Patents by Inventor Michael C. KNOELLER
Michael C. KNOELLER 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).
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Patent number: 11078766Abstract: An artificial lift system has a surface pump operated by a prime mover powered by a variable speed drive. A jet pump disposed downhole in tubing receives pressurized power fluid from the surface pump, mixes the power and production fluid and delivers the product uphole. A controller disposed at surface adjusts the artificial lift system relative to a set value based on a measured discharged pressure or a measured flowrate and trends a change in the other of the measured flowrate or the measured discharged pressure over time. The controller can also trend an operating condition (intake pressure vs. production rate) to determine changes relative to cavitation conditions. Based on the trended changes, the controller initiates an operation in the artificial lift system, such as adjusting the discharge pressure, initiating an alarm condition, etc.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2019Date of Patent: August 3, 2021Assignee: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLCInventors: Michael C. Knoeller, Clark E. Robison, Manish Agarwal, Bryan A. Paulet
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Patent number: 10883349Abstract: A wellbore completion is configured for multiple forms of artificial lift. A downhole assembly on production tubing defines a production port communicating a throughbore with the wellbore annulus. A bypass, such as a snorkel or riser tube, on the assembly also communicates the throughbore between the packer and the production port with the annulus. A packer on the assembly seals in the annulus downhole of the production port and bypass. The assembly can then be configured for any selected artificial lift. To do this, at least one isolation (a sleeve insert, a sliding sleeve, a check valve, or a rupture disk) selectively prevents/allows communication via one or both of the production port and the bypass as needed. Additionally, removable lift equipment, including jet pump, gas lift valve, plunger assembly, rod pump, piston pump, or standing valve, is selectively inserted into the assembly's throughbore as needed.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2017Date of Patent: January 5, 2021Assignee: WEATHERFORD TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, LLCInventors: Thomas Scott Campbell, Manish Agarwal, Jeffrey J. Lembcke, Michael C. Knoeller, Toby S. Pugh, William C. Lane
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Publication number: 20200308942Abstract: An artificial lift system has a surface pump operated by a prime mover powered by a variable speed drive. A jet pump disposed downhole in tubing receives pressurized power fluid from the surface pump, mixes the power and production fluid and delivers the product uphole. A controller disposed at surface adjusts the artificial lift system relative to a set value based on a measured discharged pressure or a measured flowrate and trends a change in the other of the measured flowrate or the measured discharged pressure over time. The controller can also trend an operating condition (intake pressure vs. production rate) to determine changes relative to cavitation conditions. Based on the trended changes, the controller initiates an operation in the artificial lift system, such as adjusting the discharge pressure, initiating an alarm condition, etc.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 25, 2019Publication date: October 1, 2020Inventors: Michael C. KNOELLER, Clark E. ROBISON, Manish AGARWAL, Bryan A. PAULET
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Patent number: 10774628Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to a hydraulic pump with gas lock prevention. The pump includes a pump barrel having an intake port and a discharge port and a pump piston movably disposed in the pump barrel. The pump piston divides an inner volume of the pump barrel into a first pump volume connected to the discharge port and a second pump volume connected to the intake port. A pump flow path is formed through the pump piston connecting the first pump volume and the second pump volume. The pump further includes a first valve disposed in the pump flow path in the pump piston. The first valve selectively permits fluid flow from the second pump volume to the first pump volume. The pump further includes a second valve disposed at the discharge port to selectively permit fluid flow out of the first pump volume through the discharge port.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2015Date of Patent: September 15, 2020Assignee: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLCInventor: Michael C. Knoeller
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Patent number: 10408043Abstract: An apparatus can include a jet pump with a nozzle and a throat, a flow passage for conducting production fluid to the throat, and a check valve that prevents flow from the throat to the flow passage and permits flow from the flow passage to the throat. A method can include performing a bottomhole well pressure test while measuring well pressure with a well parameter sensor connected to a jet pump, and then retrieving the well parameter sensor and the jet pump together from the well. A system can include a jet pump sealingly received in a tubular string, the jet pump including a throat that receives a power fluid from a nozzle and receives a production fluid from a flow passage, and a check valve permitting flow of the production fluid from the flow passage to the throat and preventing flow of the power fluid to the flow passage.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2016Date of Patent: September 10, 2019Assignee: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLCInventors: Michael C. Knoeller, Jason W. Mathews
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Publication number: 20190093461Abstract: A wellbore completion is configured for multiple forms of artificial lift. A downhole assembly on production tubing defines a production port communicating a throughbore with the wellbore annulus. A bypass, such as a snorkel or riser tube, on the assembly also communicates the throughbore between the packer and the production port with the annulus. A packer on the assembly seals in the annulus downhole of the production port and bypass. The assembly can then be configured for any selected artificial lift. To do this, at least one isolation, such as a sleeve insert, a sliding sleeve, a check valve, or a rupture disk, selectively prevents/allows communication via one or both of the production port and the bypass as needed. Additionally, removable lift equipment, including jet pump, gas lift valve, plunger assembly, rod pump, piston pump, or standing valve, is selectively inserted into the assembly's throughbore as needed.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 22, 2017Publication date: March 28, 2019Inventors: Thomas Scott Campbell, Manish Agarwal, Jeffrey J. Lembcke, Michael C. Knoeller, Toby S. Pugh, William C. Lane
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Patent number: 10240598Abstract: A valve assembly includes a valve body having a first port and a second port, the first port forms a fluid pathway from a first surface of the valve body to a second surface of the valve body, and the second port forms a fluid pathway from the second surface of the valve body to a third surface of the valve body. The valve assembly also includes a first plate having a first blocking member, the first blocking member configured to block the first port at the first surface of the valve body when the first plate is in a first closed position. The valve assembly also includes a second plate having a second blocking member, the second blocking member configured to block the second port at the second surface of the valve body when the second plate is in a second closed position.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2016Date of Patent: March 26, 2019Assignee: WEATHERFORD TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, LLCInventors: Michael C. Knoeller, Gabriel Lugo
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Publication number: 20180112516Abstract: An apparatus can include a jet pump with a nozzle and a throat, a flow passage for conducting production fluid to the throat, and a check valve that prevents flow from the throat to the flow passage and permits flow from the flow passage to the throat. A method can include performing a bottomhole well pressure test while measuring well pressure with a well parameter sensor connected to a jet pump, and then retrieving the well parameter sensor and the jet pump together from the well. A system can include a jet pump sealingly received in a tubular string, the jet pump including a throat that receives a power fluid from a nozzle and receives a production fluid from a flow passage, and a check valve permitting flow of the production fluid from the flow passage to the throat and preventing flow of the power fluid to the flow passage.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 20, 2016Publication date: April 26, 2018Inventors: Michael C. KNOELLER, Jason W. MATHEWS
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Publication number: 20170074089Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for sensing a cavitation-related event in an artificial lift system for hydrocarbon production and operating the system based on the sensed event. One example method of operating an artificial lift system for a wellbore generally includes monitoring the wellbore for an indication (e.g., an acoustic or vibrational indication) of an event associated with cavitation in the artificial lift system and adjusting at least one parameter of the artificial lift system if the event is detected. One example system for hydrocarbon production generally includes an artificial lift system for a wellbore and at least one sensor configured to detect an indication of an event associated with cavitation in the artificial lift system.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2016Publication date: March 16, 2017Inventors: Manish AGARWAL, Ross E. MOFFETT, Michael C. KNOELLER, Toby PUGH, Bryan A. PAULET
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Publication number: 20170030340Abstract: A valve assembly includes a valve body having a first port and a second port, the first port forms a fluid pathway from a first surface of the valve body to a second surface of the valve body, and the second port forms a fluid pathway from the second surface of the valve body to a third surface of the valve body; a first plate having a first blocking member, the first blocking member configured to block the first port at the first surface of the valve body when the first plate is in a first closed position; and a second plate having a second blocking member, the second blocking member configured to block the second port at the second surface of the valve body when the second plate is in a second closed position.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 20, 2016Publication date: February 2, 2017Inventors: Michael C. KNOELLER, Gabriel LUGO
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Publication number: 20160102536Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to a hydraulic pump with gas lock prevention. The pump includes a pump barrel having an intake port and a discharge port and a pump piston movably disposed in the pump barrel. The pump piston divides an inner volume of the pump barrel into a first pump volume connected to the discharge port and a second pump volume connected to the intake port. A pump flow path is formed through the pump piston connecting the first pump volume and the second pump volume. The pump further includes a first valve disposed in the pump flow path in the pump piston. The first valve selectively permits fluid flow from the second pump volume to the first pump volume. The pump further includes a second valve disposed at the discharge port to selectively permit fluid flow out of the first pump volume through the discharge port.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 7, 2015Publication date: April 14, 2016Inventor: Michael C. KNOELLER