with an amount or amounts of nanomaterial in or on a thing for detection by a property system PS. The property system PS may be used in a variety of ways. For example, to simply detect the presence of nanomaterial; to detect a specific amount of nanomaterial; to detect an amount or amounts of nanomaterial that are unique to that type or class of thing; or to detect an amount or amounts of nanomaterial that indicate a unique things. The thing may be any thing, including, but not limited to an a living cell or mass of cells, an animal organ or bone or body part, a virus, a bacteria, a plant, an animal or a human being. Any property system PS according to the present invention may include appropriate associated data and/or signal reception, processing, control storage and/or transmission apparatus and/or system or systems. The nanomaterial present in any such NanoTag, etc. may be any suitable size, visible to the human eye or not, and any size as described below in paragraph 0178.

[0171 ] Fig 27 shows a thing 270 with nanomaterial 271 thereon or therein. A Property System PS detects the presence of the nanomaterial 271 thereby identifying the thing 270. Optionally, the Property Ssytem PS analyses the nanomaterial 271 and determines what material makes up the nanomaterial 271 ; e.g., but not limited to, carbon.

[0172] Fig 28 shows things 280 with nanomaterial 281 thereon or therein and other things 282, 283, 284, and

285. . A Property System PS detects the presence of the nanomaterial 281 and thereby picks out the things 280 from the other things. Optionally, the Property System PS analyses the nanomaterial 281 and determines what material makes up the nanomaterial 281. Optionally, the Property System PS determines that the material that makes up the nanomaterial 281 is not present in any of the other things 282-284.

[0173] Fig 29 shows a thing 290 with nanomaterial 291 thereon or therein and other things 292, 293, 294, 295, 296, 297, 298, and 299. . A Property System PS detects the presence of the nanomaterial 291 , analyses it, and thereby picks out the thing 290 from the other things. Optionally, the Property System PS detects the tohetr things and analyses nanomaterial NM in or on some of the other things in distinguishing the thing 290 from the other things.

[0174] The present invention provides apparatuses and methods for identifying things using sound, including, but not limited to ultrasonic systems, and including, but not limited to, things which are tubular members (e.g., pipe, tubing, coiled tubning, casing, risers, conduits) using a Property System PS. As shown in Fig. 30-11, a Property System PS detects and/or analyses nanomaterial 301 in or on a tubular 302. Optionally, the Property System PS is used in conjunction with a known tubular testing system TTS which is used to detect flaws, detect tubular shape, and/or is used to determine thickness of a tubular wall. For example, the known tubular testing system can be one as disclosed in or referred to in these U.S. Patents and in patents cited in these patents: U.S. Patents 6,578,422;

6,945, 1 13; 6,931,748; 6,862,099; 6,772,636; 6,748,808; 6,745, 136, and 6,622,561.

[0175] Fig. 31 shows a Property System PS used to detect coiled tubing CT by detecting nanomaterial 312 in on the coiled tubing CT. this Property System PS may be used with an ultrasonic testing system US (e.g, but not limited to, as disclosed in U.S. Patent7,080,557 or in patents or other references cited in this patent - all said patents and references incorporated fully herein for all purposes).

[0176] The present invention provides apparatuses and methods for identifying things using guided wave systems, including, but not limited to, things which are tubular members (e.g., pipe, tubing, coiled tubing, casing, risers, conduits) using a Property System PS. As shown in Fig. 32, a Property System PS detects and/or analyses nanomaterial 321 in or on a tubular 322. Optionally, the Property System PS is used in conjunction with a known guided wave system GWS which is used to inspect tubulars, e..g, such a system as disclosed in U.S. Patent 7, 171 ,854 or a guided wave system as referred to in the U.S. Patents and other references cited in U.S. Patent 7, 171 ,854.

[0177] The present invention provides data storage tags which, in certain particular aspects, are optical data storage tags. In certain particular aspects, the optical data storage tag is like any known barcode, bokode, or RFID tag, but the indicia, lines, symbols, or amounts of material that make up the barcode, etc. are nanomaterial and different amounts-in one aspect referred to as "NanoCode"- of nanomaterial are used to provide the characteristics and/or differences sensed by a scanning device that reads the NanoCode material. [0178] NanoCode material for a barcode, etc., can be present in an amount that is detectable by known barcode or bokode scanners. Optionally, the NanoCode material is present is an amount that is detectable, but which is not apparent to the human eye or is not visible to the unaided human eye. In certain particular aspects, the NanoCode material is present -in its largest dimension- in one of these amounts and/or in an amount whose size is in one of these ranges: a largest dimension of less than about 1000 microns; less than 500 microns; less than 250 microns; less than 100 microns; less than 50 microns; less than 20 microns; less than 10 microns; less than 5; less than 1 micron; 500 nanometers; 250 nanometers; 200 nanometers; 100 nanometers; 50 nanometers; 25 nanometers; 10 nanometers; 5 nanometers; . less than 500 nanometers; less than 250 nanometers; less than 100 nanometers; less than 50 nanometers 25; less than 10 nanometers; and less than 5 nanometers. In other aspects, the NanoCode material is present in an amount or amounts visible to the human eye, or not. In certain aspects, the Nanocode material is amounts of different kinds of nanomaterial. In certain aspects, the Nanocode material is present in any desired width and in lengths between 0.01 inch to 1.0 inch; between 0.1 inch to 0.5 inch; or about 0.5 inch in length.

[0179] Fig. 33 shows, greatly enlarged, barcodes made with nanomaterial. A barcode 330 is a typical line barcode with the lines being amounts of nanomaterial 333 on a base 331. Any known barcode base may be used, including, but not limited to, paper, fabric, cloth, metal, plastic, wood, composite, glass, and fiberglass and any known material used for a label. Fig 33 also shows a barcode 332 which is a non-linear barcode which has portions made of nanomaterial 334.

[0180] It is within the scope of the present invention for the parts of a barcode to be made of different nanomaterials, either different in substance (e.g., carbon, copper, polymer, etc.) or different in type (e.g., nanotubes, nanorods, buckypaper, nanographene ribbons, etc.).

[0181] In conclusion, therefore, it is seen that the present invention and the embodiments disclosed herein and those covered by the appended claims are well adapted to carry out the objectives and obtain the ends set forth.

Certain changes can be made in the subject matter without departing from the spirit and the scope of this invention. It is realized that changes are possible within the scope of this invention and it is further intended that each element or step recited in any of the following claims is to be understood as referring to the step literally and/or to all equivalent elements or steps. The following claims are intended to cover the invention as broadly as legally possible in whatever form it may be utilized. The inventor may rely on the Doctrine of Equivalents to determine and assess the scope of the invention and of the claims that follow as they may pertain to apparatus and/or methods not materially departing from, but outside of, the literal scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. All patents and applications identified herein are incorporated fully herein for all purposes.

Claims

1 CLAIM [0182] The present inventor claims each and every invention disclosed herein and also, without limitation, the subject matter of the following claims (whose text is incorporated herein within the text of this specification): CLAIMS:

1 . A thing with a NanoTag.

2. The thing of claim 1 wherein the NanoTag has a largest dimension or an overall outer diameter which is one of: less than about 1000 microns; less than 500 microns; less than 250 microns; less than 100 microns; less than 50 microns; less than 20 microns; less than 10 microns; less than 5; less than 1 micron; 500 nanometers; 250 nanometers; 200 nanometers; 100 nanometers; 50 nanometers; 25 nanometers; 10 nanometers; 5 nanometers; . less than 500 nanometers; less than 250 nanometers; less than 100 nanometers; less than 50 nanometers 25; less than 10 nanometers; less than 5 nanometers; and than about 150 nanometers in each of width, length and thickness.

3. The thing of claim 1 wherein the NanoTag is one of: nanotransmitter; nano device; nanomaterial; nanomaterial in a known order; sequence or pattern on or in a thing; nanomaterial of a certain known type or types in or on a thing and/or in or on a thing in a certain order, sequence and/or pattern; and McNano.

4. The thing of claim 3 wherein the McNano is one of : microdevice, nanodevice, nanorobot, micro-resonant device, nanotransmitter, and nano RFID device.

5. The thing of claim 1 wherein the NanoTag is either in the thing or on the thing.

6. The thing of claim 1 wherein the thing is one of : item, apparatus, equipment, tubular casing, drill collar, pipe, drill pipe, thread protector, centralizer, stabilizer, control line protector, mill, plug, cementing plug, and riser; whipstock, tubular handler, tubular manipulator, tubular rotator, top drive, tong, spinner, downhole motor, elevator, spiders, powered mouse hole, and pipe handler, sucker rod, and drill bit, shale shaker, blowout preventer, shaker screen.

7. The thing of claim 1 wherein the thing is usable in a wellbore operation, the wellbore

operation being one of: a tubular rotation operation and the tubular is one of casing, tubing, riser, tubular member, pipe, drill pipe, string of tubulars, drill string, quill, shaft, drive shaft and hollow shaft; drilling, casing, casing while drilling, casing drilling, reaming, underreaming, joint make-up, joint breakout, milling, managed pressure drilling, underbalanced drilling, tubular running, tubular running with continuous circulation, controlling bit face orientation during operations with a bit, conducting well operations based on mechanical specific energy considerations, and automatic drilling.

8. A thing with a McNano.

9. The thing of claim 8 wherein the McNano has a largest dimension or an overall outer diameter which is one of: less than about 1000 microns; less than 500 microns; less than 250 microns; less than 100 microns; less than 50 microns; less than 20 microns; less than 10 microns; less than 5; less than 1 micron; 500 nanometers; 250 nanometers; 200 nanometers; 100 nanometers; 50 nanometers; 25 nanometers; 10 nanometers; 5 nanometers; . less than 500 nanometers; less than 250 nanometers; less than 100 nanometers; less than 50 nanometers 25; less than 10 nanometers; less than 5 nanometers.

10. The thing of claim 8 wherein the McNano is one of : microdevice, nanodevice, nanorobot, micro-resonant device, nanotransmitter, and nano RFID device.

1 1. The thing of claim 8 wherein the McNano is either in the thing or on the thing.

12. The thing of claim 8 wherein the thing is one of : item, apparatus, equipment, tubular casing, drill collar, pipe, drill pipe, thread protector, centralizer, stabilizer, control line protector, mill, plug, cementing plug, and riser; whipstock, tubular handler, tubular manipulator, tubular rotator, top drive, tong, spinner, downhole motor, elevator, spiders, powered mouse hole, and pipe handler, sucker rod, and drill bit, shale shaker, blowout preventer, shaker screen.

13. The thing of claim 8 wherein the thing is usable in a wellbore operation, the wellbore

14. A member comprising a body, the body having an exterior surface and two spaced-apart ends, a NanoTag on the exterior surface of the body, the NanoTag wrapped in fabric material;, and, in one, but not necessarily all aspects, the fabric material comprising heat-resistant non-conducting material and the NanoTag wrapped and positioned on the body so that the NanoTag does not contact the body.

15. The member of claim 14 further comprising an amount of fabric material on the exterior surface of the body, the NanoTag located adjacent said amount.

16. The member of claim 14 wherein the fabric material comprising at least one layer of material wrapped around the wave energizable identification apparatus or is a plurality of layers.

17. The member of claim 14 wherein the NanoTag has associated therewith an antenna and an IC.

18. The member of claim 14 wherein a layer of body fabric material is on the body, the body fabric material comprising heat-resistant non-conducting material, the NanoTag located adjacent and exteriorly of the body fabric material, and the fabric material in which the NanoTag is wrapped is a folded portion of the body fabric material folded over on the NanoTag.

19. The member of claim 14 wherein the body comprises a pipe.

20. The member of claim 14 wherein the body has a generally cylindrical portion which is part of an item which is one of pipe, drill pipe, casing, drill bit, tubing, stabilizer, centralizer, drill collar, riser, cementing plug, buoyant tubular, thread protector, downhole motor, whipstock, mill, and torus.

21. A method for sensing a NanoTag associated with energizable apparatus, the NanoTag in or on a member, the member comprising a body, the body having an exterior surface, the energizable apparatus in the body or on the exterior surface of the body, the NanoTag wrapped in fabric material, the method including energizing the energizable apparatus by directing energizing energy thereto and thereby prooducing a signal, positioning the member adjacent sensing apparatus, and sensing with the sensing apparatus the signal produced.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the sensing apparatus is on an item which is one of rig, elevator, spider, derrick, tubular handler, tubular manipulator, tubular rotator, top drive, mouse hole, powered mouse hole, or floor.

23. The method of claim 21 wherein the signal is an identification signal identifying the member and the sensing apparatus produces and conveys a corresponding signal to computer apparatus, the computer apparatus controlling the sensing apparatus and including a programmable portion programmed to receive and analyze the corresponding signal, and the computer apparatus for producing an analysis signal indicative of accepting or rejecting the member based on said analysis, the method further comprising producing an identification signal indicative of the member and received by the sensing apparatus, the sensing apparatus producing a corresponding signal indicative of identification of the member and conveying the corresponding signal to the computer apparatus, the computer apparatus analyzing the corresponding signal and producing the analysis signal, wherein the computer apparatus conveys the analysis signal to handling apparatus for handling the member, the handling apparatus operable to accept or reject the member based on the analysis signal.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the member is a tubular member for use in well operations and the handling apparatus is a tubular member handling apparatus.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein the tubular member handling apparatus is one of tubular manipulator, tubular rotator, top drive, tong, spinner, down hole motor, elevator, spider, powered mouse hole, and pipe handler.

26. The method of claim 24 wherein the handling apparatus has handling sensing apparatus thereon for sensing a signal associated with or a signal from the NanoTag, and wherein the handling apparatus includes communication apparatus in communication with computer apparatus, the method further comprising sending a handling signal from the communication apparatus to the computer apparatus corresponding to the signal produced.

27. The method of claim 24 wherein the computer apparatus controls the handling apparatus; and/or wherein the member is a tubular member and wherein the sensing apparatus is connected to and in communication with a tubular inspection system, the method further comprising conveying a secondary signal from the sensing apparatus to the tubular inspection system, the secondary signal corresponding to the signal produced; and/or further including a plurality of pieces of drill pipe on a drilling rig, each piece of drill pipe comprising a body with an exterior surface and an externally threaded pin end spaced-apart from an internally threaded box end, the body having a flow channel therethrough from the pin end to the box end, and a NanoTag on the body.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein the sensing apparatus is in communication and is controlled by computer apparatus and wherein each NanoTag produces, or associated apparatus produces, an identification signal receivable by the sensing apparatus, and wherein the sensing apparatus produces a corresponding signal indicative of the identification of the particular piece of drill pipe, said corresponding signal conveyable from the sensing apparatus to the computer apparatus, the method further comprising controlling the sensing apparatus with the computer apparatus, wherein the energizing is effected by energizing apparatus in communication with and controlled by computer apparatus, the method further comprising controlling the energizing apparatus with the computer apparatus, wherein the signal is an identification signal identifying the particular piece of drill pipe and the sensing apparatus conveys a corresponding signal to computer apparatus, the computer apparatus including a programmable portion programmed to receive and analyze the

corresponding signal, the computer apparatus for producing an analysis signal indicative of accepting or rejecting the particular piece of drill pipe based on said analysis, the method further comprising the computer apparatus analyzing the corresponding signal and producing the analysis signal, and the computer apparatus conveying the analysis signal to handling apparatus for handling the member, the handling apparatus operable to accept or reject the member based on the analysis signal.

29. A screen apparatus for use on a vibratory separator, the screen apparatus for screening material introduced to the vibratory separator, the screen apparatus comprising a support mountable on a vibratory separator, the support comprising a body, the body having an exterior surface and two spaced-apart ends, a NanoTag in the body or on the exterior surface of the body.

30. The screen apparatus of claim 29 wherein the vibratory separator is a shale shaker and the fluid with solids therein is drilling fluid with solids therein.

31. An identifier comprising a selected amount or kind of nanomaterial or selected amounts or kinds of nanomaterial, the nanomaterial visible to the human eye, or not.

32. A detectable code comprising a selected amount or kind of nanomaterial or selected amounts or kinds of nanomaterial, the nanomaterial visible to the human eye or not.

33. A method for detecting a thing comprising detecting a selected amount or kind of nanomaterial on or in a thing.

34. A method for detecting a thing comprising detecting a selected amount or kind of nanomaterial on or in a thing, the nanomaterial visible to the human eye or not, and determining that the amount or kind of the nanomaterial thereby identifying the thing.

35. A NanoTag with a selected amount or kind of nanomaterial, or both.

36. A McNano with a selected amount or kind of nanomaterial, or both.

37. A NanoTag with NanoCode thereon or therein, the NanoCode visible to the human eye, or not.

38. A McNano with NanoCode thereon or therein, the NanoCode visible to the human eye, or not.

39. A tubular with an amount or amounts of nanomaterial thereon or therein, or a kind of nanomaterial of nanomaterial therein or thereon, for detection purposes, identification purposes, or both.

40. The tubular of claim 40 which is one of tubing, casing, pipe, hose, conduit, and riser.