Patents Examined by Caroline Butcher
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Patent number: 9069097Abstract: Methods and related systems are described for making measurements of an electromagnetic field in a subterranean formation that has been induced by a current loop. The current loop uses one or more steel wellbore casings as electrodes. Receiver arrays are positioned either at surface/seafloor, in the same, or in nearby wells. In the most general case, the receivers are tri-axial. A section of metallic casing in one well can be used as a current source and the electromagnetic field at surface can be measured using an array of EM receivers placed at a range of distances from the wellbore.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2009Date of Patent: June 30, 2015Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Hong Zhang, Richard A. Rosthal
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Patent number: 9057245Abstract: A method of optimizing underground drilling in which the Specific Energy, such as the Mechanical Specific Energy, is determined at a plurality of weight on bits and drill bit rotary speeds. The drilling operation is optimized by drilling at the operating conditions, including weight on bit and drill bit rotary speed, at which the standard deviation in Mechanical Specific Energy is a minimum. The drilling operation is monitored by determining the Mechanical Specific Energy and changing the operating parameters if the standard deviation in the Mechanical Specific Energy exceeds a predetermined value.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2011Date of Patent: June 16, 2015Assignee: APS Technology, Inc.Inventor: Mark Ellsworth Wassell
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Patent number: 9057242Abstract: A method of removing a downhole assembly comprises contacting, in the presence of an electrolyte, a first article comprising a first material and acting as an anode, and a second article comprising a second material having a lower reactivity than the first material and acting as a cathode, the downhole assembly comprising the first article in electrical contact with the second article, wherein at least a portion of the first article is corroded in the electrolyte.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2011Date of Patent: June 16, 2015Assignee: Baker Hughes IncorporatedInventors: Oleg A. Mazyar, Michael Johnson, Sean Gaudette
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Patent number: 9038746Abstract: A method for determining position of a wellbore in the Earth's subsurface includes actuating a plurality of seismic energy sources each disposed at a known geodetic position. Seismic energy from the sources is detected at a selected location along the wellbore. The geodetic position at the selected location is determined from the detected seismic energy. A corresponding method includes actuating a seismic energy source at a selected position within the wellbore. The seismic energy is detected at a plurality of known geodetic positions. The geodetic position of the source is determined from the detected seismic energy.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2009Date of Patent: May 26, 2015Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventor: Benny Poedjono
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Patent number: 9038740Abstract: A method of forming a plug in a wellbore includes disposing a work string in a wellbore. The work string includes a first tool comprising a port providing fluid communication between an interior space of the first tool to an exterior space to permit placement of a plug in a wellbore. The method includes introducing a first fluid volume via the work string to form a plug in the wellbore, and includes load testing the plug at least in part by applying an axial force on the plug with the work string to determine that the plug is set.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 2011Date of Patent: May 26, 2015Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Gunnar Lende, Hank Rogers
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Patent number: 9027650Abstract: An apparatus for use downhole is disclosed. The apparatus includes a downhole device and an actuation device that includes: a housing including an annular chamber configured to house a first fluid therein and a piston in the annular chamber that divides the annular chamber into a first section and a second section. The piston is to a biasing member. A control unit enables movement of the first fluid from the first section to the second section to supply a second fluid under pressure to the tool to move the tool into an active position and from the second section to the first section to stop the supply of the second fluid to the tool to cause the tool to move into an inactive position.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 2011Date of Patent: May 12, 2015Assignee: Baker Hughes IncorporatedInventors: Steven R. Radford, John G. Evans, Bruce Stauffer, Johannes Witte
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Patent number: 9027642Abstract: A dual-purpose tool can be used for steam injection and production in a wellbore. A mandrel deploys in the wellbore to communicate steam in a steam injection operation and to communicate production fluid from the wellbore during production operations. A distributor on the mandrel has nozzles for injecting steam into the wellbore and has production valves for producing fluids from the wellbore. A screen can be used to screen production fluids as they are produced through the production valves. The nozzles can also allows produced fluids to flow into the mandrel, or backflow valves can be used to restrict flow of produced fluids through the nozzles while permitting the flow of steam out of the nozzles.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 2011Date of Patent: May 12, 2015Assignee: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLCInventors: John S. Sladic, Brian Sternaman, Christopher Hall
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Patent number: 9027655Abstract: A slip element, including a substrate at least partially formed from a material degradable upon exposure to a fluid; and an outer surface disposed on the substrate. A method of removing a slip element including exposing a substrate of the slip element to a downhole fluid for degrading the substrate.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2011Date of Patent: May 12, 2015Assignee: Baker Hughes IncorporatedInventors: Zhiyue Xu, Richard YingQing Xu
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Patent number: 9022115Abstract: A method for wellbore perforation in which a section of the wellbore to be perforated is isolated and purged of wellbore fluid to provide a clear path for laser beam transmittal. A laser beam emitter in the purged wellbore section transmits a laser beam pulse from the laser beam emitter to a target area of a sidewall and formation lithology of the purged wellbore section, thereby altering a mechanical property of a material of the sidewall and formation lithology and producing material debris. A liquid jet pulse of a liquid is transmitted immediately following termination of the laser beam pulse to the target area, thereby removing the material debris from the target area. This cycle is then repeated until the desired perforation depth has been achieved.Type: GrantFiled: November 11, 2010Date of Patent: May 5, 2015Assignees: Gas Technology Institute, Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Mark Kleefisch, Colin Hawthorn, Henry David Reynolds, Neal Gregory Skinner, Jim Basuki Surjaatmadja, Roger Lynn Schultz, Timothy Holiman Hunter
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Patent number: 9010444Abstract: A device for removing and installing a plunger in a well head has a elongate rigid tube with a magnetic connector mechanism at it distal end for engaging the plunger during removal and installation of the plunger. A longitudinal opening or passage can be provided extending the entire longitudinal length of the rigid tube and magnetic connector mechanism. An elongate rod is positioned in the opening or passage so that the upper end of the rod can be moved downwardly to eject the lower end of the rod from the magnetic connector mechanism to thereby disconnect an attached plunger from the magnetic connector mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2011Date of Patent: April 21, 2015Inventor: Kevin B. Quitberg
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Patent number: 8997900Abstract: A polycrystalline diamond compact formed in an in-situ boron-doped process. The in-situ boron-doped process includes consolidating a mixture of diamond crystals and boron-containing alloy via liquid diffusion of boron into diamond crystals at a pressure greater than 5 Gpa and at a temperature greater than the melting temperature of the boron-containing alloy, typically less than about 1450° C.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2010Date of Patent: April 7, 2015Assignee: National Oilwell DHT, L.P.Inventors: Jiinjen Albert Sue, Harold Sreshta
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Patent number: 8991523Abstract: A drill bit includes a bit body, a plurality of blades extending radially from the bit body, a plurality of cutter pockets disposed on the plurality of blades, at least one rolling cutter disposed in one of the cutter pockets, wherein each rolling cutter has a substrate, a cutting face, a cutting edge, and a side surface, and at least one blocker positioned adjacent to each of the at least one rolling cutters on a leading face of the blade, wherein each blocker has a retention end and an attachment end. The retention end of each blocker is positioned adjacent to a portion of the cutting face of each rolling cutter to retain the rolling cutter in the cutter pocket and the attachment end is attached to a portion of the blade.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2011Date of Patent: March 31, 2015Assignee: Smith International, Inc.Inventors: Yuelin Shen, Youhe Zhang, Yuri Burhan, Michael A. Siracki, Mahavir Nagaraj, Bala Durairajan, Scott D. McDonough, Peter Thomas Cariveau
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Patent number: 8985207Abstract: A completion assembly is run downhole into a well. The assembly includes a valve and a material that is adapted to initially configure the valve to prevent fluid flow through the valve in at least one direction. The technique includes performing a downhole completion operation in the well and disintegrating the material to allow the prevented fluid flow through a nozzle of the valve. The nozzle is used to regulate production or injection in the well.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2011Date of Patent: March 24, 2015Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Tage Thorkildsen, Timo Jokela, Pavel Petukhov, Marius Destad, Edvin Eimstad Riisem
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Patent number: 8978783Abstract: The expandable tools disclosed herein may be used as an underreamer to enlarge a borehole, or may be used to stabilize a drilling system in a previously underreamed borehole or in a borehole that is being underreamed while drilling progresses. At least one moveable arm, which translates between a collapsed and expanded position in response to a differential pressure between the axial flowbore and the wellbore, includes a borehole-engaging surface with cutting elements and at least one nozzle to direct a fluid across the borehole-engaging surface. Flow directing elements on the external surface of the tool may be used to decrease the flow area in an annulus between the tool and the wellbore and directs fluid flow in the annulus toward the borehole-engaging surface.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 2011Date of Patent: March 17, 2015Assignee: Smith International, Inc.Inventors: Brian Cruickshank, Manoj Mahajan, Navish Makkar, Sameer Bhoite, Charles Dewey
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Patent number: 8973686Abstract: A cutter insert assembly for a drill bit for boring into the earth, comprising a super-hard structure clampable to a support body by means of a clamp mechanism; the clamp mechanism comprising opposed or opposable compression members connected or connectable by a tension member capable of sustaining a clamping force between the compression members when the cutter insert assembly is in a clamped condition, in which condition the compression members exert opposing compressive forces on the super-hard structure and the support body, operable to clamp the super-hard structure to the support body, and in which condition the cutter insert assembly is self-supporting and capable of being mounted onto a drill bit body.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2010Date of Patent: March 10, 2015Assignees: Element Six Limited, Element Six Abrasives S.A.Inventors: Gerald Dolan, John Hewitt Liversage, Habib Saridikmen, Richard Bodkin, Mehmet Serdar Ozbayraktar
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Patent number: 8967299Abstract: A downhole motor having a motor section, a drive shaft section, and an output shaft section. The output shaft section has a rotatable output shaft with a first end and a second end. A first thrust bearing assembly is located proximal to the first end of the output shaft, and a second thrust bearing assembly is located proximal to the second end of the output shaft. A radial bearing assembly is disposed between the first and second thrust bearing assemblies.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 2009Date of Patent: March 3, 2015Inventor: Keith A. Bullin
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Patent number: 8967259Abstract: A method for installing two or more heaters in a subsurface formation includes providing a spool having a substantially helical configuration of two or more heaters that have been spooled on the spool. The helical configuration of heaters is unspooled from the spool and the helical configuration of heaters is installed into an opening in a subsurface formation.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2011Date of Patent: March 3, 2015Assignee: Shell Oil CompanyInventors: Ronald Marshall Bass, Robert Guy Harley, Edward Everett De St. Remey
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Patent number: 8960282Abstract: A subterranean debris catcher takes in debris laden fluid at a lower end. The inlet flow is induced with an eductor whose discharge goes around the housing to the lower end inlet for the debris. The eductor suction induces flow into the lower end of the housing as well. Incoming debris goes up an annular space around the collection receptacle and turns to pass through a bladed wheel that imparts a spin to the flowing stream. The flow direction reverses from up before the wheel to down through a tube after the wheel. The solids are flung to the tube periphery and the fluid reverses direction to go back up to a screen before reaching the eductor suction connection. The debris swirls down an open bottom tube and is collected in a housing surrounding the down tube.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2011Date of Patent: February 24, 2015Assignee: Baker Hughes IncorporatedInventor: Hong Zhu
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Patent number: 8955600Abstract: A multi-barrier system includes a first valve and a second valve that are both in fluidic communication with a lower completion. The first valve and the second valve are positioned proximate an uphole extent of the lower completion, and a member in operable communication with the first valve and the second valve. The system is configured such that both the first valve and the second valve are open when the member is in a first position, the first valve is closed and the second valve is open when the member in a second position, the first valve is open and the second valve is closed when the member is in a third position, and the first valve and the second valve are both closed when the member is in a fourth position. The first valve and the second valve are closable in response to retrieval of an upper completion.Type: GrantFiled: April 5, 2011Date of Patent: February 17, 2015Assignee: Baker Hughes IncorporatedInventors: Donald P. Lauderdale, Wilfred Schexnayder
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Patent number: 8955606Abstract: Sealing devices for use in a wellbore to seal a leak path through an inner wall surface of the wellbore comprise a mandrel, an expandable element, and a shape deforming sealing element. Expansion or inflation of the expandable element moves the shape deforming sealing element from its run-in shape to its set shape. A stimulus, such as a change in temperature, acts upon the shape deforming sealing element facilitating the shape deforming sealing element changing shape. Removal of the stimulus causes the shape deforming sealing element to remain in the set shape. Thereafter, the mandrel and expandable element can be removed to leave only the shape deforming sealing element within the wellbore to seal the leak path.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2011Date of Patent: February 17, 2015Assignee: Baker Hughes IncorporatedInventor: Edward J. O'Malley