Patents by Inventor James M. Costley

James M. Costley 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: 7011157
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for fluid treatment of a selected interval of a well and then cleaning the selected interval and the apparatus of treatment residue. An straddle tool is run into the well to treatment depth on fluid supplying tubing and has upper and lower packers that establish sealing with the casing and define an annular interval between the packers and between the tool and casing. Fluid, such as fracturing fluid, is pumped through the tubing to the tool and is diverted through an outlet port of the tool into an upper portion of the annular interval. Fluid then flows from a lower portion of the annular interval through an inlet port below the outlet port and at low flow rate is dumped into the casing through a pressure responsive dump valve. The outlet port and inlet port are located to accomplish cleaning of residue from the packers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2006
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: James M. Costley, David M. Eslinger, Randolph J. Sheffield, L. Michael McKee
  • Patent number: 6776239
    Abstract: A tubing conveyed multi-position well treating tool having a tubular housing and a tubular inner member which are relatively positionable at “Set”, “Treat”, “Dump” and “Release” positions actuated by a mechanical indexing mechanism. The indexing mechanism is loaded by a spring, such as a compressed gas spring or mechanical spring, which urges the tubular housing away from the tubing connection of the inner tubular member, thus requiring no set-down forces for tool actuation or indexing. The treating tool is anchored within the well casing by hydraulic pressure actuated buttons, thus eliminating the typical requirement for anchoring actuation by set-down forces. The treating tool is sealed within the casing by pressure energized packers which are activated by the hydraulic pressure of fluid supplied from the tubing. The tool provides a bypass passage to allow communication of the zones above and below the tool while isolating the straddled interval to be treated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: David M. Eslinger, Stephen D. Hill, Randolph J. Sheffield, Howard L. McGill, James M. Costley
  • Publication number: 20040084187
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for fluid treatment of a selected interval of a well and then cleaning the selected interval and the apparatus of treatment residue. An Out/In straddle tool is run into the well to treatment depth on fluid supplying tubing and has upper and lower packers that establish sealing with the casing and define an annular interval between the packers and between the tool and casing. Fluid, such as fracturing fluid, is pumped through the tubing to the tool and is diverted through an Out port of the tool into an upper portion of the annular interval. Fluid then flows from a lower portion of the annular interval through an In port below the Out port and at low flow rate is dumped into the casing through a pressure responsive dump valve. The Out port and In port are located to accomplish cleaning of residue from the packers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2003
    Publication date: May 6, 2004
    Inventors: James M. Costley, David M. Eslinger, Randolph J. Sheffield, L. Michael McKee
  • Patent number: 6533037
    Abstract: A tool string, such as one used for performing fracturing operations or other types of operations, includes a valve, a valve operator, and a sealing assembly that in one arrangement includes packers to define a sealed zone. The tool string is carried on a tubing, through which fluid flow may be pumped to the sealed zone. The valve operator is actuated in response to fluid flow above a predetermined flow rate. When the flow rate at greater than the predetermined flow rate does not exist, the valve operator remains in a first position that corresponds to the valve being open. However, in response to a fluid flow rate at greater than the predetermined flow rate, the valve operator is actuated to a second position to close the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: David M. Eslinger, Howard L. McGill, James M. Costley, Randolph J. Sheffield, Warren M. Zemlak
  • Publication number: 20020125005
    Abstract: A tubing conveyed multi-position well treating tool having a tubular housing and a tubular inner member which are relatively positionable at “Set”, “Treat”, “Dump” and “Release” positions actuated by a mechanical indexing mechanism. The indexing mechanism is loaded by a spring, such as a compressed gas spring or mechanical spring, which urges the tubular housing away from the tubing connection of the inner tubular member, thus requiring no set-down forces for tool actuation or indexing. The treating tool is anchored within the well casing by hydraulic pressure actuated buttons, thus eliminating the typical requirement for anchoring actuation by set-down forces. The treating tool is sealed within the casing by pressure energized packers which are activated by the hydraulic pressure of fluid supplied from the tubing. The tool provides a bypass passage to allow communication of the zones above and below the tool while isolating the straddled interval to be treated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2002
    Publication date: September 12, 2002
    Inventors: David M. Eslinger, Stephen D. Hill, Randolph J. Sheffield, Howard L. McGill, James M. Costley
  • Patent number: 6425443
    Abstract: A disconnect for facilitating release of a tool at a downhole, wellbore location. The disconnect utilizes an upper portion and a lower portion connected at least in part by a shear member. The disconnect uses a plurality of pressure areas to selectively expose the lower portion to balanced, counteracting axial forces. The pressure areas allow release or disconnection of the upper portion from the lower portion upon application of a predetermined tensile load without subjecting the tubing to an undesirably high tensile load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen D. Hill, James M. Costley, David M. Eslinger, Mark C. Oettli, Randolph J. Sheffield
  • Publication number: 20020062963
    Abstract: A tool string, such as one used for performing fracturing operations or other types of operations, includes a valve, a valve operator, and a sealing assembly that in one arrangement includes packers to define a sealed zone. The tool string is carried on a tubing, through which fluid flow may be pumped to the sealed zone. The valve operator is actuated in response to fluid flow above a predetermined flow rate. When the flow rate at greater than the predetermined flow rate does not exist, the valve operator remains in a first position that corresponds to the valve being open. However, in response to a fluid flow rate at greater than the predetermined flow rate, the valve operator is actuated to a second position to close the valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2000
    Publication date: May 30, 2002
    Inventors: David M. Eslinger, Howard L. McGill, James M. Costley, Randolph J. Sheffield, Warren M. Zemlak