Processes Patents (Class 166/244.1)
  • Patent number: 11848187
    Abstract: A drive unit for driving an acceleration electrode of a mass spectrometer is disclosed. The drive unit includes a power converter comprising a switching element and pulsing circuitry that can form output pulses suitable for driving an acceleration electrode of a mass spectrometer. The drive unit also includes a controller that is configured to synchronise operation of the switching element with the pulsing circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: Micromass UK Limited
    Inventors: Frank Buckley, Roger Smith
  • Patent number: 11578571
    Abstract: Systems and methods include a system for controlling a downhole multi-circuit switch using a downhole actuator mechanism. A command is sent, by a surface controller coupled to downhole electrically-powered equipment in a wellbore of a well, to change electrical power flow in a multi-circuit switch to a specified position of multiple positions. A connection between the surface controller and the downhole electrically-powered equipment includes at least two separate input electrical connections for supplying electrical power to the downhole electrically-powered equipment. The command is received by a downhole actuator mechanism from the surface controller. The command indicates to switch from a first electrical connection of the at least two separate input electrical connections to a second electrical connection of the at least two separate input electrical connections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventor: Anwar Salah S. Alghamdi
  • Patent number: 11454101
    Abstract: A system for deploying an untethered dissolvable frac package for use in a hydraulic fracturing operation includes a dissolvable or degradable frac package with a dissolvable or degradable setting tool. The setting tool of the dissolvable frac package is configured to deploy a dissolvable frac plug at a predetermined position along the wellbore string and dissolve over time in the wellbore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Albert Winkler, Andrew Penno, Michael Linley Fripp
  • Patent number: 11454095
    Abstract: Apparatus, method(s), and system(s) according to which electric power is generated in one or more coils by rotating a magnetic field generated by one or more permanent magnets. The one or more coils are connected to a collar. The collar is positioned downhole in an oil and gas wellbore. The one or more permanent magnets are connected to a rotor positioned within an internal passageway of the collar. A fluid is communicated along the internal passageway of the collar. The rotor, and thus the magnetic field generated by the one or more permanent magnets, are rotated using the fluid communicated along the internal passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Inventor: Bosko Gajic
  • Patent number: 11346197
    Abstract: The embodiments herein relate generally to subterranean formation operations and, more particularly, systems and methods for achieving target downhole pressures having target downhole wave shapes for enhancement of subterranean formation stimulation and production. In particular, a treatment fluid is introduced into a subterranean formation and a downhole pressure wave in the subterranean formation having a downhole wave shape is determined, and a surface pressure wave having a surface wave shape is determined. The downhole wave shape and the surface wave shape are compared, followed by adjustment of the surface pressure to achieve a target downhole pressure wave in the subterranean formation having a target downhole wave shape. The target downhole pressure and target downhole wave shape may be selected to maximize production of the subterranean formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Stanley Vernon Stephenson, Philip D. Nguyen, Jim Basuki Surjaatmadja, Norman Raymond Warpinski, Ronald Glen Dusterhoft
  • Patent number: 11248433
    Abstract: An injection fluid is pressurized for injection into a subsea installation or equipment by using a flow of hydrocarbon production fluid to draw the injection fluid from a source and using pressure of the production fluid to pressurize the drawn injection fluid to an elevated pressure. In response to an ejector that is powered by the flow of the production fluid, a pressure booster draws in the injection fluid for pressurization. A portion of the production fluid is diverted to the pressure booster to pressurize and expel the injection fluid and is then exhausted to the ejector as more injection fluid is drawn in.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Subsea 7 Norway AS
    Inventor: Rasmus Asp Juhlin
  • Patent number: 11149180
    Abstract: A wellbore fluid comprising a first aqueous base fluid and a plurality of silica nanoparticles suspended in the first aqueous base fluid. The nanoparticles are present in the fluid in an amount to have an effect of decreasing a crystallization temperature by at least 4 to 55° F. as compared to a second aqueous base fluid without the silica nanoparticles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hui Joyce Zhang, Xia Wei, Steven Young
  • Patent number: 11136835
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a system for improving wear resistance of a downhole tool component using a bonded diamond compact (BDC) construct. The BDC construct includes a BDC element and an encapsulation layer bonded to the BDC element. The encapsulation layer may fully encapsulate the BDC element. The downhole tool component may be a drill bit, push the bit pad, or mud motor beating assembly. The BDC construct may be disposed in a plug section of the downhole tool component. The encapsulation layer may form an insulating layer over the BDC element to protect the BDC element from thermal damage during hard-facing or brazing of the BDC construct to the downhole tool component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Krutibas Panda, Brian Lee Doud, Chakrapani Subramaniam
  • Patent number: 11053755
    Abstract: An iron roughneck for constant circulation of drilling mud during operation of a drill string, the iron roughneck comprising: a frame; a wrench unit supported by the frame, wherein the wrench unit is capable of gripping a drill string; a spinner unit supported by the frame, wherein the spinner unit is capable of engaging and spinning a drill pipe; and a circulation coupler supported by the frame, wherein the circulation coupler forms a chamber around the drill string.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Zaurayze Tarique, Blaine Dow, Justin Cremer
  • Patent number: 11021642
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a formulation and methods for simultaneously dissolving metal sulfide scales, inhibiting acid gas corrosion, and inhibiting the formation of calcite and barite in a system having low or high shear stress conditions due to fluid movement, in which the formulation contains a THP+ salt, one or more corrosion inhibitors, one or more scale inhibitors, and one or more acid corrosion inhibitors. The formulation may be applied to the system in diluted or undiluted form, and continuously or in batch style.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Patrick James Rodgers, Brian Lundy, Sunder Ramachandran, David J. Poelker, James D. Ott
  • Patent number: 11008826
    Abstract: An inflatable packer assembly can include an inflatable seal element having an internal inflation chamber, a flow passage extending longitudinally through the inflatable packer assembly, a flow restrictor between sections of the flow passage, and a flow controller that selectively permits and prevents fluid communication between the inflation chamber and each of the flow passage sections. The flow controller changes from a deflate configuration to an inflate configuration in response to an increase in flow rate through the flow passage. A method can include connecting an inflatable packer assembly in a tubular string, so that a longitudinal flow passage of the tubular string extends through the inflatable packer assembly, and a flow restrictor restricts flow between sections of the flow passage, and inflating an inflatable seal element of the inflatable packer assembly while fluid flows between the flow passage sections via the flow restrictor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC
    Inventor: Justin R. Scruggs
  • Patent number: 11002074
    Abstract: Continuous circulation and rotation drilling system, comprising: a top drive; a mud circulation system; a drill assembly including a drill pipe; a clamp device. The continuous circulation and rotation drilling system is drivable between a first condition and a second condition. In the first condition, the drill assembly and the clamp device are mutually disconnected. In the second condition: the main body of the clamp device is in a closed configuration and the drill assembly is partly enclosed in an inner housing of the clamp device; the mud circulation system feeds drilling mud through a radial opening of a main body of the clamp device; one or more actuating groups of the clamp device are activated to rotate the drill pipe around its longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Geolog Americas Inc.
    Inventor: Antonio Calleri
  • Patent number: 10961821
    Abstract: A method of fracturing a subterranean formation includes establishing a plurality of zones in a wellbore, fracturing and then isolating a first of the zones using a ball-activated sleeve such that proppant flow from the formation into the first zone is reduced, and fracturing and then isolating at least one other of the zones uphole of the first zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Cole Alexander Benson
  • Patent number: 10800684
    Abstract: Methods for the use of zinc ammonium carbonate as a scavenger of sulfur-containing species encountered in oilfield operations are provided. In one embodiment, the methods include introducing a sulfide scavenging additive including zinc ammonium carbonate into at least a portion of a conduit through which a potential sulfur-containing fluid is flowing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: Multi-Chem Group, LLC
    Inventors: Philippe Prince, Kiran Gawas, Yulia Mosina
  • Patent number: 10767429
    Abstract: A plug bypass tool including a housing defining a main flow passage and a bypass passageway, the bypass passageway extending between a first port and a second port, the first and second ports being fluidly connected to the main flow passage, a first seat and a first sleeve disposed within the passage between the first port and second port, and a second seat and a second sleeve disposed in the passage, the second sleeve movable between a position covering the second port and a position revealing the second port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES, A GE COMPANY, LLC
    Inventors: Adam McGuire, Matthew Stone
  • Patent number: 10655291
    Abstract: A real-time monitoring system for float-over installation in ocean engineering, which relates to real-time monitoring for the relative position between the leg mating unit and the stabbing cone of upper module, mainly includes: a shooting collection system and a real-time processing and displaying system, the shooting collection system mainly including a CCD camera and a high light-reflecting landmark, the high-precision CCD camera being a graphic information collecting device, and the high light-reflecting landmark being a mark made of high light-reflecting and light-absorbing materials; a real-time processing and collecting system, which receives and displays in real time, analyzes and stores the graphic information, capable of calculating the coordinates of relative position between the stabbing cone and the leg mating unit in real time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: Shanghai Jiao Tong University
    Inventors: Jianmin Yang, Xin Li, Xinliang Tian, Xiaoxian Guo, Tao Peng
  • Patent number: 10626715
    Abstract: A downhole communication tool is provided. The downhole communication tool may include a cylindrical housing, a plurality of ridges, and a plurality of flow control assemblies. The cylindrical housing may have an inner surface, a first end portion, and a second end portion. The inner surface may define a flowbore extending axially between the first and second end portions. The plurality of ridges may extend radially outward from the cylindrical housing between the first and second end portions. Each ridge may have a ridge outer surface and define one or more ports that extend radially between the flowbore and the ridge outer surface. Each flow control assembly may be mounted about a respective port of the one or more ports and include a dissolvable seal member extending across the respective port. Each dissolvable seal member may be configured to prevent fluid communication between the flowbore and a subterranean formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: PETROFRAC OIL TOOLS, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Joe Coon, Roddie R. Smith
  • Patent number: 10619436
    Abstract: A ball activated treatment and production system arranged between a first packer and a second packer includes a tubular including an inlet port, and an outlet port. A first sleeve is selectively slideably arranged in the tubular. The first sleeve includes a first ball seat and is arranged to selectively open the outlet port. A second sleeve is selectively slideably arranged in the tubular. The second sleeve includes a second ball seat and is arranged to selectively open the inlet port. At least one fluid injection port is arranged in the tubular and is fluidically connectable to a fluid conduit arranged externally to the tubular.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES, A GE COMPANY, LLC
    Inventors: Matthew C. Stone, Jonathan N. Croy
  • Patent number: 10557338
    Abstract: A method for reducing a carbon emissions intensity of a fuel includes producing a first hydrocarbon fluid; capturing a carbon dioxide (CO2) fluid from the first hydrocarbon fluid production; and injecting the captured carbon dioxide into a subterranean zone from one or more wellbores to enhance a production of a second hydrocarbon fluid from the zone, at least one of the first or the second hydrocarbon fluids processable into a hydrocarbon fuel that includes a low carbon intensity fuel based, at least in part, on the captured and injected CO2 fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: 1234 10th Street LLC
    Inventors: James Rhodes, David William Keith
  • Patent number: 10487621
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for the injection of steam into a hydrocarbon well during a Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD) process are provided. The apparatus can include a shifting sleeve positioned within the body of the apparatus. The shifting sleeve can have an open and a closed position. In the closed position annular seals can substantially prevent steam within the bore of the body from exiting the device and flowing into the wellbore. When the shifting sleeve is moved to its open position, an aperture in the body aligned with a steam dispersing cover mounted on the body can be exposed to pressurized steam from the bore of the apparatus and can allow steam to exit the bore and be dispersed into the wellbore. The steam dispersing covers can have dispersion openings which can direct the steam into the wellbore as desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: INTERRA ENERGY SERVICES LTD.
    Inventors: Serhiy Arabsky, Vitaliy Arabsky
  • Patent number: 10450852
    Abstract: A formation monitoring well system accurately measures formation electrical properties behind the casing to determine water-oil contact positions and/or to assess the integrity of the cement seal over the life of the well. The well system includes a casing string having one or more formation monitoring modules embedded therein, each having a toroid sensor. During operation, current is provided to the casing string, and the toroid measures the current flowing into the formation. Also, the voltage drop between the sensor and an electrode positioned between the cement layer and formation may be measured. This data may then be processed to determine the resistivities of the formation and/or cement layer, whereby the cement seal quality, water-oil contact surface position, etc. may be extracted from the results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Luis Emilio San Martin, Ronald J. Dirksen
  • Patent number: 10260314
    Abstract: Systems and methods describe a frac sleeve with set of inner sleeves that allow selective opening and closing of such sleeves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: Vertice Oil Tools
    Inventor: Mohamed Ibrahim Saraya
  • Patent number: 10240424
    Abstract: A Christmas tree and a method of completing a well in a standard wellhead. The tree is presented as separately deployable upper and lower portions with the master valves contained in the lower portion so that they are located below the wellhead housing to lower the height of the tree while increasing well safety and integrity. The upper master valve is bi-directionally sealing to allow for pressure testing, removing the requirement for tubing hanger plugs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Inventor: Stuart Brown
  • Patent number: 9938797
    Abstract: An assembly includes a fastener deployable in a wellbore and actuated by a shape-memory alloy. The shape-memory alloy releaseably interlocks multiple components deployed in the wellbore. The physical shape of the shape-memory alloy can be selectively changed between a first shape and a second shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Lorn Scott MacDonald
  • Patent number: 9728968
    Abstract: The invention provides a device for operative connection between a subsea step out cable far end and subsea loads such as pumps, compressors and control systems, distinctive in that the device is a rotating frequency stepper device, more specifically a rotating step up or step down device, and it comprises: a motor and a generator operatively connected so that the motor drives the generator, at least one gas and/or liquid filled vessel into which at least one of the motor and generator are arranged, and the step out length is long, which means long enough to cause problems due to the Ferranti effect at frequency and power levels feasible for subsea pump and compressor motors, and where the device via the step out cable receives input electrical power at a low enough frequency to have stable transmission and the device, operatively connected to the subsea motor, delivers an output electrical frequency, amperage and voltage feasible for operation of the connected motors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Aker Subsea AS
    Inventor: Kjell Olav Stinessen
  • Patent number: 9562419
    Abstract: A downhole tool that selectively opens and closes an axial/lateral bore of a tubular string positioned in a wellbore used to produce hydrocarbons or other fluids. When integrated into a tubular string, the downhole tool allows individual producing zones within a wellbore to be isolated between stimulation stages while simultaneously allowing a selected formation to be accessed. The downhole tools and methods can be used in vertical or directional wells, and additionally in cased or open-hole wellbores.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Colorado School of Mines
    Inventors: William Winfrid Fleckenstein, Todd Lance Flaska
  • Patent number: 9488027
    Abstract: A downhole composite component is disclosed. The downhole composite component includes a tubular member, the tubular member comprising a fiber reinforced polymer matrix composite. The fiber reinforced polymer matrix composite includes a polymer matrix, the polymer matrix having an unfilled matrix compressive modulus of elasticity. The polymer matrix also includes a nanoparticle filler comprising a plurality of nanoparticles dispersed within the polymer matrix, the polymer matrix and dispersed nanoparticle filler having a filled matrix compressive modulus of elasticity, the filled matrix compressive modulus of elasticity being greater than the unfilled matrix compressive modulus of elasticity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Randall V. Guest, Soma Chakraborty, Joshua C. Falkner
  • Patent number: 9410904
    Abstract: A system and method for determining a density of a non-conducting medium in a tank is disclosed where the relationship between a dielectric constant and a density of the medium is known. The system comprises a transceiver, and a waveguide, the waveguide extends towards and into the medium. The system further comprises a first microwave resonator located along the waveguide. The first microwave resonator has a resonance frequency, which depends on a dielectric constant of a medium surrounding the resonator according to a known relationship, and is arranged to reflect a portion in the frequency domain of a signal being guided along the waveguide. The system further comprises processing circuitry connected to the transceiver and configured to determine the resonance frequency based on a received reflected signal, and to determine a density of the medium at the location of the first microwave resonator based on the resonance frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: ROSMOUNT TANK RADAR AB
    Inventor: Olov Edvardsson
  • Patent number: 9328601
    Abstract: An oil recovery system and method are disclosed. The system includes a solar power tower for receiving a first portion of water from a water treatment device. The solar power tower heats the first portion of water directly using solar radiation and generates a first steam. Further, the system includes a boiler for receiving a second portion of water from the water treatment device. The boiler heats the second portion of water and generates a second steam. Further, the system includes a flow control device coupled to the solar power tower and the boiler to receive at least one of the first steam and the second steam. The flow control device injects at least one of the first steam and the second steam to an oil field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Huijuan Chen, Stephen Duane Sanborn, Andrew Maxwell Peter, Laura Michele Hudy
  • Patent number: 9057235
    Abstract: An apparatus for continuously flowing drilling fluid along a drill string includes a continuous circulation device having at least a first fluid path in fluid communication with a top drive and a second fluid path in communication with a diverter. The diverter is in selective fluid communication with a pipe stand associated with the drills string. The apparatus also includes at least one sensor that estimates at least one operating parameter associated with the continuous circulation device. A related method includes using a continuous circulation device as described to manipulate the drill string and controlling the continuous circulation device using at least one sensor configured to estimate at least one operating parameter associated with the continuous circulation device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventors: D. Duncan Blue, Charles A. Brecher, John D. Macpherson, Volker Krueger
  • Publication number: 20150144330
    Abstract: A method is for use with subterranean formations, such as oil and/or gas reservoirs. In some examples (e.g., production examples), the method improves the production from that formation. Some of the examples of the method describe selecting both an exertive force (e.g., a pressure) to apply at a wellbore, but together with a drawdown pressure at the wellbore to modify operations (e.g., improve production) at that subterranean formation. The selection of one or both of the exertive force and drawdown pressure may be based on the downhole environment at that wellbore, which can include the porosity and/or permeability of a near-wellbore formation radially surrounding a wellbore. The exertive force and drawdown pressure may be specifically selected to modify the porosity and/or permeability of the near-wellbore formation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2013
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Applicant: Darcy Technologies Limited
    Inventors: David Allan Noblett, Stephen Edmund Bruce, Dominic Patrick Joseph McCann, Stephen Kent
  • Publication number: 20150144335
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for retrieving a tool or bottom hole assembly. The apparatus may include a latching device that couples to a tool or bottom hole assembly to be retrieved and at least one seal extending radially from the apparatus to engage an inner diameter of a tubular, such as a casing string. A pump inlet is disposed in or through an outer surface of the apparatus uphole of the at least one seal. A pump outlet is disposed in or through an outer surface of the apparatus downhole of the at least one seal. The apparatus may also include a pump for pumping a drilling fluid from the pump inlet to the pump outlet in order to generate a differential pressure across the at least one seal and provide a hydraulic force to effect retrieval of the tool or bottom hole assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2014
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Inventor: Erik P. Eriksen
  • Patent number: 9033032
    Abstract: For a free falling well tool sub having one or more pipe bore centering cages, a collapsible material cone secured inside of the centering cage half length with the cone base opening in the downhole direction restricts the rate of pipe bore fluid flow past the cone and thereby restricts the descent rate of the tool. The rate of descent may be regulated with fluid flow by-pass apertures in the sub. A collapsible material cone in a bore centering cage having a base opening in the up-hole direction may be used as piston to drive the tool sub along horizontal segments of a deviated well bore. Both cones may be used separately or together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Inventors: Don Umphries, Gabe Williger
  • Publication number: 20150122485
    Abstract: Oilfield treatment compositions contain water, hydrochloric acid at a concentration between 15 wt % and 45.7 wt % and a first and second fixing agent. The first fixing agent comprises urea, a urea derivative or both. The second fixing agent may be a mixture or amines and alcohols. These compositions provide corrosion inhibition when exposed to steel. The compositions may also contain an inhibitor aid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2013
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Applicant: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Li Jiang, Bruno Lecerf, Timothy G.J. Jones, Murtaza Ziauddin, Richard Hutchins, Jian He, Jack Li, Chad Kraemer
  • Publication number: 20150107824
    Abstract: A downhole power system is provided that includes an energy storage adapted to operate at high temperatures, and a modular signal interface device that serves to control the energy storage component as well as offer a means of data logging at high temperatures. The controller is fabricated from pre-assembled components that may be selected for various combinations to provide desired functionality. The energy storage may include at least one ultracapacitor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2014
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Inventors: Riccardo Signorelli, John Jacob Cooley
  • Publication number: 20150096744
    Abstract: A power supply for a wired pipe system is provided. The power supply includes energy storage capabilities, and provides for operation in high temperature environments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Inventors: Riccardo Signorelli, John Jacob Cooley
  • Publication number: 20150083397
    Abstract: Fouling caused by contaminants onto a metallic tubular, flow conduit or vessel in an underground reservoir or extending from or to an underground reservoir may be inhibited by applying onto the surface of the metallic tubular, flow conduit or vessel a treatment agent comprising a hydrophobic tail and an anchor. The anchor attaches the treatment agent onto the surface of the metallic tubular, flow conduit or vessel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2014
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Inventors: Terry D. Monroe, Naima Bestaoui-Spurr, Sumit Bhaduri, Qi Qu
  • Publication number: 20150083426
    Abstract: A method that is usable with a well includes introducing solids into a pneumatic stream to produce a solids-containing pneumatic stream; communicating the solids-containing pneumatic stream to a blender assembly to mix the solids with at least one other material to produce a flow; and pumping the flow into the well.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Applicant: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy Lesko, Kim Hodgson, Ed Leugemors, Rod Shampine
  • Publication number: 20150083401
    Abstract: A control system for drilling a subterranean well can include multiple concurrently running hydraulics models, each of the hydraulics models outputting a pressure setpoint, in real time during a drilling operation. A method of controlling a drilling operation can comprise concurrently running multiple hydraulics models during the drilling operation, and switching between outputs of the multiple hydraulics models to control the drilling operation, the switching being performed during the drilling operation. Another method of controlling a drilling operation can include controlling operation of at least one flow control device, thereby maintaining a pressure at a pressure setpoint, and selecting the pressure setpoint from among outputs of multiple concurrently running hydraulics models.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2012
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Applicant: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventor: Saad Saeed
  • Publication number: 20150075789
    Abstract: Boronated biopolymer crosslinking agents useful in producing viscosified treatment fluids that include an aqueous fluid, a base polymer, and the boronated biopolymer crosslinking agent, wherein the boronated biopolymer crosslinking agent comprises a biopolymer derivatized with a boronic acid, a boronate ester, or both. Such viscosified treatment fluids may be useful in fracturing operations, gravel packing operations, drilling operations, and the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Applicant: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Dipti Singh, Jeremy Holtsclaw, B. Raghava Reddy
  • Publication number: 20150065399
    Abstract: An operations fluid is provided for treatment operations on wellbores associated with hydrocarbon production, the operations fluid comprising: water, an inorganic primary acid; and an alkyl acid surfactant. The alkyl acid surfactant has the general formula {R—X}, wherein R comprises at least one of linear and branched alkyl and alkyl aryl hydrocarbon chains and X comprises an acid, and X may comprise an acid selected from the group comprising sulfonic acids, carboxylic acids, phosphoric acids, and mixtures thereof. The alkyl acid may include an acid selected from the group consisting of alkyl or alkyl aryl acids. The operations fluid may be useful in treatment operations related to formation stimulation or mitigation of non-aqueous filter cakes (NAF) and/or formation invasion by NAF drilling fluids.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: Ramesh Varadaraj, Cooper E. Haith, Barbara Carstensen, Cornelius H. Brons
  • Publication number: 20150034302
    Abstract: Present embodiments are directed to a tubular filling tool. In certain embodiments, the tubular filling tool includes a conductor pipe configured to receive a filling fluid flow from a top drive and a diffuser block communicatively coupled to the conductor pipe and configured to receive the filling fluid flow from the conductor pipe, wherein the diffuser block comprises a plurality of fluid passages extending to external passages formed in an outer diameter of the diffuser block and configured to facilitate passage of the filling fluid flow to the external passages from within the diffuser block, wherein the external passages are configured to generate a swirl flow pattern in the filling fluid flow during a tubular filling process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2013
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Applicant: TESCO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kevin James Nikiforuk
  • Publication number: 20150008001
    Abstract: Drain wells can be used to direct a fluid to a central production well in a subsurface well system. Subsurface well systems can include a production well extending from the earth's surface, a collection region having a fluid connection to the production well and either being contiguous with the production well or comprising a collection well that intersects or is in fluid communication with the production well, and at least one branched drain well extending laterally from the production well and including one or more branches that extend from the at least one branched drain well, wherein at least one of the one or more branches intersects or is in fluid communication with the collection region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Applicant: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard T. Hay, Gary Althoff
  • Publication number: 20140374088
    Abstract: An apparatus for supplying power at the surface and in a wellbore may include a downhole tool conveyed into the wellbore and a battery bank conveyed by the downhole tool. The battery bank may include a plurality of battery cells, wherein at least two cells of the plurality of battery cells have substantially different power responses to a change in an ambient temperature at the downhole tool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2013
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventor: Thomas Kruspe
  • Publication number: 20140367086
    Abstract: A sampling tool to sample core samples from a wellbore is disclosed. A core sampling storage module includes a pressure housing to store a plurality of core samples, a core tube within the pressure housing, the core tube to store a plurality of core samples drilled from a downhole formation, a pressure housing cover that is configured to be selectively rotated to an open position or a closed position, an activation mechanism to receive a command, and based on the command, open or close the pressure housing cover, a push rod to selectively install a plug to cover the core tube, wherein when the plug is installed the pressure housing maintains a pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Inventors: Abbas Arian, Bruce Mackay, Michael Pelletier, Michael Malone, Wade Samec
  • Publication number: 20140352965
    Abstract: Improved methods are provided for the application of downhole oil or gas well treating agents, such as liquid corrosion inhibition agents. The methods involve first lowering a liquid retainer device into a well casing, preferably at or above the location of the well production zone, followed by introduction of a liquid treating agent. The presence of the liquid retainer device prevents substantial passage of the agent into the production zone, and forms a column of the liquid agent above the device. The retainer device is then withdrawn from the well so as to create a substantially uniform film of the agent along the inner surfaces of the well casing. In this manner, proper coating of the casing is achieved while preventing production losses owing to passage of the treating agent into the production zone. The liquid retainer is preferably one or more swab cups or oil field retainers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2013
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Applicant: Jacam Chemical Company 2013, LLC
    Inventors: James C. Baker, Harlan G. McCormack, Gene F. Brock, Gene H. Zaid
  • Patent number: 8863835
    Abstract: A well tool can include a first oscillator which varies a flow rate of fluid, and a second oscillator which discharges the fluid received from the first oscillator at a variable frequency. A method can include flowing a fluid through a first oscillator, thereby repeatedly varying a flow rate of fluid discharged from the first oscillator, and receiving the fluid from the first oscillator into a second oscillator. A well tool can include a first oscillator including a vortex chamber, and a second oscillator which receives fluid flowed through the vortex chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Roger L. Schultz, Robert Pipkin, Tim Hunter
  • Patent number: 8866425
    Abstract: Complete drive system, called motor-drive unit, for use in remote locations with limited radial space like downhole, narrow tunnels, pipelines and other applications with similar conditions. Given the spatial limitations the unit must have elongated shape. It includes a number of motors connected mechanically in series and a lower number of inverters, driving groups of the motors so that load is equally distributed along axis of the unit. Motors within each group can be electrically connected in series or in parallel. The motor-drive unit is supposed to be fed by DC voltage via a cable with length up to several km; therefore, it includes a buck converter for stabilization of voltage inside the unit and a power-line communication module to be controllable from the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: SmartMotor AS
    Inventors: Richard Lund, Alexey Matveev, Roy Nilsen, Sigurd Övrebö
  • Publication number: 20140305644
    Abstract: This invention relates to improvements in the current recovery of gases and oil liquids from an underground resource such as shale by means of hydraulic fracturing “Fracking.” The main improvements consist of increasing the yield of gases and oil liquids from drilled wells as well as eliminating the use of water which is a major problem. Mobile processing equipment, to upgrade the recovered resource and to convert it to a marketable product, is conducted where the resource is thermally extracted, resulting in the elimination of pipelines to conventional upgraders which produce an intermediate which is thence delivered by means of pipeline or rail to a far away conventional refinery. This new mobile approach which will be situated at or adjoining the drilled wells will lower capital and operating costs, reduce emissions, facilitate permitting, and help reduce public opposition to “Fracking.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2013
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Inventor: Albert Calderon
  • Patent number: 8858902
    Abstract: A method for removing sulfide from an aqueous alkali solution in which hydrogen peroxide is introduced into a sulfide-containing aqueous alkali solution associated with an alkali mineral recovery operation. The method is particularly useful for the processing of sulfide-containing aqueous alkali solutions containing NaHCO3 and Na2CO3, where bicarbonate in the sulfide-depleted alkali solution is decomposed to form Na2CO3, with concurrent evolution of gaseous carbon dioxide byproduct but without formation of gaseous H2S as a pollutant, and where Na2CO3 values are subsequently recovered from the sulfide-depleted carbonate-rich alkali solution via a crystallization operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: FMC Wyoming Corporation
    Inventor: William C. Copenhafer