Patents Assigned to Thru Tubing Solutions, Inc.
  • Patent number: 11965392
    Abstract: A system can include a bottom hole assembly, a wireline and a capillary tube connected to the bottom hole assembly, and a dual pack-off assembly that seals about the wireline and the capillary tube. A method can include connecting a bottom hole assembly to a wireline and a capillary tube, deploying the bottom hole assembly into a wellbore, and increasing pressure in the capillary tube, thereby setting a packer of the bottom hole assembly. A dual pack-off assembly can include a lubricator connector, pack-offs configured to seal about a capillary tube and a wireline, and pipes connected between the respective pack-offs and the lubricator connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: THRU TUBING SOLUTIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Andrew M. Ferguson, Mark S. Britton
  • Patent number: 11939834
    Abstract: A method can include conveying a dispensing tool through a wellbore, the dispensing tool including an enclosure containing plugging devices, and then opening the enclosure by cutting a material of the enclosure, thereby releasing the plugging devices from the enclosure into the wellbore at a downhole location. A dispensing tool can include a container having an enclosure therein, the enclosure including a flexible material that contains the plugging devices, and an end of the enclosure being secured to a member displaceable by an actuator. The enclosure material is cut in response to displacement of the member by the actuator. A plugging device can include at least one body configured to engage an opening in the well and block fluid flow through the opening, and multiple fibers including staple fibers or filaments formed into yarn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: THRU TUBING SOLUTIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Brock W. Watson, Gary P. Funkhouser
  • Patent number: 11859317
    Abstract: A method of constructing a plugging device can include incorporating multiple filaments into the plugging device, and coating each individual filament with a swellable material. A plugging device for use in a subterranean well can include a body comprising multiple filaments, and a swellable material on each of the individual filaments. A system can include a plugging device conveyed by fluid flow into engagement with an opening, whereby the plugging device blocks flow through the opening. The plugging device can include multiple filaments, each of the multiple filaments being coated with a swellable material. The swellable material may seal against a surface of the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: THRU TUBING SOLUTIONS, INC.
    Inventor: Gary P. Funkhouser
  • Patent number: 11851611
    Abstract: A flow conveyed plugging device for use in a well, the device can include a body, and one or more lines extending outwardly from the body, each of the lines having a lateral dimension that is substantially smaller than a size of the body. A method of plugging an opening in a well can include deploying at least one flow conveyed plugging device into the well, the flow conveyed plugging device including a body and, extending outwardly from the body, at least one of the group consisting of: a) one or more fibers and b) one or more lines, the flow conveyed plugging device being conveyed by flow in the well into sealing engagement with the opening. Another flow conveyed plugging device can include a body, and fibers extending outwardly from the body. The flow conveyed plugging device degrades and thereby permits flow through an opening in the well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: THRU TUBING SOLUTIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Roger L Schultz, Brock W. Watson, Andrew M. Ferguson, Gary P. Funkhouser
  • Patent number: 11834919
    Abstract: A method of deploying a plug in a subterranean well can include positioning a tool string in the well, the tool string including a plug release tool and a well tool, then releasing the plug from the plug release tool, and then operating the well tool in response to the releasing the plug. A plug release tool for use in a subterranean well can include an outer housing, and an insert secured in the outer housing, the insert including multiple longitudinally extending flow passages formed through the insert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: THRU TUBING SOLUTIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Roger L. Schultz, Timothy Manke, Andrew M. Ferguson
  • Patent number: 11773667
    Abstract: A method can include directing fluid flow longitudinally through a well tool connected in a tubular string downstream of a longitudinally compressed circulating valve assembly, thereby causing the well tool to operate, and longitudinally elongating the circulating valve assembly while the fluid flow is ceased, and then increasing the fluid flow, thereby causing the fluid flow after the elongating to pass outwardly through a housing of the circulating valve assembly to an external annulus. Another method can include directing a fluid flow through a well tool connected in a tubular string downstream of a circulating valve assembly, thereby causing the well tool to operate, and decreasing then increasing a flow rate of the fluid flow, thereby causing the fluid flow to pass outwardly through a housing assembly of the circulating valve assembly to an external annulus. Circulating valve assemblies are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: THRU TUBING SOLUTIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Brock W. Watson, James C. Tucker
  • Patent number: 11761295
    Abstract: A system for use with a subterranean well can include a deployment apparatus configured to deploy one or more plugging devices into a fluid flow. The plugging devices are conveyed into the well by the fluid flow. The deployment apparatus can include multiple queues, different numbers of the plugging devices being contained in respective different ones of the queues. A method of deploying plugging devices can include connecting multiple queues of the plugging devices to a conduit, and deploying the plugging devices from a selected combination of the queues into the conduit. In another system, each of the plugging devices may include a body, and lines or fibers extending outwardly from the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: THRU TUBING SOLUTIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Brock W. Watson, Gary P. Funkhouser, Roger L. Schultz, Gregory A. Kliewer
  • Patent number: 11753901
    Abstract: A fluid pulse generator can include a fluid motor including a rotor that rotates in response to fluid flow, a variable flow restrictor positioned upstream of the fluid motor and including a restrictor member rotatable relative to a ported member and longitudinally displaceable relative to the rotor. Another fluid pulse generator can include a flex joint or a constant velocity joint connected between the restrictor member and the rotor. In another fluid pulse generator, the variable flow restrictor can include a valve and a fluidic restrictor element, the valve being operable in response to rotation of the rotor, the fluidic restrictor element being configured to generate fluid pulses in response to the fluid flow through a flow path, and the valve being configured to control the fluid flow through another flow path connected in parallel with the first flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: THRU TUBING SOLUTIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Roger L. Schultz, Andrew M. Ferguson, Timothy Manke, Brett A. Fears
  • Patent number: 11668147
    Abstract: A method can include directing fluid flow longitudinally through a well tool connected in a tubular string downstream of a longitudinally compressed circulating valve assembly, thereby causing the well tool to operate, and longitudinally elongating the circulating valve assembly while the fluid flow is ceased, and then increasing the fluid flow, thereby causing the fluid flow after the elongating to pass outwardly through a housing of the circulating valve assembly to an external annulus. Another method can include directing a fluid flow through a well tool connected in a tubular string downstream of a circulating valve assembly, thereby causing the well tool to operate, and decreasing then increasing a flow rate of the fluid flow, thereby causing the fluid flow to pass outwardly through a housing assembly of the circulating valve assembly to an external annulus. Circulating valve assemblies are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: THRU TUBING SOLUTIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Brock W. Watson, Roger L. Schultz, James C. Tucker
  • Patent number: 11585173
    Abstract: A method of treating a subterranean well can include positioning a flow restrictor in a wellbore that penetrates an interval of an earth formation, displacing the flow restrictor along the wellbore away from a surface of the well, preventing longitudinal displacement of the flow restrictor in the wellbore, introducing flow into a first section of the interval from a section of the wellbore between the flow restrictor and the surface, blocking the flow from the wellbore section into the first interval section, permitting longitudinal displacement of the flow restrictor in the wellbore, and displacing the flow restrictor along the wellbore away from the surface of the well, thereby permitting unrestricted flow from the wellbore section into a second section of the interval. The second interval section is farther along the wellbore from the surface than the first interval section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Thru Tubing Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary P. Funkhouser, Brock W. Watson
  • Patent number: 11566498
    Abstract: A downhole well tool assembly can include a perforator and a selectively openable and closable perforation plug discharge port. A method of perforating and treating multiple formation zones of a well in a single trip of a downhole well tool assembly into the well can include positioning the downhole well tool assembly at a zone, closing a perforation plug discharge port of the downhole well tool assembly, perforating the zone, treating the zone, opening the perforation plug discharge port, deploying perforation plugs into the well via the perforation plug discharge port, plugging perforations in the zone with the perforation plugs, positioning the downhole well tool assembly at a subsequent zone, closing the perforation plug discharge port, perforating the subsequent zone, and treating the subsequent zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Thru Tubing Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew M. Ferguson, Brock W. Watson, Roger L. Schultz
  • Patent number: 11560756
    Abstract: A rotary actuator assembly can include a fluid motor with a rotor that displaces with hypocyclic precessional motion within a stator in response to fluid flow through the fluid motor, and a gear reducer section including an input gear that is fixed relative to the rotor and displaces with the hypocyclic precessional motion relative to an output gear. Another rotary actuator assembly can include a fluid motor with a rotor having a central longitudinal axis that rotates about a central longitudinal axis of a stator, and a gear reducer section including an input gear that rotates with the rotor and displaces relative to an output gear, and the input gear having the same central longitudinal axis as the rotor. A well system can include at least two fluid motors, and fluid flow through one fluid motor causes rotation of the other fluid motor in the well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: THRU TUBING SOLUTIONS, INC
    Inventors: Roger L. Schultz, Brock W. Watson, Brett Fears
  • Patent number: 11530588
    Abstract: A casing string is augmented with one or more variable flow resistance devices or “vibrating tools” to facilitate advancement of the casing and distribution of the cement in the annulus once the casing is properly positioned. Vibrating tools in the form of plugs can be pumped down and landed inside the casing string. The method includes vibrating the casing string while advancing the casing down the wellbore or while the cement is pumped into the annulus, or both. After the cementing operation is completed, the devices may be drilled out or retrieved with fishing tools to reopen the casing string for further operations. One or more wipers may be provided on the plugs, but the section housing the flow path may be free of wipers to allow the size and flow capacity of the flow path to be optimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: Thru Tubing Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Roger L. Schultz, Timothy W. Manke, Andrew M. Ferguson
  • Patent number: 11525307
    Abstract: A fluid pulse generator can include a fluid motor and a bypass flow path in fluid communication with an inlet and an outlet, and a flow control device configured to permit flow through the bypass flow path in response to a predetermined pressure differential applied across the flow control device. A method of generating fluid pulses can include flowing a fluid through a fluid pulse generator, thereby generating fluid pulses, and then applying a predetermined pressure differential from an inlet to an outlet of the fluid pulse generator, thereby permitting flow of the fluid through the fluid pulse generator without generating the fluid pulses. A fluid pulse generation system can include a fluid pulse generator with a fluid motor, a variable flow restrictor, and a bypass flow path. A predetermined pressure differential applied across the fluid motor permits the flow of the fluid through the bypass flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: Thru Tubing Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Roger L. Schultz
  • Patent number: 11519240
    Abstract: A method can include positioning a flow restrictor in a wellbore that penetrates a formation interval, then displacing the flow restrictor along the wellbore away from the surface, thereby permitting flow into an interval section from a wellbore section between the flow restrictor and the surface, blocking the flow from the wellbore section into the interval section, and displacing the flow restrictor away from the surface, thereby permitting flow from the wellbore section into another interval section farther along the wellbore from the surface. A system can include a flow restrictor that restricts flow through an annulus surrounding the flow restrictor, and plugging devices disposed in a wellbore section positioned between the flow restrictor and a surface of the well. Flow from the wellbore section into a formation interval section is permitted prior to being blocked by the plugging devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Thru Tubing Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary P. Funkhouser, Brock W. Watson
  • Patent number: 11466532
    Abstract: A method of dislodging a tubular string or well equipment connected to the tubular string can include connecting a dislodging tool in the tubular string, so that a flow passage of the dislodging tool extends through the tubular string, deploying a plug into the dislodging tool, applying a pressure differential across the plug, thereby displacing the plug through a seat of the dislodging tool, and dislodging the tubular string or the component in response to the displacing. A dislodging system can include a dislodging tool connected as part of a tubular string, the dislodging tool including a flow passage and a seat configured to sealingly engage a plug deployed into the tubular string, and at least one of a jarring force, load, impact, shock wave, elastic strain release and pressure pulse being generated in the tubular string in response to displacement of the plug through the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Thru Tubing Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Brock W. Watson, Roger L. Schultz, Gregory A. Kliewer
  • Patent number: 11434693
    Abstract: A rotary actuator assembly can include a fluid motor with a rotor that displaces with hypocyclic precessional motion within a stator in response to fluid flow through the fluid motor, and a gear reducer section including an input gear that is fixed relative to the rotor and displaces with the hypocyclic precessional motion relative to an output gear. Another rotary actuator assembly can include a fluid motor with a rotor having a central longitudinal axis that rotates about a central longitudinal axis of a stator, and a gear reducer section including an input gear that rotates with the rotor and displaces relative to an output gear, and the input gear having the same central longitudinal axis as the rotor. A well system can include at least two fluid motors, and fluid flow through one fluid motor causes rotation of the other fluid motor in the well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Thru Tubing Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Roger L. Schultz, Brock W. Watson, Brett Fears
  • Patent number: 11427751
    Abstract: A flow conveyed plugging device for use in a well, the device can include a body, and one or more lines extending outwardly from the body, each of the lines having a lateral dimension that is substantially smaller than a size of the body. A method of plugging an opening in a well can include deploying at least one flow conveyed plugging device into the well, the flow conveyed plugging device including a body and, extending outwardly from the body, at least one of the group consisting of: a) one or more fibers and b) one or more lines, the flow conveyed plugging device being conveyed by flow in the well into sealing engagement with the opening. Another flow conveyed plugging device can include a body, and fibers extending outwardly from the body. The flow conveyed plugging device degrades and thereby permits flow through an opening in the well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Thru Tubing Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Roger L. Schultz, Brock W. Watson, Andrew M. Ferguson, Gary P. Funkhouser
  • Patent number: 11377926
    Abstract: A method of deploying plugging devices in a well can include a spacing between the plugging devices by controlling a ratio flow rates through intersecting pipes. A deployment apparatus can include an actuator and a release structure that releases the plugging devices into a conduit connected to a tubular string in the well. Another method of deploying plugging devices in a well can include operating an actuator, thereby displacing a release structure, and the release structure releasing the plugging devices into the well in response to operating the actuator. Another deployment apparatus can include intersecting pipes and a valve that selectively permits and prevents displacement of the plugging devices through one of the pipes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Thru Tubing Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Brock W. Watson, Gary P. Funkhouser
  • Patent number: 11332983
    Abstract: A downhole disconnect tool can include outer housing sections connected to each other with threads, and an inner sleeve received in at least one of the outer housing sections, whereby the inner sleeve limits relative rotation between the outer housing sections in a connect position, and permits relative rotation between the outer housing sections in a disconnect position. A method of disconnecting portions of a tubular string can include connecting a downhole disconnect tool between the tubular string portions, deploying a plug into the tubular string, thereby engaging the plug with an inner sleeve in the downhole disconnect tool, applying a differential pressure across the plug, thereby displacing the inner sleeve relative to outer housing sections of the downhole disconnect tool, and then unthreading the outer housing sections from each other in the well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: Thru Tubing Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Roger L. Schultz, Timothy Manke, Brett A. Fears