Patents by Inventor Bradley David Dunbar
Bradley David Dunbar 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: 11933157Abstract: Transmitting and receiving mud pulse pressure waves at a downhole device. The mud pulse pressure waves may be transmitted from a surface mud pulser and/or by a downhole mud pulser to a downhole device. The mud pulse pressure waves may be detected directly by a transducer or indirectly by detecting physical changes induced in the downhole tool by the pressure waves of the mud pulse. The detected physical changes can be converted to a digital signal for use by the downhole tool. The mud pulse pressure waves may encode information including data, or instructions to the downhole devices.Type: GrantFiled: January 7, 2019Date of Patent: March 19, 2024Assignee: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.Inventors: Bradley David Dunbar, John Leslie Wisinger, Jr.
-
Publication number: 20230313667Abstract: A drilling system, assembly, and method may help optimize drilling in a system that involves more than one rotary tool that engages the formation. A rotary tool may be a rotary cutting tool, such as a drill bit or reamer, or some other rotary tool (e.g. stabilizer or rotary steerable tool) that has the potential to drag on the wall of the hole being drilled and take energy away from cutting. In an example, a wellbore or portion thereof is formed by rotating a first rotary cutting tool having a first cutting structure in engagement with one portion of the formation together with a second rotary cutting tool having a second cutting structure in engagement with another portion of the formation. Forces are obtained above and below the second cutting structure. One or more drilling parameter or drill bit design parameter are adjusted in relation to a force differential between the forces above and below the second cutting structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 6, 2023Publication date: October 5, 2023Applicant: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Bradley David Dunbar, Matt Barnes, Brody Dunn, Van Jordan Brackin
-
Patent number: 11761323Abstract: A drill bit may comprise a bit body including an electronic housing, one or more electronics coupled within the electronic housing, a transducer housing coupled to the electronic housing, a first transducer seated in the transducer housing, a first pressure tube extending through the bit body and coupled to the transducer housing, and a floating ball in the first pressure tube. A method may comprise allowing a drilling fluid to move through a first entrance and into a pressure tube formed in a bit body of the drill bit, allowing the drilling fluid to exert a force on a floating ball placed within the pressure tube, allowing the floating ball to transmit the force to a fluid placed within the pressure tube on an opposing side of the floating ball from the drilling fluid, and measuring pressure of the fluid with a first transducer.Type: GrantFiled: May 16, 2019Date of Patent: September 19, 2023Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventor: Bradley David Dunbar
-
Patent number: 11748531Abstract: Design parameters for PDC drill bit including in-cone depth of cut controllers (DOCCs) are correlated to instances of coupled vibrations in the axial, lateral, and torsional directions occurring during downhole drilling. Design parameters are quantified by drilling efficiency (DE), average in-cone DOCC contact area, average weight on bit (WOB) taken off by in-cone DOCC, and average torque on bit (TOB) taken off by in-cone DOCC. Design guidelines to mitigate coupled vibrations are generated by correlating design parameter quantifiers and instances of coupled vibrations. Potential drill bit designs are then validated against the generated guidelines in order to mitigate vibration in future drilling runs.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2020Date of Patent: September 5, 2023Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Shilin Chen, Christopher Charles Propes, Curtis Clifford Lanning, Bradley David Dunbar
-
Patent number: 11708755Abstract: A drilling system, assembly, and method may help optimize drilling in a system that involves more than one rotary tool that engages the formation. A rotary tool may be a rotary cutting tool, such as a drill bit or reamer, or some other rotary tool (e.g. stabilizer or rotary steerable tool) that has the potential to drag on the wall of the hole being drilled and take energy away from cutting. In an example, a wellbore or portion thereof is formed by rotating a first rotary cutting tool having a first cutting structure in engagement with one portion of the formation together with a second rotary cutting tool having a second cutting structure in engagement with another portion of the formation. Forces are obtained above and below the second cutting structure. One or more drilling parameter or drill bit design parameter are adjusted in relation to a force differential between the forces above and below the second cutting structure.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2021Date of Patent: July 25, 2023Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Bradley David Dunbar, Matt Barnes, Brody Dunn, Van Jordan Brackin
-
Patent number: 11692428Abstract: A method for using a mud motor may comprise drilling a borehole into a formation using a drill string connected to the mud motor and the mud motor is connected to a drill bit, measuring one or more parameters of the mud motor in the borehole, and sending the one or more parameters to surface. A system may comprise a mud motor connected to a drill string, a drill bit connected to the mud motor, a strain gauge, and in information handling system. The strain gauge may be connected to the drill bit and configured to take one or more parameters of the mud motor. The information handling system may be in communication with the strain gauge and configured to record the one or more parameters from the strain gauge.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2020Date of Patent: July 4, 2023Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Lyn Duane Labahn, John Leslie Wisinger, Jr., Bradley David Dunbar
-
Patent number: 11687690Abstract: A method for developing design rules for mitigating cutting-induced stick-slip vibration includes determining at least one value for one or more drill bit performance parameters for a design of a drill bit. The one or more drill bit performance parameters include a functional characteristic of a depth of cut controller of the drill bit. The method includes correlating one or more instances of cutting-induced stick-slip vibration for at least one prior drilling operation to the at least one value for the one or more drill bit performance parameters. The method includes generating drill bit design rules that mitigate cutting-induced stick-slip vibration based on the correlating.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2020Date of Patent: June 27, 2023Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Shilin Chen, Christopher Charles Propes, Curtis Clifford Lanning, Bradley David Dunbar
-
Patent number: 11649681Abstract: The present disclosure provides a fixed-cutter drill bit including a bit body defining a bit rotational axis, a plurality of blades each having an inner end that is radially closer to the bit rotational axis than a remainder of the respective blade, a central bit surface, and a plurality of cutters disposed on the blades and including an innermost cutter located closest among all of the plurality of cutters to the bit rotational axis and having a flattened cutting surface, a cutting arc, and a relief having ends which is located within and interrupts the cutting arc such that the cutting arc includes at least two portions located on opposite ends of the relief. The disclosure also provides a drilling system including the drill bit and a drill string attached to the drill bit and a surface assembly to rotate the drill string and drill bit.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 2018Date of Patent: May 16, 2023Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventor: Bradley David Dunbar
-
Publication number: 20230137825Abstract: A drilling system, assembly, and method may help optimize drilling in a system that involves more than one rotary tool that engages the formation. A rotary tool may be a rotary cutting tool, such as a drill bit or reamer, or some other rotary tool (e.g. stabilizer or rotary steerable tool) that has the potential to drag on the wall of the hole being drilled and take energy away from cutting. In an example, a wellbore or portion thereof is formed by rotating a first rotary cutting tool having a first cutting structure in engagement with one portion of the formation together with a second rotary cutting tool having a second cutting structure in engagement with another portion of the formation. Forces are obtained above and below the second cutting structure. One or more drilling parameter or drill bit design parameter are adjusted in relation to a force differential between the forces above and below the second cutting structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 28, 2021Publication date: May 4, 2023Applicant: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Bradley David Dunbar, Matt Barnes, Brody Dunn, Van Jordan Brackin
-
Publication number: 20230108781Abstract: As a wellbore is extended into a formation, hydrostatic and hydrodynamic pressures change due to variations in drilling mud weight, fluid density, etc. Strain gauges downhole measure forces experienced by drilling equipment also experience strain due to hydrostatic and hydrodynamic pressures. In order to measure strain due to drilling, hydrostatic and hydrodynamic pressure contributions are removed from strain measurement by removal of a pressure-effect offset, which zeroes or tares the strain measurements. Values of the pressure-effect offset can also be monitored to check that strain measurements are accurately zeroed or to monitor wellbore operations and conditions.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 6, 2021Publication date: April 6, 2023Inventors: Bradley David Dunbar, Van Jordan Brackin, Paul Gerard Cairns
-
Publication number: 20230108851Abstract: As a wellbore is extended into a formation, hydrostatic and hydrodynamic pressures change due to variations in drilling mud weight, fluid density, etc. Strain gauges downhole measure forces experienced by drilling equipment. During drilling, a strain gauge measures strain applied between the drill string and the formation. When off bottom, the strain gauge measures forces experienced by the drill string other than drilling forces. A pressure calculator converts off bottom strain gauge measurements into measurements of hydrostatic pressure for periods without fluid flow (i.e., when drilling motors are paused) and into measurements of hydrodynamic pressure for periods with fluid flow (i.e., when mud motors are operating). The pressure calculator correlates strain measurements (usually in voltages) to pressure based on a predetermined relationship for a given wellbore geometry (e.g., hole diameter, drill bit diameter, drill pipe diameter, etc.).Type: ApplicationFiled: October 6, 2021Publication date: April 6, 2023Inventors: Bradley David Dunbar, Yi Pan, Paul Gerard Cairns
-
Patent number: 11619123Abstract: A downhole drilling tool comprises an earth-boring drill bit including a bit body and a shank coupled to the bit body. The drill bit includes a motion puck positioned in a cavity of the shank, wherein the motion puck includes a motion sensor to detect movement indicating a force applied to the earth-boring drill bit during a drilling operation. The drill bit includes a strain puck positioned in the cavity of the shank, wherein the strain puck includes a strain gauge to measure the force applied to the earth-boring drill bit during the drilling operation. The drill bit includes a plurality of blades disposed on exterior portions of the bit body, each blade having respective cutting elements disposed thereon.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2019Date of Patent: April 4, 2023Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventor: Bradley David Dunbar
-
Publication number: 20220121791Abstract: A method for developing design rules for mitigating cutting-induced stick-slip vibration includes determining at least one value for one or more drill bit performance parameters for a design of a drill bit. The one or more drill bit performance parameters include a functional characteristic of a depth of cut controller of the drill bit. The method includes correlating one or more instances of cutting-induced stick-slip vibration for at least one prior drilling operation to the at least one value for the one or more drill bit performance parameters. The method includes generating drill bit design rules that mitigate cutting-induced stick-slip vibration based on the correlating.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 19, 2020Publication date: April 21, 2022Inventors: Shilin Chen, Christopher Charles Propes, Curtis Clifford Lanning, Bradley David Dunbar
-
Publication number: 20220121790Abstract: Design parameters for PDC drill bit including in-cone depth of cut controllers (DOCCs) are correlated to instances of coupled vibrations in the axial, lateral, and torsional directions occurring during downhole drilling. Design parameters are quantified by drilling efficiency (DE), average in-cone DOCC contact area, average weight on bit (WOB) taken off by in-cone DOCC, and average torque on bit (TOB) taken off by in-cone DOCC. Design guidelines to mitigate coupled vibrations are generated by correlating design parameter quantifiers and instances of coupled vibrations. Potential drill bit designs are then validated against the generated guidelines in order to mitigate vibration in future drilling runs.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 19, 2020Publication date: April 21, 2022Inventors: Shilin Chen, Christopher Charles Propes, Curtis Clifford Lanning, Bradley David Dunbar
-
Patent number: 11293232Abstract: A drill bit can include a bit body having an upper portion, a central bore, and an adjustable inner gauge. The central bore can define a bore surface, and the bit body can include a plurality of fixed cutters formed on the upper portion. The adjustable inner gauge may be movably positioned within the bit body central bore to increase or decrease an exposed area of the bore surface for adjusting stability or steerability of the drill bit while forming the wellbore.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2017Date of Patent: April 5, 2022Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventor: Bradley David Dunbar
-
Publication number: 20220018239Abstract: Transmitting and receiving mud pulse pressure waves at a downhole device. The mud pulse pressure waves may be transmitted from a surface mud pulser and/or by a downhole mud pulser to a downhole device. The mud pulse pressure waves may be detected directly by a transducer or indirectly by detecting physical changes induced in the downhole tool by the pressure waves of the mud pulse. The detected physical changes can be converted to a digital signal for use by the downhole tool. The mud pulse pressure waves may encode information including data, or instructions to the downhole devices.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 7, 2019Publication date: January 20, 2022Applicant: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.Inventors: Bradley David DUNBAR, John Leslie WISINGER, JR.
-
Publication number: 20220010637Abstract: A drill bit may comprise a bit body including an electronic housing, one or more electronics coupled within the electronic housing, a transducer housing coupled to the electronic housing, a first transducer seated in the transducer housing, a first pressure tube extending through the bit body and coupled to the transducer housing, and a floating ball in the first pressure tube. A method may comprise allowing a drilling fluid to move through a first entrance and into a pressure tube formed in a bit body of the drill bit, allowing the drilling fluid to exert a force on a floating ball placed within the pressure tube, allowing the floating ball to transmit the force to a fluid placed within the pressure tube on an opposing side of the floating ball from the drilling fluid, and measuring pressure of the fluid with a first transducer.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 16, 2019Publication date: January 13, 2022Applicant: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventor: Bradley David Dunbar
-
Publication number: 20220003047Abstract: The present disclosure provides a fixed-cutter drill bit including a bit body defining a bit rotational axis, a plurality of blades each having an inner end that is radially closer to the bit rotational axis than a remainder of the respective blade, a central bit surface, and a plurality of cutters disposed on the blades and including an innermost cutter located closest among all of the plurality of cutters to the bit rotational axis and having a flattened cutting surface, a cutting arc, and a relief having ends which is located within and interrupts the cutting arc such that the cutting arc includes at least two portions located on opposite ends of the relief. The disclosure also provides a drilling system including the drill bit and a drill string attached to the drill bit and a surface assembly to rotate the drill string and drill bit.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 7, 2018Publication date: January 6, 2022Inventor: Bradley David Dunbar
-
Patent number: 11162350Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a downhole drilling tool that may include: an earth-boring drill bit including: a bit body; a shank coupled to the bit body; a strain puck removably coupled to the earth-boring drill bit, the strain puck including a strain gauge to collect data indicating a downhole force applied to the earth-boring drill bit during a drilling operation; and a plurality of blades disposed on exterior portions of the bit body, each blade having respective cutting elements disposed thereon.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2019Date of Patent: November 2, 2021Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventor: Bradley David Dunbar
-
Publication number: 20210148216Abstract: A method for using a mud motor may comprise drilling a borehole into a formation using a drill string connected to the mud motor and the mud motor is connected to a drill bit, measuring one or more parameters of the mud motor in the borehole, and sending the one or more parameters to surface. A system may comprise a mud motor connected to a drill string, a drill bit connected to the mud motor, a strain gauge, and in information handling system. The strain gauge may be connected to the drill bit and configured to take one or more parameters of the mud motor. The information handling system may be in communication with the strain gauge and configured to record the one or more parameters from the strain gauge.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 3, 2020Publication date: May 20, 2021Applicant: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Lyn Duane Labahn, John Leslie Wisinger, JR., Bradley David Dunbar