Patents Examined by Wei Wang
  • Patent number: 11371302
    Abstract: A method of managing bottom hole assembly vibrations while drilling a wellbore including obtaining data regarding drilling parameters related to one or more drilling operations, determining if the bottom hole assembly has vibration levels outside of the range of normal operation parameters, modifying the drilling mud formulation to alter at least one of its physical properties and rheological properties to keep or maintain the vibration levels of the bottom hole assembly within the range of normal operation parameters, and mitigating the vibrations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Sorin G. Teodorescu, Dale E. Jamison
  • Patent number: 10830228
    Abstract: An improved free piston assembly for use in combination with a plunger lift assembly is provided. The piston assembly includes a sleeve member, a retention sleeve, and a flow restriction member. The sleeve member has an inner surface defining an opening for the flow of formation fluids. The opening includes a first section and a second section. The retention sleeve is configured to be affixed to the first section of the opening. The flow restriction member is not latched to the sleeve member and is configured to have an interference fit with the retention sleeve. The interference fit provides a force that is sufficient to overcome the force of gravity on the flow restriction member when formation fluid forces acting on the flow restriction member are decreased or removed. The second section of the opening is configured to prevent the passage of the flow restriction member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: Endurance Lift Solutions, LLC
    Inventor: Jeffrey Brian Zimmerman, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10808483
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure include a system for directing the flow of fluids via a production tree. The production tree extends upwardly from a lower surface to an upper surface and at least partially enclosing an upper section of a production bore and an upper section of an annulus bore, wherein one of a lower section and the upper section of the production bore includes a first production valve, the upper section of the production bore includes a second production valve, and the upper section of the annulus bore includes a second annulus valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: GE Oil & Gas UK Limited
    Inventors: Stanley Hosie, Paul White, Simon Corrigan, Brian Craig, Bobby Voss, Michael Ross
  • Patent number: 10767430
    Abstract: A setting tool for use in setting plugs downhole using opposing pistons to axially compress a plug, thereby causing it to radially expand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Hunting Titan, Inc.
    Inventors: Johnny Covalt, Richard Merl Smith, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10767450
    Abstract: A sand control screen for heavy oil thermal recovery, including: a core base pipe having a plurality of base-pipe holes distributed on a pipe body thereof; a filtering sleeve sleeved on the core base pipe and arranged with respect to the base pipe holes; and a non-welded support disk mounted on the core base pipe and fastening the filter sleeve to the core base pipe by means of a wedge insertion locking and sealing structure. The invention solves the problems in the prior art in which sand control screen has a poor reliability in a high-temperature condition of a thermal production well, resulting in potential safety risks of down hole sand control operation of the screens. In addition, the sand control screen of the present invention has a long service life, thus improving cost effectiveness of oil wells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: STARSE ENERGY AND TECHNOLOGY (GROUP) CO., LTD
    Inventors: Huian Yi, Boren Li, Zhenxiang Wang, Qiansheng Zhuang, Shanyin Chen, Miaoren Liu, Xipeng Huang, Wenfei Li, Qizun Yi, Zheng Tao
  • Patent number: 10762254
    Abstract: An illustrative formation flow simulation method includes: measuring horizontal and vertical permeability of at least one bed in a formation penetrated by a vertical borehole; representing the borehole as a linear, discretized borehole flow path; representing the formation as a plurality of horizontal layers, each layer of the plurality of horizontal layers being represented as a linear, discretized layer flow path; constructing a current state vector having values of flow parameters for the discretized borehole flow path and each of the discretized layer flow paths; constructing a solution matrix embodying a set of flow equations that relate the current state vector to a subsequent state vector, the flow equations employing the measured horizontal permeability for flow along the discretized layer flow path for each layer and employing the measured vertical permeability for cross-flow to or from each layer, wherein the solution matrix, current state vector, and subsequent state vector form a linear system of
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Srinath Madasu, Avi Lin
  • Patent number: 10753176
    Abstract: A method of detecting the presence of a downhole fluid at a particular location in a wellbore including pumping an activating fluid into a wellbore; contacting a flow controlling device in a pipe string casing with the activating fluid, the flow controlling device comprising at least one swellable element; activating the at least one swellable element in the flow controlling device; blocking fluids or controlling the flow of fluids entering or leaving the casing with the activated flow controlling device; allowing the pressure to change; and detecting the pressure change. An apparatus includes a pipe string in a wellbore and a flow controlling device in the pipe string casing, wherein the flow controlling device includes at least one swellable element, wherein upon activation, the at least one swellable element swells and fully or partially seals off the flow area of the flow controlling device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Walmy Cuello Jimenez, John P. Singh, Xueyu Pang, Marcos Aurelio Jaramillo, Krishna M. Ravi, Thomas Jason Pisklak
  • Patent number: 10745970
    Abstract: A steerable earth boring assembly which includes an annular collar and a drive shaft with a drill bit, where the shaft pivots with respect to the collar. An upper portion of the shaft inserts into an orientation sleeve which resides in the collar. An axial bore is obliquely formed through the orientation sleeve, and in which the upper portion inserts. An angular offset between the drive shaft and collar is changed by adjusting azimuthal positions of the orientation sleeve with respect to the collar. A brake assembly is included for applying a restraining force onto the orientation sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: BITSWAVE INC.
    Inventor: Ce Liu
  • Patent number: 10738540
    Abstract: A rheological lock apparatus includes a fluid chamber formed within a housing between a pair of seals. The fluid chamber contains a rheological fluid. An inner surface of the housing has a first plurality of splines projecting into the fluid chamber and extending longitudinally along a longitudinal dimension of the chamber. A driveshaft extends axially through the chamber such that the pair of seals are sealed against the driveshaft. The driveshaft includes a second plurality of splines. A field generator is coupled to one of the driveshaft or the housing to generate a field through the rheological fluid during times when the housing is substantially immobile in a borehole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Geoffrey A. Samuel, Neil Roy Choudhury
  • Patent number: 10724350
    Abstract: Perforation devices including trajectory-altering structures and methods of utilizing the same. The perforation devices include a magazine, a barrel, a trajectory-altering structure, and an action. The magazine is configured to contain a plurality of cartridges. The barrel extends between a breech, which is configured to receive a selected cartridge of the plurality of cartridges that includes a selected projectile, and a muzzle, which is configured, upon firing of the selected cartridge, to permit the selected projectile to exit the barrel at a muzzle velocity and with a muzzle trajectory. The trajectory-altering structure is configured to act upon the selected projectile such that, upon exiting the trajectory-altering structure, the selected projectile defines a modified trajectory that differs from the muzzle trajectory. The action is configured to transfer the selected cartridge from the magazine to the breech of the barrel and fire the selected cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Randy C. Tolman, Timothy G. Benish
  • Patent number: 10711569
    Abstract: A downhole fluid flow control system includes a fluid control module having an upstream side, a downstream side and a main fluid pathway in parallel with a secondary fluid pathway each extending between the upstream and downstream sides. A valve element disposed within the main fluid pathway has open and closed positions. A viscosity discriminator including a viscosity sensitive channel forms at least a portion of the secondary fluid pathway. A differential pressure switch operable to open and close the valve element includes a first pressure signal from the upstream side, a second pressure signal from the downstream side and a third pressure signal from the secondary fluid pathway. The fluid control module includes a dissolvable member operable to temporarily lockout the valve element in the open position or temporarily prevent fluid flow through the main and secondary fluid pathways. The dissolvable member is dissolvable by a dissolution solvent downhole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Floway, Inc.
    Inventors: Xinqi Rong, Liang Zhao
  • Patent number: 10704335
    Abstract: Polycrystalline diamond bodies having an annular region of diamond grains and a core region of diamond grains and methods of making the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, a polycrystalline diamond body (120) includes an annular region (142) of inter-bonded diamond grains having a first characteristic property and a core region (140) of inter-bonded diamond grains bonded to the annular region and having a second characteristic property that differs from the first characteristic property. The annular region decreases in thickness from a perimeter surface of the polycrystalline diamond body towards a centerline axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: DIAMOND INNOVATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Andrew Gledhill, Christopher Long, Alexanne Johnson
  • Patent number: 10689918
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a re-connecting device (1) for connecting and sealing against a damaged existing/remaining tubing (5) in a well bore, a casing string (2) or a pipe, the tubing (5) having smaller diameter than the casing string (2), and for repairing of the tubing (5), comprising an outer body (3) and at least one sealing element (18) arranged therein, the outer body (3) is arranged to enable the entrance of, and surrounding, the end part of the tubing (5) in the well bore, casing string (2) or pipe, and a sealing assembly (8) is arranged in the outer body (3), of the re-connecting device (1), for sealing it against the tubing (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: Vanguard Oil Tools & Services LLC
    Inventors: Len Barton, Mats Johansson, Borre Loviknes
  • Patent number: 10683706
    Abstract: Polycrystalline diamond bodies having an annular region of diamond grains and a core region of diamond grains and methods of making the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, a polycrystalline diamond body includes an annular region of inter-bonded diamond grains having a first characteristic property and a core region of inter-bonded diamond grains bonded to the annular region and having a second characteristic property that differs from the first characteristic property. The annular region decreases in thickness from a perimeter surface of the polycrystalline diamond body towards a centerline axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: DIAMOND INNOVATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Andrew Gledhill, Christopher Long, Alexanne Johnson
  • Patent number: 10676992
    Abstract: Various downhole tools, such as drilling motors, drilling tools, reamer tools, casing reamer shoes, and related methods of installation, assembly and use. Casing reamer shoes and drilling reamers or motors may have internal impellers, progressive cavity pumps, hollow rotors and other parts, universal joints, and other features. A progressive cavity section may have a rotor and a stator. Rotor contacting surfaces of the stator, and stator contacting surfaces of the rotor, may be rigid during use. The stator contacting surfaces and the rotor contacting surfaces may be made of metal. After the casing is run, the casing is cemented and the reamer shoe drilled out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Infocus Energy Services Inc.
    Inventors: Allan Pearson, Mark Luchak, Oxana Scheming, Geoff Samuel, Matt Osatchuk, Erin Venables, Peter Kjellbotn
  • Patent number: 10655395
    Abstract: An earth-boring drill bit includes a bit body including a central shaft having a longitudinal axis, an annular cutter body disposed around, and rotatable relative to, the central shaft, at least one gear assembly operatively coupling the annular cutter body to the central shaft, a first cutter disposed on the central shaft at a first distance from the longitudinal axis, and a second cutter disposed on the annular cutter body at a second, greater distance from the longitudinal axis. Methods of fabricating earth-boring drill bits include rotatably coupling at least one annular cutter body to a central shaft, the at least one annular cutter body and the central shaft being concentric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: Baker Hughes, a GE company, LLC
    Inventor: Jon David Schroder
  • Patent number: 10648307
    Abstract: A method for enhanced recovery of hydrocarbonaceous fluids, the method including the steps of creating a plurality of wellbores in a subterranean formation, whereby one or more of the plurality of wellbores may include a directionally drilled portion with solution disposed therein, and an electrode operatively connected with a power source. Other steps include generating an electrical field within the subterranean formation, thereby causing an electrochemical reaction to produce a gas from the solution, such that the gas mixes with hydrocarbonaceous fluids present in the formation and increases pressure within at least one of the plurality of wellbores, the subterranean formation, and combinations thereof, thereby enhancing recovery of the hydrocarbonaceous fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Inventor: Paul Grimes
  • Patent number: 10633927
    Abstract: Disclosed is an internal reamer for anchor shaft hole for mining, comprising a reaming cutter, a sleeve, a push-pull rod, a drilling machine connecting shaft and a manual hydraulic jack, wherein the push-pull rod is disposed in the sleeve coaxially, a rear end of the reaming cutter is connected to a front end of the push-pull rod, a rear end of the sleeve is connected with a guiding cylinder having an inner diameter larger than the sleeve, a rear end of the guiding cylinder is connected with a mounting cylinder coaxially, the manual hydraulic jack is installed in the mounting cylinder, a rear end of the push-pull rod is fixedly connected with a piston plate which is slidingly and sealingly matched with an inner wall of the guiding cylinder, and the front end of the drilling machine connecting shaft is fixedly connected with the rear end of the mounting cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: HENAN POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Hua Nan, Mingyang Song, Saibo Kong
  • Patent number: 10626708
    Abstract: Provided is an improved bypass durable dart plunger that descends faster in a hydrocarbon well, is capable of lifting more fluids and has a durable and replaceable clutch assembly. The various components of the durable dart plunger includes a sleeve, a dart body with a one or more flow ports (chokes) cut at right angles through the dart body, a pin and a replaceable clutch assembly (also referred to a retention assembly). The chokes can be of varying sizes. In one embodiment, the clutch assembly includes a plurality of clutch mechanisms wherein each mechanism includes a ball, a socket screw and a resilient spacer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Endurance Lift Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason N. Cedillo, Donald Robison, Jeffrey B. Zimmerman, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10619437
    Abstract: A downhole assembly and method are provided for selective activation of a motor in a drilling string. A rotor in a Moineau-principle motor is provided with a fluid passage therethrough and a catch that can receive and retain a blocking implement. A driveshaft is operably connected, for example using universal joints, to the rotor and a first valve component. The driveshaft is effectively supported by a thrust transmission assembly comprising a thrust unit and hanger resting on a spring so that the first valve component is not in contact with a second valve component. When a blocking implement is in place, drilling fluid activates the motor and also increases pressure on the rotor, causing the thrust transmission assembly to move the first valve component down into contact with the second valve component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: IMPULSE DOWNHOLE SOLUTIONS LTD.
    Inventors: Troy Lorenson, Kevin Leroux, Dwayne Parenteau, Doug Kinsella