Patents by Inventor James C. Tucker

James C. Tucker 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: 6196325
    Abstract: A heavy-duty logging and perforating cablehead for coiled tubing. The cablehead includes an upper and lower housing which are shearably connected by shear pins. An actuating piston is slidably disposed in the housing. When the piston is in a running position, the piston holds a lug in locking engagement with the upper and lower housings such that the shear pins cannot be sheared. When the piston is moved to a releasing position, the lugs are released so that the upper and lower housings may be separated, thereby shearing the shear pins. Actuation of the piston is accomplished by pumping fluid down the coiled tubing and through a flow path in the cablehead and by applying pressure to the piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael L. Connell, Robert G. Howard, James C. Tucker
  • Patent number: 6131953
    Abstract: A coiled tubing drilling hydraulic disconnect for use in disconnecting a tool from a length of tubing or other tool string. The apparatus has an upper housing and a lower housing with a splined ring threadingly engaged with the lower housing. A spline in the splined ring engages a spline on the upper housing so that torque may be transmitted therebetween. Lugs are disposed through windows in the lower housing below the splines, and a bushing is disposed between the splined ring and the lugs. Relative rotation between the upper and lower housings causes the splined ring to tighten against the bushing and lugs, thereby eliminating play therebetween. A lug prop disposed in the upper housing may be hydraulically actuated so that the lugs may move to a disconnect position, thereby releasing the upper housing from the lower housing. Because the windows are disposed below the splines, no torque or bending are applied to the windows, and the windows and lugs are shaped to minimize stress concentrations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael L. Connell, James C. Tucker, Brian K. Goodin
  • Patent number: 5832998
    Abstract: A resettable well stimulation tool is lowerable into a well bore on a length of tubing through which pressurized fluid may be forced into the tool to inflate a packer portion carried by the tool and then discharge a stimulation fluid into a portion of the well bore sealed off by the packer portion. During the inflation cycle of the tool pressurized fluid is forced downwardly into an annular tool body inflation chamber that communicates with an inflatable packer carried by the tool body. A perforated tube member coaxially carried in the inflation chamber serves to vertically distribute the inflation pressure along the length of the packer and assure its even inflation. In a straddle packer embodiment of the tool inflation and stimulation passages extend internally through the tool and are sealingly separated by an internal crossover structure, with the inflation passage being in communication with upper and lower packer members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Assignee: Halliburton Company
    Inventors: Kenneth L. Decker, John H. Yonker, Wallace G. Wilke, Jr., Jeffrey S. Walter, James C. Tucker, Kenneth W. McIntyre, Michael L. Connell, Kenneth D. Caskey
  • Patent number: 5507349
    Abstract: A downhole coiled tubing latch for positive latching to a drill pipe while pumping fluids. The apparatus comprises a housing positioned in the drill pipe with a slidable mandrel positioned in the housing. The apparatus further comprises a latch stinger which can be lowered on a coiled tubing and sealingly engaged with the mandrel and the housing. When weight is set down, the stinger and mandrel are moved downwardly which actuates latch fingers on the mandrel which latchingly engage a groove on the stinger to positively hold the stinger in place while fluids are pumped therethrough. One or more pressure balance pistons are used to help hold the apparatus in a latched position when pressure is applied. When weight is picked up, a spring returns the mandrel to the unlatched position so that the stinger may be removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 16, 1996
    Assignee: Halliburton Company
    Inventors: Gary Q. Wray, James C. Tucker, K. Gregory Neal
  • Patent number: 5456322
    Abstract: A packer apparatus with a circulating port. A housing of the packer has inflation passages, circulating passages, treating fluid passages, and equalizing passages defined therein. In a straddle packer embodiment, upper and lower packers are mounted on the housing on opposite sides of an outlet of the treating fluid passage. A circulation valve with a sliding differential pressure actuated valve sleeve is disposed below the packers. An inner mandrel is slidably received in the central opening of the housing. The mandrel has a mandrel bore and has upper inflation and circulating ports, lower inflation ports, upper and lower equalizing ports, a treating port and lower circulating ports, all of which communicate with the mandrel bore. The valve sleeve has a valve port. A lug and endless J-slot is operably associated with the housing and mandrel for controlling a telescoping position of the mandrel relative to the housing in response to reciprocation without rotation of the mandrel relative to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 10, 1995
    Assignee: Halliburton Company
    Inventors: James C. Tucker, Donald W. Winslow, Jeffrey S. Walter, Steven L. Schwegman
  • Patent number: 5383520
    Abstract: A packer apparatus with a circulating port. A housing of the packer has inflation passages, circulating passages, treating fluid passages, and equalizing passages defined therein. In a straddle packer embodiment, upper and lower packers are mounted on the housing on opposite sides of an outlet of the treating fluid passage. A circulation valve with a sliding differential pressure actuated valve sleeve is disposed below the packers. An inner mandrel is slidably received in the central opening of the housing. The mandrel has a mandrel bore and has upper inflation and circulating ports, lower inflation ports, upper and lower equalizing ports, a treating port and lower circulating ports, all of which communicate with the mandrel bore. The valve sleeve has a valve port. A lug and endless J-slot is operably associated with the housing and mandrel for controlling a telescoping position of the mandrel relative to the housing in response to reciprocation without rotation of the mandrel relative to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 24, 1995
    Assignee: Halliburton Company
    Inventors: James C. Tucker, Donald W. Winslow, Jeffrey S. Walter, Steven L. Schwegman
  • Patent number: 5355959
    Abstract: A differential pressure operated valve for use as a circulating and/or deflation valve in a well bore. The valve comprises a housing defining first and second bores therethrough and a passage providing communication between the interior and exterior of the housing. A valve sleeve is slidably disposed in the housing and has a first outer surface slidably disposed in the first bore and a second outer surface slidably disposed in the second bore. A valve port is defined in the valve sleeve providing communication between a central opening thereof and the passage in the housing when the valve sleeve is in an open position. When the valve sleeve is closed, the valve port and passage are isolated from one another. The first and second outer surfaces of the valve sleeve define a differential area, and the valve is closed by fluid flow creating a differential pressure acting across this area. A spring biases the valve toward the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 18, 1994
    Assignee: Halliburton Company
    Inventors: Jeffrey S. Walter, James C. Tucker, John C. Zimmerman
  • Patent number: 4962815
    Abstract: A straddle packer apparatus includes a housing having a central opening. The housing has inflation passages, treating fluid passages, and equalizing passages defined therein. Upper and lower longitudinally spaced packers are mounted on the housing on opposite sides of an outlet of the treating fluid passage. An inner mandrel is slidably received in the central opening of the housing. The mandrel has a mandrel bore and has upper and lower inflation ports, upper and lower equalizing ports, and a treating port, all of which communicate with the mandrel bore. A lug and endless J-slot is operably associated with the housing and mandrel for controlling a telescoping position of the mandrel relative to the housing in response to telescoping reciprocation without rotation of the mandrel relative to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 16, 1990
    Assignee: Halliburton Company
    Inventors: Roger L. Schultz, James C. Tucker
  • Patent number: 4932471
    Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, an eletronic temperature gauge is carried into a well bore within a pressure-sealed housing which can free fall through a drill string to impact upon a drill bit connected at the bottom of the drill string. A shock absorber is connected at the bottom of the housing to absorb the shock upon impact of the apparatus on the drill bit. The shock absorber has a relatively linearized shock absorbing response in the preferred embodiment. Additional structural features provide further cushioning of the gauge during transit and upon impact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 12, 1990
    Assignee: Hilliburton Company
    Inventors: James C. Tucker, Stephen E. Tilghman