Patents by Inventor James E. Saylor, III

James E. Saylor, III 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: 8607861
    Abstract: A downhole tool includes a first portion having a first metal protrusion configured to seal against a first metal surface and a second portion having a second metal protrusion configured to seal against a second metal surface. A ratcheting device includes a first element having a plurality of grooves, and a second element having at least two sets of teeth, wherein one of the at least two sets of teeth engages the plurality of grooves. Additionally, a method of forming a downhole seal includes disposing in a wellbore a downhole tool including an inner tubular, a lock ring, a lower ring, an upper ring, an insert ring, and a deformable element. The method further includes moving a wedge sleeve axially downward with respect to the downhole tool such that the wedge sleeve engages the deformable ring and forces a first metal protrusion on the deformable element into contact with an outer tubular.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Smith International, Inc.
    Inventors: James E. Saylor, III, Sudarsanam Chellappa
  • Patent number: 7980307
    Abstract: An apparatus for finding a pre-existing downhole window includes a body having a deflector ramp and a cavity, and an extendable dog disposed in the cavity, the dog mechanically moveable between a retracted position and an extended position into the pre-existing window. In some embodiments, the apparatus includes an axially moveable sleeve disposed adjacent the extendable dog. A downhole window finding apparatus includes a deflector including a window finding assembly, and a running tool removably coupled to the deflector, wherein the window finding assembly includes an extendable member and an axially moveable sleeve retaining the extendable member. In certain embodiments, a fluid flow path extends through the running tool and the deflector to the window finding assembly. In some embodiments, a shear bolt removably couples the running tool to the deflector and includes a fluid passage fluidicly coupling a flow line in the running tool to a flow line in the deflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Smith International, Inc.
    Inventor: James E. Saylor, III
  • Publication number: 20110095485
    Abstract: A downhole tool includes a first portion having a first metal protrusion configured to seal against a first metal surface and a second portion having a second metal protrusion configured to seal against a second metal surface. A ratcheting device includes a first element having a plurality of grooves, and a second element having at least two sets of teeth, wherein one of the at least two sets of teeth engages the plurality of grooves. Additionally, a method of forming a downhole seal includes disposing in a wellbore a downhole tool including an inner tubular, a lock ring, a lower ring, an upper ring, an insert ring, and a deformable element. The method further includes moving a wedge sleeve axially downward with respect to the downhole tool such that the wedge sleeve engages the deformable ring and forces a first metal protrusion on the deformable element into contact with an outer tubular.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2010
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Applicant: SMITH INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: James E. Saylor, III, Sudarsanam Chellappa
  • Patent number: 7762330
    Abstract: Methods of removing casing from a wellbore, the method including disposing a drilling tool assembly in a wellbore, the drilling tool assembly including a cutting device, a spearing device, and a jarring device. The methods further including activating the cutting device, cutting a first casing segment, deactivating the cutting device and activating a spearing device. The method further including engaging the spearing device with the first casing segment, activating the jarring device to free the first casing segment, and removing the first casing segment from the wellbore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: Smith International, Inc.
    Inventors: James E. Saylor, III, Thomas D. Helbert, Marc Henderson, Joeseph V. Hebert, Trygve Berthelsen, Randall Louis Hebert, Malcolm Perschke, A. J. Dach, III, Harshad Patil, Praful C. Desai
  • Publication number: 20100006290
    Abstract: Methods of removing casing from a wellbore, the method including disposing a drilling tool assembly in a wellbore, the drilling tool assembly including a cutting device, a spearing device, and a jarring device. The methods further including activating the cutting device, cutting a first casing segment, deactivating the cutting device and activating a spearing device. The method further including engaging the spearing device with the first casing segment, activating the jarring device to free the first casing segment, and removing the first casing segment from the wellbore.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2008
    Publication date: January 14, 2010
    Applicant: SMITH INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: James E. Saylor, III, Thomas D. Helbert, Marc Henderson, Joseph V. Hebert, Trygve Berthelsen, Randall Louis Hebert, Malcolm Perschke, A. J. Dach, Harshad Patil, Praful Desai
  • Patent number: 6648068
    Abstract: The side tracking system includes a window mill having a full diameter cutting surface and a reduced diameter tapered cutting surface and a whipstock having a ramp engaging the reduced diameter cutting surface. The materials of the whipstock have a first cutablity and the materials of the casing have a second cutability. The reduced diameter cutting surface contacts the whipstock ramp at a first contact area and the full diameter cutting surface contacts the wall of the casing at a second contact area. As weight is applied to the mill, there is a first contact stress at the first contact area and a second contact stress at the second contact area. A cutability ratio is the first cutability divided by the second cutability and a contact stress ratio is the first contact stress divided by the second contact stress. The mill cuts the casing rather than the whipstock by maintaining the product of the cutability ratio and the contact stress ratio less than one.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: Smith International, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles H. Dewey, James E. Saylor, III, Bruce D. Swearingen, Andrew MacDonald Robin, Alexander William Dawson, Gregory S. Nairn
  • Publication number: 20020060073
    Abstract: The side tracking system includes a window mill having a full diameter cutting surface and a reduced diameter tapered cutting surface and a whipstock having a ramp engaging the reduced diameter cutting surface. The materials of the whipstock have a first cutablity and the materials of the casing have a second cutability. The reduced diameter cutting surface contacts the whipstock ramp at a first contact area and the full diameter cutting surface contacts the wall of the casing at a second contact area. As weight is applied to the mill, there is a first contact stress at the first contact area and a second contact stress at the second contact area. A cutability ratio is the first cutability divided by the second cutability and a contact stress ratio is the first contact stress divided by the second contact stress. The mill cuts the casing rather than the whipstock by maintaining the product of the cutability ratio and the contact stress ratio less than one.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 1999
    Publication date: May 23, 2002
    Inventors: CHARLES H. DEWEY, JAMES E. SAYLOR, III, BRUCE D. SWEARINGEN, ANDREW MACDONALD ROBIN, ALEXANDER WILLIAM DAWSON, GREGORY S. NAIRN
  • Patent number: 5894889
    Abstract: The side tracking system includes a window mill having a full diameter cutting surface and a reduced diameter tapered cutting surface and a whipstock having a ramp engaging the reduced diameter cutting surface. The materials of the whipstock have a first cutablity and the materials of the casing have a second cutability. The reduced diameter cutting surface contacts the whipstock ramp at a first contact area and the fill diameter cutting surface contacts the wall of the casing at a second contact area. As weight is applied to the mill, there is a first contact stress at the first contact area and a second contact stress at the second contact area. A cutability ratio is the first cutability divided by the second cutability and a contact stress ratio is the first contact stress divided by the second contact stress. The mill cuts the casing rather than the whipstock by maintaining the product of the cutability ratio and the contact stress ratio less than one.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1999
    Assignee: Smith International, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles H. Dewey, James E. Saylor, III, Bruce D. Swearingen, Andrew MacDonald Robin, Alexander William Dawson, Gregory S. Nairn
  • Patent number: 5771972
    Abstract: The mill assembly and whipstock assembly include a mill having a tapered end which engages a ramp of the whipstock assembly. The ramp includes a plurality of surfaces having different angles whereby the rate of deflection of the mill by the whipstock varies as the mill is lowered into the borehole. In particular, the ramp of the whipstock includes two surfaces having steep angles, one steep angled surface causing the mill to punch through the wall of the casing and the second steep angle surface moving the center of the mill across the wall of the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Assignee: Smith International, Inc.,
    Inventors: Charles H. Dewey, James E. Saylor, III, Bruce D. Swearingen, Andrew MacDonald Robin, Alexander William Dawson, Gregory S. Nairn