Patents Examined by Catherine Loikith
  • Patent number: 11959354
    Abstract: A completion pipe comprising a plug arrangement and a method for arranging a completion pipe in a well. The arrangement includes a disintegratable plug element arranged in a plug housing in a pipe string, a seal element arranged to seal between the plug element and the pipe string. The plug element is movable in the axial direction of the pipe string between a first position and a second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: FRAC TECHNOLOGY AS
    Inventor: Viggo Brandsdal
  • Patent number: 11946350
    Abstract: A method for remotely shutting down a downhole unit of a rotary steering system from ground includes steps of: a: calculating a pressure difference P1 between a front end and a rear end of the drill water hole; b: calculating an extension loss ?P; c: calculating a pressure P2 at the riser after turning on the downlink device; d: calculating an opening area S1 of the throttle valve of the downlink device; and e: adjusting the throttle valve to a calculated opening degree; automatically targeting the function block that needs to be cut off according to a flow change detected downhole, and shutting down the downhole unit. The method can realize self-protection and continuous operation of the entire rotary steering system, reduce frequency of inspection that needs to pull back the drill when the rotary steering system is abnormal, improve drilling efficiency, and reduce costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignees: CHINA NATIONAL PETROLEUM CORPORATION, CNPC CHUANQING DRILLING ENGINEERING COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Jing Bai, Jichuan Zhang, Dengyun Lu, Lei Li, Chongjun Huang, Lichun Jia, Chong Liao, Liexiang Han, Dejun Zhang, Gui Tang
  • Patent number: 11946363
    Abstract: A method for determining discharge area in hydraulic stimulation operations is provided that includes obtaining one or more treatment data inputs from a well system, and determining a discharge area by applying the one or more treatment data inputs to a function that determines discharge area in terms of volumetric flow rate of the fracturing fluid, wherein the discharge area is a total area of all downhole exits through which the fracturing fluid exits a wellbore into a subterranean formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Casey Lee Cox, Kenneth Lee Borgen, Russell James Padalecki, Nathan Taylor Crawford
  • Patent number: 11939825
    Abstract: A tool is used to inject a rapidly solidifying sealant into and across highly fractured oil and gas wellbore formations when a significant loss circulation zone or event is encountered. A system including the tool allows for application of the sealant to the formation without requiring removal of the drill string from the hole. The tool may have operatively associate with containers storing sealant and or sealant components that are provided downhole from the surface via wireline or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventor: Krzysztof Karol Machocki
  • Patent number: 11933162
    Abstract: A system may include a processing device and a memory device that includes instructions to receive real-time data including wellhead pressure, a new sand measurement, and a new erosion rate for a wellbore. A model including an available reference sand rate for the wellbore based on the wellhead pressure and at least one of the new sand measurement or the new erosion rate of the wellbore may be calibrated. The model may be applied to determine a calibrated sand rate is within a pre-determined threshold. A new sand production rate for the wellbore based on the model may be determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Landmark Graphics Corporation
    Inventor: Raphael de Souza Gonzalez Melo
  • Patent number: 11933136
    Abstract: A method for operating a circulating sub in a well includes opening a port of the circulating sub, including: dropping a ball into a drill pipe containing a downhole fluid; and seating the ball on an actuator slidably disposed concentrically within the drill pipe, in which seating the ball on the actuator causes motion of the actuator relative to the drill pipe to open a port defined in a wall of the drill pipe. The method includes closing the port of the circulating sub, including: introducing a solvent different from the downhole fluid into the drill pipe, in which a solubility of the ball in the solvent is greater than a solubility of the ball in the downhole fluid; and degrading the ball in the solvent, in which the degrading of the ball causes motion of the actuator relative to the drill pipe to close the port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Jothibasu Ramasamy, Chinthaka Pasan Gooneratne, Jianhui Xu
  • Patent number: 11933164
    Abstract: A flow diverter having a first conical section, a second conical section, and support legs. The first conical section comprises an outside surface tapering from a first end to a second end. The first end of the first conical section comprises a rounded nose. The second conical section comprises an outside surface tapering from a first end to a second end. The first end of the second conical section comprises a rounded nose. The second end of the first section can contact or be integrated with the second end of the second section, or an intermediate section can be positioned therebetween. The intermediate section can comprise a substantially cylindrical outer surface extending from the second end of the first conical section to the second end of the second conical section. The support legs are configured to fixedly couple the flow diverter to a tubular.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Lonnie Carl Helms
  • Patent number: 11920428
    Abstract: Some systems and methods include a tubular defining a passageway, one or more packers coupled to the tubular, and two or more valves coupled to the tubular. Some such systems are operable by increasing pressure within the passageway such that, responsive to the increasing pressure, one or more first ones of the valves open and fluid flows from the passageway, through the first valve(s), and into one or more first fractures of the wellbore, and reducing pressure within the passageway such that, responsive to the reducing pressure, the first valve(s) close and one or more second ones of the valves open and hydrocarbons flow from one or more second fractures of the wellbore, through the second valve(s), and into the passageway. The first and second valves can be unidirectional valves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Inventor: Xuebing Fu
  • Patent number: 11913333
    Abstract: The determination of subsurface three-phase saturation (that is, oil, water, and gas saturation) across perforations and open completions of production wells using production rates and pressure measurements. A process may use the surface production rates of oil, water, and gas and measured pressures to determine well fractional flows. The subsurface three-phase saturation may be determined using the cell fractional flows calculated from the well fractional flows. Computer-readable media and systems for determining subsurface three-phase saturation are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Ali Al-Shahri, Anas Al Shuaibi, Hasan Nooruddin, Khaled Benzaoui
  • Patent number: 11905803
    Abstract: Methods and systems for producing hydrocarbons. An example method includes producing a non-hydrocarbon liquid from a first horizontal wellbore, the first horizontal wellbore extending from a vertical wellbore and through a hydrocarbon producing formation. The method further includes pumping the non-hydrocarbon liquid with a first pump into a second horizontal wellbore, the second horizontal wellbore extending from the vertical wellbore and disposed downhole and underneath the first horizontal wellbore. The method additionally includes pumping a hydrocarbon liquid uphole to a surface with a second pump disposed downhole of the first horizontal wellbore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Donn J. Brown, Trevor A. Kopecky
  • Patent number: 11905830
    Abstract: A system and method for a fluid sampling tool. The fluid sampling tool may include a probe section. The probe section may include one or more probes, one or more stabilizers, and a housing that houses a bi directional piston pump. The method may include disposing a fluid sampling tool into a wellbore at a first depth, pressing the one or more probes into a surface of the wellbore, drawing a reservoir fluid from the wellbore through the one or more probes, placing the reservoir fluid into the housing, isolating the housing from the one or more modules of the fluid sampling tool with one or more shut in valves, depressurizing the housing with the bi directional piston pump, and measuring the asphaltene precipitation of the reservoir fluid within the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Rohin Naveena-Chandran, Syed Muhammad Farrukh Hamza, Gibran Mushtaq Hashmi, Jason A. Rogers, Christopher Michael Jones, Anthony Herman VanZuilekom
  • Patent number: 11906689
    Abstract: Hydrocarbon wells include a wellbore, a fracture that extends from the wellbore, and an electromagnetic contrast material positioned within the fracture. The hydrocarbon wells also include a downhole electromagnetic transmitter, which is configured to direct an electromagnetic probe signal incident upon the electromagnetic contrast material, and a downhole electromagnetic receiver, which is configured to receive an electromagnetic resultant signal from the electromagnetic contrast material. Methods for monitoring fracture morphology of a fracture that extends from a wellbore of a hydrocarbon well include flowing an electromagnetic contrast material into a fracture and generating an electromagnetic probe signal. The methods also include modifying the electromagnetic probe signal with the electromagnetic contrast material to generate an electromagnetic resultant signal. The methods further include receiving the electromagnetic resultant signal and determining the morphology of the fracture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Technology and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Kevin H. Searles, Ted A. Long, Prajnajyoti Mazumdar
  • Patent number: 11898427
    Abstract: An apparatus for obtaining fluids via a well includes an outer tubing disposed in the well and set at a shallow reservoir comprising a first fluid, and an inner tubing disposed concentrically within the outer tubing and set at a deeper reservoir further downhole than the shallow reservoir. The deeper reservoir has a second fluid, where a first packer is disposed between the outer tubing and an external tubing and disposed above the shallow reservoir, and a second packer is disposed between the outer tubing and the inner tubing and disposed above the deeper reservoir. The second packer blocks an annulus through which the first fluid is extracted via the outer tubing. The first fluid is obtained from the shallow reservoir and the second fluid is obtained from the deeper reservoir by drilling via the well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Jawad Zahur, Muhammad Ali Qureshi
  • Patent number: 11898416
    Abstract: A downhole tool for use in a well comprising a mandrel and an outer sleeve slidably disposed about the mandrel. An inner sleeve is slidably disposed in the mandrel. A drive pin comprising a drive pin bushing connected to the outer sleeve and a shear pin connected to the inner sleeve connects the inner sleeve to the outer sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Ishwar Dilip Patil, Avinash Gopal Dharne, Lonnie Carl Helms, Frank Vinicio Acosta Villarreal, Priyanshkumar Prashantkumar Desai
  • Patent number: 11883783
    Abstract: A method of electrochemically treating a hydrocarbon-bearing formation is provided. The method includes electrochemically treating an aqueous fluid to provide a first fluid having a first electrochemical potential and a second fluid having a second electrochemical potential. The first electrochemical potential the second electrochemical potential have opposite signs. The method then includes introducing an amount of the first fluid into the hydrocarbon bearing formation, and then an amount of a spacer fluid is introduced into the hydrocarbon-bearing formation. An amount of the second fluid may be optionally introduced into the formation. The steps of introducing the fluids are repeated until an end point is reached. A system for electrochemically a hydrocarbon-bearing formation is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventor: Adrian Cesar Cavazos Sepulveda
  • Patent number: 11873700
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a valve of a tool for use downhole includes changing a flow characteristic of the valve. A load is applied to a first nozzle secured in a housing of the valve via a first release member, wherein a magnitude of the load is greater than a release threshold of the first release member, to release the first release member. The first nozzle is removed from the housing, and a second nozzle is secured in the housing via a second release member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES OILFIELD OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Marc Samuelson, Kyle Henagan, James Doane
  • Patent number: 11867019
    Abstract: When cementing tubing in a borehole, a wet shoe track is created, and pressure testing of the tubing is performed. To do this, a wiper plug seats in a seat of an insert disposed in a first position in a flow bore of a tool. The insert is released and moved toward a second position in the flow bore in response to the first pressure applied against the seated wiper plug. A collar disposed on the wiper plug seats on a second seat disposed uphole of the first seat. The tubing is pressure tested by applying pressure down the tubing against the wiper plug with the collar seated in the second seat. Fluid communication is then established through the flow bore downhole of the wiper plug, the first seat, and the second seat by removing the collar from the wiper plug. This can create the wet shoe track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Craig A. Wright, Zachary S. Trine
  • Patent number: 11859484
    Abstract: A method for enhancing productivity of a stratified subterranean wellbore includes introducing a mixture including water and a first set of nanoparticles reactive to high frequency acoustic waves having a size ranging from about 10 to 100 nm to a first target zone, located in a high permeability layer of the stratified subterranean wellbore. A first stimulation including acoustic waves having a frequency range of 1 kHz to 10 kHz is provided to the first set of nanoparticles to promote reacting. Then, a mixture including water and a second set of nanoparticles having a size ranging from about 1 to 10 nm is introduced to a second target zone, located in a medium permeability layer of the stratified subterranean wellbore. A second stimulation including acoustic waves having a frequency range of 100 Hz to 1 kHz is provided to the second set of nanoparticles to promote reacting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Abdulaziz S. Al-Qasim, Subhash C. Ayirala, Dong Kyu Cha
  • Patent number: 11859490
    Abstract: An apparatus for use in fracturing wells includes a body defining and coupled to a wellhead of a well extending through a subsurface formation with the flow path being in communication with a wellbore of the well. The apparatus includes a flow meter in communication with the flow path and configured to measure a flow attribute of fluid from the wellbore along the flow path. The apparatus further includes a computing device communicatively coupled to the flow meter. The computing device is operable to receive a flow attribute measurement from the flow meter and to transmit an indicator in response to determining that the flow attribute measurement indicates interaction of a fracture in the subsurface formation with the well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Devon Energy Corporation
    Inventors: Kyle L. Haustveit, Brett J. Green
  • Patent number: 11859492
    Abstract: A fracbot for fracturing a formation includes a drill bit; a rotary swivel configured to rotate the drill bit; a motor; a battery; and a coating encompassing the fracbot. The motor is configured to induce vibrations that create a spiral movement of the fracbot. The spiral movement of the fracbot allows the fracbot to traverse existing fractures in the formation including a first fracture and a second fracture. The battery is configured to power the fracbot. The coating is configured to dissolve at a predefined temperature. The fracbot is configured to create a channel that connects the first fracture and the second fracture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventor: Abdullah Mohammed BinZiad