Patents by Inventor Lowell C. KIRKLAND

Lowell C. KIRKLAND 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: 11788379
    Abstract: A gas vent tool can include a body with a flow passage having upstream and downstream sections, a valve that selectively permits and blocks flow between the upstream section and an exterior of the gas vent tool, and a valve that selectively permits and blocks flow between the upstream and downstream sections. A gas vent system can include a gas vent tool connected longitudinally between an intake tool and a pump, the intake tool being configured to receive formation fluids therein, and the pump being configured to pump the formation fluids to surface. The gas vent tool can include a valve that selectively permits and blocks flow between an interior flow passage and an annulus external to the gas vent tool, and a valve that selectively permits and blocks flow between upper and lower sections of the flow passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: ODESSA SEPARATOR, INC.
    Inventors: Nicolas Gil, Daniel L. Culbertson, Lowell C. Kirkland, Cavin Bert Frost, Mark H. Lowe
  • Patent number: 11725477
    Abstract: A filter bypass tool for use in a subterranean well can include an inner tube having a flow passage extending longitudinally through the inner tube, a pipe surrounding the inner tube, with an annulus formed radially between the pipe and the inner tube, the pipe being perforated to permit fluid communication between the annulus and an exterior of the pipe, and a bypass valve having closed and open configurations. In the closed configuration the bypass valve blocks fluid flow from the annulus to the flow passage. In the open configuration the bypass valve permits fluid flow from the annulus to the flow passage. The bypass valve is configured to open in response to a predetermined pressure differential from the annulus to the flow passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Odessa Separator, Inc.
    Inventors: Cavin Bert Frost, Lowell C. Kirkland, Timothy S. Vestal, Andres J. Perez, Daniela A. Sanchez-Rodriguez, Mark H. Lowe
  • Patent number: 11454090
    Abstract: A chemical treatment assembly can include a section including a pressure containment valve that selectively permits and prevents fluid communication with a flow passage in the section, and another section including a pressure containment valve that selectively permits and prevents fluid communication with a flow passage in the section. The pressure containment valves are closed in response to disconnection of the sections. A method of containing pressure in sections of a chemical treatment assembly can include installing a pressure containment valve in each of the sections, the pressure containment valves being configured to close in response to disconnecting the sections. Another chemical treatment assembly can include an outer housing, a flow passage extending longitudinally through the outer housing, a chemical treatment positioned in the flow passage, and a pressure containment valve that selectively permits and prevents fluid communication with the flow passage through the pressure containment valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: Odessa Separator, Inc.
    Inventors: Gustavo A. Gonzalez-Cabrera, Lowell C. Kirkland, Dañelle N. Campbell, Daniel L. Culbertson, Andres J. Perez, Mark H. Lowe
  • Patent number: 11428091
    Abstract: A gas separator can include an intake section. Splines extend radially from an inner manifold of the intake section and engage an interior surface of an outer housing, thereby isolating openings formed in the splines from longitudinal channels extending through the outer housing. Another gas separator can include an intake section, a discharge section and multiple intermediate sections connected between the intake and discharge sections. A gas separation system can include a completion string including a packer, a downhole pump and a gas separator connected between the packer and the pump. An annulus is formed between the gas separator and a wellbore, an intake section of the gas separator receives formation fluids from below the packer, a discharge section of the gas separator discharges gas and liquids into the annulus, the intake section receives the liquids from the annulus, and the pump receives the liquids from the discharge section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Odessa Separator, Inc.
    Inventors: Cavin B. Frost, Daniel L. Culbertson, Dañelle N. Campbell, Lowell C. Kirkland, Gustavo A. Gonzalez-Cabrera
  • Publication number: 20210054717
    Abstract: A gas vent tool can include a body with a flow passage having upstream and downstream sections, a valve that selectively permits and blocks flow between the upstream section and an exterior of the gas vent tool, and a valve that selectively permits and blocks flow between the upstream and downstream sections. A gas vent system can include a gas vent tool connected longitudinally between an intake tool and a pump, the intake tool being configured to receive formation fluids therein, and the pump being configured to pump the formation fluids to surface. The gas vent tool can include a valve that selectively permits and blocks flow between an interior flow passage and an annulus external to the gas vent tool, and a valve that selectively permits and blocks flow between upper and lower sections of the flow passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2020
    Publication date: February 25, 2021
    Inventors: Nicolas GIL, Daniel L. CULBERTSON, Lowell C. KIRKLAND, Cavin Bert FROST, Mark H. LOWE
  • Publication number: 20210025260
    Abstract: A filter bypass tool for use in a subterranean well can include an inner tube having a flow passage extending longitudinally through the inner tube, a pipe surrounding the inner tube, with an annulus formed radially between the pipe and the inner tube, the pipe being perforated to permit fluid communication between the annulus and an exterior of the pipe, and a bypass valve having closed and open configurations. In the closed configuration the bypass valve blocks fluid flow from the annulus to the flow passage. In the open configuration the bypass valve permits fluid flow from the annulus to the flow passage. The bypass valve is configured to open in response to a predetermined pressure differential from the annulus to the flow passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2020
    Publication date: January 28, 2021
    Inventors: Cavin Bert FROST, Lowell C. KIRKLAND, Timothy S. VESTAL, Andres J. PEREZ, Daniela A. SANCHEZ-RODRIGUEZ, Mark H. LOWE
  • Publication number: 20200248532
    Abstract: A chemical treatment assembly can include a section including a pressure containment valve that selectively permits and prevents fluid communication with a flow passage in the section, and another section including a pressure containment valve that selectively permits and prevents fluid communication with a flow passage in the section. The pressure containment valves are closed in response to disconnection of the sections. A method of containing pressure in sections of a chemical treatment assembly can include installing a pressure containment valve in each of the sections, the pressure containment valves being configured to close in response to disconnecting the sections. Another chemical treatment assembly can include an outer housing, a flow passage extending longitudinally through the outer housing, a chemical treatment positioned in the flow passage, and a pressure containment valve that selectively permits and prevents fluid communication with the flow passage through the pressure containment valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2019
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Inventors: Gustavo A. GONZALEZ-CABRERA, Lowell C. KIRKLAND, Dañelle N. CAMPBELL, Daniel L. CULBERTSON, Andres J. PEREZ, Mark H. LOWE
  • Publication number: 20200208506
    Abstract: A gas separator can include an intake section. Splines extend radially from an inner manifold of the intake section and engage an interior surface of an outer housing, thereby isolating openings formed in the splines from longitudinal channels extending through the outer housing. Another gas separator can include an intake section, a discharge section and multiple intermediate sections connected between the intake and discharge sections. A gas separation system can include a completion string including a packer, a downhole pump and a gas separator connected between the packer and the pump. An annulus is formed between the gas separator and a wellbore, an intake section of the gas separator receives formation fluids from below the packer, a discharge section of the gas separator discharges gas and liquids into the annulus, the intake section receives the liquids from the annulus, and the pump receives the liquids from the discharge section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2019
    Publication date: July 2, 2020
    Inventors: Cavin B. FROST, Daniel L. CULBERTSON, Dañelle N. CAMPBELL, Lowell C. KIRKLAND, Gustavo A. GONZALEZ - CABRERA
  • Patent number: 10415360
    Abstract: A downhole fluid separation apparatus can include multiple sections connected together with connectors, the connectors providing fluid communication between annuli in adjacent ones of the sections, and between inner conduits in adjacent ones of the sections. Each connector can include at least one flow passage providing communication between an inner conduit of each of the connected sections, and another flow passage providing communication between an annulus of each of the connected sections. A bypass valve can be included that opens in response to a predetermined differential pressure between an exterior of the apparatus and the inner conduits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: ODESSA SEPARATOR, INC.
    Inventors: Daniel L. Culbertson, Cavin B. Frost, Floyd Randolph Simonds, Dañelle N. Campbell, Lowell C. Kirkland
  • Publication number: 20170268322
    Abstract: A downhole fluid separation apparatus can include multiple sections connected together with connectors, the connectors providing fluid communication between annuli in adjacent ones of the sections, and between inner conduits in adjacent ones of the sections. Each connector can include at least one flow passage providing communication between an inner conduit of each of the connected sections, and another flow passage providing communication between an annulus of each of the connected sections. A bypass valve can be included that opens in response to a predetermined differential pressure between an exterior of the apparatus and the inner conduits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2017
    Publication date: September 21, 2017
    Inventors: Daniel L. CULBERTSON, Cavin B. FROST, Floyd Randolph SIMONDS, Dañelle N. CAMPBELL, Lowell C. KIRKLAND