Patents Examined by George Gray
  • Patent number: 9695679
    Abstract: Methods and systems operate multiple downhole tools in wells based on hydraulic pressures supplied in control lines. The methods and systems pair each of the tools with a manifold enabling selective actuation of each of the tools from a remote location. Some embodiments include between three and twelve manifold and tool pairs configured for control independent from one another with four of the control lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: ConocoPhillips Company
    Inventor: John Cochrane Leitch
  • Patent number: 9695662
    Abstract: A retention system for limiting axial and radial movement of a wellbore lock ring. The retention system includes pins for resisting axial movement of the lock ring and assemblies for limiting radial outward movement of the lock ring. The lock ring circumscribes and couples to a wellbore hanger. The pins project radially from the hanger into the lock ring and into slots, where the slots extend a distance along the inner surface of the lock ring. The assemblies also project radially into the hanger and each have a portion that registers with a channel on a lower end of the lock ring. Lock ring outer radial movement is limited by contact between the portions of the assemblies and inner surfaces of the channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: VETCO GRAY INC.
    Inventors: Mayur Mansukh, Aniruddha D. Gadre, Joseph William Pallini, David Lawrence Ford
  • Patent number: 9683422
    Abstract: A rotating flow control diverter apparatus having an upper and a lower stripper element mounted on upper and lower tubular shaft, respectively, each of which is axially rotatable by means of an upper and lower sealed bearing assembly, respectively, within a central bore of a housing. An upper and lower seal assembly seal the annular space between the central bore and the upper and lower tubular shaft, respectively to define a purge chamber. The purge chamber is in fluid communication with the central bore via the lower tubular shaft, and may be provided with valved ports. The housing may be constructed in removably mounted upper and lower portions, to which the upper and lower sealed bearing assemblies, respectively, and upper and lower seal assemblies, respectively, are mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC
    Inventor: Michael Boyd
  • Patent number: 9677358
    Abstract: The present invention is directed towards an apparatus for providing a process for sealing an opening formed in the ground with a chemically-inflatable bag. The chemically-inflatable bag contains two or more chemical reactants, one of which is a liquid reactant that is initially stored in a liquid-containing device. The liquid-containing device has a removable cap, which upon removal or breakage of the cap permits the liquid reacting agent to contact and react with another reacting agent. The chemical reaction produces carbon dioxide, which expands the chemically-inflatable bag from a collapsed condition to an inflated condition. In the inflated condition, the chemically-inflatable bag fills and protects the integrity of the formed cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: STEMLOCK, INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Thomas S. Jenkins
  • Patent number: 9677350
    Abstract: A fill-up and circulation tool includes a central assembly including a mandrel, a nose assembly disposed at a terminal end of the mandrel, an outer assembly coupled to the central assembly, and a valve configured to change position between a closed position and an open position, wherein changing position between the closed position and the open position includes movement of the outer assembly relative to the central assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Canrig Drilling Technology Ltd.
    Inventor: Alex Kunec
  • Patent number: 9677395
    Abstract: Method and deployment device for a downhole tool. The device includes a body; a door rotatably attached to the body and configured to have an open position for allowing at least a portion of a fishing neck of the downhole tool to contact the body and a close position that secure the at least a portion of the fishing neck inside the deployment device; a bend restrictor attached to the body and configured to receive a logging cable of the downhole tool; and a locking mechanism for securing the door in the close position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: SERCEL, SA
    Inventors: Ronan Affre De Saint Rome, Jerome Decressat
  • Patent number: 9670742
    Abstract: A stabilizer for use in a wellbore string, the stabilizer having an elongate body having an upper end for connection to the wellbore string and a lower end for connection to a wellbore string, a long axis between the ends and an outer surface; and a first cutting ring mounted on the elongate body and exposed on the outer surface with an annular outer surface of the first cutting ring encircling the elongate body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Inventor: Charles Abernethy Anderson
  • Patent number: 9670747
    Abstract: An annulus sealing arrangement includes, at least one member positionable within an annulus, a first radial dimension of the at least one member is initially less than a second radial dimension defined by the annulus, and a plurality of plates in operable communication with the at least one member initially positioned with surfaces of the plurality of plates forming acute angles relative to an axis defined by the annulus, at least a first portion of each of the plurality of plates perimetrically overlapping a second portion of at least one other of the plurality of plates positioned perimetrically adjacent thereto, the annulus sealing arrangement is configured such that increases in the first radial dimension cause the acute angles to increase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Antonio C. Ruffo
  • Patent number: 9670758
    Abstract: A centrifugal well fluid pump has a pump intake and a pump discharge conduit extending upward from the pump. A barrier between the motor and the pump intake seals to casing in a well. A bypass tube extends from below the barrier, alongside the pump and has an outlet at an upper end of the pump. A riser surrounds the pump discharge conduit, the riser having a riser inlet in fluid communication with the bypass tube outlet. Liquid portions of the well fluid flow upward through the riser to discharge from the riser outlet and flow down to the pump intake. Gaseous portions of the well fluid flow upward through the riser and continue flowing upward into the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Brown Lyle Wilson, Donn J. Brown
  • Patent number: 9663997
    Abstract: An inflow control assembly can be adjusted subsequent to manufacture and prior to being run downhole in a wellbore. The inflow control assembly can include an outer body and a chamber internal to the outer body. The chamber can define a flow path for fluid flow through the inflow control assembly when the inflow control assembly is in a wellbore traversing a subterranean formation. The flow path is injectable with a pre-determined volume of material from a source external to the outer body for reducing fluid flow through the flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: James Jun Kang, Aaron Bonner, Jean-Marc Lopez
  • Patent number: 9650557
    Abstract: A drilling fluid composition for horizontal directional drilling is a flowable aqueous slurry of biodegradable, non-toxic, preferably edible plant particles. The particle size of the plant-derived particles depends on the drill bit used. The particles should be small enough not to clog the fluid jet orifices in normal use. The slurry is pumped through to the drill bit in a warm or preferably hot state, e.g. 80-100° C. After ejection, the slurry cools rapidly, causing solidification and creating a lining on the tunnel wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Harr Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert E. Harr
  • Patent number: 9650851
    Abstract: A technique includes deploying an untethered object though a passageway of a string in a well; and sensing a property of an environment of the string, an electromagnetic coupling or a pressure as the object is being communicated through the passageway. The technique includes selectively autonomously operating the untethered object in response to the sensing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: John R. Whitsitt, John A. Booker, Thomas Daniel MacDougall, Gary L. Rytlewski
  • Patent number: 9644442
    Abstract: A multi-pressure flange is disclosed that includes a first set of fasteners comprising four fasteners in a first rectangular pattern for attachment in a first pressure rating and a second set of fasteners comprising four fasteners in a second rectangular pattern in which the first rectangular pattern is perpendicular to the second rectangular pattern. The second set of fasteners is selectively combinable with the first set of fasteners for attachment in a higher second pressure rating. The flange may include a recess to receive sealing component and a receptacle configured to receive a pipe fitting. Systems and methods including the multi-pressure flange are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: Cameron International Corporation
    Inventors: Johnnie Kotrla, Ross Stevenson, Vallie Hodges
  • Patent number: 9644449
    Abstract: A geothermal expansion spool assembly includes an integrated or single piece configuration. The geothermal expansion spool assembly comprises an upper portion adapted to directly couple to a production valve and a lower portion adapted to surround and engage with a surface casing of a geothermal well, wherein the upper and lower portion are permanently fixed to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: Cameron International Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey Michael Lee, Stuart Robinson
  • Patent number: 9631465
    Abstract: A method for maintaining a downhole pump impeller of a geothermal downhole pump includes locating a line shaft to a selected depth, monitoring the depth of a lowermost distal end of the line shaft using a monitor positioned at a lowermost distal end of the line shaft, determining that the depth of the lowermost distal end of the line shaft has significantly changed, and taking a corrective action to return the depth of the lowermost distal end of the line shaft to the selected depth. The depth of the lowermost distal end is monitored by directing a beam of light emitted from a housing mounted on a outer portion of the downhole pump onto a plurality of reflective elements located on the line shaft distal end, and determining whether a receiver mounted in the outer portion receives light reflected from one of the plurality of reflective elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: ORMAT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Nadav Amir
  • Patent number: 9631476
    Abstract: Various systems and methods for implementing and using a variable stiffness downhole tool housing include cylindrical segments positioned along a common axis, with a pair of segments each coupled to a bulkhead and positioned at either axial end of the tool housing. The housing also includes a flexible cylindrical sleeve, positioned along the common axis between two of the plurality of cylindrical segments, that includes a first and second region with an outer diameter no larger than a common segment inner diameter and a third region located between the first and second regions and with an outer diameter no larger than a common segment outer diameter (the first and second regions each at least partially inserted into an end of one segment). A stiffness controller controls the stiffness of the tool housing by controlling at least part of an axial force exerted between the two segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Chung Chang, Arthur Cheng, Gary Kainer
  • Patent number: 9623479
    Abstract: A device to be deployed downhole. The device includes a member including a metallic foam and a sealing material coupled to the metallic foam. The member attains a compressed shape when compressed to restrict fluid flow between regions downhole. The sealing material may be in, on or coated on the metallic foam member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Edward J. O'Malley, Grant R. Thompson
  • Patent number: 9617844
    Abstract: A tool string includes at least one downhole tool having an electronics package associated therewith, and an air shock tool having a housing operatively coupled to the downhole tool. The air shock tool has a piston movably arranged within a piston chamber defined in the housing, and the electronics package is operatively engaged with the piston such that axial movement of the electronics package correspondingly moves the piston. If a shock impact load propagates through the tool string in an uphole direction, the piston operates to reduce the shock impact assumed by the electronics package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventor: Todd Blaine Miller
  • Patent number: 9617838
    Abstract: A system, apparatus and method for artificial lift includes a hydraulic downhole rodless pump actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: PCS Oilfield Services, LLC
    Inventors: Ed Purcell, Mark W. Rose, William W. Jackson, Cole W. Dunnam
  • Patent number: 9605481
    Abstract: A downhole adjustable drilling inclination tool including an outer housing, an inner housing, a compression spring, a piston assembly, and a tilt housing. The piston assembly is fluidly controlled to move axially along the outer diameter of a bottom end portion of the inner housing so that a rotatable control ring moves about a guide pin to hold a neutral, straight, or bent position of the piston assembly corresponding to an amount of compression of the compression spring. The tilt housing partially disposed within the outer housing includes a bolt plate pin channel configured to receive a bolt plate pin of the piston assembly that travels to tilt the tilt housing by a tilting mechanism that connects the tilt housing to the outer housing and position the tilt housing in a neutral, straight, or bent position corresponding to the neutral, straight, or bent position of the piston assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: SMART DOWNHOLE TOOLS B.V.
    Inventor: Johannes Thomas Bleeker