Patents by Inventor Geoff Downton

Geoff Downton 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: 10633923
    Abstract: A steerable downhole tool may alter a direction of travel of a drilling operation while drilling into the earth. The tool may accomplish this by extending a rod from openings disposed in a side of the tool. The rod may slide within a cavity passing from one of the openings to another. The rod may degrade material from an internal surface of a borehole in which the tool is traveling, by engaging the surface with cutter elements exposed on opposing tips of the rod. The tool may also push off of the borehole wall opposite from the area of degradation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: NOVATEK IP, LLC
    Inventors: Geoff Downton, Jonathan D. Marshall
  • Publication number: 20190292854
    Abstract: A steerable downhole tool may alter a direction of travel of a drilling operation while drilling into the earth. The tool may accomplish this by extending a rod from openings disposed in a side of the tool. The rod may slide within a cavity passing from one of the openings to another. The rod may degrade material from an internal surface of a borehole in which the tool is traveling, by engaging the surface with cutter elements exposed on opposing tips of the rod. The tool may also push off of the borehole wall opposite from the area of degradation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2018
    Publication date: September 26, 2019
    Inventors: Geoff Downton, Jonathan D. Marshall
  • Patent number: 9284782
    Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for steering a drill string and including an eccentric steering device. The eccentric steering device may comprise an eccentric sleeve configured for mounting exterior to a portion of the drill string and permitting the drill string to rotate within the eccentric sleeve and a brake positioned to selectively cause rotation of the eccentric sleeve with the drill string. In one embodiment, the eccentric steering device may further comprise one or more bearings positioned between the eccentric sleeve and the drill string.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Geoff Downton
  • Patent number: 9035788
    Abstract: A real time telemetry system is disclosed for use with a drilling system including a rotary valve 28 controlling the supply of drilling fluid or mud to a downhole tool. The system comprises receiving data to be transmitted, encoding the data as a duration, and controlling the rotation the rotary valve 28 such that the rotary valve 28 is rotated for the said duration at a predetermined rotary speed to cause the formation of pressure fluctuations or waves in the drilling fluid or mud.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Geoff Downton, Luke Kuwertz
  • Publication number: 20150060140
    Abstract: The present invention recites a method, system and apparatus for steering a drill string, wherein an eccentric steering device is recited. The eccentric steering device may comprise an eccentric sleeve configured for mounting exterior to a portion of the drill string and permitting the drill string to rotate within the eccentric sleeve and a brake positioned to selectively cause rotation of the eccentric sleeve with the drill string. In one embodiment, the eccentric steering device may further comprise one or more bearings positioned between the eccentric sleeve and the drill string.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventor: Geoff Downton
  • Patent number: 8967296
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a rotary steerable drilling apparatus which separates the drill string from the bottom hole assembly thereby allowing the biasing means to push the bit in a given direction without having to lift the drill string along with the bottom hole assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Geoff Downton, David L. Smith
  • Patent number: 8960329
    Abstract: The present invention provides apparatus and methods for controlled steering. One embodiment of the invention provides a bit body comprising a trailing end, a pilot section, and a reaming section. The trailing end is adapted to be detachably secured to a drill string. The pilot section is located on a leading, opposite end of the bit body. The reaming section is located intermediate to the leading and trailing ends. The pilot section comprises at least one steering device for steering the pilot section of the bit body, thereby steering the entire bit body. Another embodiment of the invention provides a wellsite system comprising a drill string; a kelly coupled to the drill string; and a bit body as described above. Another embodiment of the invention provides a method of drilling a curved borehole in a subsurface formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Geoff Downton
  • Patent number: 8893824
    Abstract: A steerable system comprises a fluid powered motor 10 having a rotor 16 and a stator 18, and a bias arrangement having a plurality of bias pads 34 connected to the stator 18 so as to be rotatable therewith, the bias pads 34 being moveable to allow the application of a side load to the steerable system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Geoff Downton
  • Patent number: 8783382
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for directional drilling are provided. A drill control system includes an uphole control device and a downhole control device. The uphole control device is configured to: transmit a reference trajectory to the downhole control device and receive information about an actual trajectory from the downhole control device. The downhole control device is configured to: receive the reference trajectory from the uphole control device, measure the actual trajectory, correct deviations between the reference trajectory and the actual trajectory, and transmit information about the actual trajectory to the uphole control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Maja Ignova, Geoff Downton, Dimitrios Pirovolou
  • Patent number: 8763726
    Abstract: The present specification describes a drill bit for drilling a cavity. The drill bit may include a chassis, a plurality of gauge pad sets, and at least one gauge pad structure. The chassis may be configured to rotate about an axis. The plurality of gauge pad sets may each include at least one gauge pad. The at least one gauge pad structure may moveably couple at least one of the gauge pads of at least one of the plurality of gauge pad sets with the chassis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Ashley Bernard Johnson, Michael Charles Sheppard, Geoff Downton
  • Patent number: 8720605
    Abstract: This disclosure relates in general to a method and a system for directionally drilling a borehole with a rotary drilling system. More specifically, but not by way of limitation, methods and system provide for controlling motion of the rotary drilling system in the borehole when a side force is applied to the drilling system to bias or focus the motion so that the drilling system directionally drills the borehole through an earth formation. In certain aspects, side cutting of a sidewall of the borehole by a drill bit under an applied side force is controlled by a geostationary element to provide for directional side cutting and, as a result, directional drilling of the borehole through the earth formation. In other aspects, a non-concentrically coupled gauge pad assembly may rotate with the drilling system and bias or focus the applied side force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Charles Sheppard, Ashley Bernard Johnson, Geoff Downton
  • Patent number: 8720604
    Abstract: A drill bit direction system and method is disclosed that modifies or biases the stochastic movement of the drill bit to change a drilling direction of a drilling system. The direction of the drill bit is monitored to determine if the direction happens to align in some way with a preferred direction. If the direction isn't close enough to a preferred or desired direction, stochastic motion of the drill bit in the borehole may be controlled and/or motion of the drill bit under a side force acting on the drill bit to direct the drilling may be focused or biased to modify the direction of drilling closer to the preferred direction. Any of a number of stochastic motion control mechanisms or biasing mechanisms can be used. Some embodiments can resort to conventional steering mechanisms to supplement the stochastic motion control or side force biasing mechanisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Charles Sheppard, Ashley Bernard Johnson, Geoff Downton
  • Patent number: 8658074
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an automatic elastomer extrusion apparatus and method. An apparatus 400 for in-situ extrusion of an elastomeric coating 410 on a profiled helical surface 450 can include a template (100, 200) forming a gap between the profiled helical surface 450 and an adjacent profiled helical surface (102, 202) of a template (100, 200) itself to extrude an elastomer therethrough. A tracking mechanism 302 and/or carriage 300 can allow a template to follow the contours of the profiled helical surface 350. The apparatus can include means for providing relative movement between the profiled helical surface and the template. The apparatus (500, 600) can include a cleaning module (502, 602), an adhesive application module (504, 604), an elastomer deposition module (506, 606), and/or a curing module (508, 608). Each module can further include a template (100, 200) and/or a tracking mechanism 302.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Geoff Downton, Lawrence Lee
  • Patent number: 8645571
    Abstract: A system and a method manage and use data related to a wellbore or a drill string. The system and the method may provide remote access to tools in a drill string using a network. In addition, the tools have access to the data. In a disclosed embodiment, the tools are able to automatically access the data needed to optimize or improve function of the tools. An example of the network is a wireless network where the tools may be monitored and/or controlled remotely by an application. A linking tool is optionally provided to communicate with the network and one or more of the tools.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Geoff Downton, Clinton D. Chapman, Shyam B. Mehta
  • Patent number: 8550185
    Abstract: A drill bit direction system and method is disclosed that modifies or biases the stochastic movement of the drill bit and/or stochastic interactions between the drill bit and an inner-wall of a borehole being drilled by a drilling system to change the direction of drilling of the drilling system. The direction of the drill bit is monitored to determine if the direction happens to align in some way with a preferred direction. If the direction isn't close enough to a preferred direction, a biasing mechanism modifies the stochastic movement in an attempt to modify the direction closer to the preferred direction. Any of a number of biasing mechanisms can be used. Some embodiments can resort to conventional steering mechanisms to supplement the biasing mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Ashley Bernard Johnson, Michael Charles Sheppard, Geoff Downton
  • Patent number: 8534380
    Abstract: This disclosure relates in general to a method and a system for directionally drilling a borehole with a rotary drilling system. More specifically, but not by way of limitation, methods and system provide for controlling motion of the rotary drilling system in the borehole when a side force is applied to the drilling system to bias or focus the motion so that the drilling system directionally drills the borehole through an earth formation. In certain aspects, side cutting of a sidewall of the borehole by a drill bit under an applied side force is controlled by a geostationary element to provide for directional side cutting and, as a result, directional drilling of the borehole through the earth formation. In other aspects, a non-concentrically coupled gauge pad assembly may rotate with the drilling system and bias or focus the applied side force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Charles Sheppard, Ashley Bernard Johnson, Geoff Downton
  • Patent number: 8408333
    Abstract: A technique provides a drilling system and method in which a drilling assembly is delivered downhole on coiled tubing. The drilling assembly comprises a drill bit and a motor to rotate the drill bit for drilling of a borehole. A steerable system is used to steer the drill bit, thereby enabling formation of deviated boreholes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Satish Pai, Keith Moriarty, Geoff Downton, Warren Zemlak, Devin Rock, Jonathan Mattick, Denny Adelung
  • Patent number: 8302705
    Abstract: A downhole steering system comprises a first full gauge stabilizer 34, a bias unit 28, a universal joint 26, and a second full gauge stabiliser 22, the bias unit 28 and universal joint 26 being located between the first and second full gauge stabilizers 34, 22. The system further comprises a drill bit 10 and a fluid powered downhole motor 14, the motor being located, at least partially, between the drill bit 10 and the second stabilizer 22.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Geoff Downton
  • Publication number: 20120145458
    Abstract: A rotary steerable drilling system comprises a rotatable housing having a plurality of steering actuators mounted thereon and movable, individually, between retracted and extended positions, the actuators being electrically controlled, and a battery arranged to supply electrical power to the actuators.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2009
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Applicant: FLEMING AND COMPANY, PHARMACEUTICAL
    Inventor: Geoff Downton
  • Publication number: 20120090897
    Abstract: A drill bit direction system and method is disclosed that modifies or biases the stochastic movement of the drill bit and/or stochastic interactions between the drill bit and an inner-wall of a borehole being drilled by a drilling system to change the direction of drilling of the drilling system. The direction of the drill bit is monitored to determine if the direction happens to align in some way with a preferred direction. If the direction isn't close enough to a preferred direction, a biasing mechanism modifies the stochastic movement in an attempt to modify the direction closer to the preferred direction. Any of a number of biasing mechanisms can be used. Some embodiments can resort to conventional steering mechanisms to supplement the biasing mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2011
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Inventors: Ashley Bernard Johnson, Michael Charles Sheppard, Geoff Downton