Patents by Inventor Steven R. Radford

Steven R. Radford 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: 20150152686
    Abstract: Expandable reamers are configured to operate in a first, retracted state in which a plurality of blades is in a retracted position when a sliding sleeve is in a first sleeve position and a seat is in a first seat position, to operate in a second, extended state in which the plurality of blades is movable to an extended position when the sliding sleeve is in at least a second sleeve position and the seat is in the first seat position, and to operate in a third, retracted state in which the plurality of blades is returned to the retracted position when the sliding sleeve is in the at least a second position and the seat is in a second seat position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2015
    Publication date: June 4, 2015
    Inventors: Steven R. Radford, Marcus Oesterberg, S. Richard Gentry
  • Patent number: 9038748
    Abstract: Expandable apparatus for use in subterranean boreholes include at least one member configured to move between a retracted position and an extended position. A latching member disposed in the tubular body may selectively retain the at least one member in the retracted position. Methods of operating an expandable apparatus include securing at least one member of the expandable apparatus in a retracted position by engaging an inner wall of a tubular body with at least one latch member disposed in at least one aperture formed in a latch sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Steven R. Radford, Khoi Q. Trinh, S. Richard Gentry
  • Patent number: 9038749
    Abstract: Expandable apparatus for use in subterranean boreholes include at least one member configured to move between a retracted position and an extended position. Components of the expandable apparatus may include at least one surface for removing debris proximate to the tubular body. Components of the expandable apparatus may be configured to enable the expandable apparatus to increase a diameter of a subterranean borehole by greater than twenty percent. Components of the expandable apparatus may be configured to restrict fluid flow to nozzle assemblies. The expandable apparatus may include a protect sleeve having a push sleeve disposed therein. Methods of operating an expandable apparatus may include removing debris with a surface of the expandable apparatus. Methods of operating an expandable apparatus may also include selectively flowing fluid to nozzle assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Steven R. Radford, Khoi Q. Trinh, Li Li
  • Patent number: 9027650
    Abstract: An apparatus for use downhole is disclosed. The apparatus includes a downhole device and an actuation device that includes: a housing including an annular chamber configured to house a first fluid therein and a piston in the annular chamber that divides the annular chamber into a first section and a second section. The piston is to a biasing member. A control unit enables movement of the first fluid from the first section to the second section to supply a second fluid under pressure to the tool to move the tool into an active position and from the second section to the first section to stop the supply of the second fluid to the tool to cause the tool to move into an inactive position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Steven R. Radford, John G. Evans, Bruce Stauffer, Johannes Witte
  • Publication number: 20150114715
    Abstract: Expandable tools for use in subterranean boreholes may include a body defining a fluid flow path extending through the body. A valve piston may be located within the fluid flow path of the body, the valve piston configured to move longitudinally within the body responsive to drilling fluid flowing through the fluid flow path above a threshold pressure. The valve piston may include a nozzle defining an opening at an end of the valve piston. A status indicator may be located within the flow path of the body, the status indicator being fixed relative to the body. The status indicator may be positioned and shaped to alter a cross-sectional area of the opening of the nozzle by at least partially entering the nozzle responsive to the valve piston moving longitudinally within the body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2015
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventors: Steven R. Radford, Khoi Q. Trinh
  • Publication number: 20150060143
    Abstract: An apparatus for use downhole is disclosed that, in one configuration includes a downhole tool configured to operate in an active position and an inactive position and an actuation device, which may include a control unit. The apparatus includes a telemetry unit that sends a first pattern recognition signal to the control unit to move the tool into the active position and a second pattern recognition signal to move the tool into the inactive position. The apparatus may be used for drilling a subterranean formation and include a tubular body and one or more extendable features, each positionally coupled to a track of the tubular body, and a drilling fluid flow path extending through a bore of the tubular body for conducting drilling fluid therethrough. A push sleeve is disposed within the tubular body and coupled to the one or more features.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: Steven R. Radford, Khoi Q. Trinh, Jason R. Habernal, R. Keith Glasgow, John G. Evans, Bruce Stauffer, Johannes Witte
  • Patent number: 8960333
    Abstract: Expandable reamers are configured to operate in a first, retracted state in which a plurality of blades is in a retracted position when a sliding sleeve is in a first sleeve position and a seat is in a first seat position, to operate in a second, extended state in which the plurality of blades is movable to an extended position when the sliding sleeve is in at least a second sleeve position and the seat is in the first seat position, and to operate in a third, retracted state in which the plurality of blades is returned to the retracted position when the sliding sleeve is in the at least a second position and the seat is in a second seat position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Steven R. Radford, Marcus Oesterberg, S. Richard Gentry
  • Patent number: 8939236
    Abstract: A status indicator for determining a position of an extendable member in an expandable apparatus. The status indicator is configured to decrease a cross-sectional area of a portion of a fluid path extending through an expandable causing a pressure of a fluid within the fluid path to increase when an extendable member of the expandable apparatus is in an extended position. By determining the pressure of the fluid within the fluid path, one can determine the position of the status indicator within the fluid path and thereby determine whether the extendable member of the expandable apparatus is in the extended or a retracted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Steven R. Radford, Khoi Q. Trinh
  • Publication number: 20140353032
    Abstract: An expandable reamer apparatus and methods for reaming a borehole, wherein a laterally movable blade carried by a tubular body may be selectively positioned at an inward position and an expanded position. The laterally movable blade, held inwardly by blade-biasing elements, may be forced outwardly by drilling fluid selectively allowed to communicate therewith by way of an actuation sleeve disposed within the tubular body. Alternatively, a separation element may transmit force or pressure from the drilling fluid to the movable blade. Further, a chamber in communication with the movable blade may be pressurized by way of a downhole turbine or pump. A ridged seal wiper, compensator, movable bearing pad, fixed bearing pad preceding the movable blade, or adjustable spacer element to alter expanded blade position may be included within the expandable reamer. In addition, a drilling fluid pressure response indicating an operational characteristic of the expandable reamer may be generated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2014
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Inventors: Steven R. Radford, Anurag Gautam, Robert A. Laing
  • Publication number: 20140338981
    Abstract: Expandable apparatus for use in subterranean boreholes include at least one member configured to move between a retracted position and an extended position. Components of the expandable apparatus may include at least one surface for removing debris proximate to the tubular body. Components of the expandable apparatus may be configured to enable the expandable apparatus to increase a diameter of a subterranean borehole by greater than twenty percent. Components of the expandable apparatus may be configured to restrict fluid flow to nozzle assemblies. The expandable apparatus may include a protect sleeve having a push sleeve disposed therein. Methods of operating an expandable apparatus may include removing debris with a surface of the expandable apparatus. Methods of operating an expandable apparatus may also include selectively flowing fluid to nozzle assemblies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Inventors: Steven R. Radford, Khoi Q. Trinh, Li Li
  • Patent number: 8881833
    Abstract: An apparatus for use downhole is disclosed that, in one configuration includes a downhole tool configured to operate in an active position and an inactive position and an actuation device, which may include a control unit. The apparatus includes a telemetry unit that sends a first pattern recognition signal to the control unit to move the tool into the active position and a second pattern recognition signal to move the tool into the inactive position. The apparatus may be used for drilling a subterranean formation and include a tubular body and one or more extendable features, each positionally coupled to a track of the tubular body, and a drilling fluid flow path extending through a bore of the tubular body for conducting drilling fluid therethrough. A push sleeve is disposed within the tubular body and coupled to the one or more features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Steven R. Radford, Khoi Q. Trinh, Jason R. Habernal, R. Keith Glasgow, Jr., John G. Evans, Bruce Stauffer, Johannes Witte
  • Publication number: 20140246246
    Abstract: Actuation assemblies include a valve assembly comprising a valve sleeve configured to rotate to selectively enable fluid flow through at least one aperture in the valve sleeve and into at least one port of an outer sleeve and a ball retention feature configured to selectively retain a ball dropped through a fluid passageway of the valve assembly in order to rotate the valve sleeve. Downhole tools include actuation assemblies. Methods for actuating a downhole tool include receiving a ball in an actuation assembly, rotating a valve sleeve of the actuation assembly to enable fluid to flow through a portion of the actuation assembly, and actuating a portion of the downhole tool with the fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2013
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Steven R. Radford
  • Publication number: 20140246236
    Abstract: Expandable reamer assemblies include an expandable reamer module and an activation module. An outer tubular body of the activation module is rigidly coupled to a tubular body of the expandable reamer module, and an activation member of the activation module is coupled to a sleeve of the expandable reamer module, the sleeve coupled to at least one blade and configured to move the at least one blade into an extended position. The sleeve moves axially responsive to axial movement of the activation member. Bottom-hole assemblies include an expandable reamer module and an activation module. The activation module is coupled to the expandable reamer module and configured to provide a motive force to the sleeve to move the sleeve opposite a direction of flow of drilling fluid. Methods of using expandable reamer modules include pairing two substantially identical expandable reamer modules and two respective different activation modules.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2013
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Inventors: Steven R. Radford, Marcus Oesterberg, Khoi Q. Trinh, Timothy Miller, Shyam Anandampillai, Chad T. Jurica, Wolfgang Eduard Herberg, Carsten Haubold, Christopher Jakubeit, Michael Wiegmann, Jens Behnsen, Hans-Juergen Faber
  • Publication number: 20140246242
    Abstract: A component of a drilling assembly comprises at least one blade having a gauge region comprising a bearing face for engaging a sidewall of a wellbore in a subterranean formation during rotation of the drilling assembly, and a rotationally leading edge rotationally preceding the bearing face and comprising an engagement profile comprising at least one of at least one chamfered surface and at least one radiused surface, the engagement profile different than another engagement profile of another rotationally leading edge of another region of the at least one blade. A drilling assembly, and a method for stabilizing a drilling assembly in a wellbore in a subterranean formation are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2013
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Steven R. Radford, Amanda K. Ohm, Ajay V. Kulkarni
  • Patent number: 8820439
    Abstract: Expandable apparatus for use in subterranean boreholes include at least one member configured to move between a retracted position and an extended position. Components of the expandable apparatus may include at least one surface for removing debris proximate to the tubular body. Components of the expandable apparatus may be configured to enable the expandable apparatus to increase a diameter of a subterranean borehole by greater than twenty percent. Components of the expandable apparatus may be configured to restrict fluid flow to nozzle assemblies. The expandable apparatus may include a protect sleeve having a push sleeve disposed therein. Methods of operating an expandable apparatus may include removing debris with a surface of the expandable apparatus. Methods of operating an expandable apparatus may also include selectively flowing fluid to nozzle assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Steven R. Radford, Khoi Q. Trinh, Li Li
  • Publication number: 20140238746
    Abstract: Actuation mechanisms for downhole assemblies in earth-boring applications may comprise a housing comprising an internal bore defining a flow path through the housing. An actuation member may be supported within the housing. A movable sleeve may be located within the internal bore and may be movable between a first position and a second position responsive to changes in flow rate of fluid flowing through the flow path. The movable sleeve may be biased toward the first position. The actuation member may be in an initial, pre-actuation position when the movable sleeve is initially located in the first position. The actuation member may be movable to a subsequent, pre-actuation position when the movable sleeve is located in the second position. The actuation member may be released from the actuation mechanism when the movable sleeve is returned to the first position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2013
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Steven R. Radford
  • Patent number: 8813871
    Abstract: An expandable reamer apparatus and methods for reaming a borehole, wherein a laterally movable blade carried by a tubular body may be selectively positioned at an inward position and an expanded position. The laterally movable blade, held inwardly by blade-biasing elements, may be forced outwardly by drilling fluid selectively allowed to communicate therewith by way of an actuation sleeve disposed within the tubular body. Alternatively, a separation element may transmit force or pressure from the drilling fluid to the movable blade. Further, a chamber in communication with the movable blade may be pressurized by way of a downhole turbine or pump. A ridged seal wiper, compensator, movable bearing pad, fixed bearing pad preceding the movable blade, or adjustable spacer element to alter expanded blade position may be included within the expandable reamer. In addition, a drilling fluid pressure response indicating an operational characteristic of the expandable reamer may be generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Steven R. Radford, Anurag Gautam, Robert A. Laing
  • Publication number: 20140158350
    Abstract: An apparatus for flowing a tool string along a wellbore tubular may include a flow restrictor having a diametrically expanded position and a diametrically retracted position. The flow restrictor may include at least one sealing element that sealingly engages the wellbore tubular when in the diametrically expanded position. The apparatus also includes an actuator configured to move the at least one sealing element to at least a position intermediate of the open and the closed position. The actuator may be responsive to a control signal that is generated locally or transmitted from a remote location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2013
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Homero C. Castillo, Otto N. Fanini, Steven R. Radford, Jeffrey B. McMeans, John G. Evans
  • Publication number: 20140158369
    Abstract: An apparatus for flowing a tool string along a wellbore tubular includes a flow restrictor having a diametrically expanded position and a diametrically retracted position. The flow restrictor sealingly engages the wellbore tubular when in the diametrically expanded position. The apparatus also includes a joint connected to the flow restrictor. The joint actuates the flow restrictor between the expanded position to the retracted position while moving between an open and a closed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2012
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Steven R. Radford, Jeffery B. McMeans, John G. Evans
  • Patent number: 8727041
    Abstract: Expandable apparatus for use in subterranean boreholes include a tubular body having at least one opening and at least one member positioned within the at least one opening. The member is configured to move between a retracted position and an extended position. A sleeve member including a constricted portion may be disposed in the tubular body and may selectively retain the at least one member in the retracted position. In some embodiments, the sleeve member may be biased in an initial position. Methods of moving a member of an expandable apparatus include repeating retracting and expanding of the member. Methods of triggering an expandable apparatus include forming a constriction in a fluid flow path extending through a sleeve member to move the sleeve member in a downhole direction responsive to fluid flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventor: Steven R. Radford