Patents by Inventor Eric Mulhern

Eric Mulhern 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: 11988049
    Abstract: A perforating gun assembly may include a first perforating gun housing, a first shaped charge provided within the first perforating gun housing, and an alignment sub coupled to the first perforating gun housing. The alignment sub may include a first sub body and a second sub body rotatably coupled to the first sub body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: DynaEnergetics Europe GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Eitschberger, Eric Mulhern
  • Patent number: 11788389
    Abstract: A perforating gun assembly may include a first housing extending along a longitudinal axis and a tandem seal adapter (TSA). The first housing may include a coupling provided at a first end of the first housing. The TSA may include a TSA body and a seal element provided on an outer surface of the TSA body. At least part of the TSA may be positioned inside the first housing such that the seal element and the coupling intersect with a common plane that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: DynaEnergetics Europe GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Haron Preiss, Thilo Scharf, Liam McNelis, Eric Mulhern, David C. Parks, Christian Eitschberger
  • Patent number: 11661823
    Abstract: A perforating gun may include a gun carrier extending in an axial direction and a tandem seal adapter (TSA). The gun carrier having a maximum outer carrier diameter. The TSA may include a first TSA region having a first TSA outer diameter, a second TSA region having a second TSA outer diameter, and a shoulder surface formed between an outer surface of the first TSA region and an outer surface of the second TSA region. The second TSA outer diameter may be larger than the first TSA outer diameter and smaller than the maximum outer carrier diameter. A portion of the gun carrier may abut with the shoulder surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: DynaEnergetics Europe GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Haron Preiss, Thilo Scharf, Liam McNelis, Eric Mulhern, David C. Parks, Christian Eitschberger
  • Patent number: 11634956
    Abstract: A detonator activated wireline release tool is provided for use in geological well operations that enables the wireline cable to be easily released from tool string equipment upon activation of a detonator housed within the release tool. The release tool has a wireline subassembly portion that is connected to a tool string subassembly portion during assembly. It is sometimes necessary to disconnect the wireline subassembly from the tool string subassembly at a time when accessing the either is not physically possible. Such release is achieved by sending an electronic signal that detonates an explosive load which actuates a latch through an expansion chamber. The latch shifts and allows the finger flanges previously connecting the subassemblies to disengage, thus releasing the subassemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: DynaEnergetics Europe GmbH
    Inventors: Eric Mulhern, Thilo Scharf
  • Patent number: 11608720
    Abstract: Components for a perforation gun system are provided including combinations of components that facilitate electrically linking multiple perforation guns to one another with wireless electrical contacts. The perforation gun system includes a bulkhead pin contact assembly. The perforation gun system may further include a wireless detonator and a conductor positioned in a connector of the perforation gun.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: DynaEnergetics Europe GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Haron Preiss, Liam McNelis, Eric Mulhern, Thilo Scharf, David C. Parks, Christian Eitschberger
  • Publication number: 20230016759
    Abstract: A perforating gun assembly may include a first perforating gun housing, a first shaped charge provided within the first perforating gun housing, and an alignment sub coupled to the first perforating gun housing. The alignment sub may include a first sub body and a second sub body rotatably coupled to the first sub body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2022
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Applicant: DynaEnergetics Europe GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Eitschberger, Eric Mulhern
  • Patent number: 11542792
    Abstract: A tandem seal adapter (TSA) for use with a wellbore tool may include a TSA body including a first end and a second end opposite the first end in an axial direction, a bore extending through the TSA body from the first end to the second end, an electrical contact assembly provided within the bore, the electrical contact assembly being configured to provide electrical connectivity through the bore. The electrical contact assembly may include a bulkhead provided within the bore. An axial position of a maximum outer diameter of the TSA body may overlap with the bulkhead in the axial direction. A portion of the bore overlapping in the axial direction with an entirety of the TSA body having an outer diameter equal to the maximum outer diameter may have a constant bore diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: DynaEnergetics Europe GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Haron Preiss, Thilo Scharf, Liam McNelis, Eric Mulhern, David C. Parks, Christian Eitschberger
  • Publication number: 20220372851
    Abstract: A perforating gun system may include a first gun carrier and a second gun carrier connected to the first gun carrier. A perforating gun assembly may be provided in each gun carrier, the perforating gun assembly including a top connector, a plurality of charge holders, and at least one bottom connector. Upon rotation of the top connector, the one or more charge holders of the first gun carrier may be aligned in a zero-degree phasing with the plurality of charge holders in the second gun carrier, and the position of the top connector may be locked along the length of the second gun carrier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2022
    Publication date: November 24, 2022
    Applicant: DynaEnergetics Europe GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Haron Preiss, Thilo Scharf, Liam McNelis, Eric Mulhern, David C. Parks, Christian Eitschberger
  • Patent number: 11408258
    Abstract: A firing head assembly is described. The firing head assembly includes a tubular housing, upper piston and lower pistons, and a compressible member arranged within a lumen of the tubular housing and positioned between the upper and lower pistons. According to an aspect, the assembly includes a safety assembly that includes a sleeve having a zigzag shaped slot therein. The safety assembly may include a key that radially extends from a surface of one of the pistons, through the zigzag shaped slot. The distance between the upper and lower pistons may be adjusted by adjusting a pressure inside the tubular housing and a second pressure outside the tubular housing. The upper and lower pistons may function to operatively adjust the arrangement of the key within the zigzag shaped slot to activate the firing head assembly to either trigger an explosive reaction or to not trigger the explosive reaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: DynaEnergetics Europe GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Haron Preiss, Eric Mulhern
  • Patent number: 11339614
    Abstract: An alignment sub may include a first sub body part rotatably coupled to a second sub body part. The first sub body part and second sub body part may be respectively non-rotatably coupled to a first wellbore tool and a second wellbore tool. A lock screw switchable between an unlocked state and a locked state may fix an angular position of the first sub body part relative to an angular position of the second sub body part when the lock screw is in the locked state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: DynaEnergetics Europe GmbH
    Inventors: Eric Mulhern, Christian Eitschberger
  • Publication number: 20210317728
    Abstract: A perforating gun may include a gun carrier extending in an axial direction and a tandem seal adapter (TSA). The gun carrier having a maximum outer carrier diameter. The TSA may include a first TSA region having a first TSA outer diameter, a second TSA region having a second TSA outer diameter, and a shoulder surface formed between an outer surface of the first TSA region and an outer surface of the second TSA region. The second TSA outer diameter may be larger than the first TSA outer diameter and smaller than the maximum outer carrier diameter. A portion of the gun carrier may abut with the shoulder surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2021
    Publication date: October 14, 2021
    Applicant: DynaEnergetics Europe GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Haron Preiss, Thilo Scharf, Liam McNelis, Eric Mulhern, David C. Parks, Christian Eitschberger
  • Publication number: 20210301599
    Abstract: An alignment sub may include a first sub body part rotatably coupled to a second sub body part. The first sub body part and second sub body part may be respectively non-rotatably coupled to a first wellbore tool and a second wellbore tool. A lock screw switchable between an unlocked state and a locked state may fix an angular position of the first sub body part relative to an angular position of the second sub body part when the lock screw is in the locked state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2021
    Publication date: September 30, 2021
    Applicant: DynaEnergetics Europe GmbH
    Inventors: Eric Mulhern, Christian Eitschberger
  • Patent number: 11125056
    Abstract: Components for a perforation gun system are provided including combinations of components including a self-centralizing charge holder system and a bottom connector that can double as a spacer. Any number of spacers can be used with any number of holders for any desired specific metric or imperial shot density, phase and length gun system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: DynaEnergetics Europe GmbH
    Inventors: David C. Parks, Frank Haron Preiss, Liam McNelis, Eric Mulhern, Thilo Scharf
  • Publication number: 20210238966
    Abstract: A perforation gun assembly may include a single shaped charge holder, the shaped charge holder having a charge receiving structure and at least one projection extending from the charge receiving structure. A detonation cord and a detonator may be connected to the shaped charge holder. A top connector may be configured for connecting to a first base of the shaped charge holder and a bottom connector may be configured for connecting to a second based of the shaped charge holder. The perforation gun assembly may be positioned within an outer gun carrier of a perforation gun, and a tandem seal adapter may be positioned at least in part within the outer gun carrier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2021
    Publication date: August 5, 2021
    Applicant: DynaEnergetics Europe GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Haron Preiss, Liam McNelis, Eric Mulhern, Thilo Scharf, David C. Parks, Christian Eitschberger
  • Publication number: 20210222526
    Abstract: A perforating gun assembly may include a first housing extending along a longitudinal axis and a tandem seal adapter (TSA). The first housing may include a coupling provided at a first end of the first housing. The TSA may include a TSA body and a seal element provided on an outer surface of the TSA body. At least part of the TSA may be positioned inside the first housing such that the seal element and the coupling intersect with a common plane that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2021
    Publication date: July 22, 2021
    Applicant: DynaEnergetics Europe GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Haron Preiss, Thilo Scharf, Liam McNelis, Eric Mulhern, David C. Parks, Christian Eitschberger
  • Publication number: 20210215039
    Abstract: An autonomous logging drone tool-string including a wiper plug at a downstream end, a logging tool, and a detachable transmitter capsule, and associated methods for cementing a wellbore and logging wellbore information in a single tool-string run downhole. In an aspect, the logging drone tool-string may include a perforating gun and associated methods may include perforating a toe end of the wellbore casing and surrounding cement. In an aspect, the transmitter capsule stores wellbore information from the logging tool. The transmitter capsule may be detached, pumped to the surface, and retrieved for accessing the stored wellbore information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2021
    Publication date: July 15, 2021
    Applicant: DynaEnergetics Europe GmbH
    Inventors: Thilo Scharf, Christian Eitschberger, Gernot Uwe Burmeister, Liam McNelis, Andreas Robert Zemla, Sascha Thieltges, Paula Feitoza Nascimento, Eric Mulhern
  • Publication number: 20210198964
    Abstract: A detonator activated wireline release tool is provided for use in geological well operations that enables the wireline cable to be easily released from tool string equipment upon activation of a detonator housed within the release tool. The release tool has a wireline subassembly portion that is connected to a tool string subassembly portion during assembly. It is sometimes necessary to disconnect the wireline subassembly from the tool string subassembly at a time when accessing the either is not physically possible. Such release is achieved by sending an electronic signal that detonates an explosive load which actuates a latch through an expansion chamber. The latch shifts and allows the finger flanges previously connecting the subassemblies to disengage, thus releasing the subassemblies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2021
    Publication date: July 1, 2021
    Applicant: DynaEnergetics Europe GmbH
    Inventors: Eric Mulhern, Thilo Scharf
  • Patent number: 11021923
    Abstract: A detonator activated wireline release tool is provided for use in geological well operations that enables the wireline cable to be easily released from tool string equipment upon activation of a detonator housed within the release tool. The release tool has a wireline subassembly portion that is connected to a tool string subassembly portion during assembly. It is sometimes necessary to disconnect the wireline subassembly from the tool string subassembly at a time when accessing the either is not physically possible. Such release is achieved by sending an electronic signal that detonates an explosive load which actuates a latch through an expansion chamber. The latch shifts and allows the finger flanges previously connecting the subassemblies to disengage, thus releasing the subassemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: DynaEnergetics Europe GmbH
    Inventors: Eric Mulhern, Thilo Scharf
  • Publication number: 20210079769
    Abstract: A firing head assembly is described. The firing head assembly includes a tubular housing, upper piston and lower pistons, and a compressible member arranged within a lumen of the tubular housing and positioned between the upper and lower pistons. According to an aspect, the assembly includes a safety assembly that includes a sleeve having a zigzag shaped slot therein. The safety assembly may include a key that radially extends from a surface of one of the pistons, through the zigzag shaped slot. The distance between the upper and lower pistons may be adjusted by adjusting a pressure inside the tubular housing and a second pressure outside the tubular housing. The upper and lower pistons may function to operatively adjust the arrangement of the key within the zigzag shaped slot to activate the firing head assembly to either trigger an explosive reaction or to not trigger the explosive reaction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2020
    Publication date: March 18, 2021
    Applicant: DynaEnergetics Europe GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Haron Preiss, Eric Mulhern
  • Patent number: D922541
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: DynaEnergetics Europe GmbH
    Inventors: Eric Mulhern, Christian Eitschberger