Patents by Inventor Michael Linley Fripp

Michael Linley Fripp 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).

  • Pressure reducing metal elements for liner hangers
    Patent number: 11499399
    Abstract: Liner hangers and methods of use. An example method includes positioning a liner hanger in a wellbore; the liner hanger comprising: two sealing elements disposed on the exterior of the liner hanger and having a void space therebetween, and a pressure reducing metal element disposed between the two sealing elements. The method further includes trapping a wellbore fluid in the void space; wherein the wellbore fluid thermally expands in the void space creating an annular pressure in the void space; and reducing the annular pressure by materially altering the pressure reducing metal element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Michael Greci, Michael Linley Fripp, Emile Edmund Sevadjian, Abdolreza Gharesi
  • Determining downhole properties with sensor array
    Patent number: 11499416
    Abstract: A spoolable array of sensors may be deployed within a wellbore and external a tubular string for measuring properties of a fluid in the central flow passage of the tubular string. A flow port may be made in the tubular string passing from the central flow passage to the external surface. Sensors of the spoolable array of sensors may be covered with a shroud and placed proximate the flow port, or such sensors may be isolated in a zone with packers along with the flow port. The spoolable array of sensors may additionally obtain pressure data to calculate a flow rate from a production zone. The spoolable array of sensors may also be employed in a non-flowing wellbore for monitoring nearby wellbores.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Linley Fripp, Thomas Jules Frosell, Aswin Balasubramanian, Luke William Holderman, Suzi Marie Marcuccio, Gireesh Bhat, Clint Adam Brown
  • Electronic Flow Control Node to Aid Gravel Pack & Eliminate Wash Pipe
    Publication number: 20220356781
    Abstract: A completion assembly to aid in gravel packing a wellbore which assembly includes a plurality of interconnected sand screen assemblies, each sand screen assembly having a wireless adjustable electronic flow control node disposed along the sand screen base pipe to control flow of a gravel packing slurry from the base pipe into the wellbore annulus. Each electronic flow control node includes a valve that can be adjusted by an electric actuator powered by a power harvesting mechanism disposed in a flow path of the completion assembly. A wireless transmitter receives a control signal to control the electric actuator. The control signal may be transmitted sequentially from a distal most sand screen assembly to a proximal sand screen assembly in order to sequentially build the gravel pack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2022
    Publication date: November 10, 2022
    Inventors: Michael Linley Fripp, Stephen Michael Greci
  • Density-based fluid flow control device
    Patent number: 11493145
    Abstract: A fluid flow control device can include an inlet port and an outlet port. The fluid flow control device can also include a rotatable component for rotating about an axis in response to fluid flow from the inlet port. A float component positioned within the rotatable component can move between (i) an open position that enables fluid flow from the inlet port to the outlet port, and (ii) a closed position that restricts fluid flow from the inlet port to the outlet port. The float component can move from the open position to the closed position in response to a fluid from the inlet port having one density. The float component can move from the closed position to the open position in response to the fluid from the inlet port having another density.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Linley Fripp, Stephen Michael Greci
  • Flapper on frac plug
    Patent number: 11486226
    Abstract: Zonal isolation devices, systems, and methods for use are provided. In some embodiments, the zonal isolation device comprises a tubular body having a fluid communication pathway formed along a longitudinal axis comprising: a sealing element comprising a deformable material and an inner bore forming at least a portion of the fluid communication pathway; a support ring disposed within the bore of the sealing element; a rotatable sealing component coupled to the support ring; a wedge engaged with a downhole end of the sealing element; and an anchoring assembly engaged with the wedge. In certain embodiments, the tubular body further comprises an end element adjacent the anchoring assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Taylor Nichols, Nin M. Nguyen, Zachary William Walton, Michael Linley Fripp
  • Acoustics through fluid communication system
    Patent number: 11486246
    Abstract: The disclosure is directed to a well system environment communication system comprising of an acoustic communicator capable of communicating encoded data with a first wireless transceiver through a fluid medium and the first wireless transceiver capable of communicating encoded data with a second transceiver through a non-fluid medium. In one example, an acoustic communicator is communicatively coupled with a downhole tool allowing the downhole tool to communicate indirectly with a well system controller. In another aspect of the disclosure, a method is described wherein an acoustic communicator located in a wellbore can encode data from a downhole tool and communicate the data through a fluid medium to a first wireless transceiver and the first wireless transceiver can communicate with a second transceiver through a non-fluid medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Linley Fripp, Thomas Jules Frosell, Richard Decena Ornelaz, Donald Kyle
  • FLUID FLOW CONTROL SYSTEM EMPLOYING GRAVITY DRIVEN FLOATS AND A VALVE
    Publication number: 20220341290
    Abstract: Provided is a fluid flow control system and a well system. The fluid flow control system, in one aspect, includes a valve having a fluid inlet operable to receive fluid, a control inlet operable to receive a control fluid, and a fluid outlet operable to pass the fluid to the tubing, the valve configured to open or close the fluid outlet based upon the control fluid. The fluid flow control system according to this aspect further includes a density control valve having an inlet conduit operable to receive the fluid and an outlet conduit coupled to the control inlet of the valve, the density control valve operable to send the control fluid to the valve to open or close the fluid outlet based upon a density of the fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2021
    Publication date: October 27, 2022
    Inventors: Michael Linley Fripp, Stephen Michael Greci, Ibrahim El Mallawany
  • ELECTROSTATIC MOTOR CONTROL OF A SUB SURFACE SAFETY VALVE
    Publication number: 20220341285
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a sub-surface safety valve (SSSV) to be positioned in a wellbore. The SSSV is configurable to move between a closed position and an open position. While in the closed position, the SSSV prevents downhole fluid in the wellbore to flow to a surface of the wellbore. While in the open position, the SSSV allows the downhole fluid in the wellbore to flow to the surface of the wellbore. The apparatus further includes an electrostatic motor to be positioned in the wellbore and to be coupled to the SSSV. The electrostatic motor is to be selectively powered to move the SSSV between the closed position and the open position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2021
    Publication date: October 27, 2022
    Inventors: Gregory Thomas Werkheiser, Michael Linley Fripp, Xiaoguang Allan Zhong
  • EXPANDABLE PACKER WITH ACTIVATABLE SEALING ELEMENT
    Publication number: 20220341280
    Abstract: An expandable packer includes an activatable sealing element locatable in a borehole having a wall and activatable with a reactive fluid. The sealing element includes a swellable metal capable of reacting with the reactive fluid to form a swelled metal and a mechanical element separating the reactive fluid from the swellable metal and operable to cause the reactive fluid to contact the swellable metal such that swellable metal expands into sealing engagement with the wall. A method of forming a seal in a borehole comprising a wall includes locating an expandable packer comprising an activatable sealing element within the borehole, using a mechanical element of the activatable sealing element to cause a reactive fluid to contact a swellable metal, and expanding the swellable metal into sealing engagement with the wall by reacting the swellable metal with the reactive fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2021
    Publication date: October 27, 2022
    Applicant: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Luke William Holderman, Rutger Evers, Brandon Thomas Least, Michael Linley Fripp, Stephen Michael Greci
  • DOWNHOLE VAPOR-TRANSITION CONTROL VALVE FOR FLUID INJECTION
    Publication number: 20220333460
    Abstract: A flow control valve configured to be positioned in a tubing in a borehole formed in a subsurface formation, wherein the flow control is used to regulate a flow of an injection fluid into the subsurface formation based on a vapor-transition characteristic of a fluid contained within a chamber of the flow control valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2022
    Publication date: October 20, 2022
    Inventors: Michael Linley Fripp, Fraser Murray, Stephen Michael Greci
  • EXPANDABLE METAL AS BACKUP FOR ELASTOMERIC ELEMENTS
    Publication number: 20220325600
    Abstract: Provided is a sealing tool, a method for sealing an annulus within a wellbore, and a well system. The sealing tool, in at least one aspect, includes a sealing assembly positioned about a mandrel. In at least one aspect, the sealing assembly includes one or more elastomeric sealing elements having a width (WSE), the one or more elastomeric sealing elements operable to move between a radially relaxed state and a radially expanded state. In at least this aspect, the sealing assembly includes a pair of expandable metal features straddling the one or more elastomeric sealing elements, each of the pair of expandable metal features comprising a metal configured to expand in response to hydrolysis and having a width (WEM), and further wherein the width (WSE) is at least three times the width (WEM).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2021
    Publication date: October 13, 2022
    Inventors: Michael Linley Fripp, Stephen Michael Greci, Christopher Michael Pelto
  • WELL TOOLS WITH COMPONENTS FORMED FROM PYROLYTICALLY DEGRADABLE MATERIALS
    Publication number: 20220325604
    Abstract: A well tool can include a body and at least one barrier element. The barrier element can include a pyrolytically degradable material that is positionable to block a flow of fluid across the body within a wellbore and to degrade by pyrolysis over time within the wellbore.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2021
    Publication date: October 13, 2022
    Inventors: Michael Linley Fripp, Charles Timothy Smith, Chad William Glaesman
  • Guide sub for multilateral junction
    Patent number: 11466545
    Abstract: In one or more examples, a method comprises advancing a tubing string along a primary wellbore toward a junction having a low-side exit to a secondary wellbore, with a guide sub positioned at a leading end of the tubing string. The guide sub has a buoyancy within a well fluid external to the guide sub. The buoyancy of the guide sub is used to bias the guide sub toward a high-side of the primary wellbore while moving the guide sub across the low-side exit to a downstream portion of the primary wellbore. Subsequently, the guide sub is used to guide a fluid or tubular component between the tubing string and the downstream portion of the primary wellbore across the low-side exit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Christopher Glaser, Angus Mackay Barron, Michael Linley Fripp
  • DEBRIS BARRIER FOR RETRIEVABLE DOWNHOLE TOOL USING EXPANDABLE METAL MATERIAL
    Publication number: 20220316294
    Abstract: A system is described for forming a debris barrier downhole in a wellbore. The system may include a mandrel, a retrievable downhole tool, and a debris ring. The mandrel may be positionable within a wellbore. The retrievable downhole tool may be positionable around the mandrel to perform tasks downhole in the wellbore. The debris ring may include an expandable material positionable around the mandrel to form a debris barrier. The debris barrier may be formed in response to exposing the expandable material to wellbore fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2021
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Inventors: Robert Travis Murphy, Samuel Martinez, Michael Linley Fripp, Roderick Brand Falconer
  • Inflow Control Device With Dissolvable Plugs
    Publication number: 20220316302
    Abstract: A lower completion assembly includes a tubular comprising an interior passageway defined by an internal surface of the pipe and a port extending between external and internal surfaces of the tubular. The port is defined by a first surface that extends between the internal and external surfaces. The assembly also includes an inflow control device that is coupled to the external surface of the pipe and that comprises a fluid exit that is adjacent the port. The assembly has a first configuration and a second configuration. When in the first configuration a dissolvable plug extends across the fluid exit to fluidically isolate the fluid exit from the interior passageway and a gap is defined adjacent the first surface. When in the second configuration, the dissolvable plug does not extend across the fluid exit and the fluid exit is in fluid communication with the interior passageway.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2022
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Inventors: Jacob Zachariah, Bryan Ping Chew Chay, Stephen Michael Greci, Michael Linley Fripp
  • Wireless downhole positioning system
    Patent number: 11454109
    Abstract: Systems and methods for wireless downhole positioning are provided. The method can include synchronizing a first clock with a second clock, wherein the first clock is disposed in a first transmitter, wherein the first transmitter is disposed at a known location, and wherein the second clock is disposed in a downhole tool. The method can further include disposing the downhole tool into a wellbore, wherein the downhole tool comprises a first receiver; transmitting a first wireless signal from the first transmitter along the wellbore at first time; receiving the first wireless signal via the first receiver at a second time; determining a first elapsed time between the first time and the second time; and determining a first downhole position of the downhole tool based on the first elapsed time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Linley Fripp, Richard Decena Ornelaz, Gregory Thomas Werkheiser
  • Interval control valve including an expanding metal sealed and anchored joints
    Patent number: 11454083
    Abstract: Provided is an interval control valve. The interval control valve, in one aspect, includes a tubular housing, the tubular housing having one or more openings extending there through, and a sliding sleeve positioned within the tubular, the sliding sleeve configured to move between a closed position closing a fluid path between the one or more opening and an interior of the tubular housing, and an open position opening the fluid path between the one or more openings and the interior of the tubular housing. The interval control valve according to this aspect additionally includes a tubular overlapping with the sliding sleeve, the sliding sleeve and the tubular defining an overlapping space, and an expanded metal joint located in at least a portion of the overlapping space, the expanded metal joint comprising a metal that has expanded in response to hydrolysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Pranay Asthana, Christian Alexander Jelly, David Joe Steele, Michael Linley Fripp
  • Dissolvable setting tool or hydraulic fracturing operations
    Patent number: 11454101
    Abstract: A system for deploying an untethered dissolvable frac package for use in a hydraulic fracturing operation includes a dissolvable or degradable frac package with a dissolvable or degradable setting tool. The setting tool of the dissolvable frac package is configured to deploy a dissolvable frac plug at a predetermined position along the wellbore string and dissolve over time in the wellbore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Albert Winkler, Andrew Penno, Michael Linley Fripp
  • Delay coating for wellbore isolation device
    Patent number: 11448033
    Abstract: A wellbore isolation device includes a mandrel, a sealing element disposed around at least a portion of the mandrel, and a delay coating disposed on at least a portion of an outer surface of the sealing element. The sealing element includes a swellable material and the delay coating covers a cross-linked polymer. The delay coating is configured to swell or degrade in a wellbore fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignees: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC., BOARD OF REGENTS, THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SYSTEM
    Inventors: Michael Linley Fripp, Xiaoguang Allan Zhong, Kejia Yang, Walter Voit, Nelson Yan Loo Lee, Yong Dai Tan, Bing Hong Chee, Ee Wen Wong
  • Reverse cementing valve system and method employing a double flapper valve with sliding sleeve and drillable nose
    Patent number: 11448038
    Abstract: A reverse cementing apparatus having a reverse cementing body with an internal bore, the reverse cementing body being coupleable to the downhole end of a casing pipe. The apparatus may further have a valve actuable from a closed to an open configuration, the closed configuration obstructing flow of fluid through the internal bore of the reverse cementing body. The valve may be configured to obstruct flow in an uphole direction during deployment but permit flow in the downhole direction. The apparatus further includes a port provided extending through a wall of the reverse cementing valve body from the internal bore to external the reverse cementing body, a fluid communication channel extending from the port to the internal bore. An actuable barrier member may be provided which is actuable to a closed position obstructing flow of fluid through the port upon actuation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Jinhua Cao, Michael Linley Fripp, Tor Sigve Saetre, Lonnie Carl Helms