Patents Examined by Robert E. Fuller
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Patent number: 11506042Abstract: An oil-water fractionation system is positioned within a wellbore on a subsurface end of a production tubing proximate to a production region. The fractionation system includes a permeable hydrophobic media for preferentially conveying an oil-enriched stream (reduced water-cut presence) from the production region into the production tubing, and a permeable oleophobic media for preferentially conveying a water-enriched stream (reduced oil-cut presence) into a second flow path. The permeable hydrophobic media and the permeable oleophobic media are in simultaneous hydraulic communication with the production region. The permeable hydrophobic media is manufactured with a relatively high effective permeability to oil, allowing the oil-enriched stream to flow through the permeable hydrophobic media into the production tubing.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2020Date of Patent: November 22, 2022Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research CompanyInventors: Mauro Lo Cascio, Andrey A. Troshko, Michael T. Hecker, Matthew S. Jackson, Dragan Stojkovic
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Patent number: 11506013Abstract: A baffle system for use in well casing having a plurality of landed subs therein, for progressive injection of a fracking or treating fluid into a hydrocarbon formation via existing or created perforations in the well casing. The baffle members provide a plug seat, and are each frangibly affixed to a conveying tool and have collet finger protuberances thereon. The collet finger protuberances of each baffle are of a different width, and respectively engage only one annular recess of a corresponding width in a respective landing sub. Each annular recess and/or collet finger protuberance on an uphole edge thereof has a chamfer which allows disengagement of the collet finger protuberances and thus removal of the baffle member from the well casing upon upward force being applied to the baffle member. A method of using the baffle system is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2016Date of Patent: November 22, 2022Assignee: SC ASSET CORPORATIONInventors: David Nordheimer, Daniel Rojas
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Patent number: 11506002Abstract: The systems, devices, and methods described herein relate to tubular detection on a gripperhead system for a drilling rig. The gripperhead system includes a grabber and a gripper each having first and second grabber arm and pistons connected to the first and second arms. Each arm may also include an inwardly facing gripping surface forming at least a portion of a chamber sized to receive a portion of a cylindrical tubular. One or more sensors may be disposed on the gripperhead system, including proximity sensors disposed on the arms, inductive sensors disposed within the pistons, and ultrasonic sensors disposed on other features of gripperhead system. The one or more sensors may be configured to determine the position of the tubular in relation to the arms, measure the size of the tubular, measure the compression force of the grabber, and ensure that the tubular is secured within the grabber.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2018Date of Patent: November 22, 2022Assignee: Nabors Drilling Technologies USA, Inc.Inventors: Godwin Simanjuntak, Christopher Magnuson
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Patent number: 11505995Abstract: A system and method for automatically digging a hole using a digger assembly on the end of a boom. A controller is configured to receive signals from a plurality of sensors distributed throughout the digging system, along the boom and the digger assembly. Based on the information from the sensors, the controller automatically adjusts one or more parameters of the digging system while digging the hole. The system and method prevent corkscrewing of the digging member, while also allowing for a specific hole depth and hole angle to be dug. Specifically, the system allows for easily and accurately digging a plumb hole.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2021Date of Patent: November 22, 2022Assignee: Altec Industries, Inc.Inventors: Ryan M. Pachta, Timothy J. Mourlam
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Patent number: 11499375Abstract: Tools, for example, fixed cutter drill bits, may be manufactured to include hard composite portions having reinforcing particles dispersed in a continuous binder phase and auxiliary portions that are more machinable than the hard composite portions. For example, a tool may include a hard composite portion having a machinability rating 0.2 or less; and an auxiliary portion having a machinability rating of 0.6 or greater in contact with the hard composite portion. The boundary or interface between the hard composite portion and the auxiliary portion may be designed so that upon removal of the most or all of the auxiliary portion the resultant tool has a desired geometry without having to machine the hard composite portion.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2019Date of Patent: November 15, 2022Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey G. Thomas, Garrett T. Olsen, Grant O. Cook, III, Daniel Brendan Voglewede, Yi Pan
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Sealing assembly for dissolvable bridge plug, a dissolvable bridge plug and a sealing method for gap
Patent number: 11499390Abstract: A sealing assembly for a dissolvable bridge plug, a dissolvable bridge plug and a sealing method for a gap are disclosed. The sealing assembly for dissolvable bridge plug includes a seal ring and a support ring. The support ring includes at least two supporting parts capable of sliding in the radial direction relative to each other. An axial end face of the support ring is butted with an axial end face of the seal ring. Respective central holes of the support ring and the seal ring are capable of being sleeved outside a component of dissolvable bridge plug. The supporting parts of the support ring in an expansion state are capable of exerting an axial thrust on the seal ring to prevent the seal ring from deforming in the axial direction.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2021Date of Patent: November 15, 2022Inventor: Aimin Chen -
Patent number: 11492868Abstract: A micro frac plug used to seal individual perforations formed in a casing installed within a subterranean wellbore. The plug comprises an insert element and a deformable sleeve. The insert element is received and retained within a medial section of the sleeve. The plug is sized to be lodged in or seated on a single perforation. The plug blocks fluid from flowing through the perforation.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2020Date of Patent: November 8, 2022Assignee: MicroPlug, LLCInventor: Kevin Dewayne Jones
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Patent number: 11486221Abstract: A wellbore tool includes a rod with a plurality of rod sections. The rod is configured to be placed within a wellbore casing of a low-pressure hydrocarbon well. A plurality of sealing elements are positioned at a downhole end of the rod. Each sealing element is configured to provide a gas-tight seal between the sealing element and an inner wall of the wellbore casing. A handle positioned at an uphole end of the rod provides a hand grip for a user of the wellbore tool.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 2021Date of Patent: November 1, 2022Inventor: David Hart
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Patent number: 11486243Abstract: A gas mitigation system for controlling the amount of gas that reaches a submersible pumping system deployed in a wellbore includes a well zone isolation device disposed in the wellbore between the submersible pumping system and a gas collecting region. The gas mitigation system further includes a back pressure control module and a gas vent line extending from the gas collecting region through the well zone isolation device to the back pressure control module. A liquid intake line extends from the well zone isolation device to an area of the wellbore upstream from the gas collecting region.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 2016Date of Patent: November 1, 2022Assignee: Baker Hughes ESP, Inc.Inventor: Charles Collins
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Patent number: 11486232Abstract: An exploiting method and device of marine facies natural gas hydrate. The exploiting method comprises the following steps: (1) after the construction of a vertical well, a fixed pipe is constructed, the exploiting well is set in the center of the fixed pipe, and the mixture is filled between the inner wall of the fixed pipe and the outer wall of the exploiting well; (2) the self-excited oscillating jet nozzle enters the exploiting well along the vertical well to the designated position through an orifice on the exploiting well and sprays the mixture, so that the mixture is broken evenly to form artificial fractures; (3) under the corresponding temperature, the hydrate decomposes to produce gas by depressurized exploiting; (4) the gas-liquid mixture exploited by the exploiting well is separated into liquid and gas in the gas-liquid separation device to collect liquid and gas.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2019Date of Patent: November 1, 2022Assignee: GUANGZHOU INSTITUTE OF ENERGY CONVERSION, CHINESE ACADEMY OF SCIENCESInventors: Xiaosen Li, Pengfei Shen, Gang Li, Zhaoyang Chen, Yu Zhang, Yi Wang, Jianwu Liu
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Patent number: 11486239Abstract: In some implementations, a method involves determining a level of accumulation of a hydrocarbon-water emulsion in an annulus of a wellbore. The method further involves based on the level of accumulation, determining an operating setting of a hydrocarbon-water separator and operating the hydrocarbon-water separator at the operating setting, where the hydrocarbon-water separator separates the hydrocarbon-water emulsion into water and a hydrocarbon fluid. Further, the method involves activating, in response to a first sensor detecting a first water level in the annulus, a pump that pumps the water from the annulus into a water zone below the wellbore. Yet further, the method involves deactivating the pump in response to a second sensor detecting a second water level in the annulus, where the second sensor is located below the first sensor.Type: GrantFiled: January 1, 2021Date of Patent: November 1, 2022Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil CompanyInventor: Alwaleed Abdullah Al-Gouhi
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Patent number: 11473404Abstract: A well cleaning tool (100) comprising: an elongate body (102) having a longitudinal axis; a central fluid bore (120) aligned with the longitudinal axis; and a cleaning element (110) mounted on the elongate body (102) and being displaceable with respect to the elongate body (102) in a direction inclined to the longitudinal axis, wherein the cleaning element (102) comprises at least one fluid channel (150) in fluid communication with the central fluid bore (120) and extending through the cleaning element (110) in a direction inclined to the longitudinal axis.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2020Date of Patent: October 18, 2022Assignee: BigMini LtdInventor: Anthony Allen
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Patent number: 11473420Abstract: A method of drilling a wellbore to a target includes measuring attitudes at two adjacent survey stations along a wellbore using a downhole surveying tool. An actual change in wellbore position over a survey leg linking the two survey stations is determined. Corrections are applied to the measured attitude at one or both of the survey stations such that a modeled well path joining the survey stations reflects the determined actual change in wellbore positon between the two survey stations.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 2017Date of Patent: October 18, 2022Assignee: MAGNETIC VARIATION SERVICES, LLCInventors: Stefan Maus, Marc Ernest Willerth, Jarrod Shawn Deverse
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Patent number: 11473393Abstract: A wear-resistant annular seal assembly has a plurality of interlocking one-piece seal segments interleaved with a plurality of two-piece seal segments. The seal segments are made using wear-resistant rigid material such as stainless steel. In one embodiment the seal segments are coated with a fluoropolymer. A straddle packer includes a first and second spaced apart ones of the wear-resistant seal assemblies and a linear force generator for urging the first and second seal assemblies to a seal-set condition.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 2021Date of Patent: October 18, 2022Assignee: EXACTA-FRAC ENERGY SERVICES, INC.Inventors: Lloyd Murray Dallas, Joze John Hrupp, Ahmed Mohamed Saeed
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Patent number: 11466544Abstract: Provided, in one aspect, is a lateral locating assembly. The lateral locating assembly may include, in one aspect, a housing, as well as a piston positioned within the housing. The lateral locating assembly according to this aspect may further include a mandrel extending from a distal end of the housing, the mandrel configured to rotate and translate angularly in response to the piston moving from a first position to a second position, and a deflection tip coupled with a distal end of the mandrel, the deflection tip configured to rotate and angularly translate with the mandrel relative to the housing.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2021Date of Patent: October 11, 2022Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Franklin Charles Rodriguez, Neil Hepburn
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Patent number: 11466531Abstract: In a jarring device and method for applying an impact to a casing of a wellbore in a subterranean or subsea formation, the jarring device includes a hammer and a driving means for driving the hammer between a first position in which the hammer is spaced from the casing, and a second position in which the hammer contacts the casing, such that the driving means is operable during use to drive the hammer from the first position to the second position so as to impact the casing. The hammer is reciprocated by the driving means.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2019Date of Patent: October 11, 2022Assignee: EQUINOR ENERGY ASInventors: Ivar Kjøsnes, Håvard Nasvik
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Patent number: 11466561Abstract: A method for cementing a borehole includes pumping a collection of fluids into the borehole through a tubular string in the borehole and flowing the collection of fluids up an annulus positioned between the tubular string and a sidewall of the borehole. The method additionally includes monitoring a volume of the fluids pumped into the borehole, and performing a first estimation of a position of the fluids based on the volume of the collection of fluids pumped into the borehole, and an initial estimate of an average diameter of the sidewall of at least a portion of the borehole. The method further includes calculating a corrected estimate of the average diameter based on the first estimation and a pressure of the fluids measured at an inlet of the tubular string, and performing a second estimation of the position of the fluids based on the corrected estimate of the average diameter.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2018Date of Patent: October 11, 2022Assignee: BP Corporation North America Inc.Inventors: Paulo Jorge Da Cunha Gomes, Mark James, Emannuel Claude Therond, James Joseph David Vincent
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Patent number: 11466535Abstract: A casing segment comprising a cylinder, a downhole tool, a first channel in the cylinder, a degradable plug wherein the plug degrades when exposed to a degrading fluid, said degrading fluid concurrently not degrading to the cylinder or the downhole tool, and a fluid reservoir that stores the degrading fluid, wherein the fluid reservoir is in fluid communication with the plug. A method comprising obtaining a casing segment having a cylinder, a downhole tool, and a fluid reservoir with degrading fluid, said degrading fluid concurrently not degrading to the cylinder or the downhole tool, wherein the cylinder includes a first channel, installing a degradable plug within the first channel, deploying the casing segment downhole, and exposing the degradable plug to the degrading fluid to cause the downhole tool to be in fluid communication with the interior surface of the cylinder.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2014Date of Patent: October 11, 2022Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Zac Suresh Arackakudiyil, Gregory Scott Cunningham
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Patent number: 11466525Abstract: A propulsion unit for a wellbore tool includes a tool body and at least one wheel section disposed along the tool body. The wheel section comprises a tractor pad movably coupled to a tractor housing coupled to the tool body. The tractor pad is movable only in a lateral direction with respect to the tool body. A wheel rotatably is supported in the tractor pad so as to contact a wall of a wellbore when the tractor pad is moved away from the tractor housing. An hydraulic motor is rotationally coupled to the wheel. The hydraulic motor comprises a displacement changing element operable to change displacement of the hydraulic motor. The unit comprises means for moving the tractor pad between an extended position and a retracted position.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2018Date of Patent: October 11, 2022Assignee: Wireline Drilling Technologies, LLCInventors: Daniel Wessel, Michael Duckering
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Patent number: 11466547Abstract: Permanent magnet motors (PMMs) can develop oscillations during motor startup that can cause damage to electric submersible pump (ESP) components. A system and method are presented for identifying mechanical and/or electrical caused oscillations in a PMM through the analysis of oscillations in current and torque measurements. A control system within a surface motor controller receives current and/or torque measurements from downhole sensors. The control system employs one or more algorithms designed to detect oscillations in the measurements. Upon detecting oscillations that are consistent with oscillations in the motor from mechanical or electrical causes, the control system automatically initiates protective action to prevent damage to the ESP components.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2019Date of Patent: October 11, 2022Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Ryan Bridwell Ashbaugh, David C. Beck
