Patents by Inventor Gregory L. Hern
Gregory L. Hern 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: 9624751Abstract: A disintegrating plug uses a setting tool to push a swage into the plug body that has external ribs that contact the wall of the surrounding tubular. The ribs retain the body to the surrounding tubular wall with frictional contact. Some leakage may ensue but in fracturing some leakage does not matter if enough volume under the right pressure reaches the formation. The sheared member during the setting comes out with the mandrel that is part of the setting tool. In an alternative embodiment one or more o-rings are used to seal while anchoring is assisted by the hardened insert(s) that can be snap fitted in using rib flexing or that can be a c-ring that is expanded and snapped in. The o-ring(s) are axially spaced from the insert(s).Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2014Date of Patent: April 18, 2017Assignee: Baker Hughes IncorporatedInventors: Gregory L. Hern, Levi B. Oberg
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Publication number: 20170044866Abstract: A valve for subterranean whipstock service has a side port and a through passage with a biased movable sleeve to shift between circulation mode into the annulus and flow through mode for setting an anchor and then feeding window mill nozzles. The valve is run in when in circulation mode to allow operation of a measurement while drilling device. When the whipstock is properly oriented the pressure is increased to break a shear pin to allow a spring to bias the sleeve to the flow through position. The shifting of the sleeve opens a bypass passage around the restriction orifice that was first used to build pressure to break the shear pins that let the sleeve move under spring bias. As a result the spring can hold the sleeve in position despite high flow rates needed to remove cuttings from the mill as the window is opened.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 12, 2015Publication date: February 16, 2017Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATEDInventors: Dylan A. Bulloch, Gregory L. Hern, Larry T. Palmer, Jason L. Cullum
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Publication number: 20160356116Abstract: A disintegrating plug uses a setting tool to push a swage into the plug body that has external ribs that contact the wall of the surrounding tubular. The ribs retain the body to the surrounding tubular wall with frictional contact. Some leakage may ensue but in fracturing some leakage does not matter if enough volume under the right pressure reaches the formation. The sheared member during the setting comes out with the mandrel that is part of the setting tool. In an alternative embodiment one or more o-rings are used to seal while anchoring is assisted by the hardened insert(s) that can be snap fitted in using rib flexing or that can be a c-ring that is expanded and snapped in. The o-ring(s) are axially spaced from the insert(s).Type: ApplicationFiled: August 19, 2016Publication date: December 8, 2016Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATEDInventors: GREGORY L. HERN, Levi B. Oberg, YingQing Xu
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Patent number: 9428986Abstract: A disintegrating plug uses a setting tool to push a swage into the plug body that has external ribs that contact the wall of the surrounding tubular. The ribs retain the body to the surrounding tubular wall with frictional contact. Some leakage may ensue but in fracturing some leakage does not matter if enough volume under the right pressure reaches the formation. The sheared member during the setting comes out with the mandrel that is part of the setting tool. In an alternative embodiment one or more o-rings are used to seal while anchoring is assisted by the hardened insert(s) that can be snap fitted in using rib flexing or that can be a c-ring that is expanded and snapped in. The o-ring(s) are axially spaced from the insert(s).Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2014Date of Patent: August 30, 2016Assignee: Baker Hughes IncorporatedInventors: Gregory L. Hern, Levi B. Oberg, YingQing Xu
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Patent number: 9422966Abstract: Shear member designs in various formats are presented with additional features for segment retention and subsequent removal after a shearing event and removal of the tool from a subterranean location. In some embodiments a portion of the shear member is retained by threads so that the segment stays in the part and then can be removed at the surface with putting a notch in the segment and removing it with a screwdriver. In another embodiment a retaining pin in an intersecting bore can hold onto a sheared remnant of the shear pin by pushing the remnant laterally in the bore that it is mounted. Another design for a shear ring uses a split design with the right angle portion of the ring that gets sheared appearing in segments so that the ring can be rapidly snapped into a groove at its outer periphery followed by a retaining cap facilitating removal.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2013Date of Patent: August 23, 2016Assignee: Baker Hughes IncorporatedInventors: Levi B. Oberg, Gregory L. Hern, Jim H. Roddy, Yingqing Xu, Douglas J. Lehr
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Patent number: 9416626Abstract: A downhole tool for removing debris from a wellbore comprises a mandrel and a shroud disposed around a portion of the mandrel. The mandrel includes at least one mandrel port in fluid communication with a mandrel bore. The shroud includes a cavity and a shroud port. Debris laden fluid is pulled into the shroud cavity by flowing fluid through the mandrel bore, out the mandrel port, into the shroud cavity, and through the shroud port. The debris-laden fluid is pulled into the shroud cavity due to a pressure differential created by the flow of the fluid through the mandrel port and out of the shroud port. As the debris laden fluid flows into the shroud cavity, the debris is captured within the tool.Type: GrantFiled: June 21, 2013Date of Patent: August 16, 2016Assignee: Baker Hughes IncorporatedInventors: Ying Qing Xu, Gregory L. Hern, Calvin J. Stowe, II, Yang Xu
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Patent number: 9303475Abstract: A wellbore tool which includes a housing having an axial flowbore and a piston sleeve movably disposed within the flowbore. The tool is moveable between first and second operating positions by an actuation mechanism having a piston with a seat having a plurality of separate arcuate segments. The tool can be moved between first and second operating positions with the use of actuating plugs of different sizes that can be landed upon the seat.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 2012Date of Patent: April 5, 2016Assignee: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATEDInventors: Daniel R. Hart, Gregory L. Hern, Christopher W. Guidry, Robert S. O'Brien
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Patent number: 9273526Abstract: Anchoring systems for disposition in wellbores and tubular devices comprise a tubular member defined by two or more radially expandable slip members. The upper ends of the slip members are shaped such that when the slip members are in their respective run-in positions and in their respective set positions, a portion of an upper end of one slip member overlaps a portion of an upper end of another slip member so that the longitudinal space between each slip member that is created when the slip members are in their set position are blocked by the upper end of at least one of the slip members. Thus, in their set position, the upper end of at least one of the slip members provides a back-up to a sealing element that can be disposed adjacent to and in contact with the upper ends of the slip members when in their set positions.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 2013Date of Patent: March 1, 2016Assignee: Baker Hughes IncorporatedInventors: Levi B. Oberg, Ying Qing Xu, Gregory L. Hern, Douglas J. Lehr
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Publication number: 20150337619Abstract: A disintegrating plug uses a setting tool to push a swage into the plug body that has external ribs that contact the wall of the surrounding tubular. The ribs retain the body to the surrounding tubular wall with frictional contact. Some leakage may ensue but in fracturing some leakage does not matter if enough volume under the right pressure reaches the formation. The sheared member during the setting comes out with the mandrel that is part of the setting tool. In an alternative embodiment one or more o-rings are used to seal while anchoring is assisted by the hardened insert(s) that can be snap fitted in using rib flexing or that can be a c-ring that is expanded and snapped in. The o-ring(s) are axially spaced from the insert(s).Type: ApplicationFiled: May 22, 2014Publication date: November 26, 2015Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATEDInventors: Gregory L. Hern, Levi B. Oberg
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Publication number: 20150337618Abstract: A disintegrating plug uses a setting tool to push a swage into the plug body that has external ribs that contact the wall of the surrounding tubular. The ribs retain the body to the surrounding tubular wall with frictional contact. Some leakage may ensue but in fracturing some leakage does not matter if enough volume under the right pressure reaches the formation. The sheared member during the setting comes out with the mandrel that is part of the setting tool. In an alternative embodiment one or more o-rings are used to seal while anchoring is assisted by the hardened insert(s) that can be snap fitted in using rib flexing or that can be a c-ring that is expanded and snapped in. The o-ring(s) are axially spaced from the insert(s).Type: ApplicationFiled: May 22, 2014Publication date: November 26, 2015Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATEDInventors: Gregory L. Hern, Levi B. Oberg, YingQing Xu
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Patent number: 8973662Abstract: A downhole tool for removing debris from a wellbore comprises a body having a bore, a collection member, and a means for creating a hydraulic barrier within a wellbore annulus. The hydraulic barrier within the wellbore annulus restricts upward movement of a debris laden fluid within the wellbore annulus causing the debris laden fluid to be directed toward the collection member. Thus, the hydraulic barrier facilitates removal of debris from the wellbore.Type: GrantFiled: June 21, 2012Date of Patent: March 10, 2015Assignee: Baker Hughes IncorporatedInventors: Yang Xu, Ying Qing Xu, Gregory L. Hern
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Publication number: 20150027780Abstract: A drilling assembly is tripped in a cased hole to make more open hole. The assembly features retracted scrapers and a closed circulation sub so that the drilling can commence with string pressure delivered to bit nozzles due to the circulation sub being in a closed position. When drilling is done and the bit is to be removed, an object lands on a seat on a sleeve that acts as a piston to break scraper retainers for casing scraping deployment and to open the circulation port. A bypass opens around the seated ball when the sleeve shifts to allow flow around the seated ball for circulation while scraping. Drilling and casing scraping are accomplished in a single trip.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 25, 2013Publication date: January 29, 2015Applicant: Baker Hughes IncorporatedInventors: Gregory L. Hern, Yang XU
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Patent number: 8919452Abstract: A casing spear may comprise a mandrel, and a slip assembly comprising at least one slip. The at least one slip may comprise a generally wedge-shaped surface positioned and configured to cause the at least one slip to move radially outwards relative to the mandrel in response to a rotation of the mandrel and a torque acting on the slip assembly, the torque opposing the rotation of the mandrel. Additionally, a method of operating a casing spear may comprise inserting a casing spear into a casing, rotating a mandrel of the casing spear, applying a torque to a slip assembly of the casing spear with the casing, opposing the rotation of the mandrel, and applying a force in a radial direction to at least one slip of a slip assembly of the casing spear in response to the torque.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 2011Date of Patent: December 30, 2014Assignee: Baker Hughes IncorporatedInventors: Larry T. Palmer, Dennis E. Kroll, Gregory L. Hern
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Publication number: 20140374111Abstract: A downhole tool for removing debris from a wellbore comprises a mandrel and a shroud disposed around a portion of the mandrel. The mandrel includes at least one mandrel port in fluid communication with a mandrel bore. The shroud includes a cavity and a shroud port. Debris laden fluid is pulled into the shroud cavity by flowing fluid through the mandrel bore, out the mandrel port, into the shroud cavity, and through the shroud port. The debris-laden fluid is pulled into the shroud cavity due to a pressure differential created by the flow of the fluid through the mandrel port and out of the shroud port. As the debris laden fluid flows into the shroud cavity, the debris is captured within the tool.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 21, 2013Publication date: December 25, 2014Inventors: Ying Qing Xu, Gregory L. Hern, Calvin J. Stowe II, Yang Xu
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Publication number: 20140332205Abstract: A test packer is lowered to a set liner hanger in a locked position that prevents the seal and slips from setting during running in. A first ball is dropped to shift a sleeve to release the grip of dogs to a groove on an outer housing. Setting down weight sets the test packer seal and sets the slips. After the casing integrity pressure test is done the test packer is lifted to again position the groove in the outer housing by the dogs. A second ball lands on the same seat now enlarged due to earlier movement and breaks a retainer on a locking sleeve. A spring return or continued downhole motion of the locking sleeve locks the packer in the run in position. Subsequent rotation and circulation can take place as completion fluid is circulated in. A circulation port above the packer can be opened optionally for circulation or reversing above the test packer.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 2, 2014Publication date: November 13, 2014Applicant: Baker Hughes IncorporatedInventors: Kevin E. Harrington, Gregory L. Hern, Yang Xu
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Publication number: 20140196889Abstract: Anchoring systems for disposition in wellbores and tubular devices comprise a tubular member defined by two or more radially expandable slip members. The upper ends of the slip members are shaped such that when the slip members are in their respective run-in positions and in their respective set positions, a portion of an upper end of one slip member overlaps a portion of an upper end of another slip member so that the longitudinal space between each slip member that is created when the slip members are in their set position are blocked by the upper end of at least one of the slip members. Thus, in their set position, the upper end of at least one of the slip members provides a back-up to a sealing element that can be disposed adjacent to and in contact with the upper ends of the slip members when in their set positions.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 16, 2013Publication date: July 17, 2014Applicant: Baker Hughes IncorporatedInventors: Levi B. Oberg, Ying Qing Xu, Gregory L. Hern, Douglas J. Lehr
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Patent number: 8739864Abstract: A tool for use in a wellbore which includes a housing having an axial flow bore and a piston sleeve moveably disposed within the flow bore. The tool is moveable between first and second operating positions by an actuation mechanism having a piston with a ball seat. The tool can be moved between first and second operating positions with the use of actuating balls of different sizes that can be landed upon the ball seat.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2010Date of Patent: June 3, 2014Assignee: Baker Hughes IncorporatedInventors: James Alan Crider, Gregory L. Hern, Charles W. Pleasants
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Patent number: 8678091Abstract: Magnetic retrieval tools for use in a wellbore or other tubular member to remove metallic debris. A magnetic retrieval tool includes a tool body having a central shaft with a plurality of ribs that project radially outwardly therefrom. The ribs present lateral sides that have recesses formed therein. Magnet bars are retained within the recesses by wedge members and retaining rings. The magnet bars include a hollow protective housing that encloses a plurality of magnets. Retaining plugs are used to secure the magnets within the housing.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2010Date of Patent: March 25, 2014Assignee: Baker Hughes IncorporatedInventors: Jonathan F. Nelson, Gregory L. Hern
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Publication number: 20130341017Abstract: A downhole tool for removing debris from a wellbore comprises a body having a bore, a collection member, and a means for creating a hydraulic barrier within a wellbore annulus. The hydraulic barrier within the wellbore annulus restricts upward movement of a debris laden fluid within the wellbore annulus causing the debris laden fluid to be directed toward the collection member. Thus, the hydraulic barrier facilitates removal of debris from the wellbore.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 21, 2012Publication date: December 26, 2013Inventors: YANG XU, Ying Qing Xu, Gregory L. Hern
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Publication number: 20130341027Abstract: A downhole tool for removing debris from a wellbore comprises a screen member, an incoming fluid accelerator, and a cavity for capturing debris. The incoming fluid accelerator is disposed above the screen and accelerates the flow of an incoming fluid through the accelerator and into a screen bore. The incoming fluid then exits the bottom of the tool, mixes with wellbore fluid containing debris to form a combination fluid that is transported upward within the wellbore annulus. A pressure differential between the incoming fluid flowing within the screen bore and the wellbore annulus pulls the combination fluid containing the debris into the cavity where the debris is captured. Fluid and/or debris not blocked by the screen flows through the screen into the screen bore to be circulated downward and out of the tool where it can pick up additional debris for capture.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 21, 2012Publication date: December 26, 2013Inventors: YING QING XU, Gregory L. Hern, Yang Xu