Patents Examined by Elizabeth Gitlin
  • Patent number: 9771760
    Abstract: A rotary drill bit may include a bit body rotatable about a central axis. The rotary drill bit may also include at least one cutting element coupled to the bit body. The at least one cutting element may have a cutting face, a cutting edge adjacent the cutting face, and a back surface opposite the cutting face. The at least one cutting element may be oriented so that a substantial portion of the cutting edge has a positive clearance angle, which may be defined by a first vector that is normal to the cutting face and a second vector that is tangential to a helical path traveled by the cutting edge during drilling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: DOVER BMCS ACQUISITION CORPORATION
    Inventors: E. Sean Cox, Russell Roy Myers
  • Patent number: 9670735
    Abstract: A drilling assembly for simultaneous hole enlargement operations comprises a drill bit, an adjustable diameter reamer, and a hole opener. The reamer is coupled with, and positioned uphole from the drill bit. The reamer is adjustable between a first diameter and a second diameter that is larger than the first diameter. The hole opener is coupled with, and positioned uphole from the reamer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Luk Servaes, Stefano Mancini
  • Patent number: 9664815
    Abstract: A method and system for transmitting data through a transmission medium in a wellbore. A surface transceiver and a subsurface transceiver are each configured to selectively transmit over a plurality of transmission channels. The surface transceiver is adapted to initialize a channel to determine at least one parameter affecting the current maximum data rate for transmission of information through the channel using a given transmission methodology. At least one of the channels uses carrierless phase/amplitude (CAP) modulation for its transmission methodology. The surface transceiver and the subsurface transceiver adapt to cooperatively periodically test a channel by transmission of a calibration signal from the subsurface transceiver to the surface transceiver. Control circuitry compares the received calibration signal with the calibration signal, responding to the result of the comparison to adjust at least one parameter as necessary to achieve an optimum rate of data transmission through said channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Otto N. Fanini, Raman Viswanathan, Jorge Omar Maxit, Harold Andrade
  • Patent number: 9644478
    Abstract: A sampling assembly of a single packer assembly may have more guard drains than sampling drains. The single packer assembly having the sampling assembly may be deployed in a wellbore formed in a subterranean formation, and the single packer assembly may be deployed on a wireline cable or another deployment or conveyance. The number and the area of the sampling drains, the number and the area of the guard drains, and the positions of the sampling drains and the guard drains may be designed so that the guard drains which are operational may provide a fluid intake rate exceeding a predetermined threshold if one of the guard drains is congested and/or blocked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Pierre-Yves Corre, Stephane Metayer, Alexander F. Zazovsky, Stephen Yeldell, Darya Mustafina
  • Patent number: 9637991
    Abstract: A method of running a bore-lining tubing string into a bore includes running a tubing string, typically a liner string, into a bore while agitating the string. The agitation may also take place while the tubing is being cemented in the bore. Pressure pulses may be applied to fluid in the bore, which fluid may be cement slurry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: NOV DOWNHOLE EURASIA LIMITED
    Inventors: Alan Martyn Eddison, Leslie Robertson, Richard Alexander Innes
  • Patent number: 9631482
    Abstract: Methods for communicatively coupling components at down-hole locations within a wellbore include introducing first and second cables through which signals are transmissible into the wellbore. Terminal ends of the cables are coarsely aligned by coupling connector housings associated with the cables within the wellbore. The terminal ends are then finely aligned by activating motors to move at least one of the terminal ends within the connector housings until a signal of sufficient strength is transmissible between the first and second cables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventor: Brian A. Roth
  • Patent number: 9631431
    Abstract: A WD sidewall coring tool includes: an outer cylinder set (34); a retrieving mechanism (35); a drilling sealer mechanism (36); a power mechanism (37); and a coring mechanism (38); wherein the outer cylinder set (34) includes a stabilizer (1), a limiting connector (22), and a turning connector (23) connected in sequence; wherein the retrieving mechanism (35) includes a retrieving cylinder (39), a retrieving head set (40), and a steel rope (33); wherein the drilling sealer mechanism (36) includes a connecting rod (28), a universal joint (24), a plug sleeve (29), and a sealing plug (30); wherein the power mechanism (37) includes a flat thrust bearing (17), a screw stator (18), a screw rotor (19), a limiting piston (20), and a first spring (21); wherein the coring mechanism (38) includes a coring cylinder (25), a core grabber (26), and a coring bit (27).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: DRILLING & PRODUCTION ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF CNPC CHUANGQING DRILLING EXPLORATION COMPANY
    Inventors: Li Chen, Xiaobin Chen, Pan Hu, Juan Lv
  • Patent number: 9631484
    Abstract: A drilling system that may include a drilling element for drilling a hole in a geological formation; a sensor module arranged to collect information about the drilling; a transmitter that is arranged to receive the information from the sensor module, amplify the information by a super-capacitor amplifier to provide amplified information and to provide the amplified information to a first element and to a second element of an antenna, the first and second elements of the antenna are located at two opposite sides of a band gap; wherein the antenna is arranged to transmit the amplified information via the geological formation; wherein the super-capacitor amplifier comprises a plurality of switched capacitor converters, each switched capacitor converter comprises a plurality of converter stages, each converter stage comprises capacitors and switches that are arranged to perform a current amplification of an input signal; wherein each converter stage is arranged to operate with alternating charge cycles and discha
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: R&B Industrial Supply Co.
    Inventors: Vladimir Rozenblit, Vadim Buryakovsky, Lawrence Chang-Yung Wang, Yevgeniy Filipp Fiterman
  • Patent number: 9605505
    Abstract: A remotely operated lifting top drive cement head has a high tensile strength and the ability to swivel or rotate. The cement head permits selective launching of darts, setting plugs, balls or other objects which can be held in place within the cement head without being damaged or washed away by slurry flow, but which can be launched as desired. The cement head can be remotely operated without requiring personnel to be lifted off the rig floor to actuate the tool or observe tool status.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Blackhawk Specialty Tools, LLC
    Inventors: Ron D. Robichaux, James F. Giebeler, Juan Carlos E. Mondelli
  • Patent number: 9605512
    Abstract: A distributed combined cooling, heating and power energy system for gas extraction in a coal mining area, which belongs to an energy system for gas production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: China University of Mining and Technology
    Inventors: Baiquan Lin, Qingzhao Li
  • Patent number: 9593542
    Abstract: A rupture disc assembly and a float tool incorporating the rupture disc assembly is disclosed. The rupture disc assembly may include a rupture disc assembly comprising a rupture disc, an upper tubular portion and a lower tubular portion, and a securing mechanism for holding the rupture disc between the upper and lower tubular portions. A float tool for creating a buoyant chamber in a casing string may include the rupture disc assembly and a sealing device for sealing the lower end of the casing string, the buoyant, sealed chamber may be created there between. In operation, applied fluid pressure causes the rupture disc to move downward. The rupture disc may be shattered by contact with a surface on the lower tubular portion. Full casing internal diameter may be restored in the region where the rupture disc formerly sealed the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: NCS Multistage Inc.
    Inventors: Donald Getzlaf, Marty Stromquist, John Ravensbergen, David Devlin, Doulgas Braden, Travis Harris
  • Patent number: 9580998
    Abstract: A method for recovering gases and/or liquids stored within one or more gas and/or liquid reservoirs comprising locating the upper consolidated boundary of the one or more gas and/or liquid reservoirs; drilling an access well which extends downwardly to at least adjacent the upper consolidated boundary of the one or more gas and/or liquid reservoirs; drilling a section of the access well extending along or adjacent at least a portion of the upper consolidated boundary of the one or more gas and/or liquid reservoirs; creating permeability pathways into the one or more gas and/or liquid reservoirs to enable the release of gas and/or liquid from the one or more gas and/or liquid reservoirs into the access well; and recovering the released gas and/or liquid through the access well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: CFT Technologies (HK) Limited
    Inventors: Emmanuel Foundas, Rodney Michael Bresnehan
  • Patent number: 9575495
    Abstract: A method of hydraulic fracturing of an oil producing formation includes the provision of a heating apparatus which is transportable and that has a vessel for containing water. The method contemplates heating the water up to a temperature of about 200° F. (93.3° C.). A water stream of cool or cold water is transmitted from a source to a mixer, the cool water stream being at ambient temperature. The mixer has an inlet that receives cool or cold water from the source and an outlet that enables a discharge of a mix of cool or cold water and the hot water. After mixing in the mixer, the water assumes a temperature that is suitable for mixing with chemicals that are used in the fracturing process, such as a temperature of about 40°-120° F.+ (4.4-48.9° C.+). An outlet discharges a mix of the cool and hot water to surge tanks or to mixing tanks. In the mixing tanks, a proppant and an optional selected chemical or chemicals are added to the water which has been warmed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: HEAT ON-THE-FLY, LLC
    Inventor: Ransom Mark Hefley
  • Patent number: 9574433
    Abstract: A method and system determines the performance index of subterranean rock. A performance index is determined for subterranean rock of an area. The area includes a well. A time period is determined during producing the well. The performance index is also determined from data of the time period from the equation PI=(q/dd)*(cum./GPI). The term PI is the performance index, and the term q is the average daily rate of the well for the time period. The term dd is the average drawdown per day of the well for the time period, and the term cum. is the cumulative production of the well for the time period. The term GPI is the gross perforated interval of the well for the time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Petrohawk Properties, LP
    Inventor: Damon Bennett
  • Patent number: 9574406
    Abstract: A completion system comprises tubular components coupled together to form a completion string. In-flow control devices are provided to permit selective fluid communication between an internal bore of the completion string and the annulus. A reaming tool is provided at a leading end of the completion string and the reaming tool is run into the borehole with the completion string. The reaming tool comprises a fluid-powered drive unit, a reaming body and a reaming nose. In use, the completion string is located in the borehole and fluid is directed to the reaming tool to facilitate reaming of the borehole. A second tubular in the form of a washpipe may extend through an internal bore of the completion string for providing fluid to the reaming tool. The reaming tool is operable at a fluid pressure below a pressure which would activate the in-flow control devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Deep Casing Tools, Ltd.
    Inventors: Lance S. Davis, Edward D. Scott, Mark W. Presslie
  • Patent number: 9574938
    Abstract: An optical fluid analyzer tool may have an evaluation flowline which receives a flow of fluid from a geotechnical formation and may have a cleanup flowline which receives another flow of fluid from the geotechnical formation. A flow routing system may be connected to the evaluation flowline and may be connected to the cleanup flowline. The flow routing system may establish isolated flow or commingled flow for the evaluation flowline and may establish isolated flow or commingled flow for the cleanup flowline. A sample chamber may be connected to the evaluation flowline and may be connected to the cleanup flowline. A first pump module may draw the fluid from the geotechnical formation, and an optical fluid analyzer connected to the cleanup flowline and the evaluation flowline may analyze the fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Alexander F. Zazovsky, Mark Milkovisch, Toru Terabayashi
  • Patent number: 9567806
    Abstract: A drilling bucket for drilling a bore hole in the ground including a hollow cylindrical body and at least one cutting tool arranged at a lower side of the hollow cylindrical body for cutting soil material. The hollow cylindrical body has a lower opening for receiving soil material cut by the at least one cutting tool. For guiding the hollow cylindrical body in the bore hole an upper guiding device is provided which is arranged above the hollow cylindrical body and fixed to the hollow cylindrical body. The upper guiding device is configured to abut on a side wall of the bore hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: BAUER SPEZIALTIEFBAU GmbH
    Inventor: Karl van der Waal
  • Patent number: 9567822
    Abstract: A downhole tool has a mandrel with packing elements. Collars between the packing elements define ports communicating with gaps between the packing elements and the mandrels. Opposing piston housings on the mandrel can move in opposing directions to compress the packing elements against the collars. Each piston housing defines a space with the mandrel and has a second port communicating with the gap. Pistons disposed in the spaces are temporarily affixed thereto. Hydraulic pressure communicated through the mandrel's bore acts against the pistons. While affixed to the piston housings, the pistons move the piston housings toward the packing elements to compress then. When the packing elements set, continued pressure breaks shear pins affixing the pistons to the piston housings so the pistons move and eventually seal fluid communication between the second ports in the pistons and the gaps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC
    Inventor: Michael C. Derby
  • Patent number: 9562395
    Abstract: An apparatus with a high power laser-mechanical bit for use with a laser drilling system and a method for advancing a borehole. The laser-mechanical bit has a beam path and mechanical removal devices that provide for the removal of laser-affected rock to advance a borehole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: FORO ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Daryl L. Grubb, Sharath K. Kolachalam, Brian O. Faircloth, Charles C. Rinzler, Erik C. Allen, Lance D. Underwood, Mark S. Zediker
  • Patent number: 9540913
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are presented for actuating a differential pressure firing head to actuate a perforating gun at a downhole location in a subterranean wellbore adjacent a formation. An exemplary method includes positioning the perforating gun and the differential pressure firing head at a downhole location on a tubing string and then communicating an applied fluid pressure to a wellbore annulus, a first chamber which communicates the applied fluid pressure to a low-pressure side of the firing head assembly, and a second fluid chamber which communicates the applied fluid pressure to a high-pressure side of the firing head assembly. The applied fluid pressure is then trapped within the second fluid chamber. When the applied pressure in the annulus is subsequently removed, a pressure differential is created across the firing head by the low pressure in the first chamber and the trapped applied pressure in the second chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Randall S. Moore