Patents Examined by David Carroll
  • Pulsed-power drill bit ground ring with variable outer diameter
    Patent number: 11225836
    Abstract: A disclosed pulsed-power drill bit includes a bit body, an electrode coupled to the bit body and having a distal portion, a ground ring coupled to the bit body and having a distal portion for engaging with sidewall surfaces of a wellbore and defining an outer diameter of the ground ring, and actuatable, electrically conductive fins each coupled to the ground ring such that the fin and the distal portion of the ground ring are electrically continuous. Each fin is positioned such that when actuated, a distal portion of the fin is extended in a direction away from the bit body, increasing the effective outer diameter of the ground ring, or is retracted, decreasing the effective outer diameter of the ground ring. The fins may be spring loaded within a track, channel, or slot between fluid flow ports and may be actuated individually or collectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Jacob H. Kronman
  • Laser cutting tool
    Patent number: 11220876
    Abstract: An example laser tool is configured to operate within a casing or liner in wellbore of a hydrocarbon-bearing rock formation. The tool is configured to cut sections into the casing or liner material. The cut sections may break off or may be broken off using a breaking tool. The sections may be cut in a region of the casing or liner that includes a kick-off point for sidetracking operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventor: Omar Mohammed Al Obaid
  • System and method for controlling a downhole operation using a clutch tool
    Patent number: 11215015
    Abstract: A clutch tool includes a housing that is non-rotatable with respect to the first section of the work string and comprising inner grooves. The clutch tool also includes an inner mandrel that is non-rotatable with respect to the second section of the work string. The inner mandrel includes outer grooves that extend along only an axial portion of the inner mandrel. Further, the inner mandrel includes a torque transition area opening from the outer grooves and extending completely around the inner mandrel. The clutch tool also includes a torque sleeve comprising inner protrusions engageable with the outer grooves and outer protrusions engageable with the outer grooves, the outer protrusions being angled. Moreover, the clutch tool includes a biasing device to bias the inner protrusions of the torque sleeve into engagement with the outer grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Ricardo A. Guerrero
  • Downhole tubular system, downhole tubular and method of forming a control line passageway at a tubular
    Patent number: 11208850
    Abstract: A downhole tubular system including a tubular defining a wall having an inner radial surface and an outer radial surface, the outer radial surface having a circumferential channel formed therein extending 360 degrees defining a punch portion, the inner radial surface defining an inner bore; a sleeve attachable around the tubular; and at least a portion of a control fluid chamber passageway defined between the sleeve and the outer radial surface, the wall occluding fluidic communication between the control line passageway and the inner bore until the punch portion has been punctured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES OILFIELD OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: John Burris
  • Cutting element for casing bit
    Patent number: 11208848
    Abstract: A downhole tool, or earth-boring bit, for use in disintegrating structures in a cased wellbore includes a tool body having a central axis about which the tool body rotates and an outermost gage surface on the tool body. At least one gage cutting element on the gage surface has a blunt outermost projection and a sharp cutting edge recessed from the blunt outermost projection, wherein, during rotation of the tool body, the blunt outermost surface contacts the cased wellbore and the sharp cutting edge does not. The blunt outermost projection may be on a leading element while the sharp cutting edge is on a separate, trailing element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Klear Bit Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Jacob Wendt, Neal Bowden
  • Auger arrangement
    Patent number: 11208852
    Abstract: The invention relates to an auger arrangement and a method for forming an auger arrangement having a first drill part and a second drill part which are of tubular or bar-shaped design and in which at least one drill part is provided on its external side with an auger flight, wherein on at least one of their end regions the drill parts have matching connecting sections, wherein a first connecting section is designed as a sleeve-like female part with keyway elements and a second connecting section is designed as a mandrel-like male part with keyway elements, wherein male part and female part are plugged axially into each other to form a releasable, torque-proof connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: BAUER Spezialtiefbau GmbH
    Inventor: Konrad Heckl
  • Percussion drill bit with at least one wear insert, related systems, and methods
    Patent number: 11203903
    Abstract: Various drill bits, drilling systems and related methods are provided. In one embodiment, a drill bit comprises a bit body having a face and a shank, at least one insert having a convex engagement surface coupled with the face and at least one wear insert coupled with the shank. In one particular embodiment, the at least one wear insert may be positioned immediately adjacent a coupling end of the shank. The at least one wear insert may include a superabrasive table which may be bonded with a substrate. The at least one wear insert includes a wear surface defined in the superabrasive table. In one embodiment, the superabrasive table may comprise polycrystalline diamond. Similarly, the inset having a convex engagement surface may include a superabrasive material, such as polycrystalline diamond, bonded with a substrate. Such a drill bit may be used, for example, in a top hammer percussion drilling operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: APERGY BMCS ACQUISITION CORPORATION
    Inventors: Grant K. Daniels, Nathan A. Tulett
  • Equalizing device for safety valves
    Patent number: 11203917
    Abstract: A subsurface safety valve for controlling fluid flow in a well conduit incorporating a pressure equalizing feature. The safety valve includes a body member having a longitudinal bore, a valve actuator having axial movement within the longitudinal bore and a valve that restricts flow through the longitudinal bore. An equalization fluid flow passageway provides a fluid path between the longitudinal bore above the valve and the longitudinal bore below the valve. An equalizing device is located within the equalization fluid flow passageway and configured to resist sand and debris effects on its operation, the equalizing device regulating flow through the equalization fluid flow passageway and operated by the valve actuator prior to opening the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: James Dan Vick, Jr., Cody Loy Campbell, Jimmie Robert Williamson, Bharat B. Pawar
  • Module for housing components on a downhole tool
    Patent number: 11199087
    Abstract: Aspects of the subject technology relate to a component module for a downhole tool. The component module can include a platform for components for use in the downhole tool, an enclosure covering the platform for components, wherein the enclosure is configured to fit within a pocket of the downhole tool, and an elastomer layer surrounding at least one portion of the enclosure and preventing the at least one portion of the enclosure from touching the pocket of the downhole tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Michael Dewayne Finke, Brian David Breaux
  • Self initiating bend motor for coil tubing drilling
    Patent number: 11193331
    Abstract: A drilling system and method of drilling a wellbore. The drilling system includes a tubing, an orientation device affixed to the tubing, a drilling sub having a housing having a first section and a second section, wherein the first section is coupled to a movable element of the orientation device, a shaft disposed in the housing, the shaft coupled to the drive and to the drill bit, and a pivot member coupled to the first section and second section of the housing. The second section of the housing tilts relative to the first section of the housing about the pivot member when the orientation device is rotationally stationary to allow drilling of a curved section of the wellbore. Rotation of the housing via the orientation device reduces the tilt between the first section and the second section to allow for drilling of a straight section of the wellbore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES OILFIELD OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Volker Peters, Andreas Peter
  • Valve apparatus
    Patent number: 11193351
    Abstract: A valve apparatus, such as a downhole valve apparatus, includes a housing having a flow path therein and a valve member mounted within the housing and being operable between closed and open configurations to control flow along the flow path. An actuator assembly is moveable from a first position to a second position to sequentially perform first and second actuation functions, the first actuation function being associated with the operation of an auxiliary system, and the second actuation function opening the valve member from its closed configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: WELLENG SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY LTD.
    Inventors: Peter Barnes Moyes, Stefan Neil Lewis Stewart
  • Downhole tool system and methods related thereto
    Patent number: 11180972
    Abstract: The disclosed is a method of isolating zones in a wellbore and tools thereof, specifically implementing a slip carrier with tongue and groove design purposed to secure an anchor, including parts with different durometers additionally with a nose cone on a bridge plug/frac plug to be able to displace sand between plugs, and a mandrel with a J-latch system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Inventor: Stanley Keeling
  • Tubing tester valve and associated methods
    Patent number: 11174705
    Abstract: A valve assembly can include a flow passage extending between an uphole end and a downhole end of the valve assembly, a flapper that pivots between an open position and a closed position, and a pump operable to pivot the flapper, the pump being positioned between the flapper and the downhole end. A method of testing a completion tubing string can include increasing pressure in the completion tubing string while a closure member of a valve assembly is in a closed position, thereby testing a pressure integrity of the completion tubing string on an uphole side of the closure member, and transmitting a pressure signal via a flow passage to a pressure sensor of the valve assembly, thereby causing the closure member to displace to an open position, the pressure sensor being connected to an electronic circuit positioned on a downhole side of the closure member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Iain D. Coates, Mark K. Presslie, Paul Day
  • Dual flapper isolation valve
    Patent number: 11174702
    Abstract: A downhole tool includes an upper flow tube connected to a lower flow tube, an upper flapper sub-assembly including an upper flapper, and a lower flapper sub-assembly including a lower flapper. The upper and lower flapper sub-assemblies are installed with respect to the upper and lower flow tubes in an “O” configuration such that the upper and lower flapper sub-assemblies are in a closed position. The upper and lower flapper sub-assemblies are capable of being independently actuated. The upper and lower flow tubes remain stationary when the upper flapper sub-assembly or the lower flapper sub-assembly is actuated from the closed position to an open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Marco Quilico, Jason Henry, Ignacio Marquez, Garis McCutcheon, Geoffrey Pinard
  • Sucker rod guides
    Patent number: 11174688
    Abstract: A sucker rod guide having low friction and high wear resistance is disclosed herein, along with a fluid extraction system comprising the same. At least a part of the exterior surface of the sucker rod guide is formed from a cold worked and spinodally-hardenable or spinodally-hardened copper alloy comprising from about 5 to about 20 wt % nickel, and from about 5 to about 10 wt % tin, the remaining balance being copper, and having a 0.2% offset yield strength of at least 75 ksi. The guide includes a smoothbore adapted to surround and engage the surface of a sucker rod. The exterior surface of the guide can include grooves miming between the two ends. In particular embodiments, the guide is made by joining together two identical guide segments. In other embodiments, the guide is a single integral piece molded around a sucker rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: Materion Corporation
    Inventors: Fritz C. Grensing, Christopher W. Damschroder, Michael J. Gedeon, Diane M. Nielsen, William D. Nielsen
  • Seal configuration for downhole reciprocating pumps
    Patent number: 11168550
    Abstract: A downhole reciprocating pump configured for deployment within a tubing string. The reciprocating pump includes a pump barrel, a plunger inside the pump barrel, a lower seating nipple connected within a lower portion of the tubing string and a lower hold-down connected to the pump barrel. The lower hold-down is configured for a mechanical latching engagement with the lower seating nipple. The reciprocating pump also includes an upper seating nipple connected within the tubing string above the lower seating nipple. The upper seating nipple is longer than the lower seating nipple. The reciprocating pump further includes an upper hold-down that has one or more seals that contact an interior surface of the upper seating nipple.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: Ravdos Holdings Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron Michalec, Remigio Quinto, Joseph Ford, Girish Kshirsagar
  • Seal apparatus and methods of use
    Patent number: 11168536
    Abstract: A seal apparatus and method of use is described. The apparatus comprises a seal assembly comprising a plurality of seal elements assembled together to form a ring structure around a longitudinal axis. The ring structure is operable to be moved between an expanded condition and a collapsed condition by movement of the plurality of seal elements. The plurality of seal elements is operable to be moved between the expanded and collapsed conditions by sliding with respect to one another along respective contact surfaces. Each of the plurality of seal elements is each formed from a compliant, compressible or resilient material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Gareth Edward George Brown
  • Acid fracturing treatments in hydrocarbon-bearing formations in close proximity to wet zones
    Patent number: 11162344
    Abstract: System, methods, and devices for simultaneously fracturing a target formation and an adjacent secondary formation are disclosed. The simultaneous fracturing operations interfere with each other to form in-situ dynamic barriers. The in-situ barriers prevent acid from the fracturing treatment in the target formation from invading the secondary formation and, in some instances, sealing formation rock at the location of the in-situ barrier to prevent or reduce water movement from the secondary formation into the primary formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventor: Moataz Mohammad Alharbi
  • Electric submersible pump (ESP) intake centralization
    Patent number: 11162338
    Abstract: An electric submersible pump (ESP) assembly. The ESP assembly comprises a pump intake defining a plurality of intake ports disposed circumferentially around the pump intake, a first plurality of centralizer wings disposed radially about the pump intake on a downhole side of the intake ports, a second plurality of centralizer wings disposed radially about the pump intake on an uphole side of the intake ports, and a self-orienting sleeve disposed around the intake ports, captured by the first and second plurality of centralizer wings, and free to hang down on upward facing intake ports when the ESP assembly is disposed in a horizontal or offset position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Donn J. Brown, Casey Laine Newport
  • Well abandonment
    Patent number: 11156049
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for removing a section of well tubing. The well tubing (24) is milled in an upward direction on a hydraulic tensioning device (14) which maintains a constant load on the section mill so that long sections of tubing can be removed in a near continuous procedure on a single trip into the well. The hydraulic device includes an indicator (30) to provide a signal as the device nears each end of a stroke to inform a user that: the section mill is about to bottom out and the work string needs to be raised to extend the device; and the device is fully extended and can begin another stroke. Embodiments are described for use in a rigless well abandonment procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: ARDYNE HOLDINGS LIMITED
    Inventors: George Telfer, Michael Wardley, James Linklater, Wojciech Buczak