Patents by Inventor Philip M. Snider

Philip M. Snider 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).

  • Publication number: 20220381119
    Abstract: A perforating gun string is configured to perforate a casing of a well, and the perforating gun string includes a latch mechanism configured to engage with the casing, one or more perforating guns connected with a cable to the latch mechanism, and a global cable that releasably holds together the latch mechanism and the one or more individual perforating guns. The perforating gun string may also comprise a spreading mechanism configured to move away from the latch mechanism and to spread the one or more individual perforating guns away from the latch mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2022
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Applicant: GEODYNAMICS, INC.
    Inventors: Derek Ingraham, Philip M. Snider
  • Patent number: 11268357
    Abstract: A perforating gun includes first and second shaped charges. Each of the shaped charges includes a case, a liner, and an explosive. Each liner has a subtended angle about an apex of the liner. A first jet formed by the first shaped charge creates a first entrance hole in a first region of a well casing, and a second jet formed by the second shaped charge, creates a second entrance hole in a second region of the casing. The second region is below the first region in the casing. A ratio of a diameter of the first entrance hole to a diameter of the second entrance hole is 1 when the subtended angle is between 100° and 110°, the ratio is less than 1 when the subtended angle is between 90° and 100°, and the ratio is greater than 1 when the subtended angle is greater than 110°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: GEODYNAMICS, INC.
    Inventors: Wenbo Yang, Philip M. Snider, John T. Hardesty, David S. Wesson
  • Patent number: 11098567
    Abstract: A method for fracturing a well casing includes forming plural perforation clusters into a stage N associated with the well casing; fracturing the plural perforation clusters; forming a current stage N+1 by placing a plug within the stage N, to isolate a first subset of the plural perforation clusters from a second subset of the plural perforation clusters; and fracturing a second time the second subset, but not the first subset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: GEODYNAMICS, INC.
    Inventors: Philip M. Snider, David S. Wesson, Steve Baumgartner, John T. Hardesty
  • Publication number: 20210040823
    Abstract: A perforating gun includes first and second shaped charges. Each of the shaped charges includes a case, a liner, and an explosive. Each liner has a subtended angle about an apex of the liner. A first jet formed by the first shaped charge creates a first entrance hole in a first region of a well casing, and a second jet formed by the second shaped charge, creates a second entrance hole in a second region of the casing. The second region is below the first region in the casing. A ratio of a diameter of the first entrance hole to a diameter of the second entrance hole is 1 when the subtended angle is between 100° and 110°, the ratio is less than 1 when the subtended angle is between 90° and 100°, and the ratio is greater than 1 when the subtended angle is greater than 110°.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2020
    Publication date: February 11, 2021
    Inventors: Wenbo YANG, Philip M. SNIDER, John T. HARDESTY, David S. WESSON
  • Patent number: 10871048
    Abstract: A composite plug for sealing a well includes a mandrel having an internal bore, the mandrel having a first end and a second end, opposite to the first end, and the bore extending from the first end to the second end; plural elements distributed along the mandrel in a given order and configured to seal the well; and a bypass mechanism, different from the bore, built into the composite plug and configured to allow a controlled leak of a fluid from the well, past the composite plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: GEODYNAMICS, INC.
    Inventors: John T. Hardesty, Philip M. Snider, David S. Wesson
  • Patent number: 10837266
    Abstract: A shaped charge comprising a case, a liner positioned within the case, and an explosive filled within the case. The liner is shaped with a subtended angle ranging from 100° to 120° about an apex, a radius, and an aspect ratio such that a jet formed with the explosive creates an entrance hole in a well casing. The jet creates a perforation tunnel in a hydrocarbon formation, wherein a diameter of the jet, a diameter of the entrance hole diameter, and a width and length of the perforation tunnel are substantially constant and unaffected with changes in design and environmental factors such as a thickness and composition of the well casing, position of the charge in the perforating gun, position of the perforating gun in the well casing, a water gap in the wellbore casing, and type of the hydrocarbon formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: GEODYNAMICS, INC.
    Inventors: Wenbo Yang, Philip M. Snider, John T. Hardesty, David S. Wesson
  • Publication number: 20200300072
    Abstract: A method for fracturing a well casing includes forming plural perforation clusters into a stage N associated with the well casing; fracturing the plural perforation clusters; forming a current stage N+1 by placing a plug within the stage N, to isolate a first subset of the plural perforation clusters from a second subset of the plural perforation clusters; and fracturing a second time the second subset, but not the first subset.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2020
    Publication date: September 24, 2020
    Inventors: Philip M. SNIDER, David S. WESSON, Steve BAUMGARTNER, John T. HARDESTY
  • Patent number: 10774624
    Abstract: A shaped charge comprising a case, a liner positioned within the case, and an explosive filled within the case. The liner is shaped with a subtended angle ranging from 100° to 120° about an apex, a radius, and an aspect ratio such that a jet formed with the explosive creates an entrance hole in a well casing. The jet creates a perforation tunnel in a hydrocarbon formation, wherein a diameter of the jet, a diameter of the entrance hole diameter, and a width and length of the perforation tunnel are substantially constant and unaffected with changes in design and environmental factors such as a thickness and composition of the well casing, position of the charge in the perforating gun, position of the perforating gun in the well casing, a water gap in the wellbore casing, and type of the hydrocarbon formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: GEODYNAMICS, INC.
    Inventors: Wenbo Yang, Philip M. Snider, John T. Hardesty, David S. Wesson
  • Patent number: 10753183
    Abstract: A re-fracturing method using a perforating gun system in a multistring wellbore casing with an inner well casing installed in an outer well casing. The charges in the perforating system include a case, a liner positioned within the case, and an explosive filled within the liner. The liner shaped with a subtended angle about an apex of the liner such that a jet formed with the explosive creates an entrance hole in the inner well casing and the outer well casing; the liner having an exterior surface, the exterior surface substantially conical proximate the apex; the subtended angle of the liner ranges from 100° to 120°. The method includes covering the existing openings with the inner casing, perforating with the perforating system and creating constant diameter entrance holes in the outer casing and fracturing through the inner casing and outer casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: GEODYNAMICS, INC.
    Inventors: Wenbo Yang, Philip M. Snider, David Ambler, David Cuthill, John T. Hardesty, David S. Wesson
  • Patent number: 10605040
    Abstract: A downhole isolation tool for sealing a well, the downhole isolation tool including a sealing element having an internal surface that defines a bore of the downhole isolation tool. The sealing element includes a plastically deformable material that irreversibly deforms when swaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: GEODYNAMICS, INC.
    Inventors: John T. Hardesty, Michael Wroblicky, Philip M. Snider, David S. Wesson
  • Publication number: 20190195055
    Abstract: A shaped charge comprising a case, a liner positioned within the case, and an explosive filled within the case. The liner is shaped with a subtended angle ranging from 100° to 120° about an apex, a radius, and an aspect ratio such that a jet formed with the explosive creates an entrance hole in a well casing. The jet creates a perforation tunnel in a hydrocarbon formation, wherein a diameter of the jet, a diameter of the entrance hole diameter, and a width and length of the perforation tunnel are substantially constant and unaffected with changes in design and environmental factors such as a thickness and composition of the well casing, position of the charge in the perforating gun, position of the perforating gun in the well casing, a water gap in the wellbore casing, and type of the hydrocarbon formation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2019
    Publication date: June 27, 2019
    Inventors: Wenbo YANG, Philip M. Snider, John T. Hardesty, David S. Wesson
  • Publication number: 20190186242
    Abstract: A shaped charge comprising a case, a liner positioned within the case, and an explosive filled within the case. The liner is shaped with a subtended angle ranging from 100° to 120° about an apex, a radius, and an aspect ratio such that a jet formed with the explosive creates an entrance hole in a well casing. The jet creates a perforation tunnel in a hydrocarbon formation, wherein a diameter of the jet, a diameter of the entrance hole diameter, and a width and length of the perforation tunnel are substantially constant and unaffected with changes in design and environmental factors such as a thickness and composition of the well casing, position of the charge in the perforating gun, position of the perforating gun in the well casing, a water gap in the wellbore casing, and type of the hydrocarbon formation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2019
    Publication date: June 20, 2019
    Inventors: Wenbo YANG, Philip M. SNIDER, John T. HARDESTY, David S. WESSON
  • Patent number: 10294752
    Abstract: A catch-and-release tool conveyed with a well casing for use in a wellbore comprising an outer housing having flow ports therethrough, a functioning apparatus disposed within the outer housing comprising a movable member/sleeve and a holding device, and a blocking apparatus comprising a blocking member configured to block the flow ports in a first position. When a ball deployed into the well casing passes through the tool in a downstream direction and moves back in an upstream direction, the restriction element engages onto the holding device and moves the movable member such that a port is exposed to up hold pressure and the blocking member travels to a second position in a reverse direction unblocking flow ports and enabling fluid communication to the wellbore. The ball is thereafter released in an upstream direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: GEODYNAMICS, INC.
    Inventors: Dennis E. Roessler, Varun Garg, John T. Hardesty, Kevin R. George, Raymond C. Shaffer, Philip M. Snider, David S. Wesson
  • Publication number: 20190136656
    Abstract: A composite plug for sealing a well includes a mandrel having an internal bore, the mandrel having a first end and a second end, opposite to the first end, and the bore extending from the first end to the second end; plural elements distributed along the mandrel in a given order and configured to seal the well; and a bypass mechanism, different from the bore, built into the composite plug and configured to allow a controlled leak of a fluid from the well, past the composite plug.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2018
    Publication date: May 9, 2019
    Inventors: John T. HARDESTY, Philip M. SNIDER, David S. WESSON
  • Publication number: 20190106961
    Abstract: A downhole isolation tool for sealing a well, the downhole isolation tool including a sealing element having an internal surface that defines a bore of the downhole isolation tool. The sealing element includes a plastically deformable material that irreversibly deforms when swaged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2018
    Publication date: April 11, 2019
    Inventors: John T. HARDESTY, Michael WROBLICKY, Philip M. SNIDER, David S. WESSON
  • Patent number: 10240446
    Abstract: A seat forming apparatus for use in a downhole tool comprising a driving member and dog elements that are disposed and movable within an outer housing of the downhole tool has been disclosed. The dog elements align in grooves recessed in the outer housing of the downhole tool in a first position and disengage from the grooves in a second position. The driving member travels in a reverse direction and enables the dog elements to move from the first position to the second position and form a seat in the downhole tool. The seat formed has an inner diameter smaller than the restriction element to allow the restriction element to be seated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: GEODYNAMICS, INC.
    Inventors: Dennis E. Roessler, Philip M. Snider, David S. Wesson
  • Patent number: 10221654
    Abstract: An arming apparatus for arming a downhole tool in a wellbore casing comprising an arming member and a holding device. The arming member is disposed within an outer housing of the downhole tool and the holding device is mechanically coupled to the arming member. When a ball deployed into the wellbore casing passes through the downhole tool in a downhole direction and moves back in an uphole direction due to reverse flow, the ball engages on the holding device and functions the arming member such that a pressure actuating device in the downhole tool is armed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: GEODYNAMICS, INC.
    Inventors: Dennis E. Roessler, Varun Garg, Kevin R. George, Michael D. Wroblicky, Raymond C. Shaffer, John T. Hardesty, Philip M. Snider, David S. Wesson
  • Patent number: 10184319
    Abstract: A seat forming apparatus for use in a downhole tool comprising a driving member and a seating restriction. The driving member and the seating restriction are mechanically disposed within an outer housing of the downhole tool. When the driving member drives into the seating restriction, the seating restriction or the driving member bend or buckle inwards to form a seat in the downhole tool. The inner diameter of the seat is configured to allow a restriction element to be seated in the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: GEODYNAMICS, INC.
    Inventors: John T. Hardesty, Raymond C. Shaffer, Dennis E. Roessler, Varun Garg, Kevin R. George, Philip M. Snider, David S. Wesson
  • Patent number: 10180037
    Abstract: A wellbore plug isolation system and method for positioning plugs to isolate fracture zones in a horizontal, vertical, or deviated wellbore is disclosed. The system/method includes a wellbore casing laterally drilled into a hydrocarbon formation, a wellbore setting tool (WST) that sets a large inner diameter (ID) restriction sleeve member (RSM), and a restriction plug element (RPE). The RPE includes a first composition and a second composition that changes phase or strength under wellbore conditions. After a stage is perforated, RPEs are deployed to isolate toe ward pressure communication. The second composition changes phase to create flow channels in the RPE during production. In an alternate system/method, the second composition changes phase or strength thereby deforming the RPE to reduce size and pass through the RSM's. The RPEs are removed or left behind prior to initiating well production without the need for a milling procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: GEODYNAMICS, INC.
    Inventors: John T. Hardesty, Michael D. Wroblicky, Philip M. Snider
  • Patent number: 10161241
    Abstract: A sleeve actuation method for actuating sleeves in a reverse direction. The method includes a use of stored energy created by injecting into a connected region of a well such that the stored energy is used to actuate a tool installed in a wellbore casing that is either heel ward or uphole of the connected region. The tool actuated in a direction from toe end to heel end while the tool reconfigures to create a seat for seating plugging elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: GEODYNAMICS, INC.
    Inventors: Philip M Snider, David S Wesson