Patents Examined by Douglas S Wood
  • Stimulating u-shape wellbores
    Patent number: 10612355
    Abstract: A cylindrical drum with a fluid inlet is configured to be connected to a downhole end of a fluid conduit. The cylindrical drum has an outer surface along which is the fluid inlet. The cylindrical drum has a center and an inner surface. Fluid nozzles fluidically connect to an interior of the cylindrical drum and are positioned around the outer circumference of the cylindrical drum. The fluid nozzles are positioned to direct fluid away from the cylindrical drum. A rotatable collar is positioned in the center of the cylindrical drum. The rotatable collar has an outer surface parallel to the inner surface of the cylindrical drum. Sleeve plates are positioned between the inner surface of the cylindrical drum and the outer surface of the rotatable collar. Each of the sleeve plates defines a hole with a diameter smaller than a diameter of a corresponding dropped ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Khalid Mohammed M Alruwaili, Mohamed Nabil Noui-Mehidi
  • Latch assembly using on-board miniature hydraulics for RCD applications
    Patent number: 10605038
    Abstract: A latch assembly is described for use with a rotating control device. The rotating control device provides a rotating seal to permit pressure control in an annulus surrounding a rotating tubular member such as a drill string in an offshore drilling operation. The latch assembly is operable to engage and disengage a body of the rotating control device from a remote surface location by wireless communication. An on-board actuation system is carried by the latch assembly such that no energy lines (hydraulic or otherwise) are required to couple the latch assembly to the surface location. The latch assembly may include both an operating latch mechanism and a running latch mechanism to selectively couple the latch assembly to one or both of the body of the rotating control device and a tubular member such as a drill string or other conveyance for running and pulling operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher J. Chau, Christopher Allen Grace, Raymond Ronald Bullock, Jameel Ahmad Khan
  • Hydraulically assisted shear bolt
    Patent number: 10597978
    Abstract: A shear bolt can include a body having a shear portion. A port in the body may be used for introducing a fluid into the body. A core disposed in the body may include a chamber at least partially surrounded by the shear portion. A fluid pressure in the chamber and exerted against the shear portion may be increasable in response to the fluid being introduced through the port, such as to increase an amount of stress in the shear portion and prime the shear bolt for shearing. Additionally or alternatively, a support structure positioned in the chamber may be frangible to reduce support to the shear portion in response to the fluid being introduced through the port, for example, to contribute to priming the shear bolt for shearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Christian Alexander Jelly, Cole Alexander Benson
  • Fuel cells for powering well stimulation equipment
    Patent number: 10577910
    Abstract: In accordance with presently disclosed embodiments, a system and method for using fuel cells to generate electricity for powering well stimulation equipment (e.g., high pressure hydraulic pumping units) at a well stimulation site are provided. The fuel cells may be coupled to the stimulation equipment via a DC/AC converter and, in some embodiments, via a variable frequency drive (VFD). The fuel cells may be arranged in a fuel cell stack that is used to generate electricity to power various electrical devices (e.g., electric motors) on the equipment. The fuel cells generally operate at higher efficiencies than is available through the use of diesel engines. In addition, the fuel cells may require less frequent refueling and provide a more centrally located area for refueling, lower emissions, and quieter operations than are currently available using diesel engines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Stanley Vernon Stephenson
  • Smart seal methods and systems
    Patent number: 10570689
    Abstract: An apparatus for monitoring the condition of a seal, such as a seal in a blowout preventer or in another oilfield device, is provided. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a blowout preventer including a seal and a blowout preventer seal-monitoring system that includes a sensor positioned within a body of the seal and a data analyzer. The data analyzer has a processor and is configured to monitor a condition of the seal through analysis of data received by the data analyzer from the sensor positioned within the body of the seal. Additional systems, devices, and methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: CAMERON INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Andrew Jaffrey
  • Reclosable multi-zone isolation using a piston assembly having a lock out feature
    Patent number: 10570687
    Abstract: A reclosable multi-zone isolation tool including a piston assembly with a lock out feature. The tool has an outer and inner tubular having an annular flow path defined there between, and a central flow path defined by the inner tubular. The annular flow path is in fluid communication with the first zone, while the central flow path is in fluid communication with the second zone. A sleeve is positioned in the annular flow path and axially moveable between an open and closed position. A mandrel is positioned within the inner tubular and coupled to the sleeve to actuate the sleeve between the open and closed position. A pressure responsive piston assembly is coupled to the mandrel in order to actuate the sleeve to the open position. Once in the open position, the piston assembly is “locked out,” thereby allowing the mandrel and sleeve to move relative to the piston between the open and closed positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Jason Earl Davis, William David Henderson
  • Compact hydrocarbon wellstream processing
    Patent number: 10563496
    Abstract: A system for offshore hydrocarbon processing may include a host at surface level, a subsea processing plant, and an umbilical connecting the host and the subsea processing plant. The subsea processing plant may be adapted to receive a multi-phase hydrocarbon stream from a wellhead and to output at least a hydrocarbon gas-phase stream satisfying a rich gas pipeline transportation specification to a pipeline. The umbilical provides a desiccant for drying the hydrocarbon gas, as well as power and control, from the host to the subsea processing plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: EQUINOR ENERGY AS
    Inventors: Gry Pedersen Kojen, Lars Henrik Gjertsen, Andrea Carolina Machado Miguens, Arne Olav Fredheim, Cecille Gotaas Johnsen, Knut Arild Maråk
  • Connector assemblies
    Patent number: 10557522
    Abstract: A connector assembly includes a shank having an inner abutment proximate to an inner extremity, and an outer abutment proximate to an outer extremity. A connector includes an inner loop that encircles the shank between the inner abutment and the outer abutment and that is movable reciprocally along the shank, a first portion that extends outwardly from the inner loop to a second portion that extends from the first portion past the outer extremity and the abutment to a third portion that extends inwardly and forwardly from the second portion to a pivotally mountable outer loop. Tensioned compression springs encircle the shank between the inner abutment and the inner loop, and act between the inner abutment and the inner loop urging the inner loop toward the outer abutment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Inventor: William G. Trout
  • Drill bit having shaped leading cutter and impregnated backup cutter
    Patent number: 10550644
    Abstract: A bit for drilling a wellbore includes: a shank having a coupling formed at an upper end thereof; a body mounted to a lower end of the shank; and a cutting face forming a lower end of the bit. The cutting face includes: a blade protruding from the body; a leading cutter including: a substrate mounted in a pocket formed in a leading edge of the blade; and a cutting table made from a superhard material, mounted to the substrate, and having a non-planar working face with a cutting feature; and a backup cutter mounted in a lower face of the blade at a position trailing the leading cutter and made from a composite material including a ceramic or cermet matrix impregnated with a superhard material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: VAREL INTERNATIONAL IND., LLC.
    Inventors: Steven Wayne Drews, Peter Clark Wilson
  • Control arrangement of an exhaust-gas turbocharger
    Patent number: 10508593
    Abstract: A control arrangement (9) of an exhaust-gas turbocharger (1), having a regulating unit (4) which has a regulating rod (5), and having a guide piece (6) which is connected to a free end region (8) of the regulating rod (5). The free end region (8) is connected to the guide piece (6) by way of a spring clip (10) which engages around the free end region (8) and which is clamped to the guide piece (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: Johann Niedens, Ingo Dietrich
  • Subsea rotating control device apparatus having debris barrier
    Patent number: 10494877
    Abstract: A riser apparatus includes a riser section and a flow control device. The riser section is disposed on a riser. The flow control device's body installs in the riser section. The assembly may install between uphole and downhole side ports, which may be interconnected by bypass piping and an intermediate device, such as a pump. At least one annular seal rotatably supported by bearings in the body's inner bore can engage a tubular passing therethrough and can seal an annulus therebetween. In one example, pressure uphole of the annular seal may be kept greater than downhole pressure. A debris barrier disposed on the uphole end of the body covers an annular area from an outer perimeter at the exterior of the body toward a central opening at the inner bore. The debris barrier prevents debris, such as drilling cuttings, uphole of the debris barrier from entering into the body's inner bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC
    Inventor: Jacob A. Barela
  • Jet perforating device for creating a wide diameter perforation
    Patent number: 10480295
    Abstract: An explosive charge assembly comprises a housing, a liner disposed on a face of an explosive charge, an opening through the liner disposed at the apex, and a lip disposed around the perimeter of the opening. The liner forms an apex and a mouth opposite the apex, and the liner and the explosive charge are disposed in the housing. The explosive charge is disposed between the liner and the housing, and the lip extends from the liner in a direction towards the mouth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Jerry L. Walker, Jason Paul Metzger, Gerald Graves Craddock, Jr.
  • Shear rams for a blowout preventer
    Patent number: 10472915
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system that includes a shearing ram configured to mount in a blowout preventer, wherein the shearing ram includes a body portion with a tapered surface, where the body portion includes a first hardness, and a ledge extending from an end of the tapered surface to form an edge, where the ledge includes a second hardness, greater than the first hardness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: CAMERON INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jeffrey Lambert, Raul Araujo, Carl Haenel
  • Trim for choke
    Patent number: 10472923
    Abstract: A fluid choke may include a housing and a shuttle configured to move within an interior chamber of the housing. The housing may have a fluid inlet channel and a fluid outlet channel. The shuttle may have a gate connected to an end of the shuttle and the gate may be configured to mate with a seat located in the housing at the fluid outlet channel. The shuttle may be moved within the interior chamber by a pressurized hydraulic fluid configured to apply a hydraulic pressure to a peripheral portion of the shuttle, an inner portion of the shuttle, and the gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: M-I L.L.C.
    Inventors: Shiva Phani Kapavarapu, Christopher Nicholson, Charles Patrick
  • Thread form for connector collar of offshore well riser pipe
    Patent number: 10465451
    Abstract: A pipe connection includes a pin having circumferentially extending external grooves. A box has an annular base with deflectable fingers extending upward from the base. Each of the fingers has circumferentially extending internal grooves on an inner side and an external thread on an outer side. A collar has an internal thread on an inner side. A radial dimension from the axis to the internal thread crest decreases from turn to turn of the internal thread in a downward direction. The box and the pin are movable from a stab-in position to a locked position in response to rotation of the collar. In the locked position, the external thread crests are in engagement with the internal thread crests, and the internal grooves are in full engagement with the external grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: VETCO GRAY, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph W. Pallini, Rockford D. Lyle
  • Riser top connector
    Patent number: 10450810
    Abstract: A riser top connector assembly (20) is shown. The assembly (20) includes a first connector part (21) arranged on a flexible jumper prepared for connection with a second connector part (40) arranged on top of a marine riser tower assembly projecting from the seabed. The first connector part (21) is provided with suspension means adapted to engage with supporting means in order to be supported and be able to tilt in the marine riser tower assembly. The first connector part (21) includes a housing (22) that receives an extendable termination hub (23) having a clamp connector (24) attached thereto. The jumper termination hub (23) is alignable with a riser hub (44) on the second connector part (40) when the first connector part (21) is being tilted relative to the marine riser tower assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Aker Solutions AS
    Inventor: Morten Rengman Mørck
  • Seal for a joint assembly
    Patent number: 10443729
    Abstract: A spring seal for a joint assembly pivotally joining a lever arm to a machine frame includes an annular body having a W-shaped cross section. The W-shaped cross section includes a first cantilevered arm, a parallel and spaced apart second cantilevered arm, and a spring leg joining the first and second cantilevered arms. The spring seal is disposed between a bearing surface on the lever arm and a lug on the frame. The W-shaped cross section of the spring seal can collapse and relax to accommodate movement between the lever arm and the frame lug. A second spring seal can be disposed between a second bearing surface on the lever arm and a second frame lug opposite the first lug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Pradeep Chapagain, Sunil I. Mathew, Charles Taylor Hudson
  • Systems and methods for wirelessly monitoring well integrity
    Patent number: 10436012
    Abstract: A well integrity monitoring system may include one or more sensing elements that are configured to generate feedback indicative of an integrity of a well. The one or more sensing elements may be disposed in at least one annulus of wellhead assembly. Additionally, the well integrity monitoring system may include a controller coupled to the wellhead assembly. The controller may be configured to wirelessly determine the feedback from the one or more sensing elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: ONESUBSEA IP UK LIMITED
    Inventors: James Ernest Stephens, Aleksander Pawel Cywinski
  • Reverse circulation well tool
    Patent number: 10428607
    Abstract: A crossover sub includes a tubular housing connected to a drill string in a wellbore, a sealing structure to seal against a wellbore wall, and a sleeve valve disposed within the housing and movable between a closed position and an open position in response to a fluid pressure in a first flow chamber or second, separate flow chamber of the housing. The first flow chamber fluidly connects an upper annulus of the wellbore to a central bore of the drill string downhole of the crossover sub. The second flow chamber fluidly connects a central bore of the drill string uphole of the sealing structure to a lower annulus of the wellbore. The sleeve valve closes the second flow chamber in response to the sleeve valve being in the closed position, and opens the second flow chamber in response to the sleeve valve being in the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventor: Shaohua Zhou
  • Modular manifold
    Patent number: 10400528
    Abstract: A technique facilitates controlling fluid flows with a modular manifold. The modular manifold has a manifold base which is positioned at a desired surface or subsea location. Various types of modular units may be deployed to and/or retrieved from the manifold base according to the desired control of fluid flows with respect to a well or a plurality of wells. Each modular unit may be selectively coupled or decoupled along the manifold base to adjust the configuration of the manifold for a given job or over time to accommodate changing conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: OneSubsea IP UK Limited
    Inventors: Akshay Kalia, Tyler Skowronek, Fernando Saenz, Adriano Pinho