Patents by Inventor Clay W. Milligan
Clay W. Milligan 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: 6978842Abstract: The present invention provides for an apparatus and method of use for a hydraulic shifting tool to be used in a sealed volume in a subsurface well completion to actuate a downhole device, without a fluid return to surface or the well annulus.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2003Date of Patent: December 27, 2005Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Dennis M. Read, Jr., Clay W. Milligan, Jr.
-
Publication number: 20040094310Abstract: The present invention provides for an apparatus and method of use for a hydraulic shifting tool to be used in a sealed volume in a subsurface well completion to actuate a downhole device, without a fluid return to surface or the well annulus.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 12, 2003Publication date: May 20, 2004Inventors: Dennis M. Read, Clay W. Milligan
-
Patent number: 6715557Abstract: A tool string for deployment in a wellbore includes an upper string and a lower string. The upper string includes a valve actuator, and the lower string includes a valve. The lower string is adapted to receive the upper string, and the valve actuator controls the operation of the valve once the upper string is received by the lower string.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2002Date of Patent: April 6, 2004Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Rodney J. Wetzel, Stephen Meschall, Dennis M. Read, Clay W. Milligan, Jr.
-
Patent number: 6494264Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a multilateral production system. The production system has one or more flow control valves for controlling flow from the one or more lateral bores, and has a main flow control valve for controlling flow from the main bore. All flow control valves are in communication with the main wellbore.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2001Date of Patent: December 17, 2002Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Ronald E. Pringle, Dwyane D. Leismer, Clay W. Milligan, Jr.
-
Publication number: 20020129942Abstract: A tool string for use in a well to retrieve a completion string while maintaining control of a well without having to kill the well (i.e., without having to exceed formation pressure) each time the string is retrieved.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2002Publication date: September 19, 2002Inventors: Rodney J. Wetzel, Stephen Mescall, Dennis M. Read, Clay W. Milligan
-
Publication number: 20020029886Abstract: A device for regulating fluid flow in a multilateral well is provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 19, 2001Publication date: March 14, 2002Inventors: Ronald E. Pringle, Dwyane D. Leismer, Clay W. Milligan
-
Patent number: 6328109Abstract: The invention is a downhole valve that includes a body, a flow tube assembly that includes an upper tube member and a lower tube member, and a flapper valve. The flapper valve is pivotally attached to the body and is positioned between the upper tube member and the lower tube member when the flapper valve is in a closed position that blocks fluid flow in an internal bore of the body. The flapper valve is moved from the closed position to an open position in response to an upward movement of the upper tube member and the lower tube member. When the flapper valve pivots to the open position, the lower tube member moves adjacent to and forms a seal with the upper tube member, forming an unobstructed internal bore.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2000Date of Patent: December 11, 2001Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corp.Inventors: Ronald E. Pringle, Clay W. Milligan, Jr., Dennis M. Read
-
Patent number: 6321842Abstract: A completion string for use in a wellbore includes a tubing having a bore and a housing providing a main bore communicating with the tubing bore and further defining plural side bores generally parallel to each other. A plurality of valves are positioned proximal respective side bores to control fluid flow. An actuator is coupled to the valves to actuate the valves to at least open and closed positions. The valves may be part of tubular flow elements mounted to the housing, each tubular flow element including a bore that forms part of a respective side bore. Each valve may include a sleeve valve or a disk valve. The housing may include a side pocket mandrel.Type: GrantFiled: January 4, 2000Date of Patent: November 27, 2001Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corp.Inventors: Ronald E. Pringle, Clay W. Milligan, Jr.
-
Patent number: 6311776Abstract: In a broad aspect, the invention is a downhole well tool for use within a well casing having a locking slot, an orienting profile, an alignment slot, and a lateral well bore window. The tool may broadly include a body member having a first and a second longitudinal bore extending therethrough, a diverter member extending therefrom and having a diverter surface. The second longitudinal bore extends through the diverter member. The tool may also include an outwardly-biased orienting key movably secured to the body member and engageable with the orienting profile and the alignment slot, and an outwardly-biased locking key movably secured to the body member and engageable with the locking slot. The diverter surface is aligned with the lateral well bore window when the orienting key is engaged with the alignment slot and the locking key is engaged with the locking slot.Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 2000Date of Patent: November 6, 2001Assignee: Camco International Inc.Inventors: Ronald E. Pringle, Clay W. Milligan, Jr., Robert J. Coon
-
Patent number: 6308783Abstract: A device for regulating fluid flow in a well is provided. The device may include: a body member having a central bore extending therethrough, at least one flow port, and a first valve seat; a sleeve member movably disposed within the central bore of the body member, and having a second valve seat adapted for cooperable sealing engagement with the first valve seat; means for selectively controlling movement of the sleeve member to regulate fluid flow through the at least one flow port; and conduit means -or transmitting energy to the movement means. The conduit means may include a first and a second hydraulic control line, a single hydraulic control line, or a single electrical conductor. The movement means may include: a piston connected to the sleeve member and movable in response to a combination of hydraulic fluid, pressurized gas, spring force, and/or annulus pressure; or an electric motor connected to the sleeve member.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2000Date of Patent: October 30, 2001Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Ronald E. Pringle, Clay W. Milligan, Jr., Dwayne D. Leismer
-
Publication number: 20010015276Abstract: A device for regulating fluid flow in a well is provided. The device may include: a body member having a central bore extending therethrough, at least one flow port, and a first valve seat; a sleeve member movably disposed within the central bore of the body member, and having a second valve seat adapted for cooperable sealing engagement with the first valve seat; means for selectively controlling movement of the sleeve member to regulate fluid flow through the at least one flow port; and conduit means for transmitting energy to the movement means. The conduit means may include a first and a second hydraulic control line, a single hydraulic control line, or a single electrical conductor. The movement means may include: a piston connected to the sleeve member and movable in response to a combination of hydraulic fluid, pressurized gas, spring force, and/or annulus pressure; or an electric motor connected to the sleeve member.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 4, 2000Publication date: August 23, 2001Inventors: Ronald E. Pringle, Clay W. Milligan, Dwayne D. Leismer
-
Patent number: 6247535Abstract: In a broad aspect, the invention is an orienting and locking swivel including: a locking ratchet housing having a longitudinal bore; a first tubular member partially disposed within the longitudinal bore of the locking ratchet housing; a second tubular member partially disposed within the longitudinal bore of the locking ratchet housing, and releasably engageable with the locking ratchet housing; a first split housing engaged with the locking ratchet housing and releasably engageable with the first tubular member; and a second split housing engaged with the locking ratchet housing and releasably engageable with the second tubular member. The swivel may further include a locking ratchet disposed within a locking ratchet recess in the locking ratchet housing. A method of orienting a plurality of eccentric well tools is also provided, as is a downhole well assembly.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 1999Date of Patent: June 19, 2001Assignee: Camco International Inc.Inventors: Ronald E. Pringle, Clay W. Milligan, Jr.
-
Patent number: 6241015Abstract: An apparatus for remotely controlling fluids in a well is provided. The flow control apparatus may include a body member having a flow port in an outer wall of the body member, and a flow aperture spaced inwardly from the outer wall. A remotely shiftable valve member may be disposed for reciprocal movement within the body member to regulate fluid flow through the flow aperture and flow port. An indexing sleeve may be rotatably disposed within the body member and engaged with the shiftable valve member to shift the valve member within the body member. An operating piston may be engaged with the indexing sleeve and movably disposed within the body member in response to pressurized fluid. A locking mechanism may also be included for locking the shiftable valve member in a closed, or sealing, position. Electrically-operated mechanisms for shifting the valve member is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 1999Date of Patent: June 5, 2001Assignee: Camco International, Inc.Inventors: Ronald E. Pringle, Clay W. Milligan, Jr., Dwayne D. Leismer
-
Patent number: 6237683Abstract: A device for regulating fluid flow in a well is provided. The device may include: a body member having a central bore extending therethrough, at least one flow port, and a first valve seat; a sleeve member movably disposed within the central bore of the body member, and having a second valve seat adapted for cooperable sealing engagement with the first valve seat; means for selectively controlling movement of the sleeve member to regulate fluid flow through the at least one flow port; and conduit means for transmitting energy to the movement means. The conduit means may include a first and a second hydraulic control line, a single hydraulic control line, or a single electrical conductor. The movement means may include: a piston connected to the sleeve member and movable in response to a combination of hydraulic fluid, pressurized gas, spring force, and/or annulus pressure; or an electric motor connected to the sleeve member.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 1998Date of Patent: May 29, 2001Assignee: Camco International Inc.Inventors: Ronald E. Pringle, Clay W. Milligan, Jr., Dwayne D. Leismer
-
Patent number: 6227302Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling the fluid flow in a wellbore provides a side pocket mandrel having a main bore, an offset bore, and a radial passageway providing communication therebetween. Inlet orifices through the outer wall of the mandrel provide fluid communication between the offset bore and an exterior of the mandrel. A choke, or valve, attached to the mandrel is adjustable at and between an opened and closed position to control the flow rate through the inlet orifices and into the offset bore. The radial passageway and the inlet orifices are sized to provide full bore flow into the main bore and, thus, the tubing. Well tools may be positioned in the offset bore to perform various functions. Examples of such well tools include a seal bore protector adapted to protect the walls of the offset bore; an injection valve adapted to allow flow out of the mandrel only to facilitate injection into the formation; and a pack off valve adapted to seal the offset bore and prevent fluid flow therethrough.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 1999Date of Patent: May 8, 2001Assignee: Cameo International, Inc.Inventors: Ronald E. Pringle, Clay W. Milligan, Jr.
-
Patent number: 6209649Abstract: A selective re-entry tool is provided that allows an operator at the earth's surface to perform intervention operations in one or more completion strings by allowing remote discrimination and orientation of a tool string to a target location in a single comingling completion string. The selective re-entry tool may broadly include a carrier body having a navigation port extending longitudinally therethrough, and an orienting key movably connected to the carrier body and releasably engageable with a discriminator groove in a tubing string to align the navigation port with a predetermined one of a plurality of branch tubings in the tubing string. The re-entry tool may further include a locking dog movably connected to the carrier body and releasably engageable with a locking recess in the tubing string to prevent rotation of the carrier body after the navigation port has been aligned with the predetermined one of the plurality of branch tubings.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 1999Date of Patent: April 3, 2001Assignee: Camco International, IncInventors: Ronald E. Pringle, Clay W. Milligan, Jr., Dwayne D. Leismer