Patents Examined by Kipp C Wallace
  • Cement plug internal anti-rotation
    Patent number: 11268343
    Abstract: A plug system includes a locked member of a first plug and a free member of a second plug. The locked member has a first locking end having a first anti-rotation feature. The free member has a second locking end having a second anti-rotation feature. The first anti-rotation feature and the second anti-rotation feature are configured to fit together to resist a rotation between the free member and the locked member to thereby resist rotation of the second plug with respect to the first plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES OILFIELD OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Alexander Schultz, Thomas Banditrat
  • System for drill bit change in a drilling rig, drilling rig comprising such a system, and a method for changing drill bits using such a system
    Patent number: 11261677
    Abstract: A drilling rig includes an interchangeable plurality of drill pipes, wherein drill bits are arranged at an end section of an end drill pipe. The drill bit being attached to the end section by means of a threaded connection and torque being provided to the drill bit by means of a splines coupling. The drilling rig comprises a lower support device and a breaker device. The system includes a drill bit storage device arranged to hold a plurality of drill bits, a gripping arm for selective gripping of a drill bit. The gripping arm may further comprise a movement sensor, arranged to monitor movement of the gripping arm, and the system may further comprise a control unit. The control unit being arranged to receive input from the sensors and the drilling rig, and to control movement of the gripping arm, the gripping means, the drill bit storage device, and the breaker device of the drilling rig.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: EPIROC ROCK DRILLS AKTIEBOLAG
    Inventor: Anders Hellman
  • Device, assembly, and method for releasing cutters on the fly
    Patent number: 11261669
    Abstract: A drill bit device may include a cutter housing delimited by an outermost surface and various walls forming a socket. The drill bit device may include various main cutters disposed on an outermost surface of the cutter housing. The various main cutters may be configured to move in an outward direction upon receiving a predetermined pressure. The drill bit device may include various pre-charged cutters disposed immediately behind the various main cutters inside the cutter housing. The various pre-charged cutters may be configured to move in the outward direction upon receiving the predetermined pressure. The drill bit device may include a gate that connects the cutter housing to an internal groove that may be directly connected to a port switch that may allow release of the predetermined pressure through the internal groove and into the gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventor: Hussien A. Alzaki
  • Bottom hole assemblies for directional drilling
    Patent number: 11255136
    Abstract: Directional drilling is an extremely important area of technology for the extraction of oil and gas from earthen formations. The technology of the present application relates to improved positioning elements for directional drilling assemblies. It also relates to drilling directional wellbores using the guidance positioning members of the present technology.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: XR Lateral LLC
    Inventors: Edward Spatz, Michael Reese, David Miess, Gregory Prevost
  • Laser tool with purging head
    Patent number: 11248426
    Abstract: An example laser tool is configured to operate within a wellbore of a hydrocarbon-bearing rock formation. The laser tool includes one or more optical transmission media as part of an optical path originating at a laser generator configured to generate a laser beam having an axis. The laser tool includes an optical element for receiving the laser beam from the one or more optical transmission media and for output to the hydrocarbon-bearing rock formation. The laser tool includes a purging head for removing dust or vapor from a path of the laser beam. The purging head is for discharging two or more purging gas streams. The purging head may include a coaxial flow assembly and a helical flow assembly. A coaxial purging gas stream may flow in a direction parallel to the axis. A helical purging gas stream may flow in a helical pattern around and substantially along the axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Sameeh Issa Batarseh, John Duclos Reece, II
  • Systems and methods for manipulating wellbore completion products
    Patent number: 11248427
    Abstract: A service tool that may be inserted into a tubular, the service tool includes an anchoring system. The anchoring system includes a body having a first end, a second end, and an opening extending along a portion of the body between the first end and the second end and a gripping assembly housed within and coupled to the body. The gripping assembly may anchor at least a portion of the service tool to the tubular, and the gripping assembly includes a plurality of anchor arms disposed within the opening and that may move relative to the body. The anchoring system also includes an actuator disposed within a central bore of the body and coupled to the gripping assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Thomas Mauchien, Mark Milkovisch, Anthony Westphal, Brandon Christa, Todor Sheiretov, Wade DuPree
  • Downhole debris collecting device with a filter
    Patent number: 11236566
    Abstract: A collecting device for displacement in a tubing. The collecting device is extended in shape with a longitudinal axis and forms a leading portion with an entrance and an end portion. The device includes a wall extending from the leading portion to the end portion, a collecting chamber formed inside a portion of the wall, a filter positioned with the collecting chamber, a motor, a pump, and an outlet at the end portion, where the filter stocking provided with an open first end portion and a closed second end portion, and the open first end portion faces the leading portion, a and the filter stocking forms a receptacle. A method for emptying the collecting device is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Altus Intervention (Technologies) AS
    Inventors: Gunn Elin Toge, Kristian Andersen
  • Release lugs for a jarring device
    Patent number: 11230901
    Abstract: A release mechanism for a jarring tool is formed by a plurality of segmented release lugs. Each lug includes a plurality of axial spaced projections on an inner surface and a plurality of grooves on an outer surface. The projections have either different widths or are separated by varying distances and releasably engage corresponding grooves in a mandrel located within a housing of the tool. The release lugs are positioned between a trigger sleeve and the mandrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Inventor: Robert W. Evans
  • Downhole apparatus
    Patent number: 11215037
    Abstract: There is provided a sandscreen joint (110) capable of providing zonal isolation. The ends of the portion of the (110) are capable of extension on activation of the sandscreen (110), including transition areas (135), which are coated with an elastomer sleeve (134). On activation of the sandscreen (110), the sleeve (134) is pushed out into contact with the bore wall and serves to isolate the zone on one side of the activated sleeve (134) from the zone on the other side of the sleeve (134). Thus, the provision of the sleeve (134) on the activated sandscreen (110) may prevent fluid from flowing axially along the bore between the bore wall and sandscreen. This may serve to protect the weave at the transition area (135), preventing axial flow through the transition areas (135).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: Halliburton Manufacturing And Services Limited
    Inventors: Stephen Edmund Bruce, David Grant, Scott Elliott Wallace
  • Guide shoe with lockable nose
    Patent number: 11203902
    Abstract: A guide shoe (1), adapted for connection to an end of a tubular for deployment in a wellbore of an oil, gas, or water well, includes: a body (10) having an axis (2) and being adapted for connection to the tubular such that torque can be transmitted between the tubular and the body (10); a nose (50) adapted for connection to the body (10); a locking mechanism (30) adapted to shift between an unlocked configuration, in which rotation of the nose (50) around the axis of the body (10) is permitted in first and second directions, and a locked configuration in which rotation of the nose (50) around the axis of the body (10) is restricted in at least one of the first and second directions. The guide shoe includes a resilient biasing device (20) urging the nose (50) into the locked configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: DOWNHOLE PRODUCTS LIMITED
    Inventors: Alexander Craig MacKay, Jonathan Peter Buckland
  • Drill string section for drilling in the ground, ground drilling device, and use of a drill string section
    Patent number: 11203905
    Abstract: A drill string section of a drill string for drilling in the ground having arranged on the outside of the drill string section at least one marking by means of which abrasion can be recognized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: TRACTO-TECHNIK GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Wolfgang Schmidt
  • Method and apparatus for fluid jetting of wellbores and other surfaces
    Patent number: 11203919
    Abstract: A multi-functional jetting tool can be installed within a tubular work string, or attached to the distal or leading end of the tubular work string, in order to facilitate improved cleaning of downhole and/or subsea equipment—and particularly equipment with internal recesses, cavities or crevasses. A bull nose cap member, which can be constructed of plastic or other non-abrasive material, can be attached when the jetting tool is run on the distal end of a tubular work string. Fluid jetting ports can be selectively equipped with standard-sized or adjustable nozzles, thereby permitting customized fluid jet flow pattern from the jetting tool along the tool body in multiple directions for desired applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Inventors: Derek Guidry, William Steele
  • Plunger lift method
    Patent number: 11180977
    Abstract: A plunger includes a sleeve having a passage therethrough and a valve member in the passage. When the plunger falls in a production string of a hydrocarbon well, the valve member is open and allows gas flow through the plunger. When the plunger contacts a liquid slug in the production string, the valve closes so that pressure from below reverses movement of the plunger so it pushes liquid above the plunger toward the earth's surface and ultimately to a well head where liquid and gas are separated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Inventors: William Charles Harris, Edward Alexander Wells
  • Insertion of a seal stinger into a packer positioned in a wellbore to facilitate straddling a damaged zone within the wellbore
    Patent number: 11180970
    Abstract: A lower packer, seal stinger, upper packer, running tool, and setting tool is positioned into the wellbore. A force is applied by the setting tool, which causes the seal stinger to be pushed into a seal receptacle of the lower packer. The seal stinger is pushed by pushing the running tool which causes the upper packer to be pushed which causes the seal stinger to be pushed. A force is also applied by an internal rod of the setting tool to pull the running tool which causes the running tool to hold the lower packer in place as the seal stinger is pushed into the seal receptacle. The running tool and setting tool is then removed from the wellbore, wherein the lower packer, seal stinger, and upper packer comprise the straddle assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Barry Richardson Main, Ronald George Taylor
  • Automatic steering instructions for directional motor drilling
    Patent number: 11174718
    Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for generating steering instructions to directing the operation of a drilling system are provided. The systems, devices, and methods may include determining an optimized path to navigate a Bottom Hole Assembly (BHA) to a steering target using one or more steering methods, such as straight line projections, rotary drilling projections, True Vertical Depth, Inclination, and Azimuth (TIA) calculations, and three dimensional “J” (3DJ) calculations, and driving the BHA to the steering target using the optimized path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: NABORS DRILLING TECHNOLOGIES USA, INC.
    Inventor: Colin J. Gillan
  • Low friction wireline standoff
    Patent number: 11162307
    Abstract: The low friction wireline standoff improves wireline cable performance during borehole logging operations. The use of low friction wireline standoffs ameliorates the effects of wireline cable differential sticking, wireline cable key-seating, and high wireline cable drags, by reducing or eliminating contact of the wireline cable with the borehole wall during the logging operation. The low friction wireline standoff comprises external wheels mounted on two finned half shells that clamp onto the wireline with precision cable inserts which are manufactured to fit a wide range of logging cables. The wheels reduce the cable drag down-hole resulting in lower surface logging tensions, aiding conveyance in deep and deviated wells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Inventors: Guy Wheater, Stuart Huyton
  • Autonomous connection makeup and evaluation
    Patent number: 11162310
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to apparatus and methods for making up and evaluating tubular threaded connections. A tong assembly may be used for making up threaded connections. A threaded connection may be made up automatically by controlling the rotation speed of the tong assembly according to measurements of torque, turns, and/or time. After a threaded connection is made up, measurements of time, torque, and/or turns may be corrected based on operating parameters. The corrected measurements may be evaluated for indications of failure, such as discontinuity, torque spikes, and torque drops. The threaded connection is then accepted or rejected based on the evaluation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Martin Helms, Karsten Heidecke, Rainer Ruehmann, Bjoern Thiemann, Michael Wiedecke
  • Split bowl wear bushing
    Patent number: 11156038
    Abstract: A device for extending the useable life of a split bowl by reducing wear of the thru bore of the split bowl during drilling operations. A replaceable wear bushing with a wear indicator is inserted in the thru bore of the two halves of the split bowl. The wear indicator may be a groove formed in an inner diameter of the wear bushing. The wear bushing may be inserted in a bushing groove formed in an inner diameter of the thru bore of the two halves of the split bowl. A retainer plate may be used to retain the wear bushing in the bushing groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: FORUM US, INC.
    Inventors: Jeremy S. Granger, Lawrence E. Childress, II
  • Integrated construction method of fracturing and tertiary oil recovery for low-permeability reservoir
    Patent number: 11136865
    Abstract: Disclosed is an integrated construction method of fracturing and tertiary oil recovery for low-permeability reservoir, including the following steps: dividing the target layer into several fracturing intervals; determining the amount of fracturing fluid required for the target fracturing interval; determining the flow rate of the target fracturing interval; determining the pumping construction procedure for the target fracturing interval; perforating the target fracturing interval; injecting oil displacement fracturing fluid into the target fracturing interval for fracturing construction; wherein the oil displacement fracturing fluid is a fracturing fluid to which an oil displacement agent is added.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: YANGTZE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Weichu Yu, Qingwen Zeng, Ying Zhang, Xiangsong Xiao, Shanwen Yu
  • Bit breaker box
    Patent number: 11136839
    Abstract: A bit breaker for coupling a drill bit to a drilling string includes a base defining a central opening and a wrench portion extending upward from the base. The wrench portion has two opposing lateral sides and an end wall that define an open interior that receives a shank of a drill bit. The open interior and the central opening are in alignment. A handle is coupled with the base and is movable between a storage position in which a top of the handle is positioned below a top surface of the wrench portion and a toting position in which the handle extends upward with the top of the handle positioned above the top surface. A gate is movably positioned between a retaining position in which the gate encloses the open interior of the wrench portion and an access position that provides lateral access to the open interior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: Ulterra Drilling Technologies, L.P.
    Inventors: Beau St. Pierre, Dennis Dison