Patents by Inventor Gary J. Collins

Gary J. Collins 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: 7275605
    Abstract: A rotatable drilling shoe attachable to a section of casing that allows for drilling and casing of a well bore in a single trip. The drilling shoe includes a fixed section and a rotatable section that has a drillable bit attached thereto. The drilling shoe further includes a mechanism for inhibiting rotation of the rotatable section after the casing is cemented into place so that the drillable bit can be drilled out by a subsequent drilling operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: ConocoPhillips Company
    Inventors: Kenneth L. Smith, Edward T. Cousins, Marc E. Leveque, Gary J. Collins
  • Patent number: 7100693
    Abstract: One or more templates are provided for circulating fluids in a main well bore and for drilling and completing at least one offset well bore from the main well bore. Each template has a body, an inlet leg, a main outlet leg, and an offset outlet leg. A straddle assembly is mounted in the template to configure the template for fluid circulation. The straddle assembly, in cooperation with the inlet and main outlet legs, effects a downhole flow path which directs fluids from the inlet leg through body of the template and out the main outlet leg, bypassing the offset outlet leg. The straddle assembly is distally displaced from the template to reconfigure the template for drilling. A diverter is placed in the body of the template upon displacement of the straddle assembly to define a drill string path from the inlet leg to the offset outlet leg. The offset well bore is drilled by conveying a drill string through the drill string path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: Marathon Oil Company
    Inventors: Gary J. Collins, John Lindley Baugh, Doug J. Murray, Aubrey Clifton Mills
  • Publication number: 20040238172
    Abstract: One or more templates are provided for circulating fluids in a main well bore and for drilling and completing at least one offset well bore from the main well bore. Each template has a body, an inlet leg, a main outlet leg, and an offset outlet leg. A straddle assembly is mounted in the template to configure the template for fluid circulation. The straddle assembly, in cooperation with the inlet and main outlet legs, effects a downhole flow path which directs fluids from the inlet leg through body of the template and out the main outlet leg, bypassing the offset outlet leg. The straddle assembly is distally displaced from the template to reconfigure the template for drilling. A diverter is placed in the body of the template upon displacement of the straddle assembly to define a drill string path from the inlet leg to the offset outlet leg. The offset well bore is drilled by conveying a drill string through the drill string path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2003
    Publication date: December 2, 2004
    Inventors: Gary J. Collins, John Lindley Baugh, Doug J. Murray, Aubrey Clifton Mills
  • Patent number: 6802371
    Abstract: One or more templates are provided for circulating fluids in a main well bore and for drilling and completing at least one offset well bore from the main well bore. Each template has a body, an inlet leg, a main outlet leg, and an offset outlet leg. A straddle assembly is mounted in the template to configure the template for fluid circulation. The straddle assembly, in cooperation with the inlet and main outlet legs, effects a downhole flow path which directs fluids from the inlet leg through body of the template and out the main outlet leg, bypassing the offset outlet leg. The straddle assembly is distally displaced from the template to reconfigure the template for drilling. A diverter is placed in the body of the template upon displacement of the straddle assembly to define a drill string path from the inlet leg to the offset outlet leg. The offset well bore is drilled by conveying a drill string through the drill string path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2004
    Assignee: Marathon Oil Company
    Inventors: Gary J. Collins, John Lindley Baugh, Doug J. Murray, Aubrey Clifton Mills
  • Publication number: 20040011521
    Abstract: One or more templates are provided for circulating fluids in a main well bore and for drilling and completing at least one offset well bore from the main well bore. Each template has a body, an inlet leg, a main outlet leg, and an offset outlet leg. A straddle assembly is mounted in the template to configure the template for fluid circulation. The straddle assembly, in cooperation with the inlet and main outlet legs, effects a downhole flow path which directs fluids from the inlet leg through body of the template and out the main outlet leg, bypassing the offset outlet leg. The straddle assembly is distally displaced from the template to reconfigure the template for drilling. A diverter is placed in the body of the template upon displacement of the straddle assembly to define a drill string path from the inlet leg to the offset outlet leg. The offset well bore is drilled by conveying a drill string through the drill string path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2003
    Publication date: January 22, 2004
    Inventors: Gary J. Collins, John Lindley Baugh, Doug J. Murray, Aubrey Clifton Mills
  • Patent number: 6615920
    Abstract: One or more templates are provided for circulating fluids in a main well bore and for drilling and completing at least one offset well bore from the main well bore. Each template has a body, an inlet leg, a main outlet leg, and an offset outlet leg. A straddle assembly is mounted in the template to configure the template for fluid circulation. The straddle assembly, in cooperation with the inlet and main outlet legs, effects a downhole flow path which directs fluids from the inlet leg through body of the template and out the main outlet leg, bypassing the offset outlet leg. The straddle assembly is distally displaced from the template to reconfigure the template for drilling. A diverter is placed in the body of the template upon displacement of the straddle assembly to define a drill string path from the inlet leg to the offset outlet leg. The offset well bore is drilled by conveying a drill string through the drill string path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Marathon Oil Company
    Inventors: Gary J. Collins, John Lindley Baugh, Doug J. Murray, Aubrey Clifton Mills
  • Patent number: 6443244
    Abstract: A buoyant drill pipe for drilling subterranean wells includes a tubular element, such as a length of metal pipe or tubing, and a buoyant element, such as an inflatable element, or a buoyant collar, attached to an outside diameter of the tubular element. The tubular element provides a conduit for injecting a drilling fluid into a well bore. The buoyant element interacts with the lo drilling fluid in the well bore to provide buoyancy for the drill pipe. The buoyant drill pipe can be used to construct a drilling system, and to perform a drilling method for an extended reach well bore having a horizontal or inclined segment. During drilling, the buoyant element interacts with the drilling fluid in the horizontal or inclined segment, such that a weight of the drill pipe, a torque required to rotate the drill pipe, and torsional stresses on the drill pipe are reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: Marathon Oil Company
    Inventor: Gary J. Collins
  • Patent number: 6336507
    Abstract: A deformed multiple well template and a process for positioning the deformed template downhole, expanding the template and drilling at least one subterranean well bore via said template. The template has at least a portion thereof deformed and may be symmetrical or asymmetrical as deformed and/or expanded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2002
    Assignee: Marathon Oil Company
    Inventor: Gary J. Collins
  • Patent number: 6286801
    Abstract: Adjustable, collapsible book holder apparatus includes an elongated double-ended support member and a connector at one of the ends of the support member. A double-ended elongated book support element is connected to the support member and can be moved both laterally and longitudinally relative to the support member to adjust the position of a book supported by the book support element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Inventors: Gary J. Collins, John Phillip Hindt
  • Patent number: 5878815
    Abstract: An apparatus and process are provided for drilling and completing multiple subterranean wells from a template which is secured within a cased well bore extending to the surface. An orienting cam having a bore therethrough is positioned above the template such that the bore through the orienting cam is automatically aligned with one of at least two bores through the template. Fluid tight seals are provided between the orienting cam and the casing and between the orienting cam and one of the at least two bores through the template. Thereafter, a drill string including a drill bit is lowered from the surface of the earth through the casing, the bore through the orienting cam and the one bore through said template to drill a first subterranean well bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: Marathon Oil Company
    Inventor: Gary J. Collins
  • Patent number: 5685373
    Abstract: An apparatus and process are provided for drilling and completing multiple subterranean wells from a template which is secured within a cased well bore extending to the surface. An orienting cam having a bore therethrough is positioned above the template such that the bore through the orienting cam is automatically aligned with one of at least two bores through the template. Fluid tight seals are provided between the orienting cam and the casing and between the orienting cam and one of the at least two bores through the template. Thereafter, a drill string including a drill bit is lowered from the surface of the earth through the casing, the bore through the orienting cam and the one bore through said template to drill a first subterranean well bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1997
    Assignee: Marathon Oil Company
    Inventors: Gary J. Collins, Kevin O. Trahan, John Lindley Baugh
  • Patent number: 5655602
    Abstract: A subterranean well system and a process for drilling and completing such a system from a first subterranean well bore which extends to the surface of the earth. A second well bore may be drilled from the first well bore and a first tubular of a multiple well drilling template can be positioned within the first well bore while a second tubular of the template can be positioned within both the first and second well bores. Additionally, a third well bore can be drilled from the first well bore and the first tubular can be further positioned therein. The first and second well bores can penetrate subterranean formation(s) or additional well bore(s) can be drilled from the first, second and/or third well bores so as to penetrate subterranean formations. A second multiple well drilling template may be utilized to drill such additional well bore(s) from the second or third well bores.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 12, 1997
    Assignee: Marathon Oil Company
    Inventor: Gary J. Collins
  • Patent number: 5458199
    Abstract: A process for drilling and completing multiple subterranean wells from a common well bore and an assembly for guiding a drill string during drilling and casing during completion of such multiple wells. The assembly comprises a wellhead located at or near the surface of the earth and positioned over the common well bore, at least two tubulars positioned within the common well bore, and means positioned at said wellhead for segregating and supporting the tubulars. In accordance with the process, at least one subterranean well bore is drilled through one of the tubulars and into a subterranean formation and hydrocarbons can be produced from the subterranean formation to the surface via production casing and/or production tubing positioned within the subterranean well bore. Other subterranean well bores can be drilled in a similar manner through other tubulars of the assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 17, 1995
    Assignee: Marathon Oil Company
    Inventors: Gary J. Collins, Ervin Baudoin
  • Patent number: 5330007
    Abstract: A template and process for drilling and completing multiple wells in a subterranean formation. A template having a plurality of axially extending, divergent bores therethrough is secured to surface or intermediate casing and a like plurality of subterranean wells are drilled through the bores and into the subterranean formation. Each well is separately cased to the well head at the surface and separate production tubing is inserted into each well. Thus, remedial operations can be carded out in one well or fluid injected into a subterranean formation via one well while fluid, such as hydrocarbons, are simultaneously produced from a subterranean formation via the other well(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1994
    Assignee: Marathon Oil Company
    Inventors: Gary J. Collins, John L. Baugh, Wilhelm E. Benker