Patents Examined by Kenneth L. Thompson
  • Patent number: 11268380
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods, systems, and computer-readable medium to perform operations including: receiving a real-time density log comprising bulk density readings of a subterranean formation, where a well is being drilled in the subterranean formation; aggregating density readings over a first threshold distance from a current drilling depth in the subterranean formation; calculating a minimum formation density and a maximum formation density in the aggregated density readings; calculating a difference between the maximum formation density and the minimum formation density; in response to determining that the difference is greater than a field threshold, determining whether a previous kick alert occurred at least a second threshold distance from the current drilling depth; and in response to determining that the previous kick alert occurred at least the second threshold distance from the current drilling depth, detecting a kick in the well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Zainab Alsaihati, Bader Otaibi, Abdullah Saleh Al-Yami, Salem H. Al Gharbi
  • Patent number: 11268347
    Abstract: A sliding sleeve valve for use in a borehole includes an outer housing including a radial housing slot, a sliding sleeve slidably disposed in the outer housing, the sliding sleeve including a radial sleeve slot and configured to have a first position that restricts fluid communication between the sleeve slot and the housing slot and a second position, spaced from the first position, that permits fluid communication between the sleeve slot and the housing slot, an actuator housing coupled to the outer housing, wherein the actuator housing includes an actuator chamber defined by an inner surface, and wherein the actuator chamber is disposed between an inner surface and an outer surface of the actuator housing, and an actuator assembly disposed in the actuator chamber, wherein the actuator assembly is configured to control movement of the sliding sleeve between the first and second positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: National Oilwell Varco, L.P.
    Inventors: Fernando Olguin, Aju Abraham
  • Patent number: 11268346
    Abstract: Embodiments of systems and methods for supplying fuel, enabling communications, and conveying electric power associated with operation of a hydraulic fracturing unit of a plurality of hydraulic fracturing units are disclosed and may include a fuel line connection assembly configured to be connected to the first hydraulic fracturing unit and to supply fuel from a fuel source to a gas turbine engine connected to the hydraulic fracturing unit. A system also may include a communications cable assembly configured to be connected to the hydraulic fracturing unit and to enable data communications between the hydraulic fracturing unit and a data center or another hydraulic fracturing unit. A system further may include a power cable assembly configured to be connected to the hydraulic fracturing unit and to convey electric power between the hydraulic fracturing unit and a remote electrical power source or the plurality of hydraulic fracturing units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: BJ Energy Solutions, LLC
    Inventors: Tony Yeung, Ricardo Rodriguez-Ramon, Patrick Thomson
  • Patent number: 11248435
    Abstract: The frac plug system includes a setting mandrel, a sleeve member, a sealing member, a cone assembly, and a slip device. The setting mandrel includes a plurality of fluid bypass slots. The sleeve member includes a sleeve body with an abutment end. The setting mandrel has a first configuration without fluid flow through the frac plug system, and a second configuration with fluid flow through the frac plug system. The methods of the present invention include running the frac plug system in the first configuration and the sealing member in an extended position for a first setting stage, moving the setting mandrel to the second configuration with the sealing member in an expanded position, and then returning the setting mandrel to the first configuration for a second setting state. If the placement is wrong, the method includes removing the frac plug system in the first setting stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: CNPC USA Corp.
    Inventors: Jianpeng Yue, Peng Cheng, Yu Liu, Xu Wang, Richard Herrera
  • Patent number: 11248436
    Abstract: A technique facilitates use of a frac diverter instead of a frac plug in a variety of fracturing operations. The frac diverter has a simpler and less expensive construction. Although the frac diverter may not form a seal with the surrounding casing in some applications, the frac diverter is able to sufficiently restrict flow of fracturing fluid to enable a successful fracturing operation. The frac diverter may comprise arrangements of at least one cone, at least one slip ring, and at least one corresponding sub which work in cooperation with a flow restricting element. The flow restricting element may comprise various types of rings, e.g. sealing element rings, able to sufficiently restrict flow of fracturing fluid past the frac diverter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Robert Matthew Graham, Michael Bilynsky, Roberto Jaime, Christopher Cromer, Sidney J. Jasek, William Norrid, Bhushan Pendse
  • Patent number: 11248432
    Abstract: A method is for suspending flow in a well. The method includes placing a first plug in a production tubular in an upper wellhead section, above a downhole safety valve. The first plug is adapted to fit into the production tubular to form a fluid seal in the production tubular to form a barrier for containing well fluid; equipped with instrumentation for obtaining information by measuring physical characteristics below the plug; and equipped with means for transmitting said obtained information to an operator. There is also described an apparatus for suspending flow in the well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: ICON Instruments AS
    Inventors: Jan Erik Skjold, Kåre Olav Krogenes
  • Patent number: 11248453
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for a fracturing process and in particular, to providing a fracturing system including a fracturing plug configured to seal a wellbore to prevent fluid from passing through the wellbore, a gun configured to generate a perforation cluster, wherein the perforation cluster allows fluid exchange between the wellbore and a subterranean formation, a setting tool configured to initiate setting of the fracturing plug and firing of the gun to generate the perforation cluster, and a sensor configured to measure parameters proximate to the wellbore, wherein the sensor is retrievable after a fracturing process, measuring the parameters proximate to the wellbore with the sensor and transmitting the parameters measured by the sensor to an operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Service, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Linley Fripp, Sean C. Canning
  • Patent number: 11242744
    Abstract: Embodiments of this disclosure confirm a leak and determine a depth of the leak in a well of a drilling system. The drilling system include a circulating fluid and a fluid caliper having a density contrast relative to a density of the circulating fluid. Fluid mass flow and fluid density data are continually collected by an inlet and outlet side flow measurements. A measured surface pressure, a measured downhole pressure, a user-defined managed depth window, and a target equivalent circulating density at the user-defined managed depth window are inputted to a microprocessor. The microprocessor adjusts the fluid density data for temperature and pressure; calculates a mass flow balance and a wellbore pressure; compares the measured density and mass flow in with the measured density and mass flow out; and determines, based upon the comparing, the presence of the leak and the depth of the leak.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: WellWorc, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce E. Smith, David P. Smith, Michael B. Smith, Scott A. Grubb
  • Patent number: 11236591
    Abstract: A method including (a) lowering a first tool string into a first wellbore, the tool string including a first perforating gun and a gun switch configured to detonate the first perforating gun, (b) detonating the first perforating gun in response to transmitting a first gun firing signal from a control system to the gun switch, (c) retrieving the tool string from the first wellbore following (c), (d) lowering a second tool string including the gun switch used in the first tool string and a second perforating gun into at least one of the first wellbore and a second wellbore that is different from the first wellbore following (d), and (e) detonating the second perforating gun of the second tool string in response to transmitting a second gun firing signal from the control system to the gun switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: G&H Diversified Manufacturing LP
    Inventors: Benjamin Vascal Knight, James Edward Kash, Joe Noel Wells
  • Patent number: 11230903
    Abstract: A downhole tool, such as a fracture plug used during a fracture operation, installs in a downhole tubular, such as casing. The tool has a mandrel with a sealing element disposed thereon between uphole and downhole ends. Slip assemblies on the mandrel can be moved to engage the downhole tubular. The slip assemblies have inserts. The inserts have a body defining an internal cavity at least partially therein. The body is composed of a ceramic material having a first density of about 3 g/cc to about 6 g/cc. A volume of the insert can be about 0.4 cc to about 0.6 cc, and a mass of the insert can be about 1.2 g to about 3.6 g. In one example, the ceramic material is silicon nitride. The cavity can be filled with a low density filler material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: James A. Rochen, Nauman H. Mhaskar
  • Patent number: 11203924
    Abstract: An automated hydraulic fracturing system, including a pump system, a blender configured to form the fracturing fluid, a proppant storage and delivery system, a hydration unit configured to mix an additive into a fluid to form the fluid mixture and provide the fluid mixture to the blender, a fluid storage and delivery system, and an additive storage and delivery system, and an automated control system including a plurality of sensing devices and a plurality of control devices integrated into the pump system, the blender system, the proppant storage and delivery system, the fluid storage and delivery system, and the additive storage and delivery system, the automated control system configured to monitor parameters of the automated hydraulic fracturing system via the plurality of sensing devices and transmit control instructions for one or more of the plurality of control devices to control an aspect of the automated hydraulic fracturing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: U.S. Well Services, LLC
    Inventors: Jared Oehring, Brandon N. Hinderliter, Alexander James Christinzio
  • Patent number: 11199073
    Abstract: A plug with a resettable closure member including a body defining a flow bore and a closure member seat, a closure assembly connected to the body, the assembly includes a closure member and a magnetic catch disposed to hold the closure member in an open position, the magnetic catch being configured to release the closure member upon a selected hydrodynamic load upon the closure member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES OILFIELD OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Eugene Stolboushkin, Juan Carlos Flores Perez, Seth Burke
  • Patent number: 11193357
    Abstract: A casing patch includes a tubular that comprises a first end and a second end opposite the first end, each of the first end and second end comprising an expandable wedge that is deformable into a wellbore casing; and a locating profile formed onto an inner surface of the tubular between the first and second ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Jack Gammill Clemens
  • Patent number: 11187058
    Abstract: A pressure relief valve system for a fluid injection system is provided. The PRV system comprises one or more pressure transducers configured to sense fluid pressure within the fluid injection system. The transducers then generate electrical signals representative of fluid pressure readings within the fluid injection system in real time. Signals are received by a controller which compares pressure readings with a stored pressure threshold. An actuation signal is sent upon detecting a signal representative of a pressure that exceeds the stored pressure threshold, causing an electraulically-actuated valve to rotatably move to an open position. The PRV system includes a bypass feature that allows the operator to manually open or close a valve when the stored pressure threshold is reached. A method of controlling pressure during a wellbore operation is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: Telos Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Jason A. Golden, Dustin J. Adams, Terry J. Wilcox
  • Patent number: 11181879
    Abstract: A system and method that remotely monitors and controls proppant usage in a fracturing operation. The system and method allow operators to wirelessly monitor and control proppant storage units from inside a datavan through sensors and control mechanisms that interface with fracturing software to schedule the flow of the proppant. A sensor monitors the weight, container level, or volume of the proppant being used to keep the induced hydraulic fracture open. A serial to Ethernet converter converts this information and sends it wirelessly to a datavan. A user at the datavan controls the proppant usage through a display in the datavan of the storage units with the appropriate weight. The container monitoring software links with the fracturing software, providing real-time information about proppant usage so that the user can properly schedule proppant flow to the well through valves, conveyor belts, and other control mechanisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: U.S. Well Services, LLC
    Inventors: Jared Oehring, Brandon N. Hinderliter, Arthur Baron
  • Patent number: 11168532
    Abstract: An apparatus or a well tool for testing a blowout preventer (BOP) on a surface wellhead. The apparatus includes a sacrificial wellhead adapter, a top locking mechanism adapted to lock the adapter to a BOP riser, and a bottom locking mechanism adapted to lock the adapter to a permanent tubing or casing spool of the surface wellhead. The apparatus further includes a plurality of lock down screws configured to be activated as a load ring. The sacrificial wellhead adapter further comprises a first profile for accommodating a test plug load ring, and a sealing profile for a test plug. The apparatus further includes a test plug with an activated load shoulder. The test plug is activated externally by energizing the lock down screws. The apparatus further includes a load ring configured to lock the test plug in place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventor: Mohammed E. Mukhlifi
  • Patent number: 11168537
    Abstract: A fluid-pressure-set uphole end for a hybrid straddle packer has a multicomponent mandrel with a fixed piston and a multicomponent sliding sleeve with a sliding sleeve piston housing that houses the fixed piston. The multicomponent sliding sleeve reciprocates within a limited range on the multicomponent mandrel in response to fluid pressure pumped into a central passage of the multicomponent mandrel. An anti-set spring constantly resists relative movement between the multicomponent mandrel and the multicomponent sliding sleeve and returns the uphole end to a run-in condition when fluid pressure in the central passage is released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: EXACTA-FRAC ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Joze John Hrupp, Ahmed Mohamed Saeed
  • Patent number: 11162332
    Abstract: Methods and systems for modeling the efficiency of fluid transfer between a wellbore and containers during a displacement operation. In one embodiment, the methods and systems may include providing a fluid transfer model based on constraints determined from data obtained from a wellbore servicing system, wherein the fluid transfer model comprises expected properties of the wellbore servicing system at one or more intervals during a fluid displacement operation, selecting containers for transferring a wellbore servicing fluid to a wellbore based on the expected properties, selecting containers for transferring a return fluid from the wellbore based on the expected properties, determining actual properties of the wellbore servicing system from data obtained from the wellbore servicing system, comparing the expected properties and the actual properties, and if the expected properties are different from the actual properties, modifying at least one of the expected properties of the wellbore servicing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Vitor Lopes Pereira, Dale E. Jamison, Alexandra Clare Morrison
  • Patent number: 11162350
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a downhole drilling tool that may include: an earth-boring drill bit including: a bit body; a shank coupled to the bit body; a strain puck removably coupled to the earth-boring drill bit, the strain puck including a strain gauge to collect data indicating a downhole force applied to the earth-boring drill bit during a drilling operation; and a plurality of blades disposed on exterior portions of the bit body, each blade having respective cutting elements disposed thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Bradley David Dunbar
  • Patent number: 11151454
    Abstract: A system for multi-stage placement of material in a wellbore includes a recurrent neural network that can be configured based on data from a multi-stage, stimulated wellbore. A computing device in communication with a sensor and a pump is operable to implement the recurrent neural network, which may include a long short-term neural network model (LSTM). Surface data from the sensor at each observation time of a plurality of observation times is used by the recurrent neural network to produce a predicted value for a response variable at a future time, and the predicted value for the response variable is used to control a pump being used to place the material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Landmark Graphics Corporation
    Inventors: Srinath Madasu, Keshava Prasad Rangarajan