Patents Examined by Kenneth L. Thompson
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Patent number: 11578596Abstract: Systems and methods for developing hydrocarbon reservoirs based on constrained natural fracture parameters. A natural fracture modeling is generated for a reservoir, an initial set of fracture model parameters is determined, and a fracture model optimization is conducted to determine an optimized set of fracture model parameters. The optimized set of fracture model parameters are used as a basis for modeling the reservoir, and the modeling is used to generate a simulation of the reservoir.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 2021Date of Patent: February 14, 2023Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil CompanyInventors: Otto Meza Camargo, Karla Olvera Carranza, Cesar Pardo, Marko Maucec, Olugbenga Olukoko
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Patent number: 11578554Abstract: A packer for wells can include a body having a tubular shape, a sealing element having an upward end and a downward end and disposed around the body. The packer also includes a first prop upward of the sealing element, and a second prop downward of the sealing element. The first prop is configured to wedge under the upward end of the sealing element and the second prop is configured to wedge under the downward end of the sealing element to push the sealing element outward at both the upward end and the downward end.Type: GrantFiled: June 21, 2021Date of Patent: February 14, 2023Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Shane R. Burckhard, Michael D. Ezell
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Patent number: 11578535Abstract: A downhole-type device includes an electric machine. The electric machine includes an electrical rotor configured to couple with a device to drive or be driven by the electric machine. An electrical stator surrounds the electric rotor. The electric stator includes a seal configured to isolate stator windings from an outside, downhole environment. An inner surface of the seal and an outer surface of the electric rotor define an annulus exposed to the outside environment. A bearing couples the electric rotor to the electric stator. A lubrication system is fluidically coupled to the downhole-type device. The lubrication system includes a topside pressure pump and a downhole-type distribution manifold configured to be used within a wellbore. The distribution manifold is fluidically connected to the topside pressure pump and the bearing to receive a flow of lubricant from the topside pressure pump.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2021Date of Patent: February 14, 2023Assignee: Upwing Energy, Inc.Inventors: David Biddick, Patrick McMullen, Herman Artinian
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Patent number: 11560776Abstract: Methods and system for modeling wellbore treatment operations in which the flow of treatment fluids may be diverted are provided. In one embodiment, the methods comprise: receiving, at a processing component, one or more treatment operation inputs characterizing a treatment operation for a wellbore system comprising a wellbore penetrating at least a portion of a subterranean formation and a treatment fluid comprising a diverter, wherein at least one of the one or more treatment operation inputs comprises the inlet concentration of the diverter in the treatment fluid; and using the processing component to determine a wellbore system pressure distribution and a wellbore system flow distribution based, at least in part, on the one or more treatment operation inputs and a diversion flow model, wherein the diversion flow model captures an effect of the diverter on fluid flow in the wellbore system.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 2016Date of Patent: January 24, 2023Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventor: Srinath Madasu
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Patent number: 11555389Abstract: A method of predicting hydrocarbon production from one or more artificial lift wells is disclosed. Test data is obtained from the artificial lift well. A decline curve model, representing well performance, is generated for one or more fluids in the artificial lift well. Measurement values are obtained from an artificial lift operation. For each of the obtained measurement values, a measurement model is generated that correlates the measurement values to the decline curve. A Kalman filter is used to predict production outputs of at least one of oil, gas, and water for the well, and to generate an uncertainty range for the predicted production outputs. The Kalman filter uses the decline curves to predict the production outputs, and uses the measurement models to correct and/or update the predicted production outputs. Hydrocarbon production activities are modified using the corrected and/or updated predicted production outputs.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2021Date of Patent: January 17, 2023Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research CompanyInventors: Richard D. Garrett, Marco de Mattia, Curtis J. Holub, Neeraj R. Dani
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Patent number: 11555372Abstract: A system and method for shutting in a wellbore in the event that primary blow-out preventer (BOP) system fails. The system comprises a smart-BOP shear ram system that operates independently and autonomously from the primary BOP system and that includes a pneumatically actuated shear ram installed on top of the primary BOP preventers. A dedicated control system and pneumatic pump are encased inside one or more explosion proof boxes. The control system detects primary BOP failure using sensors located above and below the primary BOP shear ram and actuates the smart-BOP shear ram accordingly. The control system is configured such that, activation of the primary BOP stack automatically activates the smart-BOP shear ram system and the control unit assumes autonomous control over operation of the smart-BOP shear ram until the control unit confirms that a complete seal has been made against the wellbore fluids.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2021Date of Patent: January 17, 2023Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANYInventor: Ahmed Abdulaziz Al-Mousa
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Patent number: 11555378Abstract: A self-destructible frac ball is described herein. The self-destructible frac ball is configured to seal a hydraulic flow path through a fluid conduit of a frac plug when engaged on a ball seat of the frac plug. The self-destructible frac ball includes an activation mechanism configured to activate a destructive medium in response to the satisfaction of at least one predetermined condition. The self-destructible frac ball also includes the destructive medium, which is configured to destroy the self-destructible frac ball and a corresponding destructible ball retainer when activated by the activation mechanism. The destruction of the self-destructible frac ball and the corresponding destructible ball retainer reestablishes the hydraulic flow path through the fluid conduit of the frac plug.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2021Date of Patent: January 17, 2023Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research CompanyInventors: Michael C. Romer, Timothy J. Hall
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Patent number: 11549346Abstract: A system for hydraulically fracturing an underground formation in an oil or gas well, including a pump for pumping hydraulic fracturing fluid into the wellbore, the pump having a pump shaft, and an electric motor with a motor shaft mechanically attached to the pump to drive the pump. The system further includes a torsional coupling connecting the motor shaft to the pump shaft. The torsional coupling includes a motor component fixedly attached to the motor shaft and having motor coupling claws extending outwardly away from the motor shaft, and a pump component fixedly attached to the pump shaft of the pump and having pump coupling claws extending outwardly away from the pump shaft. The motor coupling claws engage with the pump coupling claws so that when the motor shaft and motor component rotate, such rotation causes the pump component and the pump shaft to rotate, thereby driving the pump.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2021Date of Patent: January 10, 2023Assignee: U.S. Well Services, LLCInventors: Joel N. Broussard, Jeff McPherson, Robert Kurtz, Jared Oehring
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Patent number: 11542786Abstract: A system for powering electric hydraulic fracturing equipment, the system including a power storage system and electric powered hydraulic fracturing equipment in selective electrical communication with the power storage system. The system further includes at least one circuit breaker between the power storage system and the electric powered hydraulic fracturing equipment, the circuit breaker configured to facilitate or prevent electrical communication between the power storage system and the electric powered hydraulic fracturing equipment.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2020Date of Patent: January 3, 2023Assignee: U.S. Well Services, LLCInventors: Brandon N. Hinderliter, Jared Oehring, Steven Riley
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Patent number: 11542794Abstract: A subsea hydrocarbon flow compression system (100) for receiving a hydrocarbon stream from at least one upstream flowline (102, 104) and supplying the hydrocarbon stream to at least one downstream flowline (106, 108) at an increased pressure, wherein the compression system comprises first and second compressor trains (110a, 110b), wherein each compressor train comprises an inlet port (112a, 112b) which is connectable to the at least one upstream flowline (102, 104); an outlet port (114a, 114b) which is connectable to the at least one downstream flowline (106, 108); a conditioning unit (116a, 116b) which is connected to the inlet port via a first flowline (118a, 118b); and a first flow path for the hydrocarbon fluid comprising a compressor (120a, 120b), which compressor is connected to the conditioning unit via a second flowline (122a, 122b) and to the outlet port via a third flowline (124a, 124b), wherein a controllable first valve (126) is arranged in the third flowline of the first compressor train for contType: GrantFiled: June 24, 2019Date of Patent: January 3, 2023Inventors: Leif Arne Tønnessen, Jan Helge Hassel, Paolo Romanello
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Patent number: 11519225Abstract: A rotary valve can include a housing, a manifold with multiple flow paths can be fixedly mounted to the housing. A rotary actuator with a first surface can be rotatably mounted within the housing, and a valve seat with a second surface can be fixedly attached to the manifold, where the second surface can sealingly engage the first surface. The rotary actuator can include a gap that selectively aligns with respective ones of valve seat ports as the rotary actuator rotates relative to the valve seat, thereby selectively pressurizing one or more actuators. A system and method can include a rotary valve that selectively causes pads to extend at a predetermined orientation in the wellbore to steer a drill bit. The azimuthal orientation of a rotary actuator of the valve can determine which pads are extended and which are retracted as the drill bit rotates.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2021Date of Patent: December 6, 2022Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Daniel Winslow, Larry Chambers, Neelesh Deolalikar
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Patent number: 11512566Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for extracting gas from a reservoir including a well bore having a large cross sectional area which may be determined by dividing a target flow rate of the reservoir by an actual sustained flow rate and multiplying a result by a flow path area for the actual sustained flow rate. A method of converting a well of a low pressure gas reservoir is further provided.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2020Date of Patent: November 29, 2022Inventor: Kurt Carleton
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Patent number: 11512563Abstract: Example systems and methods are described that operate to open screen joints using mechanically-generated perforations for beginning fluid production. In an example system, a screen joint is deployed in a production tubing within a wellbore. The screen joint includes a screen element and a blank housing that are coupled to an exterior surface of a non]perforated base pipe. Further, the screen joint includes a locator profile positioned along an interior surface of the non]perforated base pipe. A perforator is deployed within the screen joint that includes a mechanical perforator and a locator for engaging with the locator profile to position the mechanical perforator under the blank housing.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2020Date of Patent: November 29, 2022Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Stephen Michael Greci, Brandon Thomas Least, Thomas J. Frosell
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Patent number: 11492886Abstract: A hydraulic fracturing pump system includes an electric powered hydraulic fracturing pump positioned on a support structure. The system also includes a suction stabilizer/dampener coupled to a suction end of the pump. The system further includes a compressed gas supply, fluidly coupled to the suction stabilizer/dampener, and positioned on the support structure. The system also includes a flow path between the suction stabilizer/dampener and the compressed gas supply, the flow path including at least one valve and at least one regulator configured to control flow from the compressed gas supply to the suction stabilizer/dampener.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 2020Date of Patent: November 8, 2022Assignee: U.S. Wells Services, LLCInventors: Jared Oehring, Alexander Christinzio, Lon Robinson
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Patent number: 11492902Abstract: A system includes a processing device and a non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that are executable by the processing device to cause the system to perform operations. The operations include generating and running a reservoir simulation model. The reservoir and simulation model includes representative natural fracture or secondary porosity attributes for an area of interest for one or more wells. The operations also include generating a synthetic G-function response using results of the reservoir simulation model. Additionally, the operations include calibrating the synthetic G-function response from the reservoir simulation model to a field G-function response generated using results of a field diagnostic fracture injection test by changing natural fracture characteristics of the reservoir simulation model.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 2019Date of Patent: November 8, 2022Assignee: Landmark Graphics CorporationInventors: Amit Kumar, Steven Patton Knabe
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Patent number: 11486212Abstract: Apparatus and methods for determining a laminar-turbulent transition of a fluid are provided. For example, a measurement tool can receive a set of wellbore conditions received from a wellbore. Measurement tool parameters can be determined based on the set of wellbore conditions. The measurement tool can be set according to the measurement tool parameters such that a fluid received from the wellbore can move through the measurement tool in a laminar state. The measurement tool may be adjusted according to the measurement tool parameters such that the fluid moves in a turbulent state. The measurement tool may determine a laminar-turbulent transition region for the fluid. The measurement tool may output the laminar-turbulent transition region for use in a drilling operation in the wellbore.Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 2021Date of Patent: November 1, 2022Assignee: HALIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.Inventors: Dale E. Jamison, Andrew Vos
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Patent number: 11480030Abstract: A thermal expansion system for actuating a remote operated sleeve assembly to open and close ports in a housing for fluidly communicating between a bore of a tubular string in a wellbore to the formation utilizes actuation of a propellant charge to create expanding gas and heat in a combustion chamber to directly act on one side of a piston connected to an axially moveable sleeve supported in the housing to shift the sleeve in one direction. Ignition of another propellant charge in a combustion chamber on an opposing side of the piston is used to directly shift the sleeve in an opposing direction.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2019Date of Patent: October 25, 2022Inventors: Per Angman, Mark Andreychuk, Allan Petrella, Matthew Brown
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Patent number: 11476781Abstract: A system and method for supplying electric power to various pieces of fracturing equipment in a fracturing operation with gas powered generators. The system and method also includes switch gears, auxiliary trailers, transformers, power distribution panels, new receptacles, and cables to supply three-phase power to electric fracturing equipment. The switchgear in the power supply system is weatherproof and able to endure the wear and tear of mobilization. The novel system and method provide clean and quiet electricity to all the equipment on site.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 2016Date of Patent: October 18, 2022Assignee: U.S. Well Services, LLCInventors: Jared Oehring, Brandon Neil Hinderliter, Joel Broussard
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Patent number: 11473414Abstract: A downhole sub has a cylindrical body and a sealing device disposed about the cylindrical body. The cylindrical body has a first fluid chamber configured to store a hydraulic fluid, a second fluid chamber configured to store a liquid energetic material, a piston slidably disposed between the first fluid chamber and the second fluid chamber, and an ignition unit. The sealing device has two annular pistons and two annular sealing rings. The sub is loaded with the liquid energetic material and lowered into a well casing installed in the subterranean formation. A section of the well casing having a plurality of perforations is sealed. The liquid energetic material in the downhole sub is injected into the subterranean formation through the plurality of perforations in the well casing and is detonated using the ignition unit in the downhole sub.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2021Date of Patent: October 18, 2022Inventor: Bo Qu
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Patent number: 11473401Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for controlling a toe-end sliding sleeve in a horizontal well based on efficient decoding communication. The method comprises the following steps: forming a pressure wave signal by adjusting and controlling a pressure value in a wellbore according to a first preset encoding manner; acquiring a pressure value change signal in the wellbore, determining a reference time by using an STA/LTA method, and predicting pressure value to acquire a predicted pressure value signal curve; identifying a toe-end sliding sleeve control command in the acquired pressure wave signal by using a first preset decoding manner based on the fitness between the acquired pressure value signal curve and the predicted pressure value signal curve; and driving the toe-end sliding sleeve to perform actions according to the toe-end sliding sleeve control command.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2021Date of Patent: October 18, 2022Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF ELECTRONIC SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY OF CHINAInventors: Hua Wang, Xingming Wang, Yukun Fu