Patents by Inventor Christopher Durrand
Christopher Durrand 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: 8408336Abstract: In one aspect of the present invention, a downhole drill string assembly comprises a bore there through to receive drilling fluid. A turbine may be disposed within the bore and exposed to the drilling fluid. At least one flow guide may be disposed within the bore and exposed to the drilling fluid wherein the flow guide acts to redirect the flow of the drilling fluid across the turbine. The flow guide may be adjusted by an actuator. Adjustments to the flow guide may be controlled by a downhole telemetry system, a processing unit, a control loop, or any combination thereof. In various embodiments the turbine may comprise rotatable turbine blades.Type: GrantFiled: May 28, 2009Date of Patent: April 2, 2013Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: David R. Hall, Scott Dahlgren, Paula Turner, Christopher Durrand, Jonathan Marshall
-
Patent number: 8316964Abstract: In one aspect of the present invention, a drill bit assembly has a body intermediate a shank and a working face. The working face has at least one cutting element. The drill bit also has a jack element with a distal end substantially protruding from the working face and at least one downhole material driven transducer in communication with the jack element.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 2007Date of Patent: November 27, 2012Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: David R. Hall, Christopher Durrand, Paula Turner, Daryl Wise
-
Patent number: 8267196Abstract: In one aspect of the present invention, a downhole drill string assembly comprises a bore there through to receive drilling fluid. A turbine may be disposed within the bore and exposed to the drilling fluid. At least one flow guide may be disposed within the bore and exposed to the drilling fluid wherein the flow guide acts to redirect the flow of the drilling fluid across the turbine. The flow guide may be adjusted by an actuator. Adjustments to the flow guide may be controlled by a downhole telemetry system, a processing unit, a control loop, or any combination thereof. In various embodiments the turbine may comprise rotatable turbine blades.Type: GrantFiled: May 28, 2009Date of Patent: September 18, 2012Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: David R. Hall, Scott Dahlgren, Paula Turner, Christopher Durrand, Jonathan Marshall
-
Patent number: 8237584Abstract: In one aspect of the present invention, a method for tool string communication comprises the steps of providing a downhole tool string with at least two downhole LWD/MWD instruments in electrical communication with a downhole telemetry system. The instruments are capable of generating at least one data packet assigned a priority. The tool string is deployed in a wellbore and then the priority of the data packet is changed.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2009Date of Patent: August 7, 2012Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: David R. Hall, Christopher Durrand, Brad Barger
-
Patent number: 8140259Abstract: A location device has a gravity measurement instrument in communication with a database which has the locations relative to time of an astronomical object. The location device also has a timepiece indicating the time which may be used to determine the location of the astronomical object.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2010Date of Patent: March 20, 2012Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: David R. Hall, David Lundgreen, Christopher Durrand, Mark A. Schwartz
-
Patent number: 8130117Abstract: In one aspect of the invention a downhole drill bit with a body intermediate a shank and a working surface. Extending from the work surface is a wear resistant electric transmitter electrically isolated from the drill bit body. A wear resistant electrically conductive receiver, also electrically isolated from the bit body, may be connected to a tool string component. The working surface may also have at least two wear resistant electrodes located intermediate the transmitter and receiver that are adapted to measure an electric potential in the formation.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 2007Date of Patent: March 6, 2012Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: David R. Hall, Paula Turner, Christopher Durrand
-
Patent number: 8061443Abstract: In one aspect of the invention, a downhole sensor system comprises at least one downhole sensor disposed on or within a downhole component of a tool string. The downhole sensor is adapted to detect at least one characteristic of a downhole formation adjacent the downhole component. The downhole sensor has a variable sampling rate controlled by a processing element. The processing element is in electrical communication with a tool string rate-of-penetration sensor and/or a tool string rotational speed sensor. The processing element is adapted to vary the sampling rate in response to the rate-of-penetration and/or rotational speed of the tool string. In some embodiments, the system is a closed loop system.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2008Date of Patent: November 22, 2011Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: David R. Hall, Paula Turner, Christopher Durrand
-
Patent number: 8061784Abstract: A retention assembly, comprises a carbide bolster comprising a cavity formed in its base end. A shaft comprises an inserted end disposed within the cavity. The shaft is disposed within a hollow shank which comprises a first end contacting the bolster and a loaded end in mechanical communication with the shaft. The inserted end is interlocked to an inner surface of the cavity through a casting.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2008Date of Patent: November 22, 2011Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: David R. Hall, Scott Dahlgren, Jonathan Marshall, Italo Elqueta, Tyson J. Wilde, Christopher Durrand
-
Patent number: 8033615Abstract: A retention assembly has a carbide bolster with a first and second segment brazed together, each segment forming at least part of a cavity formed of the bolster. A shaft has an inserted end is interlocked within the cavity.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2008Date of Patent: October 11, 2011Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: David R. Hall, Scott Dahlgren, Jonathan Marshall, Italo Elqueta, Tyson J. Wilde, Christopher Durrand
-
Patent number: 7969819Abstract: A method for taking seismic measurements that includes a downhole sensor positionable within a tool string located within the bore of a well, the tool string having a network which effects communication with a downhole sensor. The downhole sensor includes a downhole clock that may be placed in communication over the network with the top-hole clock for synchronization. A seismic source is positioned within a transmitting distance of the downhole sensor and activated at a time when the network is disconnected. The downhole sensor records signals from the seismic source at along with a downhole timestamp from the downhole clock. When the network is reconnected, the downhole clock and the top-hole clock are re-synchronized and any downhole clock drift is calculated. The recorded downhole timestamp may then be adjusted to reflect what it would have been if the downhole clock had been synchronized with the top-hole clock.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2007Date of Patent: June 28, 2011Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: David R. Hall, Christopher Durrand
-
Patent number: 7946656Abstract: A retention assembly, comprises a carbide bolster comprising a cavity formed in its base end. A shaft comprises an inserted end disposed within the cavity. The shaft is disposed within a hollow shank which comprises a first end contacting the bolster and a loaded end in mechanical communication with the shaft. Wherein, the inserted end is brazed to an inner surface of the cavity.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2008Date of Patent: May 24, 2011Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: David R. Hall, Scott Dahlgren, Jonathan Marshall, Italo Elqueta, Tyson J. Wilde, Christopher Durrand
-
Publication number: 20100299102Abstract: A location device has a gravity measurement instrument in communication with a database which has the locations relative to time of an astronomical object. The location device also has a timepiece indicating the time which may be used to determine the location of the astronomical object.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 29, 2010Publication date: November 25, 2010Applicant: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATIONInventors: David R. Hall, David Lundgreen, Christopher Durrand, Mark A. Schwartz
-
Publication number: 20090266609Abstract: In one aspect of the invention, a downhole sensor system comprises at least one downhole sensor disposed on or within a downhole component of a tool string. The downhole sensor is adapted to detect at least one characteristic of a downhole formation adjacent the downhole component. The downhole sensor has a variable sampling rate controlled by a processing element. The processing element is in electrical communication with a tool string rate-of-penetration sensor and/or a tool string rotational speed sensor. The processing element is adapted to vary the sampling rate in response to the rate-of-penetration and/or rotational speed of the tool string. In some embodiments, the system is a closed loop system.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 24, 2008Publication date: October 29, 2009Inventors: David R. Hall, Paula Turner, Christopher Durrand
-
Publication number: 20090267790Abstract: In one aspect of the present invention, a method for tool string communication comprising the steps of: providing a downhole tool string with at least two downhole LWD/MWD instruments in electrical communication with a downhole telemetry system, the instruments being capable of generating at least one data packet assigned a priority; then deploying the tool string in a well bore; and then changing the priority of the data packet.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 30, 2009Publication date: October 29, 2009Inventors: David R. Hall, Christopher Durrand, Brad Barger
-
Patent number: 7598886Abstract: A system for communicating with a downhole network integrated into a downhole drill string is disclosed in one aspect of the invention as including a data transmission coupler mounted to a downhole tool and adapted to transmit data across a tool joint. The data transmission coupler is also capable of transmitting data by emitting electromagnetic radiation. An antenna is focused at and positioned within sufficient range of the data transmission coupler to detect the electromagnetic radiation and receive the data. This data may then be transmitted to a receiver or other equipment. In certain embodiments, the antenna is located above ground level and may be mounted to a swivel, derrick, hoist system, kelly, or other structure. The antenna is ideally mounted to a structure which is out of the way of equipment and workers working on the drill string.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 2006Date of Patent: October 6, 2009Inventors: David R. Hall, Christopher Durrand, Paula Turner, Joe Fox
-
Publication number: 20090236148Abstract: In one aspect of the present invention, a downhole drill string assembly comprises a bore there through to receive drilling fluid. A turbine may be disposed within the bore and exposed to the drilling fluid. At least one flow guide may be disposed within the bore and exposed to the drilling fluid wherein the flow guide acts to redirect the flow of the drilling fluid across the turbine. The flow guide may be adjusted by an actuator. Adjustments to the flow guide may be controlled by a downhole telemetry system, a processing unit, a control loop, or any combination thereof. In various embodiments the turbine may comprise rotatable turbine blades.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 28, 2009Publication date: September 24, 2009Inventors: David R. Hall, Scott Dahlgren, Paula Turner, Christopher Durrand, Jonathan Marshall
-
Publication number: 20090229883Abstract: In one aspect of the present invention, a downhole drill string assembly comprises a bore there through to receive drilling fluid. A turbine may be disposed within the bore and exposed to the drilling fluid. At least one flow guide may be disposed within the bore and exposed to the drilling fluid wherein the flow guide acts to redirect the flow of the drilling fluid across the turbine. The flow guide may be adjusted by an actuator. Adjustments to the flow guide may be controlled by a downhole telemetry system, a processing unit, a control loop, or any combination thereof. In various embodiments the turbine may comprise rotatable turbine blades.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 28, 2009Publication date: September 17, 2009Inventors: David R. Hall, Scott Dahlgren, Paula Turner, Christopher Durrand, Jonathan Marshall
-
Patent number: 7572134Abstract: A downhole tool string component having a tubular body having a bore with a central longitudinal axis. An electrical conductor assembly is disposed within the bore of the tubular component, the assembly having signal couplers at first and second ends adapted for a butt connection. Centering assemblies are disposed within each end of the bore and have a plurality of projections extending radially outward from at least a partial central ring disposed around a portion of each end of the electrical conductor assembly, at least one centering assembly comprising a radial opening in the central ring adapted to receive the electrical conductor assembly. The first and second ends of the electrical conductor assembly are substantially aligned to the central axis of the bore at each end by the centering assemblies, the centering assemblies being adapted to allow fluid to pass through the bore.Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 2007Date of Patent: August 11, 2009Inventors: David R. Hall, Christopher Durrand, Joe Fox, Tyson J. Wilde
-
Publication number: 20090146489Abstract: A retention assembly, comprises a carbide bolster comprising a cavity formed in its base end. A shaft comprises an inserted end disposed within the cavity. The shaft is disposed within a hollow shank which comprises a first end contacting the bolster and a loaded end in mechanical communication with the shaft. Wherein, the inserted end is brazed to an inner surface of the cavity.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 9, 2008Publication date: June 11, 2009Inventors: David R. Hall, Scott Dahlgren, Jonathan Marshall, Italo Elqueta, Tyson J. Wilde, Christopher Durrand
-
Publication number: 20090025982Abstract: In one aspect of the present invention, a stabilizer assembly on a downhole tool string component, comprising a sleeve slideably attached to a mandrel of the tool string component. At least one stabilizer blade is formed in the sleeve and generally follows the length of the sleeve. A gap is formed in the at least one blade separating a first and second portion of the blade.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 26, 2007Publication date: January 29, 2009Inventors: David R. Hall, Christopher Durrand