Patents Examined by Kipp C Wallace
  • Patent number: 11459826
    Abstract: An assembly for driving excavating equipment for an excavating machine includes a drive assembly sliding along a mast of a machine, for driving the drilling equipment; and an actuator. The drive assembly includes a first structure with guide members for sliding along the mast; and a second support structure to support the drilling equipment. The first and second support structures are mutually movable. The drive assembly has at least two operating configurations, for setting at least two excavation center-to-center distances. In the operating configurations of the drive assembly, the first and second support structures are mutually rigidly and directly constrained. While switching between operating configurations, the first and second support structures are always directly mechanically constrained to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: SOILMEC S.P.A.
    Inventors: Fabrizio Macori, Matteo Amadori, Alessandro Ditillo
  • Patent number: 11448042
    Abstract: Provided is a junction, a method for forming a junction, and a well system including a junction. The junction, in one aspect, includes a first threaded member, the first member formed of a first material, and a second threaded member threaded with the first threaded member, the second threaded member formed of a second material. In one or more aspects, the first and second threaded members define an overlapping space. In one or more other aspects, an expandable metal joint is located in at least a portion of the overlapping space, the expandable metal joint comprising a metal configured to expand in response to hydrolysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Chad W. Glaesman, Karthik Krishnan, Michael Linley Fripp
  • Patent number: 11434723
    Abstract: A sand lift tool for use in a subterranean well can include an outer housing, an inner production tube positioned in the outer housing, and a dart received in the inner production tube. An annulus is positioned between the outer housing and the inner production tube. The dart can reciprocate in the inner production tube in response to variations in fluid flow between the annulus and an interior of the inner production tube. Another sand lift tool can include an outer housing, an inner production tube, and a sand collection annulus between the outer housing and the inner production tube. A flow area for fluid flow between the annulus and an interior of the inner production tube increases in response to an increase in a flow rate of the fluid flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Odessa Separator, Inc.
    Inventors: Cavin Bert Frost, Daniel L. Culbertson, Gustavo A. Gonzalez-Cabrera, Mark H. Lowe
  • Patent number: 11434706
    Abstract: A system for handling drill pipe on the exit side of the borehole in horizontal directional drilling operations. The system pulls the drill string out of the borehole and uses a top drive and pipe wrench to disconnect the individual segments of drill pipe from the drill string. Pipe gripping arms lift the disconnected drill pipe segment away from the rest of the drill string and release it into a nearby pipe rack. The components of the system are collapsible and can nest in one another during transport.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Inventors: Robbie S. Fontaine, Daniel R. Page, Gustaaf M. Rus
  • Patent number: 11434739
    Abstract: A fracturing fluid delivery system is provided. In one embodiment, the system includes a fracturing manifold and a fracturing tree. A fluid conduit is coupled between the fracturing manifold and the fracturing tree to enable receipt of fracturing fluid by the fracturing tree from the fracturing manifold through the fluid conduit. The fluid conduit includes a flexible pipe segment between rigid ends of the fluid conduit. Additional systems, devices, and methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Cameron International Corporation
    Inventor: Kirk P. Guidry
  • Patent number: 11434743
    Abstract: A system and method of directionally steering a bottom hole assembly (“BHA”) from a drilling rig to a target location including by receiving data indicative of a directional trend of the BHA and a projection to bit depth; determining a location of the BHA based on a directional trend and the projection; identifying an amount of deviation from a drilling path; automatically creating a modified drilling path that intersects the planned drilling path based on the amount of deviation exceeding a first threshold amount of deviation and being less than a second threshold amount of deviation, automatically creating a modified drilling path that does not intersect the planned drilling path in response to the amount of deviation exceeding the second threshold amount of deviation, and determining a curve profile of the modified drilling path having the smallest rate of curvature to avoid drilling overshoot; and steering the BHA.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: NABORS DRILLING TECHNOLOGIES USA, INC.
    Inventors: Scott Gilbert Boone, Brian Ellis, Colin Gillan, Beat Küttel
  • Patent number: 11434734
    Abstract: A sucker rod transfer assembly for handling a sucker rod prior to the sucker rod being installed for use in a well. The transfer assembly includes an elongated body having a cavity that receives an end of the sucker rod. A slot is formed in an end wall of the body, and an opening extends lengthwise along the body that exposes the cavity. The sucker rod is engaged with the transfer assembly by inserting a tip and shoulder of the sucker rod laterally into the opening while sliding a portion of the sucker rod below the shoulder into the slot. The sucker rod is axially supported in the transfer assembly by interfering contact between the shoulder and edges of the slot. A spring selectively biases safety rings around the sucker rod end to retain the sucker rod end in the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: PETOL GEARENCH DIVISION OF ORBIX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ben Stenmark, Patrick Johnson, Greg Burbach
  • Patent number: 11421493
    Abstract: A device and a method for transferring and storing a deep in-situ core in a sealed and pressure-maintaining manner includes a pressure vessel, a sealed storage vessel, a control system, a pressure regulation system and at least one spherical valve. The pressure vessel includes a first barrel and a first end sealing piston mounted at a first end of the first barrel and being slidable in the pressure vessel. The sealed storage vessel includes a second barrel and a second end sealing piston which is mounted at a first end of the second barrel. At least one spherical valve is connected between the first barrel and the second barrel. The pressure regulation system is configured for regulating an amount of water in the second barrel. The control system includes a first pressure sensor, a second pressure sensor, and a controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: INSTITUTE OF GEOLOGY AND GEOPHYSICS, CHINESE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES
    Inventors: Jianming He, Zhaobin Zhang, Jian Huo, Yanfang Wu, Shouding Li, Xiao Li
  • Patent number: 11414977
    Abstract: A system and method to identify a dysfunction of a drill-string within a wellbore are provided. The system includes a sensor positioned proximate to a drill-string and proximate to a surface of the wellbore. The sensor is configured to sense a surface condition and generate measurement data. The system also includes a transmitter in communication with the sensor and configured to transmit the measurement data. The system also includes a receiver configured to receive the measurement data from the sensor. The system also includes a processor configured to calculate a downhole measurement based on the measurement data and analyze the downhole measurement to identify the dysfunction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: CONOCOPHILLIPS COMPANY
    Inventors: Stacey C. Ramsay, Bradford L. Cobb, Phil D. Anno, Son V. Pham
  • Patent number: 11414929
    Abstract: One or more apparatuses are described for drilling, and related methods. The apparatus can include a mast articulation mechanism supported by a base structure, an elongated mast, and a mast positioning actuator comprising a mast actuator that may be supported by a removable mounting element when in a short mast configuration. The method for drilling can include drilling a borehole using the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Watson, Incorporated
    Inventors: Douglas A. Watson, Joshua N. Keck
  • Patent number: 11414945
    Abstract: A control line pinching mechanism can include a pinching sleeve, a clamping sleeve, a tubing, a control line, and a pinching block. The clamping sleeve can have a slot. A control line can extend between the tubing and the slot of the clamping sleeve. A pinching block can be disposed within the slot of the clamping sleeve. The pinching sleeve can be movable relative to the slot from a released position to a pinching position in which the pinching sleeve contacts and radially compresses the pinching block against the control line to pinch the control line against the tubing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Ratish Suhas Kadam, Abhay Raghunath Bodake, Mukesh Bhaskar Kshirsagar
  • Patent number: 11408267
    Abstract: A system for stimulating oil or gas production from a wellbore includes a hydraulic fracturing pump unit having one or more hydraulic fracturing pumps driven by one or more electrical fracturing motors, a variable frequency drive (VFD) controlling the electrical fracturing motors, a fracturing pump blower unit driven by a blower motor, and a fracturing pump lubrication unit having a lubrication pump driven by a lubrication motor and a cooling fan driven by a cooling motor. The system may further include a blender unit and a hydration unit. A system control unit may control the operational parameters of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: STEWART & STEVENSON LLC
    Inventors: Mark Payne, Haomin Lin, Tom Robertson
  • Patent number: 11408239
    Abstract: A long-distance core drilling method suitable for a horizontal geological core drilling rig. (1) An active drill rod is connected to a drill rod, which is connected to a wireline-coring outer-tube drilling tool. (2) A steel-pipe string is connected to a fishing device, and the fishing device is connected to a spearhead on a core tube, which is placed to a designated position through a pipe-feeding mechanism. (3) A washing pump is started. (4) A core drilling is carried out. (5) A core is pulled out. (6) The steel-pipe string and the fishing device are reconnected. (7) The core tube is salvaged. (8) The core tube and drill pipe are replaced. (9) A hole is swept. (10) Steps (1)-(9) are repeated until the hole is drilled to a designated depth. (11) The core tube and the wireline-coring outer-tube drilling tool are recovered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: HUNAN UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Buyan Wan, Yongping Jin, Fenfei Peng, Jialiang Wang, Huan Liu
  • Patent number: 11408253
    Abstract: Yieldable object landing feature including a first object landing region configured to receive and support a first size object, a second object landing region configured to receive and support a second size object, and a stress riser disposed to initiate crack formation in the second object landing region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES OILFIELD OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Guijun Deng, Nils Neumann, Matthew Krueger, Joshua Snitkoff
  • Patent number: 11402537
    Abstract: Methods and associated systems are disclosed for performing a logging operation within a subterranean wellbore extending within a subterranean reservoir. In an embodiment, the method includes (a) emitting neutrons into the subterranean wellbore or the subterranean reservoir, and (b) detecting gamma rays emitted from atoms disposed within the subterranean wellbore or the subterranean reservoir. In addition, the method includes (c) determining a first gamma ray count within a first energy window of the gamma rays detected at (b), and (d) determining a second gamma ray count within a second energy window of the gamma rays detected at (b). The second energy window is different than the first energy window. Further, the method includes (e) calculating a ratio of the first gamma ray count to the second gamma ray count.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: BP CORPORATION NORTH AMERICA INC.
    Inventors: Xiaogang Han, Adrian Zett, Jeanine Galvan Amaya, Brady Lanclos
  • Patent number: 11391101
    Abstract: The invention provides a bit breaker comprising a generally flat plate that defines two arms and a base leg. The two arms project respectively from opposed ends of the base leg. The bit breaker has a generally rectangular pipe slot located between the two arms. The bit breaker includes a jaw mounted on one of the arms so as to be removable therefrom when damaged and thereafter replaced with a new jaw. The jaw defines a working surface located on a side of the pipe slot. In some embodiments, the bit breaker further comprises a security plate attached to the generally flat plate so as to define a mount space between the generally flat plate and the security plate. The jaw is received in the mount space such that the jaw has limited freedom of movement relative to both the generally flat plate and the security plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: FALCON TOOLS, LLC
    Inventors: Bradley A. Odegard, James D. McQuiston
  • Patent number: 11377916
    Abstract: A leveling assembly that is capable of lubrication without separating the individual leveling plates. The leveling assembly comprising: a first plate having a convex curved surface having a curvature, the first plate defining a central bore therethrough; a second plate having a concave curved surface shaped to mate with the convex curved surface; the second plate defining a central bore therethrough. One of the first or second plates defines a lubrication passageway extending from a first opening on an exterior surface thereof to a second opening on the curved surface, and a lubrication groove extending from the second opening to the central bore of the plate with the lubrication passageway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Redhead Services, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Brandon Lee Rodgers, Jarod Lane Shelton
  • Patent number: 11377934
    Abstract: A downhole tool including an insertion member arranged to insert into and form an annular seal with a receiving member using an annular seal assembly. The seal assembly includes a compliant metal spring and a separate metal cover overlapping at least a portion of an outside of the spring, wherein the cover and spring extend radially outward from the downhole tool so as to be compressed when the insertion member is inserted within the receiving member to form an annular metal-to-metal seal between the insertion member and the receiving member. A method of coupling the downhole tool and the receiving member in a well includes inserting the insertion member of the downhole tool into the receiving member and energizing and forming an annular metal-to-metal seal by compressing the seal assembly between the insertion member and the receiving member when inserting the insertion member into the receiving member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Shobeir Pirayeh Gar, Xiaoguang Allan Zhong
  • Patent number: 11371316
    Abstract: An all-in-one mobile wellsite service unit for providing equipment and services at an oil and gas well related to well abandonment is provided. The mobile unit comprises a water storage tank, at least one cement mixing barrel for mixing a cement slurry, a progressive cavity pump for pumping the cement slurry, and a hydraulic hose for connecting to a hydraulic power source to provide power to the cement mixing barrel and the progressive cavity pump. The mobile unit may also contain downhole tools needed for well abandonment, including a well cleaning tool, a cementing tool, a hydraulic packer, and more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: T-ROCK CT SERVICES LTD.
    Inventors: Myles Martin, Randy Martin
  • Patent number: 11371339
    Abstract: Method for characterizing subterranean formation is described. One method includes inducing one or more fractures in a portion of the subterranean formation. Determining a poroelastic pressure response due to the inducing of the one or more fractures. The poroelastic pressure response is measured by a sensor that is in at least partial hydraulic isolation with the portion of the subterranean formation. Monitoring closure of the one or more fractures via the poroelastic pressure response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: CONOCOPHILLIPS COMPANY
    Inventors: Nicolas Patrick Roussel, Horacio Florez, Adolfo Antonio Rodriguez, Samarth Agrawal