Patents by Inventor Christopher C. Hoelscher
Christopher C. Hoelscher 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).
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Publication number: 20220136373Abstract: Systems and methods of the present disclosure relate to rotatable electrical connectors for a downhole perforating tool. A downhole perforating tool comprises a first segment; a second adjacent segment that is rotatable, wherein the first and second segments are coaxially aligned or eccentrically aligned; and an electrical contact disposed between the first and second segments.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 3, 2020Publication date: May 5, 2022Applicant: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Camille Anne Bryant, Christopher C. Hoelscher
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Publication number: 20220127912Abstract: Embodiments of a perforating gun assembly for use in a wellbore are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the perforating gun assembly includes at least a tubular carrier gun body having an outer diameter, an inner diameter, and a threaded portion extending a distance (d) along an outer surface and proximate an uphole end thereof; and a swell sleeve located radially inside of the tubular carrier gun body, the swell sleeve extending along at least 90% of the distance (d).Type: ApplicationFiled: March 29, 2019Publication date: April 28, 2022Inventors: Joseph T. MacGillivray, Christopher C. Hoelscher
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Publication number: 20220127935Abstract: A method and systems for perforating a formation surrounding a borehole that include placing a perforating gun assembly into the borehole, the perforating gun assembly including a gun body comprising a connector and a shaped charge within the gun body. The shaped charges are detonated, thereby producing a shock wave in the gun body. The shock wave propagating through the gun body is attenuated using a shock attenuation feature in the gun body to decrease a stress from the shock wave communicated to the connector.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 26, 2020Publication date: April 28, 2022Applicant: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Brenden Grove, Courtney Ann Thain Roberts, Jason Karl Cook, Christopher C Hoelscher
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Patent number: 11313208Abstract: Provided is a detonation cord alignment apparatus. The detonation cord alignment apparatus, in accordance with one example, includes a detonation cord alignment housing having a detonation cord opening extending there through, and one or more protrusions extending inward from the detonation cord opening for linearly securing a detonation cord therein.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2020Date of Patent: April 26, 2022Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Christopher C. Hoelscher, Joseph Todd MacGillivray
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Patent number: 11293271Abstract: Systems and methods of the present disclosure relate to a low-profile adjustable fastener for charge orientation of a downhole perforating tool. The perforating tool may include a first tubular comprising apertures; a second tubular comprising apertures, the first tubular disposed in the second tubular, wherein the apertures of the first tubular are configured to align with the apertures of the second tubular upon movement of the first tubular; and a fastener comprising: a first component configured to pass through the apertures on a first side of each of the first and second tubulars; and a second component configured to pass through the apertures on a second side of each of the first and second tubulars.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2020Date of Patent: April 5, 2022Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Christopher C. Hoelscher, Camille Anne Bryant, Nicholas Peter LeClair
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Publication number: 20220074288Abstract: A shaped charge for perforating a formation surrounding a wellbore. The shaped charge including a casing having a section with polymer-coated explosives and a liner encapsulating the section with the polymer coated explosives. The polymer-coated explosives includes a booster explosive and a main load explosive. The booster explosive and the main load explosive are PETN. The polymer is a low-density polyethylene.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 16, 2019Publication date: March 10, 2022Inventors: James Marshall BARKER, Christopher C. HOELSCHER
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Publication number: 20210372744Abstract: A detonator to activate energetic materials in downhole well environments that can be transported and operated safely. The detonator comprises a switch coupled to a power source and the energetic materials. The power source may or may not be a part of the detonator. The switch creates a default closed switch between the power source and the energetic material. The switch can communicate with an actuator in response to engaging a gun assembly. The switch can create an open switch in response to communicating with the actuator. The switch forms a short circuit when configured to the default closed switch and forms an open circuit when configured to the open switch. The energetic material is activated in response to the mechanical switch forming an open switch and power is provided by the power source.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 2, 2020Publication date: December 2, 2021Inventors: Joseph T. MACGILLIVRAY, Christopher C. HOELSCHER
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Publication number: 20210355798Abstract: Provided is a detonation cord alignment apparatus. The detonation cord alignment apparatus, in accordance with one example, includes a detonation cord alignment housing having a detonation cord opening extending there through, and one or more protrusions extending inward from the detonation cord opening for linearly securing a detonation cord therein.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 13, 2020Publication date: November 18, 2021Inventors: Christopher C. Hoelscher, Joseph Todd MacGillivray
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Publication number: 20210355797Abstract: The disclosed embodiments include bulkheads for perforating guns and perforating gun assemblies. A bulkhead includes a threadless exterior surface that spans a length of a threaded connection of adjacent first and second perforating guns. The bulkhead also includes a first exterior groove having a first sealing element partially disposed in the first exterior groove. The bulkhead further includes a second exterior groove having a second sealing element partially disposed in the second exterior groove, where the first sealing element and the second sealing element are positioned around the threaded connection.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 18, 2020Publication date: November 18, 2021Inventors: Courtney Ann Thain ROBERTS, Richard Ellis ROBEY, Christopher C. HOELSCHER, Joseph T. MACGILLIVRAY
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Patent number: 11174690Abstract: Provided is a pressure cycle actuation assembly. The pressure cycle actuation assembly, in one aspect, includes a housing, a reciprocating piston located within the housing and defining first and second fluid chambers, and a check valve positioned between the first and second fluid chambers, the check valve permitting fluid flow from the first fluid chamber to the second fluid chamber but preventing fluid flow from the second fluid chamber to the first fluid chamber. The A pressure cycle actuation assembly, according to this aspect, further includes a flow restrictor positioned between the first and second fluid chambers, the flow restrictor restricting fluid flow between the first fluid chamber and the second fluid chamber, and a rotating collet coupled to the reciprocating piston, the rotating collet translating reciprocal axial motion of the reciprocating piston into one-direction rotation and axial lengthening or shortening of the rotating collet relative to the reciprocating piston.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2019Date of Patent: November 16, 2021Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Richard Ellis Robey, Christopher C. Hoelscher, Jason Karl Cook
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Publication number: 20210340845Abstract: The disclosed embodiments include pressure-activated firing heads, perforating gun assemblies, and methods to set off a downhole explosion. A pressure-activated firing head includes a first chamber and a second chamber having an energy storage element disposed within the second chamber. The pressure-activated firing head also includes a port fluidly connecting the first chamber and the second chamber. The pressure-activated firing head further includes a flow restrictor that restricts fluid flow from the second chamber to the first chamber. The pressure-activated firing head further includes a firing pin shiftable from a first position to a second position to strike an initiator. The pressure-activated firing head further includes a shear pin that holds the firing pin in the first position and configured to shear in response to a threshold pressure applied to the shear pin to release the firing pin from the first position.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 29, 2020Publication date: November 4, 2021Inventors: Christopher C. HOELSCHER, Mark D. MACEK
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Publication number: 20210332676Abstract: An apparatus and method according to which a perforating gun includes a volume fill body. The volume fill body is positioned in the space between a charge tube and a carrier tube. The fill body occupies at least part, and sometimes all, of the free volume space between the charge tube and carrier tube thereby reducing the free volume space. In certain downhole applications, large free volume space can lead to significant reductions in wellbore pressure, causing dynamic underbalance, which is undesirable. The presence of the volume fill body prevents, or at least reduces, dynamic underbalance and its effects. Also, the volume fill body aligns the charge tube with the carrier tube, further assisting perforation.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 8, 2021Publication date: October 28, 2021Inventors: Brenden Michael Grove, Richard Ellis Robey, Christopher C. Hoelscher
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Patent number: 11131168Abstract: A perforating system and method includes a perforating gun with shaped charges and an orientation device. The orientation device provides an orientation datum. Sensors associated with the perforating gun detect relative alignment of each perforating gun as compared to the orientation datum. A detonation signal can be either sent or not sent to the perforating gun in response to the signal received from the orientation sensor.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2019Date of Patent: September 28, 2021Assignee: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.Inventors: Cameron Scott Badii, Christopher C Hoelscher, Richard Ellis Robey
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Patent number: 11098562Abstract: Perforating gun end protectors including pin end protectors and box end protectors include both a polymer component and a metal component. The pin end protectors and box end protectors herein meet packaging and shipping regulations for shipping perforating gun protectors having charges installed. The pin end protectors and box end protectors of the disclosure are less costly, reduces overall weight, and provide additional safety benefits as compared to traditional metal pin end protectors and metal box end protectors. The polymer component is configured to melt in a deflagration situation thereby venting of the perforating gun to prevent pressure build-up.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2017Date of Patent: August 24, 2021Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Lewis Douglas Box, Marie Orpah Mills, Christopher C. Hoelscher, Nicholas G. Harrington, Armando Duputel
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Patent number: 11078761Abstract: An apparatus and method according to which a perforating gun includes a volume fill body. The volume fill body is positioned in the space between a charge tube and a carrier tube. The fill body occupies at least part, and sometimes all, of the free volume space between the charge tube and carrier tube thereby reducing the free volume space. In certain downhole applications, large free volume space can lead to significant reductions in wellbore pressure, causing dynamic underbalance, which is undesirable. The presence of the volume fill body prevents, or at least reduces, dynamic underbalance and its effects. Also, the volume fill body aligns the charge tube with the carrier tube, further assisting perforation.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2019Date of Patent: August 3, 2021Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Brenden Michael Grove, Richard Ellis Robey, Christopher C. Hoelscher
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Publication number: 20210102433Abstract: Provided is a pressure cycle actuation assembly. The pressure cycle actuation assembly, in one aspect, includes a housing, a reciprocating piston located within the housing and defining first and second fluid chambers, and a check valve positioned between the first and second fluid chambers, the check valve permitting fluid flow from the first fluid chamber to the second fluid chamber but preventing fluid flow from the second fluid chamber to the first fluid chamber. The A pressure cycle actuation assembly, according to this aspect, further includes a flow restrictor positioned between the first and second fluid chambers, the flow restrictor restricting fluid flow between the first fluid chamber and the second fluid chamber, and a rotating collet coupled to the reciprocating piston, the rotating collet translating reciprocal axial motion of the reciprocating piston into one-direction rotation and axial lengthening or shortening of the rotating collet relative to the reciprocating piston.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 2, 2019Publication date: April 8, 2021Inventors: Richard Ellis Robey, Christopher C. Hoelscher, Jason Karl Cook
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Publication number: 20210079767Abstract: Perforating gun end protectors including pin end protectors and box end protectors include both a polymer component and a metal component. The pin end protectors and box end protectors herein meet packaging and shipping regulations for shipping perforating gun protectors having charges installed. The pin end protectors and box end protectors of the disclosure are less costly, reduces overall weight, and provide additional safety benefits as compared to traditional metal pin end protectors and metal box end protectors. The polymer component is configured to melt in a deflagration situation thereby venting of the perforating gun to prevent pressure build-up.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 12, 2017Publication date: March 18, 2021Inventors: Lewis Douglas BOX, Marie Orpah MILLS, Christopher C. HOELSCHER, Nicholas G. HARRINGTON, Armando DUPUTEL
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Patent number: 10920541Abstract: The present disclosure provides an perforating device for use within a wellbore. The perforating device comprises a center member having a length, an expansion tool positioned about the center member along at least a portion of the length, and a plurality of perforating guns positioned about the expansion tool, each of the plurality of perforating guns configured to carry one or more explosive shaped charges. The expansion tool is configured to move the plurality of perforating guns radially outward toward a wellbore target of a wellbore it is configured to be positioned within.Type: GrantFiled: January 6, 2017Date of Patent: February 16, 2021Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Richard Ellis Robey, Christopher C. Hoelscher, James Wight, Joseph Todd MacGillivray
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Patent number: 10920542Abstract: An apparatus comprises a first cluster of perforator guns positioned circumferentially around a central longitudinal axis at a first axial position. The apparatus includes a second cluster of perforator guns positioned circumferentially around the central longitudinal axis at a second axial position. The first and second clusters are configured in a closed position while the apparatus is being lowered to a perforator position in a wellbore. After the apparatus is lowered to the perforator position, the first and second clusters are to move to an expanded position and the first cluster is to move axially such that the first cluster and the second cluster at least partially overlap.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 2017Date of Patent: February 16, 2021Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Richard Ellis Robey, Christopher C. Hoelscher
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Publication number: 20200386085Abstract: A perforating system and method includes a perforating gun with shaped charges and an orientation device. The orientation device provides an orientation datum. Sensors associated with the perforating gun detect relative alignment of each perforating gun as compared to the orientation datum. A detonation signal can be either sent or not sent to the perforating gun in response to the signal received from the orientation sensor.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 10, 2019Publication date: December 10, 2020Applicant: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Cameron Scott Badii, Christopher C. Hoelscher, Richard Ellis Robey