Patents by Inventor Ralph Echols

Ralph Echols 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: 20090277649
    Abstract: In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, a system and method for forming an annular isolator between production tubing and a borehole wall is provided. A section of expandable tubing is installed in a borehole, and a sleeve disposed around a surface of the tubing cooperates with the tubing to form a fluid chamber. The sleeve includes a first portion that is predisposed to expand outwardly under fluid pressure from the fluid chamber, and a second portion that is configured such that, when expanded due to fluid pressure, the second portion stores energy that is biased to sustain the fluid pressure within the chamber, in response to a change in fluid volume. The tubing may be expanded using a tool disposed within the tubing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2004
    Publication date: November 12, 2009
    Inventors: John Gano, Ralph Echols
  • Publication number: 20080230234
    Abstract: In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, a system and method for forming an annular isolator between production tubing and a borehole wall is provided. A section of expandable tubing is installed in a borehole, and a sleeve disposed around a surface of the tubing cooperates with the tubing to form a fluid chamber. The sleeve includes a first portion that is predisposed to expand outwardly under fluid pressure from the fluid chamber, and a second portion that is configured such that, when expanded due to fluid pressure, the second portion stores energy that is biased to sustain the fluid pressure within the chamber, in response to a change in fluid volume. The tubing may be expanded using a tool disposed within the tubing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2004
    Publication date: September 25, 2008
    Inventors: John Gano, Ralph Echols
  • Publication number: 20070267201
    Abstract: The present disclosure addressed apparatus and methods for forming an annular isolator in a borehole after installation of production tubing. Annular seal means are carried in or on production tubing as it is run into a borehole. In conjunction with expansion of the tubing, the seal is deployed to form an annular isolator. An inflatable element carried on the tubing may be inflated with a fluid carried in the tubing and forced into the inflatable element during expansion of the tubing. Reactive chemicals may be carried in the tubing and injected into the annulus to react with each other and ambient fluids to increase in volume and harden into an annular seal. An elastomeric sleeve, ring or band carried on the tubing may be expanded into contact with a borehole wall and may have its radial dimension increased in conjunction with tubing expansion to form an annular isolator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2007
    Publication date: November 22, 2007
    Applicant: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Michael Brezinski, Gregory Chitwood, Ralph Echols, Gary Funkhouser, John Gano, William Henderson, Paul Herman, Marion Kilgore, Jody McGlothen, Ronald Powell, Alex Procyk, Thomas Ray, Michael Sanders, Roger Schultz, David Steele, Robert Taylor, Bradley Todd, Cynthia Tuckness
  • Publication number: 20070114017
    Abstract: The present disclosure addressed apparatus and methods for forming an annular isolator in a borehole after installation of production tubing. Annular seal means are carried in or on production tubing as it is run into a borehole. In conjunction with expansion of the tubing, the seal is deployed to form an annular isolator. An inflatable element carried on the tubing may be inflated with a fluid carried in the tubing and forced into the inflatable element during expansion of the tubing. Reactive chemicals may be carried in the tubing and injected into the annulus to react with each other and ambient fluids to increase in volume and harden into an annular seal. An elastomeric sleeve, ring or band carried on the tubing may be expanded into contact with a borehole wall and may have its radial dimension increased in conjunction with tubing expansion to form an annular isolator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2007
    Publication date: May 24, 2007
    Applicant: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Michael Brezinski, Ralph Echols, Gary Funkhouser, William Henderson, Marion Kilgore, Ronald Powell, Robert Taylor, Bradley Todd
  • Publication number: 20070114044
    Abstract: The present disclosure addressed apparatus and methods for forming an annular isolator in a borehole after installation of production tubing. Annular seal means are carried in or on production tubing as it is run into a borehole. In conjunction with expansion of the tubing, the seal is deployed to form an annular isolator. An inflatable element carried on the tubing may be inflated with a fluid carried in the tubing and forced into the inflatable element during expansion of the tubing. Reactive chemicals may be carried in the tubing and injected into the annulus to react with each other and ambient fluids to increase in volume and harden into an annular seal. An elastomeric sleeve, ring or band carried on the tubing may be expanded into contact with a borehole wall and may have its radial dimension increased in conjunction with tubing expansion to form an annular isolator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2007
    Publication date: May 24, 2007
    Applicant: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Michael Brezinski, Gregory Chitwood, Ralph Echols, Gary Funkhouser, John Gano, William Henderson, Marion Kilgore, Jody McGlothen, Ronald Powell, Alex Procyk, Thomas Ray, Michael Sanders, Roger Schultz, Robert Taylor, Bradley Todd, Cynthia Tuckness
  • Publication number: 20060266530
    Abstract: In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, a system and method for forming a seal within tubing is provided. A section of tubing is installed in a borehole. The tubing has an inflatable element disposed along an inner surface of the tubing. The inflatable element is predisposed to expand inwardly under fluid pressure. A fluid pressure is applied to the inflatable element using a tool within the tubing, and the inflatable element is expanded to form a seal within the tubing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2005
    Publication date: November 30, 2006
    Inventor: Ralph Echols
  • Publication number: 20060157257
    Abstract: A fluid flow control device (130) for use in a wellbore to control the inflow of production fluids comprises a screen assembly (132) positioned around a base pipe (134). The base pipe (134) has a blank pipe section and a perforated section including at least one fluid passageway (136). The screen assembly (132) has a filter medium section (142) positioned around the blank pipe section and defining a first region (144) therebetween and a housing section (146) positioned around the perforated section defining a second region (148) therebetween with a sleeve (150) slidably positioned therein. When it is desired to prevent the inflow of the production fluids through the fluid flow control device (130), the sleeve (150) is operated from a first position to a second position which prevent fluid flow from the second region (148) to the fluid passageway (136).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2006
    Publication date: July 20, 2006
    Inventors: Colby Ross, Ralph Echols, Brock Watson
  • Publication number: 20060090903
    Abstract: In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, a system and method for forming an annular isolator between production tubing and a borehole wall is provided. A section of expandable tubing is installed in a borehole, and a sleeve disposed around a surface of the tubing cooperates with the tubing to form a fluid chamber. The sleeve includes a first portion that is predisposed to expand outwardly under fluid pressure from the fluid chamber, and a second portion that is configured such that, when expanded due to fluid pressure, the second portion stores energy that is biased to sustain the fluid pressure within the chamber, in response to a change in fluid volume. The tubing may be expanded using a tool disposed within the tubing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2004
    Publication date: May 4, 2006
    Inventors: John Gano, Ralph Echols
  • Publication number: 20050092485
    Abstract: The present disclosure addressed apparatus and methods for forming an annular isolator in a borehole after installation of production tubing. Annular seal means are carried in or on production tubing as it is run into a borehole. In conjunction with expansion of the tubing, the seal is deployed to form an annular isolator. An inflatable element carried on the tubing may be inflated with a fluid carried in the tubing and forced into the inflatable element during expansion of the tubing. Reactive chemicals may be carried in the tubing and injected into the annulus to react with each other and ambient fluids to increase in volume and harden into an annular seal. An elastomeric sleeve, ring or band carried on the tubing may be expanded into contact with a borehole wall and may have its radial dimension increased in conjunction with tubing expansion to form an annular isolator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2004
    Publication date: May 5, 2005
    Inventors: Michael Brezinski, Gregory Chitwood, Ralph Echols, Gary Funkhouser, John Gano, Paul Herman, Marion Kilgore, Ronald Powell, Thomas Ray, Michael Sanders, David Steele, Robert Taylor, Bradley Todd, Cynthia Tuckness
  • Publication number: 20050023003
    Abstract: The present disclosure addresses apparatus and methods for forming an annular isolator in a borehole after installation of production tubing. A first deployable annular isolator is carried on tubing as it is positioned in a borehole. An annular isolator forming material is placed in the annulus around the first deployable isolator. The first isolator is then deployed into the material in the annulus to form a combined isolator. The annular isolator forming material is carried in a compartment in the tubing and forced from the compartment into the annulus. A second deployable isolator may be deployed before placing the material in the annulus to resist annular flow of the material before the first isolator is deployed. The second isolator may be deployed by material from the compartment. A second compartment may be provided to deploy the first isolator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2004
    Publication date: February 3, 2005
    Inventors: Ralph Echols, John Gano, Joshua Hornsby
  • Patent number: 6782948
    Abstract: A multi-zone packing system having unique features that allow for remote operation, thereby eliminating the need to raise and lower a work string and crossover tool to various zones of interest during a frac pack, gravel pack or related completion procedure. The squeeze pack system has a crossover tool or port collocated with each zone of interest and remotely operated closing devices to allow for the setting of each packer and the packing job to be performed with minimal or no movement of the work string.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Ralph Echols, Phillip Thomas, Travis Hailey