Patents Examined by Michael Wills, III
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Patent number: 9664039Abstract: The present disclosure involves a novel way of using drilling vibrations generated by the deformation of a rock formation in response to forces acting on the rock formation, where the forces are related to a drill bit and/or drilling fluid system, to identify the nature and occurrence of fractures, fracture swarms and other mechanical discontinuities (boundaries) such as bedding planes and/or faults that offset or otherwise separate rock formations with different mechanical rock properties.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2016Date of Patent: May 30, 2017Assignee: Fracture ID, Inc.Inventors: R. Christopher Neale, James D. Lakings
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Patent number: 9664007Abstract: A production sleeve assembly for use in a wellbore comprises a wellbore tubular, a plurality of fluid pathways configured to provide fluid communication within the downhole component, a plurality of electronic actuators configured to selectively provide fluid communication through one or more of the plurality of fluid pathways, and at least one sensor coupled to the plurality of electronic actuators. One or more of the plurality of electronic actuators are configured to selectively actuate to allow or prevent fluid flow through a corresponding fluid pathway of the plurality of fluid pathways in response to the at least one sensor receiving a suitable signal.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2013Date of Patent: May 30, 2017Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Jean Marc Lopez, Luke William Holderman, Michael L. Fripp
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Patent number: 9664004Abstract: A modular donwhole tool system with a single electric hydraulic drive assembly. The assembly includes an electric hydraulic interface for coupling to any of a variety of different modular donwhole tools. Such tools may include a plug setting actuator, sleeve shifting actuator, valve effecting actuator and a variety of other radially or axially driven hydraulically powered actuators. Indeed, a variety of different actuators may be combined within the same system, tailored based on given downhole application needs. Thus, a viable off-the-shelf modular based on-site assemblage may be available to an operator for running off of a single electric hydraulic drive assembly.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2010Date of Patent: May 30, 2017Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATIONInventors: Ruben Martinez, Luis Parra
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Patent number: 9657542Abstract: A well tractor for use in inserting a bottom hole assembly into a wellbore, the well tractor including a tractor body, and two or more wheels connected to the tractor body by pivot arms and having a retracted position and a deployed position, the at least two wheels moveable between the retracted and deployed positions by hydraulic cylinders attached to the pivot arms. The well tractor further includes a track creating a loop around at least two wheels and engaged with the wheels, so that when the wheels rotate, the track also rotates around the wheels. When the wheels are in the retracted position, the track is maintained in close proximity to the tractor body, and when the wheels are in the deployed position, the track extends radially away from the tractor body and into contact with surfaces of the wellbore.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 2013Date of Patent: May 23, 2017Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil CompanyInventor: Abdulrahman Abdulaziz Al-Mulhem
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Patent number: 9650868Abstract: A stage tool for wellbore annular cementing may be opened for cementing by hydraulic actuation of a sliding sleeve valve from over a fluid port. After sufficient cement has been introduced, the stage tool fluid port can be closed by compressing two telescopically arranged parts of its tubular body to further overlap each other and overlie the fluid port. This permits the stage tool to be closed without employing a plug.Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 2015Date of Patent: May 16, 2017Assignee: Packers Plus Energy Services Inc.Inventors: Daniel Jon Themig, Christopher Denis Desranleau, James Fehr
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Patent number: 9650844Abstract: An example downhole apparatus includes a drive shaft with a longitudinal axis, a spherical portion that extends radially from the longitudinal axis, and first and second interfacial surfaces proximate the spherical portion. An outer housing is positioned at least partially around the spherical portion. A radial bearing may be between the spherical portion and the outer housing and coupled to the outer housing. The radial bearing may comprise first and second interfacial surfaces in contact with the respective first and second interfacial surfaces of the drive shaft to transmit or receive torque in corresponding first and second rotational directions. A first axial bearing is coupled to the outer housing and in contact with a first end of the spherical portion to axially secure the drive shaft with respect to the outer housing.Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 2013Date of Patent: May 16, 2017Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Michael Dewayne Finke, Daniel Winslow
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Patent number: 9644428Abstract: A drill bit and method of making a drill bit. A bit body is provided having a plurality of blade profiles thereon. The blade profile includes a first plurality of cutting elements disposed on each blade such that at least one cutting element on a first section of each blade profile is offset relative to at least one cutting element on a second section of each blade profile. Lateral stability of the drill bit relative to a drill bit without an offset is increased.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2009Date of Patent: May 9, 2017Assignee: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATEDInventor: Thorsten Schwefe
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Patent number: 9637989Abstract: A downhole vibration tool for connection with a pipe string, including a housing, an unbalanced turbine assembly contained within the housing, an inlet for introducing a fluid into the unbalanced turbine assembly, and an outlet for discharging the fluid from the unbalanced turbine assembly. The unbalanced turbine assembly includes a sleeve and at least one annular turbine which is located in an annular bore defined between the housing and the sleeve.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2015Date of Patent: May 2, 2017Inventor: Gary James Bakken
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Patent number: 9638012Abstract: A method for completing a wellbore in a subsurface formation includes providing a sand screen assembly representing one or more joints of sand screen, joint assembly, and packer assembly. The packer assembly has at least one mechanically-set packer with at least one alternate flow channel. The sand screen assembly and joint assembly also each have transport conduits for carrying gravel slurry, and packing conduits for delivering gravel slurry. The method also includes running the sand screen assembly, connected joint assembly and packer assembly into the wellbore, and setting a sealing element of the packer assembly into engagement with the surrounding wellbore. Thereafter, the method includes injecting gravel slurry into the wellbore to form a gravel pack such that a reserve of gravel packing material is placed above the sand screen assembly. A wellbore completion apparatus is also provided that allows for placement of the gravel reserve.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2013Date of Patent: May 2, 2017Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research CompanyInventors: Charles S. Yeh, Michael D. Barry, Michael T. Hecker, Tracy J. Moffett
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Patent number: 9637996Abstract: A seal includes an elastomeric material and a plurality of nanosprings filling the elastomeric material to form a filled elastomeric composite that provides the seal. A spring constant of the nanosprings is within a selected range of an effective spring constant of the elastomeric material such that a durometer of the filled elastomeric composite at an elevated temperature is greater than the durometer of the elastomeric material alone at the elevated temperature. The seal may be used to seal a first component to a second component where both components are configured to perform a task below the surface of the earth.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2014Date of Patent: May 2, 2017Assignee: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATEDInventor: Rocco DiFoggio
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Patent number: 9637987Abstract: The present invention relates to a coring system and a determining method that can determine whether accurate coring was achieved. A coring system according to the present invention includes: a coring part with a core to be filled with an object to be cored; a driving unit controlling upward/downward movement of the coring part; a rope connecting the coring part with the driving unit; and a tensiometer measuring tension in the rope.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2014Date of Patent: May 2, 2017Assignee: Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral ResourcesInventors: Moo Hee Kang, Gee Soo Kong, Kyong O Kim, Jin Ho Kim, Young Ho Yoon, Chang Sik Lee, Kyu Jung Kim
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Patent number: 9631452Abstract: A mandrel for downhole isolation tools includes multiple composite pieces assembled about a common longitudinal axis at one or more common joint surfaces to form said mandrel, wherein each of said composite pieces is configured having a cross-sectional area less than the cross-sectional area of said mandrel, and an attachment mechanism configured to secure together said common joint surfaces.Type: GrantFiled: April 7, 2014Date of Patent: April 25, 2017Assignee: QUANTUM COMPOSITES, INC.Inventors: Michael Dale Kiesel, Matthew Louis Kaczmarczyk, Roy B. Bendickson, Justin John McClure
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Patent number: 9631432Abstract: A technique facilitates drilling of a variety of a wellbores. The technique comprises providing a directional drilling system with a drill bit mounted at the end of a collar having an internal flow passage for drilling fluid. The collar is rotatably positioned in a steering structure to which a plurality of steering members is mounted for lateral motion with respect to the steering structure. The design allows the steering structure to remain rotationally stationary with respect to the surrounding borehole wall as the collar and drill bit are rotated to perform a drilling operation. The drilling orientation of the collar and the drill bit may be adjusted by routing drilling fluid from the internal flow passage to at least one of the steering members to cause lateral displacement of the steering member while the steering structure remains in the rotationally stationary position.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2013Date of Patent: April 25, 2017Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATIONInventor: Geoffrey C. Downton
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Patent number: 9624755Abstract: A wireline retrievable injection valve for an oil or gas well has an internal valve that is initially moved to open a flapper safety valve and also opens to allow fluid flow through the valve. The internal valve includes a sleeve that opens the flapper safety valve and shields the flapper safety valve from fluid. In this manner the flapper valve is protected from being caused to “flutter” or “chatter” due to pressure variations in the fluid flow, thereby damaging the seat.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2015Date of Patent: April 18, 2017Assignee: Tejas Research & Engineering, LLCInventors: Thomas G. Hill, Jr., Robert C. Henschel
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Patent number: 9617816Abstract: A method and system for retrieving a fracturing ball in a wellbore casing. The system includes a wellbore retrieval tool comprising a tool body that is inserted into and transported along the wellbore casing. The tool is sized and configured to trap and hold the fracturing ball. When a hydraulic lock happens in the wellbore casing, the retrieval tool is lowered in a vertical section and the ball is flowed back along a horizontal section and captured by a trap in the retrieval tool. The retrieval tool may also be run in conjunction with a setting tool with a ball-in-place fracturing plug. In case of the hydraulic lock, the injection is tested following perforation with the retrieval tool still a location proximal to the ball, and the ball is immediately retrieved.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2015Date of Patent: April 11, 2017Assignee: BAKKEN BALL RETRIEVAL, LLCInventor: Cary James Sullivan
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Patent number: 9611693Abstract: A longer-lasting, lower cost, more powerful, all metal, mud motor than the presently available progressing cavity type mud motors for drilling boreholes into the earth. A mud motor apparatus possessing one single drive shaft that turns a rotary drill bit, which apparatus is attached to a drill pipe which provides high pressure mud to the mud motor, wherein the drive shaft receives at least a first portion of its rotational torque from any high pressure mud flowing through a first hydraulic chamber within the apparatus, and receives at least a second portion of its rotational torque from any high pressure mud flowing through a second hydraulic chamber within the apparatus. The mud motor apparatus possesses two hydraulic chambers, each having its own power stroke, and return stroke, and acting together in a controlled fashion, provide continuous power to a rotary drill bit.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2016Date of Patent: April 4, 2017Assignee: Smart Drilling and Completion, Inc.Inventors: William Banning Vail, III, Tomislav Skerl, Damir S. Skerl
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Patent number: 9605521Abstract: A valve apparatus capable of withstanding high pressures and techniques for using this apparatus in various suitable applications are provided. The valve apparatus typically includes both an upper bellows comprising a standard, convoluted bellows and a lower bellows comprising an edge-welded bellows. The valve apparatus may also include a floating, constant volume fluid chamber that travels with the lower edge-welded bellows as the lower bellows compresses and expands in an effort to protect the lower bellows from very high internal volume fluid pressure.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2013Date of Patent: March 28, 2017Assignee: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLCInventor: Zlatko Salihbegovic
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Patent number: 9598921Abstract: According to the method for well and reservoir management in open hole completions, a data acquisition module (100) is advanced through the wellbore and acquires data providing information revealing fractures in the wall of the wellbore, and at least one blocking system (1002, 3000), on the basis of the data acquired, is placed in the wellbore(199, 2199, 3006) at the location of a fracture in the wall. The data acquisition module (100) is advanced by interaction with a fluid present in the wellbore, and the data acquisition module acquires data providing information on its own position in relation to the wall (3005) of the wellbore (199, 2199, 3006) and is controlled on the basis of said data in order to maintain a distance to the wall of the wellbore during its advancement. A system for well and reservoir management in open hole completions is further disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2012Date of Patent: March 21, 2017Assignee: MAERSK OLIE OG GAS A/SInventors: Wilhelmus Hubertus Paulus Maria Heijnen, Robert Bouke Peters, David Ian Brink
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Patent number: 9598920Abstract: A method and apparatus for drilling a wellbore is disclosed. The wellbore is drilled with a drill string that includes a bypass device having a fluid passage therethrough by supplying a fluid through the bypass device at a first flow rate, wherein the fluid circulates to a surface location via an annulus between the drill string and the wellbore. The flow rate of the fluid is altered to a second flow rate. A time period is defined and a mechanical motion of the bypass device is initiated. A parameter related to the mechanical motion of the bypass device and a parameter related to flow rate are detected. The bypass device is activated to divert a portion of the fluid to the annulus when the parameter related to mechanical motion is detected and the parameter related to flow rate is present during the defined time period.Type: GrantFiled: August 11, 2015Date of Patent: March 21, 2017Assignee: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATEDInventors: Ingo Roders, Thorsten Regener
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Patent number: 9598937Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a downhole rotating magnetic field generator, wherein a stator assembly is formed by fixedly connecting a guiding stator, windings, and a body together, and a rotor assembly is formed by mounting a turbine rotor and a permanent magnet together. Between the stator assembly and the rotor assembly, sliding bearings are arranged and small mud passages are formed. There is no metal isolation between the rotor and the stator for cutting through the magnetic lines of force, so that the eddy current loss is relatively small. Meanwhile, with mud flowing through the passages as lubricant, overheating of the generator can be prevented and high power output can be ensured.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2012Date of Patent: March 21, 2017Assignees: CHINA PETROLEUM & CHEMICAL CORPORATION, SHENGLI DRILLING TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF SINOPECInventors: Wei Chen, Laiju Han, Zuohui Li, Feng Sun, Yifeng Wang, Qinglong Liu, Fengling Xu, Zhenhua Lv