Patents Examined by Richard Alker
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Patent number: 8757265Abstract: Frac valves used in completing oil and gas wells are provided. The valves comprise a cylindrical housing adapted for assembly into a liner for a well. The valve housing defines a conduit for the passage of fluids through the housing. Preferably the conduit has a substantially uniform diameter. The housing has a port which can allow fluids to pass from the conduit to the exterior of the valve. The port may be shut off or left open by a valve body mounted on the housing. Preferably, the valve body is mounted between inner and outer walls provided in the housing. An actuator is provided to move the valve body between its open and closed positions. It comprises a receiver that is adapted to receive an activation signal. Thus, the valve may be actuated by introducing a transmitter into the housing conduit which transmits an activation signal.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2013Date of Patent: June 24, 2014Assignee: EirCan Downhole Technologies, LLCInventors: Christopher J. Cuffe, John Cuffe
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Patent number: 8746370Abstract: A horizontal direction drilling system comprises a power pack coupled to a source of compressed air and a water reservoir and forms a mixture of compressed air, water, and oil. The horizontal direction drilling system further comprises a steerable horizontal drill. The steerable horizontal drill includes an air powered reciprocating hammer, and a drill head. The steerable horizontal drill receives the mixture to power the reciprocating hammer. The drill head includes a drill face and the mixture exits the steerable horizontal drill through the drill face.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 2012Date of Patent: June 10, 2014Assignee: Pioneer One, Inc.Inventor: Michael E. Montgomery
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Patent number: 8739865Abstract: An end ring for a swell packer for use in a wellbore, wherein the swell packer has a central metal tubular with a rubber exterior tubular disposed over the central metal tubular. The rubber exterior tubular can swell in the presence of a well completion fluid and the end ring can sealingly engage one end of the rubber exterior tubulars disposed over the central metal tubular.Type: GrantFiled: August 9, 2013Date of Patent: June 3, 2014Assignee: LB Enterprises, LLCInventors: Lee Morgan Smith, Betty A. Eastup-Smith
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Patent number: 8727017Abstract: There is provided a system and method for obtaining data corresponding to a property of interest on an unstructured grid. An exemplary method comprises defining a path of interest at least a portion of which goes through the unstructured grid. The exemplary method also comprises extracting data corresponding to the property of interest on the unstructured grid where the path of interest and the unstructured grid overlap.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2011Date of Patent: May 20, 2014Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research CompanyInventors: Lucas J. Hilliard, Marek K. Czernuszenko, Yao-Chou Cheng, Neal L. Adair
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Patent number: 8720540Abstract: A downhole tool for use in a wellbore tubular string comprises a housing having a bore therethrough forming part of a fluid flowpath through the wellbore tubular string, a sliding member operable to slide with respect to the housing, a plurality of magnetic pins, and a corresponding plurality of springs. A sliding line is formed by interfacing surfaces of the sliding member and the housing, and the plurality of pins comprise a locked position and an unlocked position whereby in the locked position at least one pin spans the sliding line to prevent the sliding member from sliding with respect to the housing and in the unlocked position no pins span the sliding line. The plurality of springs biases the pins towards the locked position.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2012Date of Patent: May 13, 2014Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventor: John C. Gano
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Patent number: 8695714Abstract: Slip elements for a bridge plug include an inner body portion that is substantially formed of a material that is degradable by dissolution in response to a dissolving fluid and a hardened, resilient, radially outer contact portion. The outer contact portion includes a plurality of openings that function as stress risers. The inner body portion may be formed of magnesium powder.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2011Date of Patent: April 15, 2014Assignee: Baker Hughes IncorporatedInventors: Richard Yingqing Xu, Zhiyue Xu
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Patent number: 8695694Abstract: A deflector assembly includes two deflectors that can cooperate for directing a bullnose assembly toward an intended bore in a multi-bore well based on a configuration of the bullnose assembly without requiring use of gravitational forces or requiring the assembly to be oriented in a certain manner. The deflectors can cooperate by being spaced by a certain amount that, depending on if the amount is less than or greater than a longitudinal length and diameter of a bullnose of the bullnose assembly, can allow the bullnose assembly to be diverted toward the intended bore.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 2013Date of Patent: April 15, 2014Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventor: Borisa Lajesic
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Patent number: 8689864Abstract: A device for activating a downhole tool is described. The device comprises a first elongate member defining a toothed surface portion, a second elongate member defining a toothed surface portion and at least one pinion arrangement The/each pinion arrangement engages the toothed surface portions of the first and second members such that movement of one member in a first direction results in movement of the other member in a second direction, opposite the first direction.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 2008Date of Patent: April 8, 2014Assignee: Petrowell LimitedInventor: Steve Reid
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Patent number: 8689888Abstract: An outer wellhead member has a bore with a first profile portion and an annular recess. A tubular inner wellhead member with a centralizer/overpull ring is lowered into the outer wellhead member. The centralizer/overpull ring is biased to expand outward to engage the bore of the outer wellhead member to center the inner wellhead member within the bore as the inner wellhead member is lowered through the bore. The recess of the outer wellhead member is adapted to receive the centralizer/overpull ring and oppose axial movement of the centralizer/overpull ring to enable an upward test pull of the inner wellhead member.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2010Date of Patent: April 8, 2014Assignee: Vetco Gray Inc.Inventors: Sibu Varghese, Ryan Herbel, Dien Nguyen, Javier Garcia
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Patent number: 8684083Abstract: A perforating gun designed to orient a charge holding structure (e.g., tube, solid rod) within a barrel of the perforating gun to be at the same position relative to a wellbore casing regardless of a position of the barrel of the perforating gun. A charge assembly receivable within the barrel includes the charge holding structure and first and second end caps that are rotatably interconnected to the charge holding structure and non-rotatably interconnected to the barrel. As the charge holding structure is always or substantially always designed to maintain a common orientation in relation to the wellbore casing, explosive charges associated with the charge holding structure so as to fire towards particular location on the wellbore casing may always or substantially always perforate such particular locations upon or after the explosive charges have fired.Type: GrantFiled: April 9, 2013Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: CCS Leasing and Rental, LLCInventors: Manuel Torres, Darwin Holte
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Patent number: 8678112Abstract: Clamping die (15) in a device for engagement with a cylindrical body (4), which clamping die (15) includes a gripping surface (153) that is arranged to be able to extend in parallel with the center axis of the cylindrical body (4), wherein a groove (154) is provided in each of two side surfaces (151) adjacent to the gripping surface (153) and in close proximity to the gripping surface (153), said groove (154) extending substantially in parallel with the gripping surface (153).Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 2009Date of Patent: March 25, 2014Inventor: Per A. Vatne
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Patent number: 8678108Abstract: A casing drilling assembly includes a profile sub having an interior profile shoulder and secured a casing string. A bottom hole assembly is run into and retrievable from the casing string. Stop dogs carried by the bottom hole assembly lands on the profile shoulder and stop downward movement of the bottom hole assembly, positioning an underreamer below the casing string. A mandrel is coupled to the bottom hole assembly. An elastomeric sleeve encircles the mandrel below a setting ring. A running tool releasably couples to the mandrel and moves the setting ring downward relative to the mandrel to a lower position to deform the sleeve into frictional engagement with the casing string and the mandrel to transmit torque and axial load between the bottom hole assembly and the casing string.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2010Date of Patent: March 25, 2014Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventor: Erik P. Eriksen
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Patent number: 8672058Abstract: The invention provides a system for adapting an HVAC system in an existing building for utilizing geothermal energy, the system comprising an incoming flux of geothermal energy; a plurality of heat exchange surfaces adapted to receive the incoming flux of geothermal energy; and an interface between the HVAC system and the heat exchange surfaces, said interface adapted to transfer the geothermal energy to the system.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2009Date of Patent: March 18, 2014Assignee: GeoThermal Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Shelton E. Tommie, Jr.
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Patent number: 8662180Abstract: According to one embodiment, a rotationally activated downhole well valve for connection in a tubing string is disclosed that can be repeatedly opened and closed selectively to place the tubing string in communication with the annulus. The valve is moved between the closed position and the open position by rotating the string in the first direction. In another embodiment, the valve is opened and closed by rotating the string in the first direction and is reset in the closed position by lifting and lowering the tubing string.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2011Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Paul David Ringgenberg, Charles Frederick Carder
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Patent number: 8662163Abstract: A drilling rig with rig buffer storage and optional surge tank for receiving and processing drill cuttings and waste made of a drilling rig, having a tank in a frame with an inlet and an outlet, a moveable weir for expanding to accommodate additional drill cuttings, a central sweep member for cutting the drill cuttings and waste opposite a peripheral outer ring with peripheral cutting members, a controller for controlling rates of flow into and out of the rig buffer storage and the central sweep member rotation via a motor with reduction gear and wherein a first transportation system moves waste from the well bore to the rig buffer storage and a second transportation system moves cut waste and cut drill cuttings to a post treatment system, a skip, or a vessel for transport to another location.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2013Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: KMC Oil Tools B.V.Inventors: Joseph Daniel Farrar, Perry Don Lyman
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Patent number: 8657016Abstract: A flow control device comprises a fluid pathway configured to provide fluid communication between an exterior of a wellbore tubular and an interior of the wellbore tubular, a flow restriction disposed in a fluid pathway, a flow blockage disposed in the fluid pathway, and a retaining member configured to maintain the flow blockage within the fluid pathway and allow access to the flow blockage within the fluid pathway. The flow blockage substantially prevents a fluid flow through the fluid pathway.Type: GrantFiled: February 29, 2012Date of Patent: February 25, 2014Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Stephen Michael Greci, Luke William Holderman, Jean Marc Lopez, Matthew Earl Franklin
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Patent number: 8656991Abstract: A clog free waste removal system for removing waste or drilling cuttings from a wellbore at the rate that waste is being produced having an incoming transportation system, a rig buffer, and optional surge tank, an outgoing transportation system, and post treatment device or transport.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2013Date of Patent: February 25, 2014Assignee: KMC Oil Tools B.V.Inventors: Joseph Daniel Farrar, Perry Don Lyman
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Patent number: 8646549Abstract: A drilling machine includes a compressor coupled to a prime mover through a hydraulic clutch, wherein the hydraulic clutch is repeatably moveable between engaged and disengaged conditions. The compressor is allowed to provide air and is restricted from providing air in response to the hydraulic clutch being in the engaged and disengaged conditions, respectively. The hydraulic clutch is moveable between the engaged and disengaged conditions during operation of the prime mover.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2009Date of Patent: February 11, 2014Assignee: Atlas Copco Drilling Solutions LLCInventors: Timothy W. Ledbetter, Iain A. Peebles
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Patent number: 8640770Abstract: An end ring having a first ring with an inner diameter, a second ring with the inner diameter and a thickness 25 percent greater than the first ring; a shoulder with a sloped outer surface connecting the first ring to the second ring; a plurality of flutes formed in an outer surface of the end ring, a plurality of fastener holes formed in the first and second rings, wherein the end ring either slides over a first end of a base pipe and fastens together the base pipe and edges of a rubber tubular surrounding the base pipe; or slides over a first end of a frac tubular and fastens edges of a frac sleeve to the frac tubular. The invention includes a swell packer and a frac tubular having the end rings.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2013Date of Patent: February 4, 2014Assignee: LB Enterprises, LLCInventors: Lee Morgan Smith, Betty A. Eastup-Smith
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Patent number: 8640780Abstract: An improved multi-bolt and nut torque wrench for installing and removing bolts or nuts from flanged joints or the like which includes a plurality of torque stations having a plurality of high torque wrenches for engaging the heads of the bolts or nuts during a high torque phase of removal or installation; a plurality of low-torque motors operatively engaged with the wrenches for rotating the bolts or nuts during the low torque phase of removal or installation; a source of hydraulic fluid for driving the low-torque motors during the low-torque phase, and driving the high-torque wrenches during the high torque phase; and a mechanism for switching between the two phases depending on the torque needed.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2013Date of Patent: February 4, 2014Assignee: Francis Services, Inc.Inventors: Dale Francis, Nicholas Francis, William P. Bernard, Oswald J. Bernard, Lan Hiscox, Brian Compton, Arthur Jones