Patents by Inventor Donald K. Trichel

Donald K. Trichel 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).

  • Method and apparatus for controlling bottomhole temperature in deviated wells
    Patent number: 8453760
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for reducing temperature along a bottomhole assembly during a drilling operation is provided. In one aspect the bottomhole temperature may be reduced by drilling a borehole using a drill string having a bottomhole assembly at an end thereof, circulating a fluid through the drill string and an annulus between the drill string and the borehole, diverting a selected portion of the fluid from the drill string into the annulus at a selected location above the drill bit to reduce pressure drop across at least a portion of the bottomhole assembly to reduce temperature of the bottomhole assembly during the drilling operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Roger W. Fincher, Larry A. Watkins, Donald K. Trichel, Marcus Oesterberg
  • Apparatus and methods for controlling bottomhole assembly temperature during a pause in drilling boreholes
    Patent number: 8267197
    Abstract: A method for reducing temperature of a bottomhole assembly during a drilling operation is disclosed, that, in one aspect, may include: drilling a borehole using a drillstring including a bottomhole assembly by circulating a fluid through the drillstring and an annulus between the drillstring and the borehole, pausing drilling, continuing circulating the fluid through the dill string and the annulus. The method further includes diverting a portion of the fluid from the drillstring into the annulus at a selected location above the drill bit to reduce temperature of the bottomhole assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Roger W. Fincher, Larry A. Watkins, Donald K. Trichel, Marcus Oesterberg
  • Method and Apparatus for Controlling Bottomhole Temperature in Deviated Wells
    Publication number: 20110048802
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for reducing temperature along a bottomhole assembly during a drilling operation is provided. In one aspect the bottomhole temperature may be reduced by drilling a borehole using a drill string having a bottomhole assembly at an end thereof, circulating a fluid through the drill string and an annulus between the drill string and the borehole, diverting a selected portion of the fluid from the drill string into the annulus at a selected location above the drill bit to reduce pressure drop across at least a portion of the bottomhole assembly to reduce temperature of the bottomhole assembly during the drilling operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2010
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Roger W. Fincher, Larry A. Watkins, Donald K. Trichel, Marcus Oesterberg
  • Apparatus and Methods for Controlling Bottomhole Assembly Temperature During a Pause in Drilling Boreholes
    Publication number: 20110048806
    Abstract: A method for reducing temperature of a bottomhole assembly during a drilling operation is disclosed, that, in one aspect, may include: drilling a borehole using a drillstring including a bottomhole assembly by circulating a fluid through the drillstring and an annulus between the drillstring and the borehole, pausing drilling, continuing circulating the fluid through the dill string and the annulus. The method further includes diverting a portion of the fluid from the drillstring into the annulus at a selected location above the drill bit to reduce temperature of the bottomhole assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2010
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Roger W. Fincher, Larry A. Watkins, Donald K. Trichel, Marcus Oesterberg