Patents by Inventor Donn J. Brown
Donn J. Brown 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: 20240141765Abstract: Methods and systems for producing hydrocarbons. An example method includes producing a non-hydrocarbon liquid from a first horizontal wellbore, the first horizontal wellbore extending from a vertical wellbore and through a hydrocarbon producing formation. The method further includes pumping the non-hydrocarbon liquid with a first pump into a second horizontal wellbore, the second horizontal wellbore extending from the vertical wellbore and disposed downhole and underneath the first horizontal wellbore. The method additionally includes pumping a hydrocarbon liquid uphole to a surface with a second pump disposed downhole of the first horizontal wellbore.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 10, 2024Publication date: May 2, 2024Applicant: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Donn J. BROWN, Trevor A. KOPECKY
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Publication number: 20240141919Abstract: A submersible pump assembly. The submersible pump assembly comprises a motor comprising a first drive shaft; a seal section comprising a second drive shaft that is coupled to the first drive shaft of the motor; and a centrifugal pump assembly comprising a third drive shaft that is coupled to the second drive shaft of the seal section and a plurality of pump stages, wherein each pump stage comprises an impeller coupled to the third drive shaft and a diffuser retained by a housing of the centrifugal pump assembly, wherein the diffuser of each pump stage comprises a first plurality of vanes each having a first axial length and a second plurality of vanes each disposed between a pair of vanes of the first plurality of vanes and each having a second axial length, wherein the second axial length is less than the first axial length.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 26, 2022Publication date: May 2, 2024Inventors: Ketankumar K. SHETH, Donn J. BROWN, Gerald Glen GOSHORN
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Publication number: 20240141903Abstract: An electric submersible pump (ESP) assembly comprising an electric motor, a seal section disposed uphole of the electric motor, a gas separator disposed uphole of the seal section, a downhole transmission assembly disposed uphole of the gas separator, comprising a flow passage fluidically coupled to a liquid phase discharge port of the gas separator, a first drive shaft coupled to a drive shaft of the gas separator, a second drive shaft, and a transmission that mechanically couples the first drive shaft to the second drive shaft, wherein the transmission is configured to turn the second drive shaft at a slower angular speed than the angular speed of the first drive shaft, and a centrifugal pump assembly disposed uphole of the downhole transmission assembly, having a fluid inlet coupled to a fluid outlet of the downhole transmission assembly, and having a drive shaft coupled to the second drive shaft.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 28, 2022Publication date: May 2, 2024Inventors: Donn J. BROWN, Trevor Alan KOPECKY, Ketankumar Kantilal SHETH
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Patent number: 11965402Abstract: An electric submersible pump (ESP) assembly. The ESP assembly comprises an electric motor; a seal section coupled to the electric motor; a fluid intake coupled to an uphole end of the seal section, wherein the fluid intake defines a plurality of inlet ports; a gas separator comprising a plurality of gas phase discharge ports, and at least one liquid phase discharge port, wherein the gas separator is located uphole of the fluid intake; a centrifugal pump comprising a fluid inlet at a downhole end, wherein the at least one liquid phase discharge port of the gas separator is fluidically coupled to the fluid inlet of the centrifugal pump; and an inverted shroud assembly, wherein a downhole end of the inverted shroud assembly is coupled to an outside of the gas separator downhole of the gas phase discharge ports of the gas separator and uphole of the fluid intake.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2022Date of Patent: April 23, 2024Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Donn J. Brown, Ketankumar Kantilal Sheth, Andre Joseph Bernier
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Patent number: 11965401Abstract: A downhole gas separator fluid mover assembly comprising a fluid mover having an inlet and an outlet, a separation device, a separation chamber, and a flow path separator located downstream of the fluid mover. The fluid mover comprising a centrifugal pump stage with an impeller and a diffuser moves production fluid comprising a high viscosity fluid portion and a gas portion to the separation device. The separation device produces a fluid motion that separates the gas phase from the liquid phase in response to the flow rate of production fluid from the fluid mover. A portion of the high viscosity fluid passes through the gas phase discharge port in response to the over-supply of high viscosity fluid to the liquid discharge port in response to the flow rate of the production fluid through the fluid mover.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2021Date of Patent: April 23, 2024Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Donn J. Brown, Ketankumar Kantilal Sheth, Casey Laine Newport
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Patent number: 11959368Abstract: A system for protecting an Electrical Submersible Pump (ESP) string from gas slugs in a downhole well environment. The system comprises an intake tube having a first and second end and one of a packer having a bypass channel and an inverted shroud coupled to the intake tube and the ESP string. The intake tube is independent of a pump and a motor of the ESP string. The system can comprise a bypass tube for channeling the gas slug downstream of the pump. The bypass tube is integrated with the packer. The inverted shroud is coupled with the first end of the intake tube and a section of production tubing downstream from the pump and the motor. The inverted shroud forms a bypass path channel within a casing annulus.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 2022Date of Patent: April 16, 2024Assignee: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INCInventors: Donn J. Brown, David C. Beck, Trevor A. Kopecky
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Patent number: 11953024Abstract: A submersible pump assembly. The submersible pump assembly comprises a motor comprising a first drive shaft; a seal section comprising a second drive shaft that is coupled to the first drive shaft of the motor; and a centrifugal pump assembly comprising a third drive shaft that is coupled to the second drive shaft of the seal section and a plurality of pump stages, wherein each pump stage comprises an impeller coupled to the third drive shaft and a diffuser retained by a housing of the centrifugal pump assembly, wherein the diffuser of each pump stage comprises a first plurality of vanes each having a first axial length and a second plurality of vanes each disposed between a pair of vanes of the first plurality of vanes and each having a second axial length, wherein the second axial length is less than the first axial length.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2022Date of Patent: April 9, 2024Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Ketankumar K. Sheth, Donn J. Brown, Gerald Glen Goshorn
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Patent number: 11946472Abstract: An electric submersible pump (ESP) assembly. The ESP assembly comprises an electric motor; a seal section; a fluid intake; a charge pump assembly located downstream of the fluid intake and having an inlet in fluid communication with an outlet of the fluid intake, having a fluid mover coupled to a drive shaft, and having a fluid reservoir located downstream of the fluid mover; a gas separator located downstream of the charge pump assembly and having an inlet in fluid communication with an outlet of the charge pump assembly; an inverted shroud coupled at an upper end to the gas separator or to the charge pump assembly and coupled at a lower end to the ESP assembly below the fluid intake; and a production pump assembly located downstream of the gas separator and having an inlet in fluid communication with a liquid phase discharge port of the gas separator.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2021Date of Patent: April 2, 2024Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Ketankumar Kantilal Sheth, Donn J. Brown, Randy Louis Mathes
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Publication number: 20240102365Abstract: An electric submersible pump (ESP) assembly. The ESP assembly comprises an electric motor; a seal section coupled to the electric motor; a fluid intake coupled to an uphole end of the seal section, wherein the fluid intake defines a plurality of inlet ports; a gas separator comprising a plurality of gas phase discharge ports, and at least one liquid phase discharge port, wherein the gas separator is located uphole of the fluid intake; a centrifugal pump comprising a fluid inlet at a downhole end, wherein the at least one liquid phase discharge port of the gas separator is fluidically coupled to the fluid inlet of the centrifugal pump; and an inverted shroud assembly, wherein a downhole end of the inverted shroud assembly is coupled to an outside of the gas separator downhole of the gas phase discharge ports of the gas separator and uphole of the fluid intake.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2022Publication date: March 28, 2024Inventors: Donn J. BROWN, Ketankumar Kantilal SHETH, Andre Joseph BERNIER
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Publication number: 20240102366Abstract: An electric submersible pump (ESP) assembly. The ESP assembly comprises an electric motor; a seal section coupled to an uphole end of the electric motor; a fluid intake coupled to an uphole end of the seal section, wherein the fluid intake defines a plurality of inlet ports; a gas separator coupled to an uphole end of the fluid intake, wherein the gas separator has a plurality of gas phase discharge ports; a pump assembly coupled to an uphole end of the gas separator; and an intake extension tubular, wherein an uphole end of the intake extension tubular is coupled to the fluid intake uphole of the inlet ports, and wherein an annulus defined between an inside of the intake extension tubular and an outside of the seal section defines a fluid flow path from a downhole end of the intake extension tubular to the inlet ports of the fluid intake.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2022Publication date: March 28, 2024Inventors: Donn J. BROWN, Ketankumar Kantilal SHETH, Andre Joseph BERNIER
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Patent number: 11916451Abstract: A pump system for pumping production fluids from a wellbore or pumping well treatment fluids into a wellbore comprising: an axial flux electric motor; a seal section coupled to the axial flux motor; a pump intake coupled to the seal section; a pump coupled to the pump intake, and a fluid discharge coupled to the pump. The torque capacity axial flux motor may be modified without removing the axial flux motor from the pump.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2021Date of Patent: February 27, 2024Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Ketankumar Kantilal Sheth, Donn J. Brown, David Christopher Beck, Robert Charles de Long, Trevor Alan Kopecky
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Patent number: 11916450Abstract: A pump system for pumping production fluids from a wellbore or pumping well treatment fluids into a wellbore comprising: an axial flux electric motor; a seal section coupled to the axial flux motor; a pump intake coupled to the seal section; a pump coupled to the pump intake, and a fluid discharge coupled to the pump. The torque capacity axial flux motor may be modified without removing the axial flux motor from the pump.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2021Date of Patent: February 27, 2024Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Ketankumar Kantilal Sheth, Donn J. Brown, David Christopher Beck, Robert Charles de Long, Trevor Alan Kopecky
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Patent number: 11905803Abstract: Methods and systems for producing hydrocarbons. An example method includes producing a non-hydrocarbon liquid from a first horizontal wellbore, the first horizontal wellbore extending from a vertical wellbore and through a hydrocarbon producing formation. The method further includes pumping the non-hydrocarbon liquid with a first pump into a second horizontal wellbore, the second horizontal wellbore extending from the vertical wellbore and disposed downhole and underneath the first horizontal wellbore. The method additionally includes pumping a hydrocarbon liquid uphole to a surface with a second pump disposed downhole of the first horizontal wellbore.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2021Date of Patent: February 20, 2024Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Donn J. Brown, Trevor A. Kopecky
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Patent number: 11867035Abstract: An electric submersible pump (ESP) assembly. The ESP assembly comprises an electric motor; a seal section; a fluid intake; a charge pump assembly located downstream of the fluid intake and having an inlet in fluid communication with an outlet of the fluid intake, having a fluid mover coupled to a drive shaft, and having a fluid reservoir located downstream of the fluid mover; a gas separator assembly located downstream of the charge pump assembly and having an inlet in fluid communication with an outlet of the charge pump assembly; and a production pump assembly located downstream of the gas separator assembly and having an inlet in fluid communication with a liquid phase discharge port of the gas separator assembly.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2021Date of Patent: January 9, 2024Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Donn J. Brown, Ketankumar Kantilal Sheth, Randy Louis Mathes, Casey Laine Newport
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Patent number: 11828136Abstract: In artificial lift production systems, a reduction in pressure and temperature as production fluids migrate to the surface can cause a buildup in the production tubing that reduces or stops production. To remove buildup, an ESP can be operated at low efficiency and low flow operating conditions to generate heat in the pump. The heat increases the temperature of the production fluid in the pump. When the heated production fluid is transported to the surface, the fluid increases the temperature of the production tubing resulting in a melting of the solidified wax blocking the production tubing. As the wax melts, the production fluid carries it toward the surface. Over time, the heated production fluid will melt enough solidified wax to open the production tubing to a full flow capacity, thus allowing standard production operation to continue.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2019Date of Patent: November 28, 2023Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Robert Charles De Long, Donn J. Brown, Ketankumar Kantilal Sheth
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Publication number: 20230374982Abstract: Provided, in one aspect, is a spin control valve assembly, comprising a stationary valve plate having a first stationary valve plate opening and a second stationary valve plate opening; and a rotating valve plate coupled longitudinally adjacent to the stationary valve plate, the rotating valve plate having a rotating valve plate opening, wherein the rotating valve plate is configured to rotate among at least three positions such that at each position of the at least three positions fluid flows at a different flow rate through the spin control valve assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 19, 2022Publication date: November 23, 2023Inventors: Donn J. Brown, Ketankumar Kantilal Sheth, Dezhi Zheng
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Patent number: 11821430Abstract: An electric submersible pump (ESP) assembly comprises a centrifugal pump assembly, a seal section and an electric motor comprising a drive shaft having a bore concentric with a longitudinal axis of the drive shaft. A fluid mover disposed within and coupled to the bore of the drive shaft is configured for urging lubricating oil upward in the bore. The fluid mover includes at least one helical flighting open in the middle. The electric motor may also have a bearing coupled to the drive shaft and a bushing that is retained by a housing or by stator structure of the electric motor. The bushing defining at least one fluid flow channel extending from an upper edge of the bushing to a lower edge of the bushing and a middle portion of the fluid flow channel open to the inside surface of the bushing.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2021Date of Patent: November 21, 2023Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Yuzhu Hu, Dezhi Zheng, Yu Dong Sun, Donn J. Brown
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Publication number: 20230358129Abstract: A downhole integral gas separator and pump assembly, The assembly comprises a drive shaft; a separation chamber concentrically disposed around the drive shaft; a gas flow path and liquid flow path separator having a gas phase discharge port open to an exterior of the assembly, and having a liquid phase discharge port; a fluid mover mechanically coupled to the drive shaft having an inlet fluidically coupled to the liquid phase discharge port of the gas flow path and liquid flow path separator, and having an outlet; a housing that retains the drive shaft, the gas flow path and liquid flow path separator, and the fluid mover; and a pump discharge coupled to a downstream end of the housing, wherein the pump discharge is fluidically coupled to the outlet of the fluid mover and is configured to connect to a production tubing.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 5, 2022Publication date: November 9, 2023Inventors: Donn J. Brown, Ketankumar Kantilal Sheth, James Milton Parmeter
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Patent number: 11802470Abstract: Pumping of wellbore fluid to a surface may have a detrimental effect on the pump performance due to high gas concentrations in the fluid. A pump system that utilizes a helix gas separator provides greater pump efficiency by effectively removing the gas phase of the fluid. The wellbore fluid received at a pump system is directed from an intake to a gas separator that utilizes a stationary auger. The stationary auger induces rotational motion of the wellbore fluid causing the wellbore fluid to separate into a gas phase and a liquid phase. The stationary auger utilizes a tapered diameter and an opening between one or more helixes or vanes to separate a gas phase more efficiently from a liquid phase of a fluid.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2023Date of Patent: October 31, 2023Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Casey Laine Newport, Donn J. Brown, Ketankumar Kantilal Sheth
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Publication number: 20230304504Abstract: An electric submersible pump (ESP) assembly. The ESP assembly comprises a first ESP component having a first drive shaft defining a plurality of male splines and defining at least one cut-out area; a second ESP component having a second drive shaft defining a plurality of male splines; a coupling shell defining a first plurality of female splines configured to mate with the male splines of the first drive shaft, a second plurality of female splines configured to mate with the male splines of the second drive shafts, and at least one shouldered aperture configured to align with the cut-out area of the first drive shaft; and at least one removable lug having a pin that is configured to extend through the shouldered aperture in the coupling shell to engage with the at least one cut-out area of the first drive shaft.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 28, 2022Publication date: September 28, 2023Inventors: Dezhi ZHENG, Donn J. BROWN, Wenjie Jie GUANG, Yuzhu HU, Jason Eugene HILL