Patents by Inventor Xiaoguang Allan Zhong

Xiaoguang Allan Zhong 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: 11391120
    Abstract: A valve assembly employed in subterranean wellbore systems includes a flapper member biased to a closed position by a pair of opposed wire springs. The wire springs provide sufficient torque to ensure robust operation of the flapper member and permit sufficient fluid flow through the limited space available in the valve assembly. A pair of symmetrical pair of wire springs may be robustly manufactured and individually installed without unnecessary accumulation of manufacturing tolerances or errors, thereby providing predictable torque levels to the flapper member. The wire springs may be secured in blind holes or other features defined in a circumferential surface of the flapper member to ensure the springs remain engaged with the flapper member throughout the operation of the valve assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Xiaoguang Allan Zhong, Shobeir Pirayeh Gar, David Allen Dockweiler
  • Patent number: 11377934
    Abstract: A downhole tool including an insertion member arranged to insert into and form an annular seal with a receiving member using an annular seal assembly. The seal assembly includes a compliant metal spring and a separate metal cover overlapping at least a portion of an outside of the spring, wherein the cover and spring extend radially outward from the downhole tool so as to be compressed when the insertion member is inserted within the receiving member to form an annular metal-to-metal seal between the insertion member and the receiving member. A method of coupling the downhole tool and the receiving member in a well includes inserting the insertion member of the downhole tool into the receiving member and energizing and forming an annular metal-to-metal seal by compressing the seal assembly between the insertion member and the receiving member when inserting the insertion member into the receiving member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Shobeir Pirayeh Gar, Xiaoguang Allan Zhong
  • Patent number: 11359448
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are aspects of a barrier coating layer of an expandable member wellbore tool for use in a wellbore. The barrier coating layer, in one aspect, covers at least a portion of the outer surface of the expandable member and has a composition formulated to react with a wellbore fluid and erode within a predetermined amount of time to allow a wellbore fluid to contact and hydrolyze the expandable member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Linley Fripp, Xiaoguang Allan Zhong
  • Publication number: 20220178223
    Abstract: A method and apparatus according to which a backup ring is radially expanded to prevent, or at least reduce, extrusion of a sealing element. The backup ring includes an inner ring segment and an outer ring segment. The inner ring segment defines opposing first and second end portions. The outer ring segment defines opposing third and fourth end portions. The third end portion of the outer ring segment telescopically receives, and overlaps, the first end portion of the inner ring segment. Radially expanding the backup ring includes sliding the backup ring up an external tapered surface of a wedge ramp. Sliding the backup ring up the external tapered surface of the wedge ramp telescopes the first end portion of the inner ring segment outwardly from the third end portion of the outer ring segment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2020
    Publication date: June 9, 2022
    Inventors: Shobeir Pirayeh Gar, Xiaoguang Allan Zhong
  • Patent number: 11268335
    Abstract: Provided is a wellbore tractor and method for operating a well system. The wellbore tractor, in one aspect, includes a base member, a hydraulically powered drive section coupled to the base member, and one or more turbines coupled to the hydraulically powered drive section for powering the hydraulically powered drive section based upon fluid flow across the one or more turbines. The wellbore tractor, according to this aspect, further includes one or more wellbore engaging devices radially extending from the hydraulically powered drive section, the one or more wellbore engaging devices contactable with a surface of a wellbore for displacing the wellbore tractor axially downhole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: James Dan Vick, Jr., Michael Linley Fripp, Xiaoguang Allan Zhong
  • Patent number: 11261708
    Abstract: A unitary multilateral junction for deployment in a wellbore, wherein the multilateral junction permits electrical power and communications signals to be established in both a lateral wellbore and a main wellbore utilizing. The unitary junction assembly generally includes a conduit with a first upper aperture, a first lower aperture and a second lower aperture where the first lower aperture is defined at the distal end of a primary passageway extending from a conduit junction and a second lower aperture defined at the distal end of a lateral passageway extending from the conduit junction. A lower wireless energy transfer mechanism is positioned along at least one of the passageways between the distal end of the passageway and the junction. The lower wireless energy transfer mechanism is in wired communication an upper energy transfer mechanism permitting electrical communication to be established across the intersection of wellbore branches utilizing the unitary junction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: David Joe Steele, Oivind Godager, Xiaoguang Allan Zhong
  • Patent number: 11248437
    Abstract: Disclosed embodiments include a packer. The packer includes a fluid bypass positioned along a longitudinal axis of the packer. The fluid bypass provides a fluid flow path between a downhole location and an uphole location from the packer. Additionally, the packer includes a sealing element positioned around the fluid bypass that is elastically deformable to expand in a direction radially outward from the longitudinal axis when the sealing element experiences axial compression. The sealing element includes at least one elastomeric seal reinforcer molded into the elastomeric seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Decena Ornelaz, Stephen Michael Greci, Xiaoguang Allan Zhong, James Dan Vick, Jr., Peter C. Dagenais, Abdel Hamid R. Abeidoh
  • Patent number: 11203926
    Abstract: A unitary multilateral junction for deployment in a wellbore, wherein the multilateral junction permits electrical power and communications signals to be established in both a lateral wellbore and a main wellbore utilizing capacitive coupling and a cavity resonator. The unitary junction assembly generally includes a conduit with a first upper aperture, a first lower aperture and a second lower aperture where the first lower aperture is defined at the distal end of a primary passageway extending from a conduit junction and a second lower aperture defined at the distal end of a lateral passageway extending from the conduit junction. A lower wireless energy transfer mechanism in the form of a capacitive coupler is positioned along at least one of the passageways between the distal end of the passageway and the junction. A cavity resonator is adjacent the capacitive coupler to enhance the electric field signal of the capacitive coupler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: David Joe Steele, Oivind Godager, Xiaoguang Allan Zhong
  • Patent number: 11156065
    Abstract: A system and method for performing subterranean operations. The system may comprise an expandable liner hanger positioned within a casing string, wherein the expandable liner hanger comprises a spiked portion having one or more anchoring ridges, each of the one or more anchoring ridges extending in a circular ring along an outer perimeter of the expandable liner hanger, and one or more weep holes are positioned in a space between adjacent ones of the one or more anchoring ridges. The method for coupling a liner to a casing string of a cased wellbore in a subterranean formation may comprise coupling an expandable liner hanger to the liner, inserting the liner and the expandable liner hanger downhole through the casing string, and expanding the plurality of anchoring ridges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Xiaoguang Allan Zhong, Abdolreza Gharesi, Shengjun Yin
  • Publication number: 20210230965
    Abstract: Provided is a downhole sealing device, a well system employing a downhole sealing device, and a method for sealing within a wellbore. The downhole sealing device, in one aspect, includes one or more downhole sealing features, and an elastomeric element comprising a thiourethane/acrylate polymer coupled to the one or more downhole sealing features. In at least one aspect, the elastomeric element is operable to be compressed in a downhole application against a tubular as a seal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2021
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Inventors: Xiaoguang Allan Zhong, Anthony Phan, Chad William Glaesman
  • Publication number: 20210230978
    Abstract: A unitary junction for deployment in a wellbore, wherein the unitary junction permits electrical power and communications signals to be established in both a lateral wellbore and a main wellbore utilizing. The unitary junction assembly generally includes a conduit having a first upper aperture, a first lower aperture and a second lower aperture where the first lower aperture is defined at the distal end of a primary leg extending from a conduit junction and the second lower aperture is defined at the distal end of a deformable lateral leg extending from the conduit junction. A lower wireless energy transfer mechanism is positioned along at least one of the legs between the distal end of the leg and the junction. The lower wireless energy transfer mechanism is in wired communication an upper energy transfer mechanism permitting electrical communication to be established across the intersection of wellbore branches utilizing the unitary junction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2017
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Inventors: David Joe Steele, Oivind Godager, Xiaoguang Allan Zhong
  • Publication number: 20210230980
    Abstract: A unitary multilateral junction for deployment in a wellbore, wherein the multilateral junction permits electrical power and communications signals to be established in both a lateral wellbore and a main wellbore utilizing. The unitary junction assembly generally includes a conduit with a first upper aperture, a first lower aperture and a second lower aperture where the first lower aperture is defined at the distal end of a primary passageway extending from a conduit junction and a second lower aperture defined at the distal end of a lateral passageway extending from the conduit junction. A lower wireless energy transfer mechanism is positioned along at least one of the passageways between the distal end of the passageway and the junction. The lower wireless energy transfer mechanism is in wired communication an upper energy transfer mechanism permitting electrical communication to be established across the intersection of wellbore branches utilizing the unitary junction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2017
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Inventors: David Joe Steele, Oivind Godager, Xiaoguang Allan Zhong
  • Publication number: 20210222520
    Abstract: A unitary multilateral junction for deployment in a wellbore, wherein the multilateral junction permits electrical power and communications signals to be established in both a lateral wellbore and a main wellbore utilizing capacitive coupling and a cavity resonator. The unitary junction assembly generally includes a conduit with a first upper aperture, a first lower aperture and a second lower aperture where the first lower aperture is defined at the distal end of a primary passageway extending from a conduit junction and a second lower aperture defined at the distal end of a lateral passageway extending from the conduit junction. A lower wireless energy transfer mechanism in the form of a capacitive coupler is positioned along at least one of the passageways between the distal end of the passageway and the junction. A cavity resonator is adjacent the capacitive coupler to enhance the electric field signal of the capacitive coupler.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2017
    Publication date: July 22, 2021
    Inventors: David Joe Steele, Oivind Godager, Xiaoguang Allan Zhong
  • Publication number: 20210222548
    Abstract: A unitary multilateral junction for deployment in a wellbore, wherein the multilateral junction permits electrical power and communications signals to be established in both a lateral wellbore and a main wellbore utilizing capacitive coupling and a cavity resonator. The unitary junction assembly generally includes a conduit with a first upper aperture, a first lower aperture and a second lower aperture where the first lower aperture is defined at the distal end of a primary passageway extending from a conduit junction and a second lower aperture defined at the distal end of a lateral passageway extending from the conduit junction. A lower wireless energy transfer mechanism in the form of a capacitive coupler is positioned along at least one of the passageways between the distal end of the passageway and the junction. A cavity resonator is adjacent the capacitive coupler to enhance the electric field signal of the capacitive coupler.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2017
    Publication date: July 22, 2021
    Inventors: David Joe Steele, Oivind Godager, Xiaoguang Allan Zhong
  • Publication number: 20210189817
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are aspects of a barrier coating layer of an expandable member wellbore tool for use in a wellbore. The barrier coating layer, in one aspect, covers at least a portion of the outer surface of the expandable member and has a composition formulated to react with a wellbore fluid and erode within a predetermined amount of time to allow a wellbore fluid to contact and hydrolyze the expandable member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Publication date: June 24, 2021
    Inventors: Michael Linley Fripp, Xiaoguang Allan Zhong
  • Publication number: 20210156220
    Abstract: A wellbore isolation device includes a mandrel, a sealing element disposed around at least a portion of the mandrel, and a delay coating disposed on at least a portion of an outer surface of the sealing element. The sealing element includes a swellable material and the delay coating covers a cross-linked polymer. The delay coating is configured to swell or degrade in a wellbore fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2019
    Publication date: May 27, 2021
    Inventors: Michael Linley FRIPP, Xiaoguang Allan ZHONG, Kejia YANG, Walter VOIT, Nelson Yan Loo LEE, Yong Dai TAN, Bing Hong CHEE, Ee Wen WONG
  • Publication number: 20210115764
    Abstract: A system and method for performing subterranean operations. The system may comprise an expandable liner hanger positioned within a casing string, wherein the expandable liner hanger comprises a spiked portion having one or more anchoring ridges, each of the one or more anchoring ridges extending in a circular ring along an outer perimeter of the expandable liner hanger, and one or more weep holes are positioned in a space between adjacent ones of the one or more anchoring ridges. The method for coupling a liner to a casing string of a cased wellbore in a subterranean formation may comprise coupling an expandable liner hanger to the liner, inserting the liner and the expandable liner hanger downhole through the casing string, and expanding the plurality of anchoring ridges.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2019
    Publication date: April 22, 2021
    Applicant: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Xiaoguang Allan Zhong, Abdolreza Gharesi, Shengjun Yin
  • Publication number: 20210079756
    Abstract: Disclosed embodiments include a packer. The packer includes a fluid bypass positioned along a longitudinal axis of the packer. The fluid bypass provides a fluid flow path between a downhole location and an uphole location from the packer. Additionally, the packer includes a sealing element positioned around the fluid bypass that is elastically deformable to expand in a direction radially outward from the longitudinal axis when the sealing element experiences axial compression. The sealing element includes at least one elastomeric seal reinforcer molded into the elastomeric seal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2017
    Publication date: March 18, 2021
    Inventors: Richard Decena Ornelaz, Stephen Michael Greci, Xiaoguang Allan Zhong, James Dan Vick, JR., Peter C. Dagenais, Abdel Hamid R. Abeidoh
  • Patent number: 10612345
    Abstract: A method and apparatus including a subsurface tool, such as a flapper closure valve, that has an integrally formed body and that includes at least one of an internal void located within the body of the flapper closure plate; and an indentation extending from an exterior surface of the body of the flapper closure plate, the indentation having an opening defining a first dimension along a first direction at the exterior surface of the body, the indentation defining an indentation surface extending within the body, the indentation surface defining a second dimension along the first direction within the body, the second dimension being greater than the first dimension. In one or more exemplary embodiments, the flapper closure plate is at least partially manufactured using an additive manufacturing process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Russell Irving Bayh, III, Xiaoguang Allan Zhong
  • Publication number: 20190368331
    Abstract: Provided is a wellbore tractor and method for operating a well system. The wellbore tractor, in one aspect, includes a base member, a hydraulically powered drive section coupled to the base member, and one or more turbines coupled to the hydraulically powered drive section for powering the hydraulically powered drive section based upon fluid flow across the one or more turbines. The wellbore tractor, according to this aspect, further includes one or more wellbore engaging devices radially extending from the hydraulically powered drive section, the one or more wellbore engaging devices contactable with a surface of a wellbore for displacing the wellbore tractor axially downhole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2019
    Publication date: December 5, 2019
    Inventors: James Dan Vick, Jr., Michael Linley Fripp, Xiaoguang Allan Zhong