Patents by Inventor Thomas Earl Burky

Thomas Earl Burky 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: 11920418
    Abstract: Provided is a casing washout perforating gun assembly for use in a wellbore. The casing washout perforating gun assembly, in one example, includes a carrier gun body, an uphole plurality of charges supported within the carrier gun body, and a downhole plurality of charges supported within the carrier gun body. According to this example, the uphole plurality of charges have an uphole size or uphole explosive design to perforate uphole openings having uphole opening areas within a wellbore casing, and the downhole plurality of charges have a different downhole size or different downhole explosive design to perforate downhole openings having downhole opening areas within the wellbore casing, and furthermore the downhole opening areas are at least 20 percent less than the uphole opening areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Earl Burky, Christopher C. Hoelscher, James Marshall Barker
  • Patent number: 11698245
    Abstract: This disclosure provides a stackable propellant module for use inside of a gas generation canister. The modules are designed to enable them to be individually fired rather than as a unitary mass, as done in conventional configurations. This enables the generation of a controlled pressure profile rather than an uncontrolled pressure profile determined by the environmental conditions downhole, such as temperature and pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas Earl Burky
  • Publication number: 20220178218
    Abstract: Provided is a casing washout perforating gun assembly for use in a wellbore. The casing washout perforating gun assembly, in one example, includes a carrier gun body, an uphole plurality of charges supported within the carrier gun body, and a downhole plurality of charges supported within the carrier gun body. According to this example, the uphole plurality of charges have an uphole size or uphole explosive design to perforate uphole openings having uphole opening areas within a wellbore casing, and the downhole plurality of charges have a different downhole size or different downhole explosive design to perforate downhole openings having downhole opening areas within the wellbore casing, and furthermore the downhole opening areas are at least 20 percent less than the uphole opening areas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2019
    Publication date: June 9, 2022
    Inventors: Thomas Earl Burky, Christopher C. Hoelscher, James Marshall Barker
  • Patent number: 11326422
    Abstract: A technique is provided for estimating perforated entry and exit hole diameters (EHD) of a casing string. In one embodiment, a method for predicting perforation outcomes may comprise selecting one or more variables for a perforating operation, determining an estimate of a perforating outcome for the perforating operation, and correcting the perforating outcome to obtain a corrected perforating outcome by applying a weighting based on historical perforating data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Earl Burky, Gerald Graves Craddock, Jr., James Harold Wight, Jonathan Paul Montiverdi
  • Patent number: 11261684
    Abstract: A downhole tubular cutting system includes a cutter comprising an explosive material configured to cut a tubular. The system further includes a generator body coupled to the cutter on an end of the cutter such that the generator body will be oriented uphole or downhole of the cutter when the cutter is positioned with the tubular. A detonating cord or igniter fuse is disposed around the generator body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Earl Burky, Darren Phillip Walters
  • Publication number: 20220042775
    Abstract: This disclosure provides a stackable propellant module for use inside of a gas generation canister. The modules are designed to enable them to be individually fired rather than as a unitary mass, as done in conventional configurations. This enables the generation of a controlled pressure profile rather than an uncontrolled pressure profile determined by the environmental conditions downhole, such as temperature and pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2021
    Publication date: February 10, 2022
    Inventor: Thomas Earl Burky
  • Patent number: 11162767
    Abstract: This disclosure provides a stackable propellant module for use inside of a gas generation canister. The modules are designed to enable them to be individually fired rather than as a unitary mass, as done in conventional configurations. This enables the generation of a controlled pressure profile rather than an uncontrolled pressure profile determined by the environmental conditions downhole, such as temperature and pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas Earl Burky
  • Publication number: 20210115765
    Abstract: A wellbore perforating apparatus and method according to which a perforating gun and a sensor sub are run into a wellbore toward a downhole location at which the wellbore is to be perforated. Detonable components of the perforating gun are energized to perforate the wellbore at the downhole location. An acceleration of the perforating gun and a pressure and a temperature of the wellbore are detected using the sensor sub during a time interval encompassing the energization of the detonable components. The detected acceleration, pressure, and temperature are compared to benchmark energetic responses for both detonation and deflagration events. Based on this comparison, a decision can be made as to whether an incubation period is needed to allow a reaction of the detonable components to weaken before retrieving the perforating gun from the wellbore.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2019
    Publication date: April 22, 2021
    Inventors: James Marshall Barker, Thomas Earl Burky
  • Patent number: 10982512
    Abstract: A wellbore perforating apparatus and method according to which a perforating gun and a sensor sub are run into a wellbore toward a downhole location at which the wellbore is to be perforated. Detonable components of the perforating gun are energized to perforate the wellbore at the downhole location. An acceleration of the perforating gun and a pressure and a temperature of the wellbore are detected using the sensor sub during a time interval encompassing the energization of the detonable components. The detected acceleration, pressure, and temperature are compared to benchmark energetic responses for both detonation and deflagration events. Based on this comparison, a decision can be made as to whether an incubation period is needed to allow a reaction of the detonable components to weaken before retrieving the perforating gun from the wellbore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: James Marshall Barker, Thomas Earl Burky
  • Publication number: 20210062624
    Abstract: This disclosure may generally relate to perforating operations and, more particularly, may generally relate to systems and methods for estimating perforated entry and exit hole diameters (EHD) of a casing string. In one embodiment, a method for predicting perforation outcomes may comprise selecting one or more variables for a perforating operation, determining an estimate of a perforating outcome for the perforating operation, and correcting the perforating outcome to obtain a corrected perforating outcome by applying a weighting based on historical perforating data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2018
    Publication date: March 4, 2021
    Applicant: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Earl Burky, Gerald Graves Craddock, Jr., James Harold Wight, Jonathan Paul Montiverdi
  • Publication number: 20210062601
    Abstract: A downhole tubular cutting system includes a cutter comprising an explosive material configured to cut a tubular. The system further includes a generator body coupled to the cutter on an end of the cutter such that the generator body will be oriented uphole or downhole of the cutter when the cutter is positioned with the tubular. A detonating cord or igniter fuse is disposed around the generator body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2018
    Publication date: March 4, 2021
    Inventors: Thomas Earl Burky, Darren Phillip Waiters
  • Patent number: 10746002
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to perforating systems for perforating the casing of a wellbore. The perforating systems contain insensitive high explosives. The disclosure also relates to shaped charges containing insensitive high explosives for use in such perforating systems. The disclosure further relates to methods of using such perforating systems to perforate the casing of a wellbore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: James Marshall Barker, Thomas Earl Burky
  • Patent number: 10677572
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to perforating systems for perforating the casing of a wellbore. The perforating systems contain insensitive high explosives. The disclosure also relates to shaped charges containing insensitive high explosives for use in such perforating systems. The disclosure further relates to methods of using such perforating systems to perforate the casing of a wellbore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: James Marshall Barker, Thomas Earl Burky
  • Patent number: 10597972
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for controlling wellbore pressure within a wellbore during a perforation event by changing a state of a valve system multiple times. Information generated about the wellbore pressure within the wellbore may be received. A state of the valve system, which is positioned relative to a chamber within the wellbore, may be changed multiple times based on the information received to create a plurality of pressure conditions that substantially match a reference pressure profile. Each of the plurality of pressure conditions is selected from one of an underbalance condition and an overbalance condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Thomas Earl Burky, Dennis J. Haggerty, James Marshall Barker
  • Patent number: 10590706
    Abstract: In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, systems and methods for establishing hydraulic communication between a relief wellbore and a target wellbore during relief well applications are provided. Present embodiments include a perforating gun that uses an explosively formed penetrator (EFP) to establish hydraulic communication between a relief well and the target well for well kill operations. The EFP may be detonated downhole according to the Misznay-Schardin effect, thereby releasing a projectile toward the target well to form a relatively large hole through the casing/cement between the wellbores. The EFP may be positioned in a desired orientation with respect to the target well, in order that the projectile may be directed from the relief well directly into the target well. In some embodiments, the disclosed perforating gun may include several EFP charges positioned along one side of the gun at approximately 0 to 10 degree phasing from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Eli Hess, Thomas Earl Burky, Andrew John Cuthbert
  • Patent number: 10590746
    Abstract: A thermal battery positioned in a wellbore can be force activated by a device. The device can include a body coupled to a thermal battery positioned in a wellbore. The body can include a piston retained at a first position in an inner area of the body. The piston can move from the first position to a second position in response to a force applied to the body. The thermal battery can be activated by moving the piston to the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Earl Burky, Ozegbe James Chukwuma, Thomas Jeffrey Wuensche
  • Publication number: 20200033101
    Abstract: This disclosure provides a stackable propellant module for use inside of a gas generation canister. The modules are designed to enable them to be individually fired rather than as a unitary mass, as done in conventional configurations. This enables the generation of a controlled pressure profile rather than an uncontrolled pressure profile determined by the environmental conditions downhole, such as temperature and pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2016
    Publication date: January 30, 2020
    Inventor: Thomas Earl Burky
  • Patent number: 10415945
    Abstract: An assembly can include solid-state overvoltage firing switch operable to control an explosive device. The solid-state overvoltage firing switch can include a substrate layer. The solid-state overvoltage firing switch can also include a conductive anode and a conductive cathode positioned on the substrate layer. A gap can physically separate the conductive anode from the conductive cathode. The conductive anode can be operable to receive a voltage from a power source. The solid-state overvoltage firing switch can further include an insulator layer adjacent to the conductive anode and the conductive cathode. At least part of the insulator layer can fill the gap. The insulator layer can cover a first portion of the conductive anode and a second portion of the conductive cathode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Earl Burky, Thomas Jeffrey Wuensche
  • Patent number: 10287868
    Abstract: A system and a method for underground gasification comprising a downhole ignition device. The downhole ignition device may comprise a connection housing at a first end of the downhole ignition device. The connection housing may comprise an igniter and a first fire mix. The downhole ignition device may further comprise a body coupled to the connection housing. The body may comprise pyrotechnic modules arranged in series and additional first fire mix. A cap may be disposed at a second end of the connection housing. Additionally, the downhole ignition device may comprise a supply line and a recovery system. A method for igniting an underground energy source may comprise positioning a downhole ignition device adjacent an underground energy source in a wellbore, igniting a first fire mix in the downhole ignition device, and igniting a series of pyrotechnic modules arranged in the downhole ignition device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Darren Phillip Walters, Kevin Scott Harive, Thomas Earl Burky, Christopher Thaddeous Linsky, Iosif Hriscu
  • Publication number: 20190063885
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to perforating systems for perforating the casing of a wellbore. The perforating systems contain insensitive high explosives. The disclosure also relates to shaped charges containing insensitive high explosives for use in such perforating systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2018
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Inventors: James Marshall Barker, Thomas Earl Burky