Patents Examined by James G Sayre
  • Patent number: 11549347
    Abstract: A system for use in hydraulic fracturing of at least one reservoir. The system including at least one pump for injecting a friction modifier into a wellbore, at least one friction modifier controller for controlling an amount of friction modifier channeled through at least one well bore, and at least one injector. The friction modifier controller is configured to monitor at least one of a fluid flow rate and pressure associated with each wellbore, compare the at least one of the fluid flow rate and the pressure with at least one of a desired flow rate and desired pressure, and adjust a friction modifier level for at least one wellbore based on results of the comparison. The injector is configured to control the pump to deliver an amount of a friction modifier into the wellbore based on the friction modifier level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy Holiman Hunter, Stanley V. Stephenson, Ubong Akpan Inyang
  • Patent number: 11549325
    Abstract: A tensioning system includes a combined rope gripper and tension cylinder. A rope passes through the combined rope gripper and tension cylinder. Once the length and/or tension of the rope has been adjusted, a reel lock handle can be actuated to prevent further rotation of the reel. The combined rope gripper and tension cylinder can be actuated to hold the rope. The combined rope gripper and tension cylinder can also be actuated to reduce or prevent the release of tension in the rope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Inventors: James V. Maher, Ricky Brown, Daniel McCelvey, Donald La Vigne
  • Patent number: 11549348
    Abstract: A method for interconnecting components of a hydraulic fracturing system using flexible hose or pipe. The flexible hose or pipe can form a singular flow line which interconnects, for example, a pump and a manifold of the hydraulic fracturing system. Each end of the flexible hose or pipe can be tethered (using a safety restraint) to another component of the hydraulic fracturing system. In the event of a rupture or other failure, the safety restraint retains the tethered flexible pipes or hoses in a fixed position to prevent injury to personnel or damage to surrounding equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Universal Pressure Pumping, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Raymond Cicci, Michael Patrick Sowko
  • Patent number: 11542771
    Abstract: Systems and methods for initiating an emergency disconnect sequence (EDS) are provided. In an aspect, a disconnection system is provided and configured to initiate the EDS, and includes a controller including a processor and a memory operably coupled to the processor. The controller receives, from a set of motion reference units (MRU(s)) operably coupled to a flexible joint, position data generated by the set of motion references units and associated with the joint when the joint is operably coupled to and disposed between a drilling riser and a lower marine riser package (LMRP). The controller determines, based on the position data, an angular offset of the joint. The controller sends, to a subsea control pod disposed at or adjacent to the LMRP, a trigger signal in response to determining that the angular offset exceeds a predetermined threshold, such that the subsea control pod initiates the EDS.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: KONGSBERG MARITIME INC.
    Inventors: Bahaa Nouh, Lasse Eilertsen, Massimiliano Russo
  • Patent number: 11542772
    Abstract: Systems and processes for subsea marine managed pressure operations. One system includes a modified riser joint configured to fluidly connect inline with one or more riser joints. The modified riser joint and the one or more riser joints are connected to form a riser connecting a floating vessel with a wellhead. The system further includes a subsea pressure management sub-system configured to be operatively and fluidly connected to the modified riser joint at a subsea location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: BLADE ENERGY PARTNERS, LTD.
    Inventors: Oscar R. Gabaldon, Patrick R. Brand
  • Patent number: 11530770
    Abstract: A fracturing system includes a plurality of junctions mounted on a chassis, such as a trailer chassis. Pressurized fluid is provided to the plurality of junctions via a plurality of conduits, e.g., from one or more pumps. The junctions and the conduits are independently mounted and independent vibration dampening systems damp vibrations at the individual mounts. Vibration of individual of the junctions may be damped by a first dampening system having first dampening properties and individual of the conduits may be damped by a second dampening system having second dampening properties different from the first dampening properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Robert E. Riedel, Jr., Solomon Austin Cong, Peter Allan Manos, Christian Joseph Murray
  • Patent number: 11530591
    Abstract: A plug valve including a valve body defining an internal cavity, a first passage, and a second passage, a plug defining a third passage and being rotatable within the internal cavity, and an insert extending within the internal cavity between the valve body and the plug. The insert defines an interior surface and an opening aligned with the first passage of the valve body. The insert may also define a sealing surface extending around the opening and standing in relief against the interior surface to sealingly engage the plug. In addition to, or instead of, the sealing surface, the insert may define a projection at least partially defining the interior surface. In addition, a boot may be connected to the valve body and interlocked with the projection to prevent, or at least reduce, rotation of the insert relative to the valve body when the plug rotates within the internal cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: SPM Oil & Gas Inc.
    Inventors: Brian C. Witkowski, Nuder Said, Duc Thanh Tran
  • Patent number: 11530750
    Abstract: A valve assembly comprising a valve guide and one or more weights coupled to and/or integral with the valve guide. The valve assembly may further comprising a valve body and a valve stem connecting the valve body to the valve guide. The valve assembly may be disposed in a fluid end of a positive displacement pump that is operated to flow a wellbore servicing fluid into a wellbore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Aric Martin Gillispie, James Alan Olis, David Mark Stribling
  • Patent number: 11519228
    Abstract: A trigger mechanism is provided for a passive rotating jointed tubing injector having gripper blocks for moving connected, segmented oilfield tubulars axially into or out of horizontal, extended-reach oil and natural gas wells that may contain pressurized fluid or gas to complete for production, work over and service the wells, utilizing an operation commonly known as snubbing. The trigger mechanism can open the gripper blocks when a tapered upset section of increasing diameter on the tubulars is encountered that would not otherwise fully open and operate the gripper blocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: AUTOMATED RIG TECHNOLOGIES LTD.
    Inventors: David Louis Richard, Harold James Miller, Ivan Amic, Christopher Jason Serran, Jason Brent Schroeder, Alejandro Dino Chavez
  • Patent number: 11519238
    Abstract: An apparatus (10; 110; 310) for conveying a tool (12; 112; 312) into and/or from a well installation (W) comprises a conveying arrangement (16; 116; 316) configured for coupling to a housing (14; 114; 314) for receiving the tool to be conveyed (12; 112; 312). The conveying arrangement (16; 116; 316) includes an actuator arrangement (28; 128; 328) configurable between a retracted configuration and an extended configuration. The apparatus (10; 110; 310) is configured for location on a wellhead (WH) of the well installation (W), movement of the actuator arrangement (28; 128; 328) between the retracted configuration and the extended configuration moving the tool to be conveyed (12; 112; 312) into and/or from the housing (14; 114; 314) and thus into and/or from the well installation (W).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES ENERGY TECHNOLOGY UK LIMITED
    Inventors: Christopher Olivant, Robert Olsen, Jarle Hvidsten
  • Patent number: 11519253
    Abstract: A method is provided which includes injecting a fluid into a wellbore; measuring, by a surface pressure sensor, a surface pressure; and measuring, by a downhole pressure sensor, a downhole pressure. A controller determines a true friction pressure based on a pressure differential between the surface pressure and the downhole pressure. A concentration of one or more components in the fluid is adjusted based on the true friction pressure to lower a total friction pressure loss.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Stanley Vernon Stephenson, Max Lynn Phillippi
  • Patent number: 11519237
    Abstract: A blowout preventer system including a lower blowout preventer stack comprising a number of hydraulic components, and a lower marine riser package comprising a first control pod and a second control pod adapted to provide, during use, redundant control of hydraulic components of the lower blowout preventer stack where the first and the second control pods are adapted to being connected, during use, to a surface control system and to be controlled, during use, by the surface control system. The blowout preventer system further including at least one additional control pod connected to at least one additional surface control system and to be controlled, during use, by the additional surface control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Hydril USA Distribution LLC
    Inventors: John Steven Holmes, Douglas Milliman, Luis E. Huerta, Eric Dale Larson, Gregory Ronald Gillette, Robert Arnold Judge, Viral Shah
  • Patent number: 11512543
    Abstract: In a method for quantifying a volumetric flow rate of a flow of drilling mud in a floating structure for subsoil drilling, a flowmeter and a detection device are provided on a floating structure for subsoil drilling. The flowmeter generates a flow signal. The detection device generates a heave signal representative of a vertical heave of the floating structure. A processor transforms the flow signal into a first spectrum in the frequency domain and the heave signal into a second spectrum in the frequency domain. The processor compares the first spectrum with the second spectrum, obtaining a resultant spectrum. The processor transforms the resultant spectrum into a resultant signal in the time domain. The processor determines a mean value of the flow signal, adds the resultant signal to the mean value, obtaining a quantification of a flow of drilling mud in the floating structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Geolog S.r.l.
    Inventor: Antonio Calleri
  • Patent number: 11512553
    Abstract: A female undersea hydraulic coupling member is equipped with a plurality of pressure-energized metal seals configured to seal between the body of the female member and the probe of a corresponding male hydraulic coupling member in response to ambient hydrostatic pressure and/or hydraulic fluid pressure. Pressure-energized metal seals may also be provided to seal between the body of the female coupling member and a removable seal retainer or seal cartridge. In one particular preferred embodiment, the pressure-energized seals are back-to-back metal C-seals separated by annular seal supports having a generally T-shaped cross section and retained on one or more shoulders in the body of the female member by a removable seal cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: NATIONAL COUPLING COMPANY
    Inventors: Robert E. Smith, III, Scott Stolle, Chris Roy
  • Patent number: 11506020
    Abstract: A resilient seal includes an annular body portion and a seating surface defined by the annular body portion and configured to interface with a seat of a subsurface safety valve. The resilient seal further includes a plurality of sealing surfaces defined by the annular body portion. Each sealing surface of the plurality of sealing surfaces is positioned to interface with a flapper of the subsurface safety valve in a closed position of the flapper of the subsurface safety valve. Additionally, the resilient seal includes at least one annular channel defined by the annular body portion between adjacent sealing surfaces of the plurality of sealing surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Ross Glen Dusterhoft, Shaun Wen Jie Ng, James Dan Vick, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11506032
    Abstract: A method of controlling a pumping sequence of a fracturing fleet at a wellsite with two wellbore comprising determining a first pumping sequence for a first wellbore and determining a second pumping sequence for a second wellbore. The pumping sequences are comprised of a plurality of pump stages that are intervals based on time or volume. The intervals of the first pumping sequence and the second pump sequences are overlapped into a combined pumping sequence. At least one interval is identified wherein the combined pumping sequence exceeds an operating limit of at least one fracturing unit and the intervals from the second pumping sequence is offset from the intervals of the first pumping sequence to create a modified combined pumping sequence, wherein the interval of the modified combined pumping sequence is below the operating limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Chad A. Fisher, Wesley John Warren
  • Patent number: 11506038
    Abstract: A modular fracing wellhead extension for use in a fracing system for enabling the connection of wells on a well pad that are out of reach of an articulated connection platform. The extension modules use the same connection interface as deployed on the wellheads in reach of the articulated connection platform so that an uninterrupted fracing operation can be carried out on two or more wells even if some of the wells are not within the usual reach of the articulated connection platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: BLUECORE COMPLETIONS, LLC
    Inventors: Travis Harrel, Austin Bainbridge
  • Patent number: 11506012
    Abstract: A method of installing or removing a subsea wellhead assembly is provided. The method comprising providing a suction anchor that in use acts as a subsea well foundation, wherein the suction anchor comprises an outer suction skirt; and an inner member, wherein the inner member comprises a high pressure wellhead housing; and installing or removing the suction anchor together with the high pressure wellhead housing on or from a seabed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: EQUINOR ENERGY AS
    Inventors: Lorents Reinås, Tore Geir Wernø, Morten Sæther, Harald Sigurd Nesse
  • Patent number: 11499405
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a hydraulic fracturing system for driving a plunger pump with a turbine engine, including a fracturing equipment comprising a turbine engine fueled by natural gas or diesel as a power source, an exhaust system, and a plunger pump; a high-low pressure manifold; a blending equipment adapted to blend a fracturing base fluid; and a sand-mixing equipment adapted to provide the fracturing base fluid and a fracturing proppant to the high-low pressure manifold. A first end of the high-low pressure manifold is connected to the fracturing equipment through a connection pipeline. A second end of the high-low pressure manifold is connected to a wellhead. An exhaust end of the turbine engine is connected to the exhaust system whereas an output driving end of the turbine engine is connected to the plunger pump via a connection device. The connection device comprises at least a reduction gearbox.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Yantai Jereh Petroleum Equipment & Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Rikui Zhang, Xiance Li, Xincheng Li, Yipeng Wu, Chunqiang Lan, Sheng Chang, Peng Zhang, Xiaolei Ji
  • Patent number: 11486240
    Abstract: A pumping system for pumping a fluid for a wellsite. The pumping system includes a manifold assembly and pumping systems in fluid communication with the manifold header. The manifold assembly includes a manifold header that includes a manifold header body and outlets. The manifold header body includes an inlet to receive the fluid and an interior bore. Each outlet includes an entrance section shaped to have a profile that is approximately the same as a profile of an inner surface of the manifold header body, an outlet port shaped to flow the fluid approximately perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the manifold header body, and a transition section shaped to have a radius of curvature that transitions from the profile of the entrance section to the outlet port and reduces internal erosion of the outlet due to the fluid flowing from the manifold header and through the outlet port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: LWF SERVICES LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Alan Lawson, Christopher James Lawson