Patents Examined by Blake Michener
  • Patent number: 11692438
    Abstract: A method including, without removing a BHA from a wellbore of a well extending into a formation, extending, into an interior flow bore of the BHA, a first component of a wet latch assembly to provide an extended first component of the wet latch assembly, conveying downhole via a wireline cable, from a surface through an interior flow bore provided by a drill string, a second component of the wet latch assembly, and coupling the second component of the wet latch assembly with the extended first component of the wet latch assembly such that an electrical connection is established between the first component and the second component and between the BHA and the surface via the wireline cable, and testing the formation with a formation tester of the BHA, while providing power and/or data telemetry for the formation tester via the wet latch assembly and the wireline cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Michael Jones, Darren George Gascooke, Anthony Herman Van Zuilekom, Glenn Andrew Wilson
  • Patent number: 11692437
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a ferrite for use in a resistivity logging tool includes providing an uncured ferrite material, and pressing the uncured ferrite material into a channel to form the ferrite. The channel is defined on a surface of a bobbin associated with the resistivity logging tool, and the channel can be arcuate and extend at an angle offset from a central axis of the bobbin. The uncured ferrite material is then cured in place within the channels on the bobbin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Chase Griffing, Jin Ma, Michael Bittar
  • Patent number: 11692418
    Abstract: A flow control device including a flow channel having a housing defining an inside surface, the inside surface having an irregular helical structure of constant orthogonal cross-sectional dimensions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES OILFIELD OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Zhihui Zhang, Bin Zhu, Guijun Deng, Zhiyue Xu, Ronnie Russell
  • Patent number: 11692434
    Abstract: A method for remotely testing wellhead integrity of a well is disclosed. The method includes connecting valves and associated gauges of the well remotely to a supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system, obtaining real time pressure and temperature readings through the SCADA system, detecting, using a thermal infrared camera installed at a wellhead tree and flow lines of the well, potential oil/gas leak, and determining, by the SCADA system and based at least on the real time pressure and temperature readings and a detection result of the thermal infrared camera, integrity of the valves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Faisal M. Arji, Meshal A. Al-Amri
  • Patent number: 11680484
    Abstract: Some implementations provide a tool assembly for monitoring reservoir water salinity and reservoir production performance at a borehole, the tool assembly comprising: a water salinity measuring probe that includes a pair of electrodes, wherein the water salinity measuring probe is mounted at a tip of the tool assembly and configured to measure a water conductivity between the pair of electrodes when the tool assembly is immersed inside the borehole; a spinner tool configured to measure a total flow rate at where the tool assembly is immersed inside the borehole, wherein the spinner tool is located above the water salinity measuring probe when the tool assembly is immersed inside the borehole; and a temperature probe configured to measure a temperature at where the tool assembly is immersed inside the borehole, wherein the temperature probe is located above the spinner tool when the tool assembly is immersed inside the borehole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Mustafa A. Al-Huwaider, Shouxiang Mark Ma
  • Patent number: 11680561
    Abstract: A fluid handling system suitable for injecting a pressurized fluid from a pump that is driven by a motor into an oilfield network includes a manifold fluidly connected to the pump and a controller. The manifold includes an inlet for receiving the fluid from the pump, a plurality of outlets downstream of and fluidly connected to the inlet, and a plurality of electric valves downstream of and fluidly connected, respectively, to the plurality of outlets, each of the plurality of electric valves being configured to selectively open and close to regulate a flow of the fluid from the plurality of outlets to a plurality of wells fluidly connected, respectively, to the plurality of electric valves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Graco Minnesota Inc.
    Inventors: John R. Ingebrand, Kyle A. Bottke, Ryan J. Dion, Kelly L. Shanks
  • Patent number: 11674388
    Abstract: Boreholes used for generating geothermal energy or other purposes are formed at least in part by accelerating projectiles toward geologic material. Interaction between a projectile and the geologic material may generate debris or other material. The temperature of this generated material may be used to determine the potential for generation of geothermal energy using the borehole. Based on the temperature of the material, a fluid having a different temperature than that of the material is provided into the borehole for generation of power using geothermal energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: HYPERSCIENCES, INC.
    Inventors: Hossam Elbadawy, Mark C. Russell, Charles T. Russell, Timothy John Elder, Minh Button
  • Patent number: 11661828
    Abstract: An electrical submersible pump assembly (ESP) has a centrifugal production pump with production pump stages. A gas separator upstream is from the production pump. A centrifugal charge pump is upstream from the gas separator. The charge pump has charge pump stages and a discharge that leads to an intake of the gas separator. Each of the production pump stages has a higher lifting capacity than each of the charge pump stages. The impellers of the production pump stages have vane exit angles greater than vane exit angles of the impellers of the charge pump stages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES OILFIELD OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Caleb Conrad, Bryan C. Coates
  • Patent number: 11649681
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a fixed-cutter drill bit including a bit body defining a bit rotational axis, a plurality of blades each having an inner end that is radially closer to the bit rotational axis than a remainder of the respective blade, a central bit surface, and a plurality of cutters disposed on the blades and including an innermost cutter located closest among all of the plurality of cutters to the bit rotational axis and having a flattened cutting surface, a cutting arc, and a relief having ends which is located within and interrupts the cutting arc such that the cutting arc includes at least two portions located on opposite ends of the relief. The disclosure also provides a drilling system including the drill bit and a drill string attached to the drill bit and a surface assembly to rotate the drill string and drill bit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Bradley David Dunbar
  • Patent number: 11649683
    Abstract: A technique facilitates connection of tubulars along a tubing string via a linear motion. A first tubular is provided with a first connector end having a non-circular transverse cross-section, and a second tubular is provided with a second connector end having a corresponding non-circular transverse cross-section. The non-circular cross-section and the corresponding non-circular cross-section are designed to matingly engage when the first and second tubulars are moved linearly toward each other to form a tubing string. A seal is provided to seal the first connector end with the second connector end once linearly engaged. A locking mechanism may be employed to linearly lock the first connector end with the second connector end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: John C. Wolf, Luis A. Gonzalez, Andrew Brian Huang
  • Patent number: 11643885
    Abstract: A tubular gripping apparatus includes a housing having a bore and a plurality of gripping members movable between a gripping position and a release position. The apparatus may also include a shield having a tubular inner body movable relative to an outer body. The tubular inner body is movable between a retracted position, in which the tubular inner body is positioned above the plurality of gripping members, and an extended position, in which the inner body is at least partially positioned interiorly of the plurality of gripping members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: WEATHERFORD TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, LLC
    Inventors: Ruben Gomez, Kevin Thomas Page
  • Patent number: 11639647
    Abstract: A self-powered sensor array (SPSA) for sensing environmental parameters along a drillstring includes an outer collar having moveable member retainers with moveable members movably located in the moveable member retainers. An inner ring is rotatably supported within the outer collar with bearing elements on an outer surface of the inner ring positioned to displace the moveable members relative to the moveable member retainers in response to relative rotation between the inner ring and the outer collar. Shape memory material elements are arranged in a respective moveable member retainer. Distance sensors are configured to sense a gap responsive to a shape change of the respective shape memory material element and a displacement of the respective moveable member. Power generation components are configured such that, in response to the relative rotation, the bearing elements displace a particular moveable member into a particular moveable member retainer, generating an electric charge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignees: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY, Macquarie University
    Inventors: Chinthaka Pasan Gooneratne, Subhas Mukhopadhyay, Bodong Li, Guodong Zhan, Arturo Magana-Mora, Timothy Eric Moellendick
  • Patent number: 11634956
    Abstract: A detonator activated wireline release tool is provided for use in geological well operations that enables the wireline cable to be easily released from tool string equipment upon activation of a detonator housed within the release tool. The release tool has a wireline subassembly portion that is connected to a tool string subassembly portion during assembly. It is sometimes necessary to disconnect the wireline subassembly from the tool string subassembly at a time when accessing the either is not physically possible. Such release is achieved by sending an electronic signal that detonates an explosive load which actuates a latch through an expansion chamber. The latch shifts and allows the finger flanges previously connecting the subassemblies to disengage, thus releasing the subassemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: DynaEnergetics Europe GmbH
    Inventors: Eric Mulhern, Thilo Scharf
  • Patent number: 11635398
    Abstract: A technique facilitates evaluation of a fluid flowing through a tubing and includes at least one sensor deployed along an interior of the tubing. Each sensor comprises a plurality of electrodes and insulation material disposed between the electrodes to isolate the electrodes from each other and to facilitate resistivity measurements. The plurality of electrodes comprises electrodes for emitting an electric current and for monitoring voltage so as to enable resistivity measurements with respect to fluid flowing through the tubing. The resistivity measurements may be used to determine a constituent fraction, e.g. a water fraction, of the fluid flowing through the tubing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Dominique Benimeli, Christian Chouzenoux, Yann Dufour
  • Patent number: 11634970
    Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for thermal management of subsea conduits such as jumpers that provide the ability to alternate between cooling and heat retention of production fluids within the conduit as needed depending on the phase of operation. Adjustable insulation elements are provided on the conduits so that convective heat transfer between surrounding seawater and the conduit can be allowed or reduced. A control system can activate an alarm indicating the need to adjust the insulation depending on the temperature and/or flow rate of fluids in the conduit. Conventional conduits can be retrofitted by adding adjustable insulation elements to enable thermal management.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Antonio C. F. Critsinelis, Sid Mebarkia, Michelle A. Wise, Yesudas J. Manimala, William C. Hughes, Steven W. Cochran, Edgar Uribe, Jason D. Garcia
  • Patent number: 11624250
    Abstract: An electric motor-actuated tractor (e-Tractor) apparatus and method for use in downhole operations. The apparatus includes a power subassembly, a tractor subassembly and one or more gripper subassemblies and can be: run in a single or multiple e-Tractor configuration; run in either intermittent-motion tractoring mode or continuous-motion tractoring mode with the ability to switch between the two modes; used to generate both distal and proximal longitudinal forces to move the run-in string into or out of the wellbore; repeatedly activated and deactivated without run-in string manipulation or hydraulic pressure; and combined with tensiometer and other sensor package options to provide real-time data to the surface to optimize tractoring operations. The apparatus and method are well-suited for application in an c-coil conveyed workover or completion system, and for use in extended reach laterals in horizontal wells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Coiled Tubing Specialties, LLC
    Inventors: Bruce L. Randall, David P. Brisco, Bradford G. Randall
  • Patent number: 11613969
    Abstract: A method of assembling a borehole screen assembly includes placing a screen around a base pipe followed by an end ring having a skive cut to allow fitment with the screen by sliding along the skive cut. The assembly can be completed with welds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES HOLDINGS LLC
    Inventors: Jai K. Koli, Christopher Malbrel
  • Patent number: 11608697
    Abstract: The invention discloses systems for improving performance and operational efficiency of wireline tractors. A cooling system improves power capabilities of electrical motors mounted in wheels, which are mounted on a linkage pivotably connected to an arm extended from a tractor tool body, in an in-line arm configuration. The linkage and arm mechanism significantly improve the tractor's ability to traverse wellbore obstructions. The hydraulic system of the tractor ensures adequate wellbore centralization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Inventors: Sam Schroit, Jeffrey Wensrich
  • Patent number: 11598153
    Abstract: A cutter element for a drill bit includes a base portion having a central axis, a first end, and a second end. In addition, the cutter element includes a cutting layer fixably mounted to the first end of the base portion. The cutting layer includes a cutting face distal the base portion. The cutting face includes an elongate raised ridge having a first end at a radially outer surface of the cutting layer and a second end at the radially outer surface of the cutting layer. The raised ridge defines a maximum height of the cutter element measured axially from the second end of the base portion to the cutting face. The cutting face also includes a first planar lateral side surface and a second planar lateral side surface. Each planar lateral side surface extends from the raised ridge to the radially outer surface of the cutting layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: NATIONAL OILWELL VARCO, L.P.
    Inventors: Ryan Basson Graham, Reza Rahmani, Olivia N. Pacheco
  • Patent number: 11591857
    Abstract: A downhole tool includes a blade coupled to a body. The body and blade rotate about a longitudinal axis. A pre-formed faceplate is connected to the blade and partially defines a cutter pocket therein. Another portion of the cutter pocket is defined by the blade. The cutter pocket includes a sidewall and a base, with the sidewall formed by the blade and the pre-formed faceplate, and the base formed by the blade. The pre-formed faceplate includes a pre-formed hardfacing element. A downhole tool includes a blade coupled to a body. The body and blade rotate about a longitudinal axis. A pre-formed segment is connected to the blade and has a cutter pocket therein. The cutter pocket includes a sidewall and a base, and a cutting element is coupled to the pre-formed segment and within the cutter pocket. The pre-formed segment is optionally made of a different material than the blade and has increased wear and/or erosion resistance compared to the blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Youhe Zhang, Huimin Song, Jan Stefan Morley