Patents by Inventor Michael W. Kuhlman

Michael W. Kuhlman 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: 11519381
    Abstract: A progressing cavity device operates as a motor to impart torque to a bit. A stator of the device defines an internal profile having uphole stages with a first dimension being less than a second dimension of downhole stage. A rotor has an external profile with a constant outer dimension along its length. Disposed in the stator, the rotor defines cavities with the stator and is rotatable with pumped fluid progressing in the cavities from the uphole to downhole to transfer torque to the drive toward the downhole end. Although the rotor is subjected at the downhole end to a reactive torque from the bit, the interference fit of the rotor's constant dimension with the stator's downhole stages is less than with the uphole stages, which can mitigate issues with heat buildup in the downhole stages. The device can also operates as a progressing cavity pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: WEATHERFORD TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, LLC
    Inventors: Harjinder Singh Parhar, Travis Lee Chometsky, Michael W. Kuhlman, Wayne Robert Pilgrim
  • Patent number: 11035338
    Abstract: A progressing cavity device operates as a motor to impart torque to a bit. A stator of the device defines an internal profile having uphole stages with a first dimension being less than a second dimension of downhole stage. A rotor has an external profile with a constant outer dimension along its length. Disposed in the stator, the rotor defines cavities with the stator and is rotatable with pumped fluid progressing in the cavities from the uphole to downhole to transfer torque to the drive toward the downhole end. Although the rotor is subjected at the downhole end to a reactive torque from the bit, the interference fit of the rotor's constant dimension with the stator's downhole stages is less than with the uphole stages, which can mitigate issues with heat buildup in the downhole stages. The device can also operates as a progressing cavity pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Harjinder Singh Parhar, Travis Lee Chometsky, Michael W. Kuhlman, Wayne Robert Pilgrim
  • Publication number: 20200256311
    Abstract: A progressing cavity device operates as a motor to impart torque to a bit. A stator of the device defines an internal profile having uphole stages with a first dimension being less than a second dimension of downhole stage. A rotor has an external profile with a constant outer dimension along its length. Disposed in the stator, the rotor defines cavities with the stator and is rotatable with pumped fluid progressing in the cavities from the uphole to downhole to transfer torque to the drive toward the downhole end. Although the rotor is subjected at the downhole end to a reactive torque from the bit, the interference fit of the rotor's constant dimension with the stator's downhole stages is less than with the uphole stages, which can mitigate issues with heat buildup in the downhole stages. The device can also operates as a progressing cavity pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2020
    Publication date: August 13, 2020
    Inventors: Harjinder Singh Parhar, Travis Lee Chometsky, Michael W. Kuhlman, Wayne Robert Pilgrim
  • Publication number: 20190145374
    Abstract: A progressing cavity device operates as a motor to impart torque to a bit. A stator of the device defines an internal profile having uphole stages with a first dimension being less than a second dimension of downhole stage. A rotor has an external profile with a constant outer dimension along its length. Disposed in the stator, the rotor defines cavities with the stator and is rotatable with pumped fluid progressing in the cavities from the uphole to downhole to transfer torque to the drive toward the downhole end. Although the rotor is subjected at the downhole end to a reactive torque from the bit, the interference fit of the rotor's constant dimension with the stator's downhole stages is less than with the uphole stages, which can mitigate issues with heat buildup in the downhole stages. The device can also operates as a progressing cavity pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2017
    Publication date: May 16, 2019
    Inventors: Harjinder Singh Parhar, Travis Lee Chometsky, Michael W. Kuhlman, Wayne Robert Pilgrim
  • Publication number: 20150218938
    Abstract: An MWD apparatus has a bottomhole assembly for supporting a tool string and an antenna. The tool string has a sensor and an electromagnetic telemetry device. The tool string affixes in a muleshoe and carrier sub of the assembly using a stinger and fastener. An antenna disposes in an emitter sub of the assembly. The antenna is attached to extend from the tool string so the antenna is in electrical communication with the telemetry device. Finally, the portions of the assembly are connected together, and the antenna is affixed in the uphole portion of the assembly using a conductive landing and one or more fasteners. In this way, the tool string and the antenna are held in tension inside the assembly. The MWD apparatus can be used with an air drilling assembly having an air hammer and a motor coupled downhole of the apparatus. Non-magnetic and regular drill collars can couple uphole of the apparatus, along with a jet sub.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2014
    Publication date: August 6, 2015
    Applicant: Weatherford/Lamb, Inc.
    Inventors: Denis Weisbeck, Ryan O'Connor, Giuseppe Trapasso, Clayton W. MacMillan, Aliarcid F. Rodriguez, Rajko F. Crnogorac, Troy Pulfer, Steven P. Malagarie, Jonathan F. Kuntz, Michael W. Kuhlman, Rudy C. Flores, Michael V. Ludinsky