Patents by Inventor Thomas C. Gipson
Thomas C. Gipson 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).
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Patent number: 6527055Abstract: A means and method for improving the injection of coiled tubing into and from a well by providing a secondary injection device for supplementing the thrust forces of the primary injector means. Use of the secondary injection device coacting in tandem with the coiled tubing injector permits developing significantly higher axial forces in the tubing than can be provided by the primary injector alone. The selectably operable thrust enhancement device of this invention provides a short, repeatable stroke in either direction. The thrust enhancement device operates by selectably gripping the tubing with a reciprocably moveable means in a first position, shifting the moveable means to a second position thereby moving the tubing, gripping the tubing with a static means at its new position, releasing the tubing from the moveable means, and returning the moveable means to its first position. When the thrust enhancement device is not needed for the injection operation, its gripping means are disengaged from the tubing.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2001Date of Patent: March 4, 2003Assignee: Coiled Tubing Solutions, Inc.Inventor: Thomas C. Gipson
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Patent number: 6502641Abstract: A novel rotary table is secured to the top of a well's BOP simplifying the making up of sectional tubing joints used in some aspects of operations with coiled tubing. The rotary table comprises top a bottom stationary housing affixed to the BOP, a top housing supported on the bottom housing by an annular bearing, a split clamp to transferring the weight of the tubing to the top housing and seals between the top and bottom housings and between the top housing and the tubing. More preferably, a coiled tubing rig is provided having a frame, a tiltable mast, an injector reel, a tubing straightener and a jib crane in combination with the rotary table for increased functionality including drilling surface hole using coiled tubing. The mast tilts between two positions, either aligning coiled tubing and injector with the BOP or aligning a jib crane and tubing elevators for manipulating sectional tubing including BHA onto and through the rotary table.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2000Date of Patent: January 7, 2003Assignee: Precision Drilling CorporationInventors: Gene J. Carriere, Thomas C. Gipson
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Patent number: 6408955Abstract: A first rig comprises a collapsible mast having one open side for receiving conventional sectional tubing and a second open side for receiving the injector of a second coiled tubing injection rig. Accordingly, lengths of sectional tubulars can be bandied or drawn up the first open side from the first rig; and coiled tubing can be introduced from the second side. A combination of strong and dual draw works, the dual open side mast and rotary table of a conventional rig minimize serial handling and enable making up both sectional tubing for assembling BHA's, drilling surface hole and making up to non-rotating coiled tubing from the coiled tubing injector.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2001Date of Patent: June 25, 2002Assignee: Precision Drilling CorporationInventor: Thomas C. Gipson
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Publication number: 20020029907Abstract: A novel rotary table is secured to the top of a well's BOP simplifying the making up of sectional tubing joints used in some aspects of operations with coiled tubing. The rotary table comprises top a bottom stationary housing affixed to the BOP, a top housing supported on the bottom housing by an annular bearing, a split clamp to transferring the weight of the tubing to the top housing and seals between the top and bottom housings and between the top housing and the tubing. More preferably, a coiled tubing rig is provided having a frame, a tiltable mast, an injector reel, a tubing straightener and a jib crane in combination with the rotary table for increased functionality including drilling surface hole using coiled tubing. The mast tilts between two positions, either aligning coiled tubing and injector with the BOP or aligning a jib crane and tubing elevators for manipulating sectional tubing including BHA onto and through the rotary table.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 17, 2001Publication date: March 14, 2002Applicant: Precision Drilling CorporationInventors: Gene J. Carriere, Thomas C. Gipson
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Patent number: 6332501Abstract: An injector is provided for injecting and withdrawing large diameter coiled tubing comprising a linear section of gripping blocks driven on an endless chain conveyor. The coiled tubing is forced into frictional engagement with the blocks by a corresponding linear array of rollers. The arrangement is gentle on the coiled tubing. The injector is not restricted in length and thus provides a linear driving section of configurable length for providing superior injection and pulling capacities. In combination with the strong draw works, the mast and rotary table of a conventional rig enables making up both sectional tubing for assembling BHA's, drilling surface hole and making up to non-rotating coiled tubing from the injector. Using a mast having two open sides and with dual draw works, increased functionality is provided and less serial handling.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 2000Date of Patent: December 25, 2001Assignee: Precision Drilling CorporationInventor: Thomas C. Gipson
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Publication number: 20010015274Abstract: An injector is provided for injecting and withdrawing large diameter coiled tubing comprising a linear section of gripping blocks driven on an endless chain conveyor. The coiled tubing is forced into frictional engagement with the blocks by a corresponding linear array of rollers. The arrangement is gentle on the coiled tubing. The injector is not restricted in length and thus provides a linear driving section of configurable length for providing superior injection and pulling capacities. In combination with the strong draw works, mast and rotary table of a conventional rig enabling making up both sectional tubing for assembling BHA's, drilling surface hole and making up to non-rotating coiled tubing from the injector. Using a mast having two open sides and with dual drawworks, increased functionality is provided and less serial handling.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 23, 2001Publication date: August 23, 2001Applicant: Plains Energy Services Ltd.Inventor: Thomas C. Gipson
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Patent number: 5839514Abstract: An improved apparatus and method for injecting and retrieving a length of coiled tubing and storing the tubing on a storage spool. An injector reel is pivotally mounted on a frame such that coiled tubing may be angularly injected to shallow, horizontal wells. A hold-down assembly is provided to individually adjust the pressure applied to the coiled tubing as it is injected into or retrieved from a well. The positioning of the injector reel and the storage spool in the injecting mode ensures a greater degree of wrapping of the coiled tubing around the injector reel to improve the control of the injection and retraction of the tubing. A vertically and horizontally adjustable storage spool cradle enables the operator to vary the width and diameter of the storage spools used in the apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 1997Date of Patent: November 24, 1998Assignee: Fleet Cementers, Inc.Inventor: Thomas C. Gipson
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Patent number: 5439066Abstract: A method and system for translating the orientation of a length of coil tubing from a generally vertical orientation to a generally horizontal orientation, inside a well borehole and downhole of a wellhead. A first conduit is installed and suspended in a well borehole. The conduit is provided with a coil tubing bender at the downhole end of the conduit. Coil tubing is injected into the conduit through an upper packer attached to the top section of the conduit. After a section of coil tubing is injected into the conduit, an outer coil tubing seal is securely affixed to the coil tubing. The coil tubing is run to the top of the bender; the packer is closed; and high pressure fluid is introduced between the upper packer and the outer seal inside the conduit. The fluid forces the coil tubing through the bender and translates the coil tubing from a vertical to horizontal orientation.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 1994Date of Patent: August 8, 1995Assignee: Fleet Cementers, Inc.Inventor: Thomas C. Gipson
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Patent number: 5409071Abstract: A method to cement a wellbore is provided wherein two fluids are transported into the wellbore through separate conduits, and combined within the volume to be cemented. The two fluids set to become a hardened cement after a short time period. The two fluids are preferably passed through a static mixer at the ends of the conduits within the wellbore to provide uniform contact between the two fluids. The two fluids are preferably a wellbore cement and an accelerator for that cement. Because the cement sets within a short time period, fluid loss from the wellbore is minimal. Additionally, the static head to which the formation is exposed is not excessive, even if a cement slurry having a density that exceeds the hydraulic fracture gradient of the formation is used.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 1994Date of Patent: April 25, 1995Assignee: Shell Oil CompanyInventors: Scott L. Wellington, Harold J. Vinegar, Thomas C. Gipson
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Patent number: 5297631Abstract: A method and apparatus for stimulating the production zone of an oil well having a high pressure gas gun and a coil tubing conduit to deliver cleaning, stimulating, and cooling liquid to the zone while firing the gun. The coil tubing conduit has discharge ports positioned to allow discharge of the liquid at or near the gun to provide cooling of the gun's electrical transmission line and the gun's moving parts. The gun may be gradually withdrawn from the production zone while continuing to fire the gun to stimulate the production zone.Type: GrantFiled: April 7, 1993Date of Patent: March 29, 1994Assignee: Fleet Cementers, Inc.Inventor: Thomas C. Gipson
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Patent number: 5069602Abstract: A low volume, hydraulic powered pump for attachment to small diameter, coiled tubing for pumping subsurface liquids from hydrocarbon formations. The pump is easily run into existing production well tubing by use of a coiled tubing unit and then connected to a power fluid pressuring apparatus. Power fluid actuates an actuator in the pump to pump liquids in the formation to the surface. The actuator has two piston heads connected by a connector rod which reciprocate in two separate chambers in the pump which are divided by a cross head seal member. A conduit in the actuator allows power fluid to be forced into the lower chamber to drive the actuator downward pumping subsurface liquids to the surface. Once the actuator completes its down stroke, pressure on the power fluid is released and the actuator is driven to its retract position by the hydrostatic pressure of the subsurface liquids pressing against the bottom surface of the upper piston head.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 1990Date of Patent: December 3, 1991Inventor: Thomas C. Gipson
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Patent number: 5027903Abstract: A method and apparatus for hanging off a coiled tubing velocity string in an existing, active gas production well. The method allows for the "hot" tapping into a charged coiled tubing run thereby eliminating the need for an end plug and blow out equipment on site. A sealed cutter assembly is connected to the hangoff assembly, the charged coiled tube is cut, and back pressure leakage is avoided by the use of a hangoff head which seals in two directions. The cutter assembly is removed and the coiled tubing velocity string is piped to a new sales line.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 1990Date of Patent: July 2, 1991Inventor: Thomas C. Gipson
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Patent number: 4673035Abstract: Apparatus for injecting tubing into a well having a storage reel which traverses in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of movement of the tubing as the tubing is being pulled off of or wound back onto the tubing storage means. The unit may also be provided with a platform on which the tubing injector reel may be elevated to allow the operation of the apparatus with elevated well heads. Also provided is a method of retrieving a length of coil tubing and storing the coil tubing on a storage reel.Type: GrantFiled: January 6, 1986Date of Patent: June 16, 1987Inventor: Thomas C. Gipson