Producing The Well Patents (Class 166/369)
  • Patent number: 11946372
    Abstract: A horizontal directional drilling machine includes a drill string rotational drive unit having an output member configured to connect with and selectively drive rotation of a drill string, the rotational drive unit including a hydraulic motor. A hydraulic circuit has a configuration that puts the motor in a drive mode to apply torque and a second configuration that puts the motor in a freewheel mode disabled from applying torque. The hydraulic circuit includes a first fluid flow path for connecting the hydraulic motor through a first rotary ball valve to one of an inlet side and an outlet side of a drive pump, and a second fluid flow path for selectively connecting the hydraulic motor through a second rotary ball valve to the other side of the drive pump. In the first configuration, there is no pressure drop across the first and second rotary ball valves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Vermeer Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Ethan Roth, Jason Morgan, Brad Pinkerton
  • Patent number: 11840916
    Abstract: There is disclosed a system for monitoring abandoned subsea wells with a Wet Christmas Tree (WCT) comprising a Control Module to be installed on a modified abandonment cap and a Communication Module coupled beneath the ROV to perform the communication with the control system of the Control Module by way of an electric jumper and supply hydraulic power to the control system by way of an hydraulic jumper. The system is useful for wells with a VCM or three VCMs. In this case, the modified abandonment caps are used. The monitoring method of the abandoned subsea wells with WCT is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: OURO NEGRO TECNOLOGIAS EM EQUIPAMENTOS INDUSTRAIAIS S/A
    Inventors: Jose Roberto Ferreira Moreira, Rafaela Campos Furtado, Ronaldo Gonçalves Izetti
  • Patent number: 11746608
    Abstract: A system includes a processor. The processor estimates a pattern of a flow of a mixture of drilling fluid and cuttings in an annulus of a wellbore. The flow is estimated as a stationary bed flow, a dispersed flow, or a transitional flow relative to the stationary bed and dispersed flows. The processor estimates parameters based on the estimated pattern of the flow, and determines a plurality of dimensionless parameters including a first dimensionless parameter corresponding to an effect of turbulence on the flow and a second dimensionless parameter corresponding to an effect of gravity on the flow, based on the estimated parameters. The processor characterizes the pattern of the flow as the stationary bed flow, the dispersed flow, or the transitional flow, based on the dimensionless parameters, and models the flow based on the estimated pattern if it is determined that the characterized pattern matches the estimated pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Feifei Zhang, Andrey Filippov, Jianxin Lu
  • Patent number: 11686161
    Abstract: A multi-phase, inductive coupling first portion is carried by a tubular. The coupling first portion is configured to inductively transmit current with a corresponding multi-phase, inductive coupling second portion. A downhole-type electric stator is carried by the tubular and is configured to receive and electromagnetically interact with an electric rotor-impeller. The coupling first portion is electrically connected to windings of the stator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Upwing Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: David Biddick, Patrick McMullen
  • Patent number: 11649705
    Abstract: An oil and gas well carbon capture system includes a controller configured for minimizing or eliminating natural gas flaring and venting. A downhole pump is driven by a motor connected to the controller, which interactively operates a control valve. Controller inputs include gas pressures, pump motor speed and oil and gas delivery. The system is configured for separating production phases comprising oil, water and natural gas. A pressure transducer monitors output to gas sales, which can also be monitored with a digital flow meter. A carbon capture method for oil and gas production is also provided. The controls system maximizes downhole pump efficiency and oil and gas production by interactively monitoring and controlling well operating parameters. A method embodying the present invention optimizes well production and operating efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Inventor: Robert J Berland
  • Patent number: 11572678
    Abstract: A valve controller device for controlling a set of one or more solenoid valves is provided. The valve controller comprises an accelerometer for making acceleration measurements in three directions comprising acceleration measurements in a vertical direction. The valve controller comprises a processing unit that determines the arrival of seismic P-waves when the ratio of vibrations' power in the vertical direction with respect to a sum of the vibrations' power in the three directions exceeds a first threshold. The processing unit then determines the arrival of seismic S-waves when the vector sum of the vibrations' power in the three directions exceeds a second threshold. The processing unit then determines the arrival of seismic surface waves when the vector sum of the vibrations' power in the three directions exceeds a third threshold. The processing unit then sends one or more signals to close the set of solenoid valves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Inventors: Mohammad Taghi Fatehi, Parham Reza Fatehi, Keyvan Fatehi
  • Patent number: 11506019
    Abstract: A valve is for closing fluid communication between a horizontal or deviated well and a production string when a content of a first or a second undesired fluid in the fluid flow exceeds a predetermined level. The valve has a primary flow channel, and a piston arrangement movable within the valve between an inactive position allowing fluid flow through the primary channel and an active position preventing fluid flow through the primary channel. The piston arrangement further has a secondary flow channel and a bypass flow channel and inflow control elements exposed to the fluid flow upstream of the flow barrier and having different density and movable within independent paths in response to a density of fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Innowell Solutions AS
    Inventors: Rune Killie, Trygve Rinde
  • Patent number: 11473403
    Abstract: One illustrative valve disclosed herein includes a body, a first flow bore in the body that includes a fluid flow gallery, a first fluid flow port and a second fluid flow port, wherein the fluid flow gallery is in fluid communication with the first and second fluid flow ports. In this example, the valve also includes a second flow bore in the body and at least one sliding sleeve positioned in the body, wherein the at least one sliding sleeve is adapted to be moved from a first closed position to a second open position, and vice-versa, wherein, in the first closed position, fluid communication between the first flow bore and the second flow bore is blocked and wherein, in the second open position, fluid communication between the first flow bore and the second flow bore is established.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: FMC Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey Partridge
  • Patent number: 11466523
    Abstract: The equivalent circulating density (“ECD”) in a wellbore may be managed during a wellbore operation using ECD models that take into account the rheology of the wellbore fluid and the rotational speed of tubulars in the wellbore. For example, a method may include rotating a rotating tubular in a stationary conduit while flowing a fluid through an annulus between the rotating tubular and the stationary conduit; calculating an equivalent circulating density (“ECD”) of the fluid where a calculated viscosity of the fluid is based on an ECD model ?_eff=f(? ?_eff)*h(Re), wherein ?_eff is the viscosity of the fluid, ? ?_eff is an effective shear rate of the fluid, and Re is a Reynold's number for the fluid for the rotational speed of the rotating tubular; and changing an operational parameter of the wellbore operation to maintain or change the ECD of the fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: John Paul Bir Singh, Sandeep D. Kulkarni, Vitor Lopes Pereira, Krishna Babu Yerubandi
  • Patent number: 11466704
    Abstract: A jet pump system and method facilitate the production of a subterranean fluid. The jet pump system comprises a jet pump, a surface pump, a surface pump gauge, and a pump driver coupled to the surface pump to change a drive frequency of the pump driver based on production parameters and pumping parameters of the surface pump (drive frequency (FR) of the surface pump and the power fluid parameters) whereby the surface pump is selectively varied to optimize production. The jet pump method involves deploying the jet pump into the wellbore; pumping power fluid through the jet pump using the surface pump; measuring the pumping parameters; generating the production parameters of the subterranean fluid produced (production rate (QP) of the subterranean fluid); and optimizing the producing by changing the drive frequency (FR) based on the measured power fluid parameters and the generated production parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Odessa Pumps and Equipment, Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew Loris Kurkjian
  • Patent number: 11454105
    Abstract: An unstructured grid model with actual well trajectory of individual multilateral wells of a subsurface reservoir is formed. Well trajectory data obtained during drilling of the wells and corresponding to well trajectory data stored as a structured grid model is provided as an input data set for unstructured grid simulation. The unstructured grid model may be formed in a computerized mainframe processor system, or by parallel reservoir simulation by processor nodes of a multicore processor of parallel processor nodes synchronized and under control of a master node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Xiang Yang Ding, Larry Siu-Kuen Fung
  • Patent number: 11396797
    Abstract: An improved plunger lift assembly, system, and method that can be used in all types of oil and gas wells including those of vertical, highly-deviated, S-curved, or horizontal bores is described. The plunger lift assembly can be part of a plunger lift system used to lift fluid formations out of a wellbore having a production tubing with a drift diameter. The plunger lift assembly may include a mandrel having a chamber, an elastic sealing mechanism, and a shift rod. The sealing mechanism can be disposed about an exterior of the mandrel. The sealing mechanism may be activated by at least one of pressure in the mandrel chamber and vertical force from movement of the mandrel. The shift rod can control fluid flow through the mandrel chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: Pivot Energy Solutions, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Brian Zimmerman, Jr., Jesson Adam Salyards
  • Patent number: 11385369
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer-readable media for processing seismic data. The method includes receiving a plurality of seismic traces representing a subterranean domain, and receiving an implicit stratigraphic model of at least a portion of the subterranean domain. The method also includes selecting an iso-value in the implicit stratigraphic model, and defining, using a processor, a geologically-consistent interval in the implicit stratigraphic model based at least partially on a position of the iso-value in the implicit stratigraphic model. The method further includes calculating one or more attributes of the plurality of seismic traces in the interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Jimmy Klinger
  • Patent number: 11358796
    Abstract: An underground water storage system has a system for preventing water invasion into the near surface soil layers, thereby preventing water intrusion which may be detrimental to desired surface uses for the land, such as agricultural, recreational, residential or commercial uses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Inventor: Jeffrey S. Fabbri
  • Patent number: 11319784
    Abstract: A downhole tool including a tubular member having an outer surface and an inner surface defining a flow bore. An expandable member is arranged on the outer surface. The expandable member is selectively radially outwardly expandable. An activation mechanism is operatively connected to the expandable member. The activation mechanism is operable to radially outwardly expand the expandable member. A control line extends along the outer surface and over the expandable member. A control line guidance system is operable to shift the control line radially outwardly from the outer surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES OILFIELD OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Frank J. Maenza, Matthew J. Krueger
  • Patent number: 11313209
    Abstract: A self-orienting gas evading intake for a submersible pump provides an efficient, reliable and inexpensive system for pumping a downhole fluid to a surface. An intake section of a submersible pumping system may comprise a blocker sleeve disposed between an external housing and an eccentric intake. The intake section may be self-orienting such that a gas component of the fluid ascends the borehole to separate from a liquid component of the fluid. Actuation of a blocker sleeve exposes one or more ports of the external housing while blocking one or more other ports. The liquid component is drawn into the intake section through an exposed port and through one or more openings of the eccentric intake. The liquid component may then be drawn into the pump. As the liquid component comprises non-detrimental amounts, if any, of a gas component, the pump operates efficiently and effectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Eugene Hill, Donn J. Brown, Joshua Wayne Webster
  • Patent number: 11269114
    Abstract: The disclosed embodiments include systems and methods to assess geological data. The method includes obtaining data associated with a geological state of a geological entity. The method also includes assessing a nature of a geological age constraint of the geological entity. The method further includes generating a first probability distribution of a geological age of the geological entity based on the nature of the geological age constraint of the geological entity. The method further includes selecting a time of interest for analysis of the geological entity. The method further includes assessing a nature of the geological age constraint during the time of interest. The method further includes generating a second probability distribution for the time of interest. The method further includes determining a likelihood that the geological age constraint of the geological entity coincides with the time of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: Landmark Graphics Corporation
    Inventors: Graham Baines, Benjamin S. Saunders, Graeme Richard Nicoll, Jean-Christophe Wrobel-Daveau
  • Patent number: 11261725
    Abstract: Methods and systems for determining a liquid level in a formation between a horizontal segment of an injection wellbore and a horizontal segment of a production wellbore are disclosed. Under shut-in conditions, local temperatures and pressures are determined for each of a plurality of inflow zones along the production wellbore segment. Local profile values are determined based on local shut-in subcool values and local shut-in liquid levels. After flow has resumed, a local liquid level is determined based on the local operating subcool value and the local profile value for that inflow zone. The local profile values may be updated during subsequent shut-ins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Robin Gupta, Neal L. Adair, Sriram Doraiswamy, Ted A. Long
  • Patent number: 11187066
    Abstract: A vacuum chamber is evacuated by a vacuum pump. The vacuum chamber is positioned within a wellbore. A wellbore is fluidically exposed to an interior of the vacuum chamber after the vacuum chamber has been evacuated. At least a portion of condensate within the wellbore is flashed responsive to fluidically exposing a wellbore to an interior of the vacuum chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Jana Mohammed Aljindan, Mohamed Nabil Noui-Mehidi
  • Patent number: 11187826
    Abstract: Unsegmented continuous subsurface data may be analyzed using one or more moving windows to characterize a subsurface region. Unsegmented continuous subsurface data may be scanned using the moving window(s). Probabilities that portions of the subsurface region include a subsurface feature may be determined based on analysis of the portions of the unsegmented continuous subsurface data within the moving window(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Fabien J. Laugier, Alicia Downard, Tao Sun
  • Patent number: 11187250
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an automatic cleaning device for suction port of electric submersible pump. The pipe string joint is connected between the oil pipe and the electric submersible pump. A plurality of oil drain passage inlets, steel balls, return springs, sealing plugs and oil drain passage outlets are evenly distributed in circumferential direction of a boss. The upper end of the connecting pipe is connected with the outlet of the oil drain passage, and the lower end is connected with the nozzle. The retaining ring secures the connecting pipe on the housing of the electric submersible pump. A high-pressure fluid ejected from the nozzle directly acts on the suction port of the electric submersible pump. The present invention can automatically clean the suction port of the electric submersible pump by relying on the pressure difference between the outlet and the suction port of the electric submersible pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: SOUTHWEST PETROLEUM UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Ruyi Gou, Weiyu Chen, Liqiang Zhao, Pingli Liu, Zhifeng Luo, Juan Du
  • Patent number: 11149535
    Abstract: An electric submersible pump (ESP) assembly. The ESP assembly comprises an electric motor, a centrifugal pump mechanically coupled to the electric motor, and a gas handling inverted shroud assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Donn J. Brown, Ketankumar Kantilal Sheth, Trevor Alan Kopecky, Casey Laine Newport
  • Patent number: 11137511
    Abstract: Active source surface wave prospecting method which is applicable to technical field of geological prospecting, comprising: collecting, by detector at preset station, surface wave data transmitted from seismic source; calculating to obtain dispersion energy graph on basis of vector wave-number transformational algorithm and according to surface wave data; extracting dispersion curve from dispersion energy graph, dispersion comprising base-order surface wave dispersion curve and high-order surface wave dispersion curve; establishing initial stratigraphic model according to base-order surface wave dispersion curve and high-order surface wave dispersion curve, performing, according to initial stratigraphic model, joint inversion on base-order surface wave dispersion curve and high-order surface wave dispersion curve to obtain inverting data of stratigraphic texture. Accuracy of surface wave prospecting result is effectively improved. Further provided are surface wave exploration device and terminal device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Zhentao Yang, Xiaofei Chen, Jiannan Wang, Lei Pan
  • Patent number: 11131784
    Abstract: A multi-point geostatistical prestack inversion method based on a renewal probability ratio constant theory, comprising the following steps: sorting information, work area gridding and distributing well data, assigning an initial attribute value to a simulation work area, selecting a data template with an appropriate size, inversion and judging iteration termination; the method overcomes the defects that in the prior art, oil and gas exploration and development are more and more difficult, exploration degree is higher and higher, new oil and gas reservoirs are more and more difficult to find, reservoir parameters are inaccurate, and exploration uncertainty is increased, and the method has the advantages that prior information is obtained through a multi-point geostatistics method and then screening is carried out through a minimum objective function such that the complexity of seismic inversion is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Inventors: Yanshu Yin, Xun Hu, Wenjie Feng, Changmin Zhang
  • Patent number: 11111756
    Abstract: A valve, a system and a method are for closing fluid communication between a well and a production string when a content of an undesired fluid in the fluid flow exceeds a predetermined level. The valve has a primary flow channel having a primary inlet through a flow barrier, and a low pressure portion; a secondary flow channel having a secondary inlet through the flow barrier and provided with a flow restrictor; a chamber connected to the secondary flow channel; a piston for opening and closing the primary flow channel; and an inflow control element movable in response to a density of a fluid. The inflow control element is exposed to the fluid flow upstream of the flow barrier and moves to close the secondary inlet when the content of the undesired fluid exceeds the predetermined level, activating the piston and closing the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: Innowell Solutions AS
    Inventors: Rune Killie, Anders Beyer Brattli
  • Patent number: 11105188
    Abstract: A perforation tool for perforating casing in a borehole. The perforation tool may include a body, charges spaced along an axial length of the body, and a first compartment positioned along the axial length of the body. The compartment may be filled with a diverter material and operable to selectively release the diverter material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua Lane Camp, Mikko Jaaskelaninen, Eric James Davis, Henry Clifford Bland
  • Patent number: 11085244
    Abstract: An anti-collapse grouting consolidation system including: a grouting pump; an outer flat drill rod; a drill rig that clamps the outer flat drill rod; a sealing device, sheathed on the outer flat drill rod at the orifice of a drill hole, ensuring the outer flat drill rod is sealed with the orifice of the drill hole; and a jet grouting drill bit with bi-directional rib wings. The grouting pump jets slurry into the drill hole in a static osmotic manner through the jet grouting drill bit. A method of using an anti-collapse grouting consolidation system includes, among other things, injecting quick-setting slurry; sealing an orifice hole of the drill hole by an orifice sealing device; and keeping an anti-collapse jet grouting drill bit with bi-directional rib wings repeatedly moving up and down and rotating at a repair segment to repair the repair segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: SHANDONG UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Shucai Li, Qingsong Zhang, Guangming Pan, Rentai Liu, Xiao Zhang, Lei Yang, Kai Wang, Zhaofeng Li, Haitong Sui, Teng Yang, Chunguo Liu
  • Patent number: 11054537
    Abstract: A method can include receiving n-dimensional data where n is equal at least three; analyzing a plurality of two-dimensional slices of the n-dimensional data to determine characteristic information with respect to a plurality of feature indexes for a feature in the n-dimensional data; and, based at least in part on the characteristic information, associating the feature with one of the feature indexes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Victor Aarre
  • Patent number: 11041972
    Abstract: Methods and systems for generating an image of a subterranean formation from recorded seismic data obtained in a marine seismic survey of a subterranean formation are described. Methods and systems compute a volume of migrated seismic data obtained from the recorded seismic data. Spectrally enhanced traces of the migrated seismic data are computed in overlapping windows of the volume of migrated seismic data. The spectrally enhanced traces of the volume of migrated seismic data are used to generate a spectrally enhanced image of the subterranean formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: PGS Geophysical AS
    Inventors: Maiza Bekara, Peter Stroia-Williams
  • Patent number: 11030419
    Abstract: The invention is a data processing method and system for suggesting non-obvious potential Hydrocarbon Plays from unstructured text. The data processing system detects clues for Hydrocarbon Play Elements in sentences, matches combinatorial patterns (DNA inspired) across sentences and documents to output potential Hydrocarbon Plays. The system also computes a rank for the detected Hydrocarbon Play's non-obvious nature. In particular, the data processing system operates on any digital unstructured text derived from academic literature, company reports, web pages and other sources. Detected Hydrocarbon Plays can be used to stimulate ideation and learning events for geoscientists in the oil and gas exploration industry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Inventor: Paul Hugh Cleverley
  • Patent number: 10947821
    Abstract: A control system for and oil and gas production well includes a controller connected to a well string extending downhole from a wellhead. The control system maximizes downhole pump efficiency and oil and gas production by interactively monitoring and controlling well operating parameters. A method embodying the present invention optimizes well production and operating efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Inventor: Robert J. Berland
  • Patent number: 10901377
    Abstract: A method for controlling drilling fluid properties, in some embodiments, comprises determining a predictive model for a fluid circulation system that routes drilling fluid downhole to a drill bit to remove debris from said drill bit; determining a cost function associated with the fluid circulation system; using the predictive model and the cost function to determine a set of input values for the predictive model; operating a controlled device according to at least some of the set of input values, said controlled device changes properties of the drilling fluid in the fluid circulation system; and obtaining measurements of the properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Jason D. Dykstra, Zhijie Sun, Yuzhen Xue, Fanping Bu
  • Patent number: 10890067
    Abstract: A method for the determination of the water cut and volumetric flow rate of a fluid flowing through a density inflow control valve. A density inflow control valve may include a floating device that moves between a relaxed choke position and a restricted choke position depending on the density of the fluid flowing through the valve. Pressure gauges upstream and downstream of the inflow control device may be used to measure the pressure drop across the inflow control valve over time. The water cut of the downhole fluid flowing through the valve may be determined from the pressure drop over time and the pressure drop associated with the relaxed choke position and the restricted choke position. The volumetric flow rate may be determined from the average water cut and the density of the downhole fluid, as determined from the single phase densities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Ahmed Bukhamseen, Brett W. Bouldin, Rob Turner
  • Patent number: 10884150
    Abstract: Systems and methods for training a model that uses probabilities of lithologies as prior information in an inversion are disclosed. Exemplary implementations may: obtain training data, the training data including (i) subsurface map data sets, and (ii) known lithologies; obtain an initial seismic mapping model; generate a conditioned seismic mapping model by training the initial seismic mapping model; store the conditioned seismic mapping model; obtain a target subsurface map data set; apply the conditioned seismic mapping model to generate a classified lithology map data set; apply an inversion to the classified lithology map data set to generate volumes of lithologies; generate an image that represents the volumes of lithologies; display the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Gary Michael Hoversten, Laura Bandura, Adam Halpert
  • Patent number: 10871586
    Abstract: Method for reconstructing seismic data. The method includes receiving at a computing device an input seismic data set d related to plural shots emitted by one or more seismic sources; receiving at the computing device a positional data set dp relating to recording locations of the receivers that recorded the input seismic data set d; receiving at the computing device a receiver target location; calculating an adjusted receiver location based on (i) the positional data set dp and (ii) the receiver target location, wherein the adjusted receiver location substantially coincides with a receiver location from the positional data set dp; calculating reconstructed seismic data dr at the adjusted receiver location using the input seismic data set d and the positional data set dp; and correcting the seismic wave paths from the one or more seismic sources to the receivers based on the reconstructed seismic data dr.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: CGG SERVICES SAS
    Inventor: Gordon Poole
  • Patent number: 10787895
    Abstract: In some embodiments, an apparatus and a system, as well as a method and article, may operate to generate a surface representing mechanical specific energy as a function of dimensionless products of downhole drilling process variables. Additional actions may include characterizing an area of the surface for different drill bit types, and operating a controlled device according to a location of run data associated with at least one of the different drill bit types and the area on the surface. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephan Regnard, Nuno da Silva, Daniel Ruiz Romera
  • Patent number: 10768328
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed relating to reducing noise in geophysical marine survey data through use of a dip map data structure. Such techniques may include adapting a model of multiple noise to seismic data. A multiple dip map may be generated by convolving the adapted model of multiple noise with a set of directional filters. A modified record of the seismic data may be generated through adaptive subtraction that is sufficient to remove most multiple events but may also damage at least some primary events. A primary dip map may then be determined from the modified record by interpolation dependent on the multiple dip map. A noise template may then be adaptively subtracted from the seismic data. Prior to the adaptive subtraction, the noise template is adapted to the seismic data by a degree of adaptation that is determined dependent upon relative amplitudes of the primary and multiple dip maps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: PGS Geophysical AS
    Inventors: Truong Nguyen, Richard Dyer
  • Patent number: 10724345
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for exploitation of a sedimentary basin. Exploitation of the sedimentary basin is permitted by the choice of zones of interest within the basin, the zones being determined by use of maps of total organic carbon TOC and of hydrogen index HI of at least one sedimentary layer. According to the invention, the maps of total organic carbon TOC and of hydrogen index HI are obtained taking into account the current values of TOCA(W) and HIA(W) at the level of the well and taking into account the maps of bathymetry BM and of sedimentation rate SM.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: IFP ENERGIES NOUVELLES
    Inventors: Mathieu Ducros, Benoit Chauveau
  • Patent number: 10724356
    Abstract: A downhole separator performs the function of removing gas from liquids before the liquids enter the well pump. The formation fluid enters into a first, lower, chamber, of the separator and exits through channels to helical passageways on the exterior of the separator body. A shroud surrounds the separator body to serve as an outer wall of the helical passageways. Spiraling movement of the fluid forces the heavier liquids outward and causes separation of the lighter gas. The liquids and gas are ejected from the top of the separator body. The separated liquids drain downward by gravity pull to a liquid reservoir. Liquids in the reservoir are driven upward and flow through channels on the exterior of the separator body into a second, upper chamber, in the separator body which is coupled by tubing to the inlet of the pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Inventor: James N. McCoy
  • Patent number: 10613003
    Abstract: A system and method for determining a health condition of wellsite equipment is presented herein. The method includes thermally analyzing at least a portion of one of the wellsite equipment units with a thermal imaging device capable of detecting infrared light to determine a temperature of the analyzed portion of the wellsite equipment unit. The temperature of the analyzed portion of the wellsite equipment unit may be used to indicate the health condition of the wellsite equipment unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Rajesh Luharuka, Jijo Joseph
  • Patent number: 10605062
    Abstract: A downhole flow control device includes a housing, an inlet port, an outlet port and a valve seat surface surrounding the inlet port. A valve plate is mounted within the housing to move between an open position in which the valve plate is separated from the valve seat surface to define a separation flow path therebetween to permit flow in a forward direction from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet, and a closed position in which the valve plate is engaged with the valve seat surface to close the separation flow path to restrict flow in a reverse direction from the fluid outlet to the fluid inlet. At least one of the valve seat and valve plate defines a geometry to encourage an increase in static pressure of fluid flow in the separation flow path when the valve plate is in the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Swellfix UK Limited
    Inventors: Benn Voll, Ismarullizam Mohd Ismail
  • Patent number: 10597981
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for developing and presenting wellbore pipe string related operation engineering parameter roadmaps in hydrocarbon reservoir modeling are disclosed. A computer-implemented method may include receiving a plurality of depth intervals, associating different computational model calculations with each depth interval, selecting input parameter values for each set of computational model calculations, generating computational model results for each set of computational model calculations associated with each interval to yield a graphical interval plot for the depth interval; and displaying a plurality of graphical interval plots together on a wellbore roadmap. A control list for the roadmap is correspondingly generated and dynamically linked to the wellbore roadmap so that individual entries in the control list are associated with individual interval plots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: LANDMARK GRAPHICS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Gustavo A. Urdaneta
  • Patent number: 10591090
    Abstract: A flange assembly for supporting a cable has a flange for supporting a cable therein. A flange body has one or more lugs disposed about a circumference of said flange body. A retention ring is dimensioned to fit over the flange body and retain the flange assembly by connecting with the lugs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: NEXANS
    Inventor: Robert White
  • Patent number: 10549968
    Abstract: Well servicing surface equipment and processes for making and using same. In some examples, the well servicing can include placing a winch module adjacent to a wellhead of the well such that a cable of the winch module is extendable into the well. A power module can be placed adjacent to the wellhead of the well. The power module can be configured to provide power to the winch module. A workstation can be deployed from a first configuration to a second configuration. The workstation can include a control panel and the control panel can be physically inaccessible by an operator when in the first configuration, and the control panel can be physically accessible by the operator when in the second configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Catrina De Matos
  • Patent number: 10526865
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a downhole annular barrier to be expanded in an annulus between a well tubular structure and a wall of a borehole or another well tubular structure downhole in order to provide zone isolation between a first zone having a first pressure and a second zone having a second pressure of the borehole, the annular barrier comprising a tubular part adapted to be mounted as part of the well tubular structure, the tubular part having an outer face and an inside, an expandable metal sleeve surrounding the tubular part and having an inner sleeve face facing the tubular part and an outer sleeve face facing the wall of the borehole, each end of the expandable metal sleeve being connected with the tubular part, and an annular space between the inner sleeve face of the expandable metal sleeve and the tubular part, a first opening in fluid communication with the inside, a second opening in fluid communication with the annular space, a bore having a bore extension and comprising a first bore pa
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: WELLTEC OILFIELD SOLUTIONS AG
    Inventor: Lars Stæhr
  • Patent number: 10494911
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method may comprise attaching a plurality of wireless sensors to a pump jack; receiving time-stamped data from at least some of the plurality of wireless sensors attached to the pump jack, at least one of the plurality of wireless sensors comprising an accelerometer and a gyroscope and being attached to a crank arm of the pump jack; synchronizing the received time-stamped data; from the synchronized time-stamped data, calculating and generating information related to: a downhole load versus polished rod position of the pump jack; a relative balance of a counterweight of the pump jack relative to a horse head of the pump jack; deviations from a nominal acceleration profile of a bridle of the pump jack; and an angle of inclination of the bridle of the pump jack; and selectively generating, on a computing device, visualizations of the generated information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: KELVIN INC.
    Inventors: Peter Harding, Logan Duffy, Adam Guetz, Niall Wells, David Bangor
  • Patent number: 10472963
    Abstract: A method for stepwise construction of a preferential gas migration pathway at a stope in a coal seam. First, a gas migration pathway is preliminarily formed at a stope depending on a mining effect of mining in a first mined seam. construction and stabilization method of gob-side entry retaining in deep strata, and a method of manual-guided pre-fracturing boreholes are then used to perform active construction respectively in external space and the outside of coal-rock mass to form preferential gas migration pathways. Eventually, under the effect of mining-induced stress, a system of preferential gas migration pathways connected to each other at the stope is further formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: China University of Mining and Technology
    Inventors: Baiquan Lin, Tong Liu, Ting Liu, Wei Yang, He Li, Zhanbo Huang, Rui Wang, Yihan Wang
  • Patent number: 10422899
    Abstract: A deterministic method for selecting a set of encoding weights for simultaneous encoded-source inversion of seismic data that will cause the iterative inversion to converge faster than randomly chosen weights. The encoded individual source gathers are summed (83), forming a composite gather, and simulated in a single simulation operation. The invention creates multiple realizations of the simulation (84), each with its own encoding vector (82) whose components are the weights for the shots in the composite gather. The encoding vectors of the invention are required to be orthogonal (82), which condition cannot be satisfied by random weights, and in various embodiments of the invention are related to eigenvectors of a Laplacian matrix, sine or cosine functions, or Chebyshev nodes as given by the roots of Chebyshev polynomials. For non-fixed receiver geometry, an encoded mask (61) may be used to approximately account for non-listening receivers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Reeshidev Bansal, Pavel Dimitrov
  • Patent number: 10385660
    Abstract: A completion method and assembly includes a packer extending along a pipe that is positioned in a wellbore to create an annulus between the pipe and the wellbore, the packer having a sealing element with first and second ends. A shunt tube is positioned adjacent the sealing element and extends from at least the first end to the second end of the sealing element to form a bypass through which a volume of proppant can flow. A fluid chamber is disposed to release a setting fluid into the shunt tube to mix with proppant therein and seal the shunt tube once proppant has flowed into the annulus. An injection assembly includes a fluid chamber configured to accommodate a fluid; a fluid control line fluidically coupled to the fluid chamber and the shunt tube; and an actuation device to force the fluid from the fluid chamber and into the shunt tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventor: William M. Richards
  • Patent number: 10336544
    Abstract: A water storage and management system takes water from a water source, such as captured run-off, and through a piping system, directs a flow of the water into an aquifer for storage and future utilization. Using moisture detectors, the system ascertains the water content of different layers or zones of the aquifer and reports this information to a digital processor. The digital processor may utilize this information to issue instructions to one or more control valves to direct the flow of the water into portions of the aquifer which have additional storage capacity. The digital processor may also instruct a submersible pump to withdraw from the aquifer as desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Next Tier Agribusiness, LLC
    Inventor: Jeffrey S. Fabbri