Patents by Inventor Allen W. Womble

Allen W. Womble has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 6983795
    Abstract: A gravel packing system featuring pressure actuated sliding sleeve valves mounted to an exterior annulus around a blanking pipe for screen sections is disclosed. An internal sliding sleeve valve is provided for subsequent closure of access through the screens. The presence of the annulus between the blanking pipe and the screen permits a backup access through perforating the blanking pipe while not damaging the screen. The sliding sleeve valves that are mounted internally and externally on the blanking pipe are removable apart from the screen section that already has gravel packed around it, if they fail to operate and need repair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2006
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Stephen N. Zuklic, Allen W. Womble, Wilfred Schexnayder, Jr., Gary Corbett, Richard Y. Xu, David Rothers, Brian Roth, Russell T. Louviere
  • Publication number: 20040045709
    Abstract: A gravel packing system featuring pressure actuated sliding sleeve valves mounted to an exterior annulus around a blanking pipe for screen sections is disclosed. An internal sliding sleeve valve is provided for subsequent closure of access through the screens. The presence of the annulus between the blanking pipe and the screen permits a backup access through perforating the blanking pipe while not damaging the screen. The sliding sleeve valves that are mounted internally and externally on the blanking pipe are removable apart from the screen section that already has gravel packed around it, if they fail to operate and need repair.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2003
    Publication date: March 11, 2004
    Inventors: Stephen N. Zuklic, Allen W. Womble, Wilfred Schexnayder, Gary Corbett, Richard Y. Xu, David Rothers, Brian Roth, Russell T. Louviere
  • Patent number: 6464006
    Abstract: An apparatus and operating method allows the completion of multiple production zones in a single wellbore with a single downhole trip. The work string descends with a coaxially combined completion string and service string. The completion string is set into a previously set basement packer. The completion string includes a series of production screens, transverse flow orifices, isolation packers and collet indicating couplings, all prepositioned along the completion string length relative to the basement packer set location. The production sleeves and transverse flow orifices are selectively closed by axially sliding sleeves. The service string includes a crossover flow tool, a SMART collet tool, sleeve shifting tools and sleeve closing tools. With all orifice and screen closure sleeves closed, the procedure proceeds from the lowermost production zone to open the closure sleeves respective to the flow orifice and screens dedicated to a respective production zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2002
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventor: Allen W. Womble
  • Publication number: 20020117301
    Abstract: An apparatus and operating method allows the completion of multiple production zones in a single wellbore with a single downhole trip. The work string descends with a coaxially combined completion string and service string. The completion string is set into a previously set basement packer. The completion string includes a series of production screens, transverse flow orifices, isolation packers and collet indicating couplings, all prepositioned along the completion string length relative to the basement packer set location. The production sleeves and transverse flow orifices are selectively closed by axially sliding sleeves. The service string includes a crossover flow tool, a SMART collet tool, sleeve shifting tools and sleeve closing tools. With all orifice and screen closure sleeves closed, the procedure proceeds from the lowermost production zone to open the closure sleeves respective to the flow orifice and screens dedicated to a respective production zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2001
    Publication date: August 29, 2002
    Inventor: Allen W. Womble