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).
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Patent number: 10633923Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 26, 2018Date of Patent: April 28, 2020Assignee: NOVATEK IP, LLCInventors: Geoff Downton, Jonathan D. Marshall
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Publication number: 20190292854Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 26, 2018Publication date: September 26, 2019Inventors: Geoff Downton, Jonathan D. Marshall
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Patent number: 9284782Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 9, 2014Date of Patent: March 15, 2016Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATIONInventor: Geoff Downton
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Patent number: 9035788Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 2, 2007Date of Patent: May 19, 2015Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Geoff Downton, Luke Kuwertz
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Publication number: 20150060140Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 9, 2014Publication date: March 5, 2015Inventor: Geoff Downton
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Patent number: 8967296Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 31, 2006Date of Patent: March 3, 2015Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Geoff Downton, David L. Smith
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Patent number: 8960329Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 11, 2008Date of Patent: February 24, 2015Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventor: Geoff Downton
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Patent number: 8893824Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 28, 2011Date of Patent: November 25, 2014Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventor: Geoff Downton
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Patent number: 8783382Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 15, 2009Date of Patent: July 22, 2014Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Maja Ignova, Geoff Downton, Dimitrios Pirovolou
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Patent number: 8763726Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 7, 2008Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Ashley Bernard Johnson, Michael Charles Sheppard, Geoff Downton
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Patent number: 8720605Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 13, 2011Date of Patent: May 13, 2014Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Michael Charles Sheppard, Ashley Bernard Johnson, Geoff Downton
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Patent number: 8720604Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 7, 2008Date of Patent: May 13, 2014Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Michael Charles Sheppard, Ashley Bernard Johnson, Geoff Downton
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Patent number: 8658074Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 8, 2011Date of Patent: February 25, 2014Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Geoff Downton, Lawrence Lee
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Patent number: 8645571Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 5, 2009Date of Patent: February 4, 2014Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Geoff Downton, Clinton D. Chapman, Shyam B. Mehta
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Patent number: 8550185Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 19, 2011Date of Patent: October 8, 2013Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Ashley Bernard Johnson, Michael Charles Sheppard, Geoff Downton
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Patent number: 8534380Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 7, 2008Date of Patent: September 17, 2013Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Michael Charles Sheppard, Ashley Bernard Johnson, Geoff Downton
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Patent number: 8408333Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 26, 2007Date of Patent: April 2, 2013Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Satish Pai, Keith Moriarty, Geoff Downton, Warren Zemlak, Devin Rock, Jonathan Mattick, Denny Adelung
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Patent number: 8302705Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 18, 2007Date of Patent: November 6, 2012Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventor: Geoff Downton
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Publication number: 20120145458Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 15, 2009Publication date: June 14, 2012Applicant: FLEMING AND COMPANY, PHARMACEUTICALInventor: Geoff Downton
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Publication number: 20120090897Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 19, 2011Publication date: April 19, 2012Inventors: Ashley Bernard Johnson, Michael Charles Sheppard, Geoff Downton