Patents by Inventor Liam Mcnelis
Liam Mcnelis 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: 11952872Abstract: A detonator positioning device for use with a detonator in a perforating gun assembly is described. The detonator positioning device may be configured for electrically contactably forming an electrical connection within the perforating gun housing by contact. The detonator positioning device may include a body having a first end, a second end, and a central bore extending between the first and second ends. The central bore may be adapted for receiving one or more electrically contactable components of a detonator. The detonator positioning device can align at least one of the one or more electrically contactable components to form an electrical connection with a bulkhead assembly.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2022Date of Patent: April 9, 2024Assignee: DynaEnergetics Europe GmbHInventors: Christian Eitschberger, Gernot Uwe Burmeister, Thomas Keller Bradfield, Frank Haron Preiss, Thilo Scharf, Liam McNelis
-
Patent number: 11905823Abstract: A system and a method for determining a location of an untethered drone in a wellbore are described herein. The system includes one or more markers to be placed within a wellbore casing where each of the one or more markers is configured to transmit a continuous or periodic signal. The system further includes a first sensor to be transported by the untethered drone where the first sensor is configured to sense an existence of the one or more markers.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2019Date of Patent: February 20, 2024Assignee: DynaEnergetics Europe GmbHInventors: Andreas Robert Zemla, Thilo Scharf, Liam McNelis, Christian Eitschberger, Shmuel Silverman
-
Publication number: 20240026743Abstract: A system for deploying an untethered drone is provided. The system includes a wellbore drone for being deployed into a wellbore, a magazine unit, and a control system. The wellbore drone is configured to perform at least one action based on a control command which is provided from an on-board control system embedded in the wellbore drone. The magazine unit includes one or more chambers. The magazine unit is configured to retain the wellbore drone in a corresponding one of the one or more chambers, prior to deployment of the wellbore drone into the wellbore, and dispense the wellbore drone for being deployed into the wellbore through a launcher unit. The control system includes at least one control interface for controlling at least a part of operations of the wellbore drone and the magazine unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2023Publication date: January 25, 2024Applicant: DynaEnergetics Europe GmbHInventors: Andreas Robert Zemla, Christian Eitschberger, Liam McNelis, Thilo Scharf, Shmuel Silverman
-
Publication number: 20240003230Abstract: A perforating gun assembly is configured for use in unconventional wells, for example in rock formations with low permeability. The perforating gun assembly includes a perforating gun housing and a shaped charge positioned in the perforating gun housing. The shaped charge and the perforating gun housing are configured to improve total target penetration in unconventional wells by 20-100%.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 13, 2023Publication date: January 4, 2024Applicant: DynaEnergetics Europe GmbHInventors: Christian Eitschberger, Liam McNelis, Thilo Scharf
-
Patent number: 11808098Abstract: A system for deploying an untethered drone is provided. The system includes a wellbore drone for being deployed into a wellbore, a magazine unit, and a control system. The wellbore drone is configured to perform at least one action based on a control command which is provided from an on-board control system embedded in the wellbore drone. The magazine unit includes one or more chambers. The magazine unit is configured to retain the wellbore drone in a corresponding one of the one or more chambers, prior to deployment of the wellbore drone into the wellbore, and dispense the wellbore drone for being deployed into the wellbore through a launcher unit. The control system includes at least one control interface for controlling at least a part of operations of the wellbore drone and the magazine unit.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 2019Date of Patent: November 7, 2023Assignee: DynaEnergetics Europe GmbHInventors: Andreas Robert Zemla, Christian Eitschberger, Liam McNelis, Thilo Scharf, Shmuel Silverman
-
Publication number: 20230349677Abstract: A focused output detonator includes a detonator shell including detonator components, and a focuser coupled to the detonator shell. The detonator shell may include a body extending along a central axis of the detonator shell. A first open end is provided at a first end of the body, and a closed end is provided at a second end of the body. A chamber is bounded by the body and the closed end, and the detonator components are housed in the chamber. The focuser is coupled to the closed end of the detonator shell. According to an aspect, the focused output detonator is structured to focus a ballistic output of the focuser along the central axis and away from the detonator shell. According to an aspect, the focuser includes a donor charge. The focuser may include an encapsulated and hydraulically sealed donor charge.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 15, 2020Publication date: November 2, 2023Applicant: DynaEnergetics Europe GmbHInventors: Thilo Scharf, Christian Eitschberger, Andreas Robert Zemla, Liam McNelis, Gernot Uwe Burmeister
-
Patent number: 11795791Abstract: Disclosed embodiments may relate to perforating gun assemblies configured for use in unconventional wells, for example in rock formations with low permeability. In some embodiments, the perforating gun assembly may include a perforating gun housing and at least one shaped charge positioned in the perforating gun housing. The shaped charge and the perforating gun housing may be jointly configured to improve total target penetration in unconventional wells by 20-100%. Related method embodiments may be used to improve the performance of unconventional wells.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2022Date of Patent: October 24, 2023Assignee: DynaEnergetics Europe GmbHInventors: Christian Eitschberger, Liam McNelis, Thilo Scharf
-
Patent number: 11788389Abstract: A perforating gun assembly may include a first housing extending along a longitudinal axis and a tandem seal adapter (TSA). The first housing may include a coupling provided at a first end of the first housing. The TSA may include a TSA body and a seal element provided on an outer surface of the TSA body. At least part of the TSA may be positioned inside the first housing such that the seal element and the coupling intersect with a common plane that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 2021Date of Patent: October 17, 2023Assignee: DynaEnergetics Europe GmbHInventors: Frank Haron Preiss, Thilo Scharf, Liam McNelis, Eric Mulhern, David C. Parks, Christian Eitschberger
-
Patent number: 11761743Abstract: Embodiments of a low-voltage, non-primary explosive detonator (110) may include a detonator shell (120) having an open end (122), a closed end (124), and a hollow interior (125) between the open and closed ends. Some embodiments include a reinforcement area of the detonator shell. A pyrotechnical material is disposed within the hollow interior, and a main explosive load is disposed within the hollow interior in between the pyrotechnical material and the closed end. In some embodiments, one or both of the pyrotechnical material and the main explosive load may be multilayered, for example with a density gradient configured to accelerate deflagration. The detonator may further include a fuse head disposed at the open end and in proximity to the pyrotechnical material within the detonator shell.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2021Date of Patent: September 19, 2023Assignee: DynaEnergetics Europe GmbHInventors: Liam McNelis, Joerg Bergmann
-
Patent number: 11761281Abstract: A power charge for actuating a wellbore tool. Combustion of the power charge generates gas and corresponding gas pressure within the wellbore tool and the power charge and wellbore tool are configured for providing a path to an expansion chamber for the gas pressure. A body of the power charge may have the shape of a regular polygonal cylinder, thus defining flow-paths for the expanding gas. The power charge may include a cylinder of energetic material and an interior space formed within the energetic material and configured for receiving an igniter and/or ignition material. Ignition of the igniter or ignition material results in combustion of the power charge.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2020Date of Patent: September 19, 2023Assignee: DynaEnergetics Europe GmbHInventors: Joern Olaf Loehken, Liam McNelis, Denis Will
-
Publication number: 20230265747Abstract: A perforating gun assembly may include a housing extending along a first axis, a movable structure provided within the housing, and a tool string component coupled to the housing and abutting the moveable structure. The movable structure may be movable between a first position along the first axis relative to the housing and a second position along the first axis relative to the housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2023Publication date: August 24, 2023Applicant: DynaEnergetics Europe GmbHInventors: Christian Eitschberger, Gernot Uwe Burmeister, Thomas Keller Bradfield, Frank Haron Preiss, Thilo Scharf, Liam McNelis
-
Publication number: 20230194229Abstract: Embodiments of a low-voltage, non-primary explosive detonator (110) may include a detonator shell (120) having an open end (122), a closed end (124), and a hollow interior (125) between the open and closed ends. Some embodiments include a reinforcement area of the detonator shell. A pyrotechnical material is disposed within the hollow interior, and a main explosive load is disposed within the hollow interior in between the pyrotechnical material and the closed end. In some embodiments, one or both of the pyrotechnical material and the main explosive load may be multilayered, for example with a density gradient configured to accelerate eflagration. The detonator may further include a fuse head disposed at the open end and in proximity to the pyrotechnical material within the detonator shell.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 19, 2021Publication date: June 22, 2023Applicant: DynaEnergetics Europe GmbHInventors: Liam McNelis, Joerg Bergmann
-
Patent number: 11661823Abstract: A perforating gun may include a gun carrier extending in an axial direction and a tandem seal adapter (TSA). The gun carrier having a maximum outer carrier diameter. The TSA may include a first TSA region having a first TSA outer diameter, a second TSA region having a second TSA outer diameter, and a shoulder surface formed between an outer surface of the first TSA region and an outer surface of the second TSA region. The second TSA outer diameter may be larger than the first TSA outer diameter and smaller than the maximum outer carrier diameter. A portion of the gun carrier may abut with the shoulder surface.Type: GrantFiled: June 21, 2021Date of Patent: May 30, 2023Assignee: DynaEnergetics Europe GmbHInventors: Frank Haron Preiss, Thilo Scharf, Liam McNelis, Eric Mulhern, David C. Parks, Christian Eitschberger
-
Patent number: 11661824Abstract: According to some embodiments, an autonomous perforating drone for downhole delivery of a wellbore tool, and associated systems and methods, are disclosed. In an aspect, the wellbore tool may be a plurality of shaped charges that are arranged in a variety of configurations, including helically, in one or more single radial planes, or opposing around a perforating assembly section, and detonated in a top-to-bottom sequence when the autonomous perforating drone reaches a predetermined depth in the wellbore. In another aspect, the shaped charges may be received in shaped charge apertures within a body of a perforating assembly section, wherein the shaped charge apertures are respectively positioned adjacent to at least one of a receiver booster, detonator, and detonating cord for directly initiating the shaped charges.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 2022Date of Patent: May 30, 2023Assignee: DynaEnergetics Europe GmbHInventors: Christian Eitschberger, Liam McNelis, Thilo Scharf, Andreas Robert Zemla, Shmuel Silverman, Gernot Uwe Burmeister, Arash Shahinpour
-
Patent number: 11648513Abstract: A detonator positioning device for use with a detonator in a perforating gun assembly is described. The detonator positioning device is configured for electrically contactably forming an electrical connection within the perforating gun housing by contact. The detonator positioning device includes a body having a first end, a second end, and a central bore extending between the first and second ends. The central bore is adapted for receiving one or more electrically contactable components of a detonator. The detonator positioning device aligns at least one of the one or more electrically contactable components to form an electrical connection with a bulkhead assembly.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 2019Date of Patent: May 16, 2023Assignee: DynaEnergetics Europe GmbHInventors: Christian Eitschberger, Gernot Uwe Burmeister, Thomas Keller Bradfield, Frank Haron Preiss, Thilo Scharf, Liam McNelis
-
Publication number: 20230138182Abstract: Disclosed embodiments relate to devices and methods for storage and/or transport of tubular structures, such as perforating guns for use in wellbores. Some embodiments relate to modular storage containers, for example which may be height adjustable depending on the length of the tubular structure to be held therein. Some embodiments relate to mobile storage banks, which may be configured for use with the modular storage containers. In some embodiments, the storage bank may further be configured with one or more longitudinal compartments configured to hold used tool strings or portions thereof.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 25, 2022Publication date: May 4, 2023Applicant: DynaEnergetics Europe GmbHInventors: Christian Eitschberger, Liam McNelis, Thilo Scharf, Gernot Uwe Burmeister, Dimitri Riesen
-
Publication number: 20230106595Abstract: According to some embodiments, devices, systems, and methods for autonomously or semi-autonomously conveying downhole oil and gas wellbore tools and performing downhole oil and gas wellbore operations are disclosed. The exemplary devices, systems, and methods may include an untethered drone that substantially disintegrates and/or dissolves into a proppant when shaped charges that the untethered drone carries are detonated. Two or more untethered drones, wellbore tools, and/or data collection devices may be connected in an untethered drone string and detonated for efficiently performing wellbore operations and reducing the amount of debris left in the wellbore after such operations.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 1, 2022Publication date: April 6, 2023Applicant: DynaEnergetics Europe GmbHInventors: Christian Eitschberger, Andreas Robert Zemla, Liam McNelis, Thilo Scharf, Shmuel Silverman, Arash Shahinpour, Gernot Uwe Burmeister
-
Publication number: 20230102057Abstract: A self-erecting launcher assembly includes a mobile unit, and a magazine positioned in a receptacle of the mobile unit. The magazine includes a plurality of drones. A rail unit is secured to the mobile unit and moves between a closed position and an elevated position. A platform may be secured to the rail unit and is movable in an upward direction and a downward direction along a length of the rail unit. The platform is movable when the rail unit is in its elevated position. The magazine or the plurality of drones may be positioned on the platform, such that the platform moves the magazine or the plurality of drones from the mobile unit to at least one wellhead. A manipulator arm is secured to the platform and selects a drone of the plurality of drones and delivers the selected drone into a lubricator positioned at the wellhead.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 18, 2021Publication date: March 30, 2023Applicant: DynaEnergetics Europe GmbHInventors: Christian Eitschberger, Liam McNelis, Thilo Scharf
-
Patent number: 11608720Abstract: Components for a perforation gun system are provided including combinations of components that facilitate electrically linking multiple perforation guns to one another with wireless electrical contacts. The perforation gun system includes a bulkhead pin contact assembly. The perforation gun system may further include a wireless detonator and a conductor positioned in a connector of the perforation gun.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2020Date of Patent: March 21, 2023Assignee: DynaEnergetics Europe GmbHInventors: Frank Haron Preiss, Liam McNelis, Eric Mulhern, Thilo Scharf, David C. Parks, Christian Eitschberger
-
Patent number: 11591885Abstract: According to some embodiments, devices, systems, and methods for autonomously or semi-autonomously conveying downhole oil and gas wellbore tools and performing downhole oil and gas wellbore operations are disclosed. The exemplary devices, systems, and methods may include an untethered drone that substantially disintegrates and/or dissolves into a proppant when shaped charges that the untethered drone carries are detonated. Two or more untethered drones, wellbore tools, and/or data collection devices may be connected in an untethered drone string and selectively detonated for efficiently performing wellbore operations and reducing the amount of debris left in the wellbore after such operations.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2019Date of Patent: February 28, 2023Assignee: DynaEnergetics Europe GmbHInventors: Christian Eitschberger, Andreas Robert Zemla, Liam McNelis, Thilo Scharf, Shmuel Silverman, Arash Shahinpour, Gernot Uwe Burmeister