Patents Examined by Giovanna Wright
  • Patent number: 11879331
    Abstract: An anchoring device for a horizontal directional rig is provided. The anchoring device uses vibrations from a motor to drive an anchor into the ground in a more efficient manner than traditional stake down systems. The vibrating motor is mounted to a stake down carriage. The oscillations from the motor allow the steel anchor to penetrate the ground with a small axial load and therein allows greater surface and holding force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: UNIVERSAL HORIZONTAL DIRECTIONAL
    Inventor: Vasily Anischenko
  • Patent number: 11873697
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes a plug for cementing a wellbore. The plug may include a cylinder. The cylinder may include at least one body including a non-conductive material with conductive filaments dispersed within the non-conductive material. The present disclosure also includes float equipment for cementing a wellbore. The float equipment may include a casing segment including an inner surface, drillable material affixed to the inner surface of the casing segment, and a check valve attached to the drillable material. The drillable material may include a non-conductive material and conductive filaments dispersed within the non-conductive material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignees: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc., SDG LLC, Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Lonnie Carl Helms, Frank Vinicio Acosta Villarreal, Avinash Gopal Dharne, William M. Moeny, Neal Gregory Skinner
  • Patent number: 11873715
    Abstract: An apparatus comprises a sub-section of a pulse power drilling assembly including a transformer encircling a center flow tube through which a drilling mud is to flow for drilling a borehole into a subsurface formation based on periodic pulses of electrical discharges from the pulse power drilling assembly. The transformer comprises at least one primary winding that encircles the center flow tube; a core that encircles the at least one primary winding, wherein the core comprises an electrically non-conductive material; and at least one secondary winding that encircles the core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignees: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc., SDG LLC
    Inventors: Michael D. Finke, Boguslaw Wiecek, William M. Moeny
  • Patent number: 11867023
    Abstract: A system and methods according to which a controller communicates control signals to a first frac leg, which includes a wellhead operably associated with a first wellbore, a valve operably coupled to the wellhead, opposite the first wellbore, a frac line operably coupled to the wellhead, and a zipper module operably coupled to the frac line, opposite the wellhead. The first frac leg includes a first sub-controller that receives control signals from the controller. A grease system lubricates the first frac leg and the zipper module. The grease system includes a second sub-controller that receives control signals from the controller. A second frac leg is operably associated with a second wellbore. The second frac leg includes a third sub-controller that receives control signals from the controller. The first, second, and/or third sub-controllers may receive control signals from the controller via a communication bus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: DOWNING WELLHEAD EQUIPMENT, LLC
    Inventors: Ronnie B. Beason, Nicholas J. Cannon
  • Patent number: 11867059
    Abstract: Systems and methods for drilling a borehole are disclosed. In an embodiment, the system includes a drill bit and a plasma inducing apparatus coupled to the drill bit. The plasma inducing apparatus is configured to generate plasma.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: The Texas A&M University System
    Inventors: David Staack, Li-Jung Tai, Dion S. Antao, Xin Tang
  • Patent number: 11859458
    Abstract: Dissolvable pump down devices, dissolvable pump down assemblies, and methods to propel a bottomhole assembly through a lateral section are presented. A dissolvable pump down device includes an engageable portion, and one or more expandable pieces that are initially in a first position before the dissolvable pump down device is deployed in a wellbore, and configured to expand from the first position to a second position in response to a force generated by fluid flow of fluid through the wellbore. A diameter of the expandable pieces while the expandable pieces are in the first position is less than the diameter of the one or more expandable pieces while the one or more expandable pieces are in the second position. The engageable portion and the one or more expandable pieces are configured to dissolve after the dissolvable pump down device is positioned at the desired wellbore location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Jesse Cale Porter, Donald Ray Smith, Zachery Ryan Olson, Aaron Jacob Miller
  • Patent number: 11851971
    Abstract: A wellbore system includes a hanger lock energizing ring, a hanger lock ring, and a shoulder ring. The wellbore system further includes a seal energizing ring coupled to the shoulder ring. The wellbore system also includes a seal element being driven into an energized position by the seal energizing ring. The wellbore system further includes a seal lock energizing ring being driven to move via one or more extensions. The wellbore system includes a seal lock ring being supported, at least in part, by the seal energizing ring. Both the hanger lock ring and the seal lock ring are set, substantially simultaneously, responsive to movement of the one or more extensions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Oilfield Operations LLC
    Inventors: Samuel Cheng, Prashant Patel, Xichang Zhang
  • Patent number: 11840928
    Abstract: The present disclosure providing a geological sampling backpack drilling machine includes a housing, a drilling device movably received in the housing, a seat arranged on the housing, and a bracket detachably connected to the housing via a limiting rotator, with an angle between the bracket and the housing being variable; the seat arranged between a tip of a drilling rod and the bracket, and rotating around the drilling rod as an axis thereof; a rotating member arranged on a surface of the seat and surrounding around the drilling rod to detachably connect with a supporting post, both the supporting post and the bracket cooperatively supporting the drilling device; the drilling rod passing through the housing and the seat; both the bracket and the supporting post supporting the drilling device that is obliquely drilled and the housing for enabling the drilling device to stably drill at an inclined state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: CHENGDU UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Liangbiao Lin, Jianchao Zheng, Yu Yu, Fanchi Nan, Fengbin Liu, Shuncheng Tang, Jianchao Wang, Jialiang Su, Siyu Liu, Xiaoliang Deng
  • Patent number: 11828121
    Abstract: Various embodiments include methods and apparatus structured to install an optical fiber cable into a well at a well site. In a from-bottom-to-top embodiment, an anchor deployed at a selected location in a hole of the well can be used and the optical fiber cable can be pulled up to a surface of the well from the selected location. In a from-top-to-bottom embodiment, an optical fiber cable can be moved down from the surface until an end of the optical fiber cable is locked at a selected location by a catcher disposed at the selected location. With the optical fiber cable in the well, a portion of the optical fiber cable can be coupled to surface instrumentation. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods can be implemented in a variety of applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Vandellyn Park, Mikko Jaaskelainen, Seldon David Benjamin, Jason Edward Therrien
  • Patent number: 11828171
    Abstract: A method is described for predicting and preventing wellbore interactions at wells that are near the injection well. The method includes receiving fiber optics data; performing object detection by detecting object-like events in the fiber optic data; and sending instructions to a hydraulic fracturing system based on the object detection. The method is executed by a computer system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Ivan Lim Chen Ning, Tamas Nemeth, David C. Bartel, Zhishuai Zhang, Yunhui Tan, Joseph P. Stefani, James P. DiSiena, Dimitri Bevc, Kelly Hughes
  • Patent number: 11828164
    Abstract: A rotary cutting tool for use in a wellbore has an instrumented cutter fitted into a cavity in the tool body. The instrumented cutter body has an outer end portion exposed at the open end of a cavity and is connected to the tool body through at least one connecting section having a smaller cross-section and greater compliance than the outer end portion. The outer end portion and the connecting section are slightly movable within the cavity but the cavity surrounds at least part of the outer end portion sufficiently closely to limit transverse movement to elastic strain of the compliant connecting portion. One or more sensors, which may be strain gauges, are used to measure force on the outer end portion in a plurality of directions transverse to the cavity and causing elastic strain of the at least one connecting section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jonathan Robert Hird, Michael Paul Barrett, Tomas Rosinski, Jarek Rosinski
  • Patent number: 11822039
    Abstract: In a drill bit which has hard-faced cutting or gauge protection elements positioned to be in direct contact with subterranean formation as the bit is rotated, at least one of these elements includes a window positioned to be in direct contact with the formation or cuttings from the formation as the bit rotates and moves forward to drill into the formation. Electromagnetic radiation with wavelength in the range from 100 nm to 2600 nm is transmitted through the window to the formation in contact with the window. Electromagnetic radiation such as fluorescence that returns through the same window is received by a spectrometer. The source and receiver of electromagnetic radiation are both accommodated within the downhole drilling equipment but spaced from the windowed element. The electromagnetic radiation travels along light guides from the source to the window and from the window to the receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jonathan Robert Hird, Ashley Bernard Johnson, John Mervyn Cook
  • Patent number: 11814922
    Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for dropping a ball, plug or dart during oil and gas well operations (e.g., cementing operations) employs a specially configured tool body assembly having valving members (e.g., safety or kelly values) and valving members holding plugs, balls, or darts to be dropped. In one embodiment, the ball(s), dart(s) or plug(s) are contained in a sliding sleeve that shifts position responsive to valve rotation. An optional indicator indicates to a user or operator that a ball or plug has passed a selected one of the valving members. A transmitter (or transceiver) provides an ability to generate a wireless signal that is received by receivers (or transceivers) on the tool body assembly. Each receiver (or transceiver) controls an electrical actuator that engages a valving member or the indicator. Wireless signals can be used to open or close a valve or to reset a “tripped” indicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Gulfstream Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Phil Barbee, Michael Mire, Joey Naquin
  • Patent number: 11814910
    Abstract: A device for handling a tubular member includes a gripping assembly configured to grip the tubular member. The gripping assembly includes a first arm and a second arm, which are configured to pivot between an open position and a closed position. The device also includes a first plurality of rollers coupled to the first arm and a second plurality of rollers coupled to the second arm. The first plurality of rollers and the second plurality of rollers are configured to grip the tubular member at different locations around a circumference of the tubular member when the first arm and the second arm are in the closed position, and the first plurality of rollers and the second plurality of rollers are configured to rotate the tubular member while the tubular member is being gripped by the gripping assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Erling Tambs, Zhijun Zhou, Thomas Vatne
  • Patent number: 11808099
    Abstract: There is provided a downhole tool comprising a locator. The locator includes a wellbore coupler for becoming releasably retained relative to a locate profile; and a wellbore coupler release opposer configured for opposing release of the wellbore coupler from the retention relative to the locate profile. While the opposing of the release of the wellbore coupler from the retention relative to the locate profile is being effected by the wellbore coupler release opposer, relative displacement between the wellbore coupler release opposer and the wellbore coupler is effectible, with effect that the opposing is defeated. The locator also includes a displacement impeder for impeding the relative displacement between the wellbore coupler release opposer and the wellbore coupler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: NCS Multistage Inc.
    Inventors: Tim Johnson, Michael Werries
  • Patent number: 11808106
    Abstract: The present invention provides an actuation member for traveling down a borehole of a casing to engage with one or more geometrical profile locations provided inside the casing, and a system for controllably exposing selected locations along the wellbore to a pressurized fluid. The actuation member comprises a generally cylindrical hollow body extending between an uphole end and a downhole end, and a plug seat configured to receive a plug for blocking the borehole. The actuation member has two edge portions separate and movable relative to one another to facilitate resilient deformation of the hollow body, wherein the deformation causes a reduction of cross-sectional area of the hollow body. An outer surface of the hollow body comprises one or more protrusions and/or grooves configured to matingly engage with the one or more geometric profile locations in the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: 8SIGMA ENERGY SERVICES INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Blake Wood, Nigel Dabreo
  • Patent number: 11808121
    Abstract: A controlled rate of propagation of the fluid saturation front or thermal front is desired in may oil and gas and geothermal operations. Natural fractures and fractures created during hydraulic stimulation may have heterogeneous hydraulic properties resulting in uneven flow distributions, therefore leading to short-circuiting and breakthrough issues. The present invention relates to wellbores connected hydraulically by multiple fracture zones; methods are directed to control for even flow distribution among fractures, regardless of heterogeneities in fracture hydraulic properties, and to control propagation of saturation fronts and thermal fronts in subsurface reservoirs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Fervo Energy Company
    Inventors: Jack Norbeck, Timothy Latimer
  • Patent number: 11795761
    Abstract: A positive displacement motor (PDM) is provided comprising an outer housing, a thermoplastic stator and a rotor. The PDM may additionally include a mechanism that allows the stator to be removable from the PDM when the PDM is not in operation and resists rotational movement of the stator with reference to a longitudinal axis of the stator and axial movement of the stator along the longitudinal axis of the stator when the PDM is operating, and a rotor disposed within the stator and configured to rotate within the stator when a fluid flows through the stator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Carson Edward Riggins, Harley Jones, II, Earl Webb, Philippe Quero, Eric Bivens
  • Patent number: 11795779
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a downhole inflow production restriction device for mounting in an opening in a well tubular metal structure arranged in a wellbore, the downhole inflow production restriction device comprising a device opening, and a brine dissolvable element configured to prevent flow from within the well tubular metal structure through the device opening to an outside of the well tubular metal structure before being at least partly dissolved in brine, wherein the brine dissolvable element is at least partly made of a magnesium alloy. The present invention also relates to a downhole completion system and to a completion method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Welltec Oilfield Solutions AG
    Inventor: Satish Kumar
  • Patent number: 11788372
    Abstract: A bottom hole assembly comprising a downhole tool known as a cutting tool is provided for use within a subterranean well for severing tubulars. The cutting tool comprises a fluid source, a gas-driven rotatable motor and a cutting head including one or more cutters. The fluid source supplies pressurized fluid and thereby energy to the gas-driven rotatable motor which is disposed to generate thrust to set the gas-driven rotatable motor in motion. The cutting head is coupled to the gas-driven rotatable motor and rotates while cutting the tubular. The cutting tool can be deployed in a subterranean well by a variety of deployment methods, and the pressurized fluid may be supplied from a surface system, generated inside the cutting tool or bottom hole assembly, or input within the cutting tool or bottom hole assembly prior to deployment. The invention further relates to associated methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Gas and Oil Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Gunnar Andersen, Sam Noam Schroit, Jeffrey Bruce Wensrich