Patents Examined by Kenneth L. Thompson
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Patent number: 11761314Abstract: Automated systems are disclosed that enable the rapid provision of fluids to downhole isolation tools. This is achieved by automatically optimizing the use of power available downhole by providing a high flowrate when pressure demand is low and a lower flowrate when pressure demand is high. Methods are disclosed which utilize the apparatus in a bottom hole assembly during downhole operations for isolating segments of a borehole.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2018Date of Patent: September 19, 2023Inventors: Sam Schroit, Jeffrey Wensrich
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System and methods for estimating subsurface horizontal principal stresses in anisotropic formations
Patent number: 11753933Abstract: A method for predicting a total minimum horizontal stress (?h) and a total maximum horizontal stress (?H) for an anisotropic formation may comprise: measuring Young's moduli parallel ±15° and perpendicular ±15° to a transverse isotropy plane of a horizontal core sample from the anisotropic subterranean formation; measuring Poisson's ratios parallel ±15° and perpendicular ±15° to the transverse isotropy plane of the horizontal core sample; inputting the measured Young's moduli and Poisson's ratios of the horizontal core sample into a 1-dimensional mechanical earth model (1-D MEM); and calculating, using the 1-D MEM, a predicted total minimum horizontal stress (?h) and a predicted total maximum horizontal stress (?H).Type: GrantFiled: September 3, 2020Date of Patent: September 12, 2023Assignee: ExxonMobil Technology and Engineering CompanyInventors: Brian Crawford, William C. Reese, Jordan A. Freysteinson, Janelle M. Homburg -
Patent number: 11753912Abstract: A gas-lift valve in a wellbore may include a valve housing and a flow restrictor. The valve housing may at least in part define a chamber for receiving an actuation fluid. The flow restrictor may have a position that is controllable by adjusting a downhole pressure to change a density of the actuation fluid in the chamber. The gas-lift valve may be positioned on production tubing in an annulus of a wellbore. Controlling the position of the flow restrictor may restrict an opening in the production tubing through which gas may flow.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2021Date of Patent: September 12, 2023Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Michael Linley Fripp, Paul James, Stephen Michael Greci
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Patent number: 11753923Abstract: A method for predicting fracture treatment performance includes inducing tube waves in a well drilled through a formation to be fracture treated. A polarity of reflected tube waves in the well is determined, and using the reflected tube waves, hydraulic conductivity of at least one zone in the well hydraulically connected to the formation is estimated. The estimated hydraulic conductivity is compared to a selected threshold. The selected threshold is based on pumping parameters and pumping pressure behavior of at least one pumped hydraulic fracture treatment. A warning signal is generated when the hydraulic conductivity is below the selected threshold and/or the determined polarity indicates a closed boundary condition so that the treatment may be adjusted to avoid screenouts and other operational and treatment issues.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2021Date of Patent: September 12, 2023Assignee: SEISMOS, INC.Inventor: Panagiotis Dalamarinis
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Patent number: 11746623Abstract: A method is provided. Cells of a digital model of a formation are classified corresponding with one or more classes based on minerals and/or pore sizes. Wettability of the formation in the digital model is calibrated based on imbibition and/or drainage curves from physical experimentation for a rock sample and the one or more classes of the cells of the digital model.Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 2022Date of Patent: September 5, 2023Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Santiago Gabriel Drexler, Rafael March Castaneda Neto, Xiaobo Nie, Jonas Toelke, Milena Ferreira De Siqueira Lima
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Patent number: 11746648Abstract: A downhole tool includes a bore isolation valve, a sensor configured to receive to a downlink signal, an annular pressure sensor, a valve actuation mechanism coupled to the bore isolation valve and responsive to the downlink signal, a pressure relief mechanism configured to provide a negative pressure pulse signal indicative of the annular pressure by venting fluid from a bore of the tool body, and a battery. A method includes drilling a well with a drill bit coupled to an on demand annular pressure tool initially in a deactivated mode, and activating the tool by a downlink signal when fluid flow out of the annulus drops below the fluid flow into the well to close a bore of the tool, pressurizing the drill string, holding pressure in the drill string, measuring annular pressure with the tool, and sending a negative pressure pulse signal indicative of the annular pressure.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 2021Date of Patent: September 5, 2023Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANYInventor: Richard Mark Pye
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Spectral analysis and machine learning for determining cluster efficiency during fracking operations
Patent number: 11740377Abstract: This disclosure presents systems, methods, and apparatus for determining cluster efficiency during hydraulic fracturing, the method comprising: measuring acoustic vibrations in fracking fluid in a fracking wellhead, circulating fluid line, or standpipe of a well; converting the acoustic vibrations into an electrical signal in a time domain; recording the electrical signal to memory; analyzing the electrical signal in the time domain for a window of time and identifying two amplitude peaks corresponding to a fracture initiation; measuring a time between the two amplitude peaks; dividing the time by two to give a result; multiplying the result by a speed of sound in the fracking fluid to give a distance between the fracture initiation and a plug at an end of a current fracking stage of the well; and returning a location of the fracture initiation to an operator based on the distance between the fracture initiation and the plug.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2020Date of Patent: August 29, 2023Assignee: Origin Rose LLCInventors: Reid Daniel Thompson, Jeffrey Neal Rose, Jonathan Swanson Rose -
Patent number: 11726228Abstract: A method for completing a wellbore traversing a subterranean formation includes making electromagnetic resistivity measurements along a lateral section of the wellbore. The resistivity measurements are evaluated to estimate a water content of the subterranean formation along the lateral section. The formation is fractured at selected regions along the lateral section at which the water content is below a threshold and avoiding regions at which the water content is above the threshold.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2020Date of Patent: August 15, 2023Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATIONInventors: Modhar Khan, Robert Utter, Irlan Amir, Dmitriy Potapenko, Joseph Gremillion
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Patent number: 11713661Abstract: A method of operations in a subterranean formation, including driving a pump with an electrically powered motor to pressurize fluid, inserting a tool into a wellbore that intersects the formation, and directing the pressurized fluid into the wellbore above the tool to push the tool into the wellbore.Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 2019Date of Patent: August 1, 2023Assignee: U.S. Well Services, LLCInventors: Jared Oehring, Brandon N. Hinderliter
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Patent number: 11713676Abstract: A sensor node system for mapping hydraulic fractures may include a localization system that identifies location information of the sensor node device with respect to an area of interest in a rock formation. The location information may include various magnetization parameters indicative of various signal strengths surrounding the sensor node device. The sensor node device may include a transceiver that exchanges signals with a base station and at least one other sensor node device. The transceiver establishes a communication link between the base station and the sensor node device. The transceiver may monitor at least one other communication link between the at least one other sensor node device and the base station. The sensor node device may include a processor that identifies distance information based on the location information and a predetermined number of signals associated to the various signal strengths surrounding the sensor node device.Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 2021Date of Patent: August 1, 2023Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANYInventor: Abdallah A. Alshehri
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Patent number: 11708759Abstract: A system includes a first instrumented bridge plug positionable in a downhole wellbore environment. The first instrumented bridge plug includes an acoustic source for transmitting an acoustic signal. The system also includes a second instrumented bridge plug positionable in the downhole wellbore environment. The second instrumented bridge plug includes an acoustic sensor for receiving a reflected acoustic signal originating from the acoustic signal. The reflected acoustic signal being usable to interpret wellbore formation characteristics of the downhole wellbore environment.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 2018Date of Patent: July 25, 2023Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Mikko Jaaskelainen, Vladimir Nikolayevich Martysevich, Ronald Glen Dusterhoft
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Patent number: 11702904Abstract: Toe valves comprising a bore, a first sub, a second sub, and a housing. The bore extends through the valve. The first sub has separable elements. The separable elements comprise a first sub element and a sleeve element. The first sub element and sleeve element are joined by a relatively weak bridging portion adapted to break in a controlled manner in response to fluid pressure between the first sub element and the sleeve element. They thereby form an integral component comprised of the separable elements. The housing has a port and couples the first sub element and second sub.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2022Date of Patent: July 18, 2023Assignee: Lonestar Completion Tools, LLCInventors: Kenneth J. Anton, Michael J. Harris
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Patent number: 11702898Abstract: A jarring tool includes a spring and a hydraulic piston cylinder arrangement for controlling the release of a mandrel to initiate a jarring force. The tool includes an adjustment mechanism for adjusting the minimum amount of an upward pulling force required to release the mandrel. The adjustment mechanism includes an axially adjustable trigger sleeve that cooperates with a dog clutch surrounding the mandrel.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2021Date of Patent: July 18, 2023Inventor: Robert W. Evans
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Patent number: 11697985Abstract: An automated hydraulic fracturing system and method for controlling various aspects of a fracking operation is disclosed. A master controller receives various operating parameters, such as desired operating conditions, information about a fracking site, information about trailers and/or other equipment at the fracking site, and/or sensor signals. The master controller may access one or more trailer model(s) that model various parameters of equipment (e.g., engines, transmissions, pumps, trailers, etc.) at the fracking site as a function of controlled operating conditions. The master controller uses the trailer models in conjunction with operating parameters to generate control signals that automatically control the various equipment at the fracking site to optimize various desired outcomes, such as reduced operating costs, reduced emissions, reduced idle time, increased efficiency, etc.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2020Date of Patent: July 11, 2023Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Yanchai Zhang, Zhijun Cai, Perry Dwain Converse, Erik L Olsen, Casey Alan Otten
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Patent number: 11699099Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate to confidence volumes for earth modeling using machine learning. A method includes receiving detected data, wherein the detected data includes formation attributes relating to one or more depth points along or near a wellbore. The method further includes providing inputs to a plurality of machine learning models based on the detected data. The method further includes receiving output values from the plurality of machine learning models based on the inputs. The method further includes determining a measure of variance among the output values. The method further includes generating a confidence indicator related to the output values based on the measure of variance.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2020Date of Patent: July 11, 2023Assignee: QUANTICO ENERGY SOLUTIONS LLCInventors: Barry F. Zhang, Orlando De Jesus, Tuna Altay Sansal, Edward Tian
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Patent number: 11686163Abstract: A connection assembly and a method comprises first and second connector portions having a preload mechanism comprising a plurality of bores and threaded fixings circumferentially spaced around the axis, wherein the preload mechanism is arranged to apply an axial load between shoulders on the first and second connector portions when torque is applied to the threaded fixings. An annular sealing member is compressed between the first and second portions, and the axial load applied between the first and second shoulders by the preload mechanism exceeds a peak hydrodynamic load urging the first and second connector portions in a direction along the axis. The axial force applied by the preload mechanism advantageously reduces the fatigue damage experienced by the connection, for example, by cyclic pressure changes within the connector portions typically caused by pumps operating at high pressures.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2021Date of Patent: June 27, 2023Assignee: NATIONAL OILWELL VARCO UK LIMITEDInventors: Richard Matthew Westgarth, Graham Knox, Jonathan Tweddle
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Patent number: 11680473Abstract: A hydraulic fracturing system includes a pump, an electrically powered motor for driving the pump, a trailer on which the pump and motor are mounted, and a transformer that steps down electricity for use by the motor. Electrical output from the transformer connects to a series of receptacles mounted onto a housing around the transformer. A similar set of receptacles is provided on the trailer and which are electrically connected to the motor. Power cables equipped with plugs on their opposing ends insert into the receptacles to close an electrical circuit between the transformer and pump.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2021Date of Patent: June 20, 2023Assignee: U.S. Well Services, LLCInventor: Jared Oehring
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Patent number: 11674484Abstract: A hydraulic fracturing system for fracturing a subterranean formation is disclosed. In an embodiment, the system can include a plurality of electric pumps fluidly connected to a well associated with the subterranean formation and powered by at least one electric motor, and configured to pump fluid into a wellbore associated with the well at a high pressure; at least one generator electrically coupled to the plurality of electric pumps so as to generate electricity for use by the plurality of electric pumps; a gas compression system fluidly coupled to the at least one generator so as to provide fuel for use by the at least one generator; and a combustible fuel vaporization system gaseously coupled to the gas compression system so as to provide at least one of vaporized fuel or gasified fuel, or a combination thereof, to the gas compression system.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2021Date of Patent: June 13, 2023Assignee: U.S. Well Services, LLCInventors: Jared Oehring, Brandon N. Hinderliter
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Patent number: 11674389Abstract: A method for treating a well includes hydraulically isolating an interval in a first well having a plurality of intervals along the first well, each interval having been fracture treated. A tube wave is induced in the first well in the isolated interval. Reflections are detected from the induced tube wave. Hydraulic boundary condition and hydraulic conductivity of a fracture connected to the first well in the isolated interval are determined using the detected reflections. A refracture treatment is performed in the isolated interval when the hydraulic boundary condition and the hydraulic conductivity are within a predetermine range.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2020Date of Patent: June 13, 2023Assignee: Seismos, Inc.Inventors: Jeremy Dumoit, Morteza Nasizadeh, Jakub Felkl, Panagiotis Dalamarinis
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Patent number: 11661813Abstract: An element includes an elastomer having a temperature rating of at least 400° F. for enhanced geothermal system applications. The elastomer element may be manufactured via an additive manufacturing process, and the elastomer element may be a component of an isolation plug assembly having a plurality of structural components that may also be manufactured via the additive manufacturing process.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2021Date of Patent: May 30, 2023Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATIONInventors: Huilin Tu, Mitchell Gamble, Laurent Alteirac, Bhushan Pendse