Patents by Inventor Herbert Thatcher

Herbert Thatcher 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).

  • Remotely operated water bottom based drilling system using cable for auxiliary operations
    Patent number: 7380614
    Abstract: A method for drilling formations below the bottom of a body of water includes disposing a drilling system on the bottom of the body of water. The formations are drilled by rotating a first drill rod having a first core barrel latched therein and advancing the drill rod longitudinally. At a selected longitudinal position, an upper end of the first drill rod is opened and a cable having a latching device at an end thereof is lowered into the first drill rod. The winch is retracted to retrieve the first core barrel. The first core barrel is laterally displaced from the first drill rod. A second core barrel is inserted into the first drill rod and latched therein. A second drill rod is affixed to the upper end of the first drill rod. Drilling the formation is then resumed by longitudinally advancing and rotating the first and second drill rods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Williamson & Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael E Williamson, Timothy McGinnis, Herbert Thatcher, Larry Robinson