Fluid Flow Control Member (e.g., Plug Or Valve) Patents (Class 166/386)
  • Patent number: 11879313
    Abstract: A tubular for reservoir fines control includes a body having an outer surface and an inner surface defining a flow path. A plurality of openings is formed in the body connecting the outer surface and the flow path. A pre-formed member including a material mesh is overlaid onto the outer surface. The material mesh is formed from a material swellable upon exposure to a selected fluid. The material mesh has a selected porosity allowing methane to pass into the flow path while preventing passage of fines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES, A GE COMPANY, LLC
    Inventors: John K. Wakefield, Michael H. Johnson
  • Patent number: 11859458
    Abstract: Dissolvable pump down devices, dissolvable pump down assemblies, and methods to propel a bottomhole assembly through a lateral section are presented. A dissolvable pump down device includes an engageable portion, and one or more expandable pieces that are initially in a first position before the dissolvable pump down device is deployed in a wellbore, and configured to expand from the first position to a second position in response to a force generated by fluid flow of fluid through the wellbore. A diameter of the expandable pieces while the expandable pieces are in the first position is less than the diameter of the one or more expandable pieces while the one or more expandable pieces are in the second position. The engageable portion and the one or more expandable pieces are configured to dissolve after the dissolvable pump down device is positioned at the desired wellbore location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Jesse Cale Porter, Donald Ray Smith, Zachery Ryan Olson, Aaron Jacob Miller
  • Patent number: 11814926
    Abstract: An assembly and a method of setting a plug in a borehole. The assembly includes a first lock, a second lock axially separated from the first lock. The plug is located between the first lock and the second lock. A bore of the assembly passes through the first lock, the second lock and the plug. A ball is dropped through the bore and activates the first lock and the second lock to allow the plug to rotate into a set configuration in the borehole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES OILFIELD OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Andres Sosa
  • Patent number: 11795978
    Abstract: An accumulator system includes a chamber configured to receive a first fluid, a piston configured to move within the chamber to pressurize and drive the first fluid out of the chamber, a driving shaft coupled to the piston, a screw adapter coupled to the driving shaft, a plurality of anti-rotation shafts, and an electric actuator configured to couple to the screw adapter and to rotate the screw adapter to axially move the driving shaft. The piston includes a body defining a first aperture and a plurality of counterbores. The driving shaft is coupled to the piston via the first aperture. The piston is configured to slide over the plurality of anti-rotation shafts via the plurality of counterbores.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher Nault, Matthew David Givens, Vikas Rakhunde, Stephen McGuire
  • Patent number: 11643905
    Abstract: Provided is an electrically surface-controlled subsurface safety valve (ESCSSV). The ESCSSV, in one example, includes an outer housing comprising a central bore extending axially through the housing that is configured to convey production fluids there through. The ESCSSV, in this embodiment, further includes a valve closure mechanism disposed proximate a downhole end of the central bore, and a bore flow management actuator disposed in the central bore and configured to move between a closed state and a flow state to engage or disengage the valve closure mechanism to determine a flow condition of the production fluids through the central bore. The ESCSSV, in this embodiment, additionally includes an electric valve assembly fluidically coupled to the bore flow management actuator and configured to select between a section pressure or the annulus pressure to control the bore flow management actuator and determine the flow condition of production fluids through the central bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: James Dan Vick, Jr., Jimmie Robert Williamson, Bruce Edward Scott
  • Patent number: 11613964
    Abstract: An insert safety valve includes a valve body having a valve member, and a control fluid conduit fluidically connected to the valve body. The insert safety valve being responsive to a control fluid at a first pressure to shift the valve member and open the valve body to a fluid flow and at a second pressure to add the control fluid to the fluid flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES OILFIELD OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Todd Christophe Jackson, Christopher William Hales
  • Patent number: 11591892
    Abstract: A gas separation and injection system includes a lower separator that receives and separates a production stream into higher and lower density streams, a turbine-compressor including a turbine that receives the lower density stream to rotate a shaft that drives a compressor and subsequently recombines the lower and higher density streams into a recombined production stream. An upper separator receives the recombined production stream and includes a gas inlet tube that conveys a gas stream to the compressor to produce a compressed gas stream. A shuttle valve assembly axially interposes the upper separator and the turbine-compressor and includes a mandrel assembly received within a body and having the gas inlet tube extending within the mandrel assembly, a valve seat secured to the gas inlet tube, a piston movably arranged within the inner annulus between closed and open positions, and a shuttle valve operatively coupled to the piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Jimmie Robert Williamson, Jr., Joseph Steven Grieco
  • Patent number: 11467039
    Abstract: A system for monitoring flaring activities on a drill ship includes a plurality of devices in wireless communication with each other on the drill ship. Each of the devices includes a resistive temperature detector configured to determine a temperature within a sensing area of the resistive temperature detector, and a communication device operably connected to the resistive temperature detector, wherein the communication device is configured to receive the temperature data from the resistive temperature detector and send the temperature data to a remote system. The device may also include a global positioning system operably connected to the communication device, the global positioning system configured to identify a location of the drill ship in real-time and send the location data to the communication device, wherein the communication device is configured to send the location data to the remote system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Khaled Asfahani, Ali Qasem, Adel Al-Ghamdi
  • Patent number: 11466528
    Abstract: Provided herein is an intervention tool and a method for fracturing multiple lateral wellbores in a well system. The intervention tool, in one aspect, includes a radial outer housing, the radial outer housing forming an interior bore configured to flow fluid, and an expansion member coupled proximate an outer surface of the radial outer housing. The intervention tool according to this aspect further includes a sliding sleeve positioned along an interior surface of the radial outer housing and engageable with the expansion member, the sleeve including a collection of slots or catches configured to move the expansion member between a radially retracted position when the sliding sleeve is in a first linear position and a radially expanded position when the sliding sleeve is in a second linear position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Williams Cho, Matthew James Kelsey, Casey James Alvin Brown
  • Patent number: 11459853
    Abstract: A downhole flow control device is described having a flow control valve and a sensor communication with the flow control valve. The sensor measures a downstream process parameter and the flow control valve is configured to control the fluid flow through the valve to achieve a target downstream process parameter value in response to the measured downstream process parameter. A control system for controlling the downhole flow control device and a method for controlling the downhole flow device are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Swellfix UK Limited
    Inventors: Annabel Green, John Hunter, Clint Frost
  • Patent number: 11396793
    Abstract: A system for stimulating a subterranean formation that has a wellbore formed within the subterranean formation; and a tubular disposed within the wellbore. There is a first frac valve disposed within the tubular, the first frac valve having a first sleeve in a closed position, and further configured to move to an open position. There is an at least a second frac valve disposed within the tubular, the second frac valve having a respective sleeve in a respective closed position, and further configured to move to a respective open position. A dart is configured to pass through the first frac valve without moving the first sleeve, and to subsequently engage the second frac valve to move the respective sleeve to the respective open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: The WellBoss Company, Inc.
    Inventors: John Hughes, Ryan D. Rasmussen, Colin Atkinson, Chad Michael Erick Gibson
  • Patent number: 11371303
    Abstract: A downhole tractor for operational use in well casing of a wellbore. The tractor comprising a tractor body, at least one actuator assembly, and at least one tractor wheel. The actuator assembly is actionable to shift the axis of rotation of the tractor wheel. The at least one tractor wheel includes at least one bifurcated tract having a leading and trailing edge for engaging the well casing. The at least one actuator assembly causes the at least one tractor wheel to switch from traversing a first vertical plane of the well casing to a second vertical plane of the well casing when actuated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Simon Whye Kwong Wai, Irvin How Jiun Yuen
  • Patent number: 11319802
    Abstract: One or more remote-operated sleeve valves are placed along a tubular string downhole. The sleeves can be opened and closed wirelessly, and in embodiments over and over again. Differential pressure between wellbore fluid pressure and an accumulator chamber enable repeated shifting. Each sleeve can have a unique actuation code removing constraints regarding sequence of operation and need for well intervention to access the sleeves. Hydraulic fracturing can be achieved without wellbore obstructions, and other operations benefit for reduced expense in service rigs and the ability or selectively shut off problem zones. Remote signals received downhole include those generated by percussive and seismic, distinguishable from background noise including during pumping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: KOBOLD CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mark Andreychuk, Per Angman, Allan Petrella
  • Patent number: 11306546
    Abstract: An indexing apparatus for use with a downhole tool may include a tubular body and a mandrel. The tubular body may have a first end and a second end. The tubular body may also have a plurality of body detents on the second end of the tubular body and a recess in a surface of the tubular body. The mandrel may include a plurality of mandrel detents on a surface of the mandrel. The mandrel detents may be sized and shaped to engage with the body detents on the second end of the tubular body. The indexing apparatus may also include a cam sized to be received in the recess of the surface of the tubular body and a spring coupled to the first end of the tubular body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Rory Archibald Napier
  • Patent number: 11220878
    Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing frac balls into a wellhead includes an outer sleeve, an inner sleeve positioned and moveable within an interior of the main body and a ball retention device for retaining a frac ball within an interior of the inner sleeve. A retained frac ball held in the ball retention device is released within the inner sleeve when weight or pressure is applied to the inner sleeve to cause the inner sleeve to slide upwardly within the main sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Inventor: John Sage
  • Patent number: 11199067
    Abstract: The present invention provides a thermally deformable annular packer with pressure relief means for use in oil and gas wells. The annular packer is formed from a stack of component parts, said parts comprising one or more eutectic alloy based ring sections sandwiched between two end sections. At least one of the annular packer component parts has one or more enclosed voids that are configured to become exposed when the packer is subjected to a predetermined pressure or temperature. The exposure of the enclosed voids serves to increase the effective volume within the sealed region formed by the annular packer in the annulus between two coaxial well casing/tubing. The increase in the effective volume serves to reduce the pressure within the sealed region thus preventing a build-up of pressure that might otherwise have damaged the well casing/tubing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: BiSN Tec Ltd
    Inventors: Paul Carragher, Sylvain Bedouet
  • Patent number: 11091978
    Abstract: A stage cementing tool includes a housing configured to couple to a casing and having a central bore therethrough, a first plurality of ports arranged on a radial surface of the housing and configured to fluidly connect the central bore and an annulus of a wellbore, a second plurality of ports arranged on the radial surface of the housing uphole of the first plurality of ports and configured to fluidly connect the central bore and the annulus of the wellbore, an expandable element coupled to the housing between the first plurality of ports and the second plurality of ports, and a sleeve. The sleeve is moveable from a first position on the housing to a second position on the housing to fluidly disconnect the central bore and the annulus through the first plurality of ports and fluidly connect the central bore and the annulus through the second plurality of ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventor: Ali A Hijles
  • Patent number: 11091986
    Abstract: A system and method for successively fracking a wellbore at spaced intervals along tubing having therein frac ports each openably closed by a sliding sleeve. The system has at least one actuation member and at least one cylindrical sand screen sub insertable into the tubing. Each actuation member has a collet sleeve with a radially-outwardly biased protuberance of a first profile configured to matingly engage an interior groove profile on at least one of the sliding sleeves and slide the sliding sleeve downhole to open the corresponding port. Each cylindrical sand screen sub has a dissolvable plug member or burst plate disposed on one end thereof allowing for the sand screen to be forced into the well by pressure acting against the plug or plate, and has a resiliently-outwardly biased protuberance configured for engaging a mating profile on the tubing and retaining the sand screen sub in a desired position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Inventors: Sean P. Campbell, Daniel Rojas
  • Patent number: 11072990
    Abstract: A downhole apparatus has a casing string and a degradable plug positioned in the casing string to block flow therethrough. An upper membrane covers an upper end of the degradable plug. The upper membrane is made up of a plurality of separable membranes. A lower membrane covers a lower end of the degradable plug and is comprised of a plurality of separable membranes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Min Mark Yuan, Ishwar Dilip Patil, Mayur Narain Ahuja, Lonnie Carl Helms, Clayton Reed Bonn
  • Patent number: 11047227
    Abstract: A testable indexing plug includes a body having an outer surface, an inner surface defining a flow path, a first end, a second end, and an intermediate portion extending between the first end and the second end. A valve chamber extends from the first end into the intermediate portion. A valve member is arranged in the valve chamber. The valve member includes a first end portion, a second end portion including an opening, and an intermediate section including one or more ports fluidically connected with the opening. An indexing system shifts the valve member between a first position, wherein the one or more ports are arranged in the valve chamber and a second position, wherein the one or more ports are exposed outside of the valve chamber following a defined number of pressure applications to the valve member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES OILFIELD OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Geoffrey Warlick
  • Patent number: 10995586
    Abstract: A fully electric tool for continuous downhole flow control is described, said tool comprising a body and along the said body, actuating set(s), each actuating set comprising a passage system comprised of shaft(s) radially disposed along said cylindrical body, each of said shaft (s) being actuated with its opposed pair or in an independent way in a well-defined position or not, said shaft(s) being provided of spherical element(s) or sphere(s), provided of at least one window forming piles of sphere(s) in shaft(s), the rotation of said shaft(s)(108) of piles of sphere(s) enabling the opening or total or partial obstruction of holes by the total or partial coincidence of said window(s) of sphere(s) with said bore(s) of said cylindrical body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: OURO NEGRO TECNOLOGIAS EM EQUIPAMENTOS INDUSTRIAIS S/A
    Inventors: Pedro Eduardo Gonzales Panta, Auderi Vicente Santos, Leonardo Gonçalves Candido Gomes
  • Patent number: 10954762
    Abstract: A completion assembly includes tubing that defines an axis that extends from a distal shoe end to a proximal uphole end where the tubing includes: a washdown shoe; a plug seat configured to receive a plug that hinders flow through the washdown shoe; a screen; a fluid loss control device that permits, in an exterior space, flow of fluid in an uphole direction and that hinders flow of fluid in a downhole direction; a circulation valve that is actuatable to permit flow of fluid from an interior space to the exterior space; a formation isolation valve that is actuatable to form a flow barrier in the interior space; a packer that is actuatable to extend radially outwardly from the tubing to form an annular flow barrier in the exterior space; and a barrier component that is actuatable to form a flow barrier in the interior space of the tubing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Dinesh Patel
  • Patent number: 10934809
    Abstract: A tool for deploying plug balls or frac balls in a borehole utilizing the hydrostatic pressure of fluid in the borehole is disclosed. The tool includes two connected cylinders, the first cylinder with a larger cross-sectional area than the second cylinder. The tool includes two connected pistons, the first piston disposed in sealing engagement within the first cylinder, the second piston disposed in sealing engagement within the second cylinder. The tool includes a ball-holding tube connected to the second cylinder. Application of force to the first piston by exposing the first cylinder to the hydrostatic head of the borehole fluid causes the second piston to move which in turn applies force to the balls in the ball-holding tube which deploys the balls into the borehole by ejecting them from the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Becker Oil Tools LLC
    Inventor: Patrick Becker
  • Patent number: 10927633
    Abstract: A new resin blend is disclosed, which may be referred to as a hybrid resin. The resin blend includes an effective amount of benzoxazine resin or benzoxazine derivative mixed with at least one of epoxy resin, phenolic resins and other thermosetting polymers at varying ratios.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: CCDI Composites, Inc.
    Inventor: Dennis Sherlin
  • Patent number: 10858902
    Abstract: A well configuration unit configured to connect to a zipper manifold, and comprising a bridge connector header comprising an axial throughbore and a horizontal throughbore. A frac manifold connector is connected to the axial throughbore of the bridge connector header and comprises a mandrel that is axially movable and a hydraulic setting tool configured to move the mandrel from an open position, in which fracturing fluid is allowed to flow from the zipper manifold to a connected frac tree, to a closed position, in which the mandrel and its associated cup tool prevent fracturing fluid from flowing to the connected frac tree. A bridge connector is connected to the horizontal throughbore of the bridge connector header and comprises two bridge spools configured to connect the zipper manifold to the same frac tree.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: OIL STATES ENERGY SERVICES, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Richard Brian Sizemore, Bob McGuire, Danny L. Artherholt, Nicholas Langston, Blake Mullins, Mickey Claxton, Charles Beedy
  • Patent number: 10851619
    Abstract: A production system and a frac sleeve assembly of a frac assembly of the production system. The frac sleeve assembly includes a funnel section that reduces in diameter in a direction of an outlet of the frac assembly, a throat section having a selected diameter, and a ball seat at an intersection of the funnel section and the throat section for receiving a ball. When seated in the ball seat, an entire portion of a ball extending into the funnel section is exposed to disintegrating fluid in the funnel section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES, A GE COMPANY, LLC
    Inventors: Matthew C. Stone, Colin Andrew, Omar Balcazar, Partha Ganguly, Michael Johnson, Alexander Kendall, Daniel Sequera
  • Patent number: 10801292
    Abstract: The invention relates to a blowout preventer stack having at least one blowout preventer, at least one kinetic energy storage device, at least one hydraulic pump, and at least one hydraulic actuator which is disposed outside the kinetic energy storage device and is connected to the hydraulic pump via a hydraulic line and is mechanically connected to the blowout preventer, wherein the kinetic energy storage device is coupled, or couplable, to the hydraulic pump and the hydraulic pump may be driven by the kinetic energy stored in the kinetic energy storage device in such a manner that in case of need the hydraulic pump will pump hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic actuator and thus actuate the blowout preventer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Inventors: Klaus Biester, Peter Kunow
  • Patent number: 10801304
    Abstract: A system is provided, run on a liner, for stimulating one or more stages of a downhole wellbore. The system includes one or more frac valves arranged on the liner; each of the frac valves presenting an identical inside profile, the frac valves being openable for providing fluid communication between in inside of the liner to outside of the wellbore; and at least one dart deployable into the liner, and being adjustable to pass through one or more frac valves without opening said one or more frac valves, and to engage and open one or more other frac valves. Each of the at least one darts is identical to another. A method is further provided for stimulating one or more stages of a downhole wellbore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: The WellBoss Company, Inc.
    Inventors: John Hughes, Ryan D. Rasmussen, Colin Atkinson, Chad Michael Erick Gibson
  • Patent number: 10767439
    Abstract: Degradable downhole tools, tool components, and balls are formed from a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) compound. The PVA compound exhibits strength and elasticity properties that are comparable to existing degradable downhole polymers and further exhibits degradability properties that are superior to existing degradable downhole polymers. For different components, the PVA compound may include a reinforcing material such as fiberglass. A plug for use in a wellbore conduit may include a sealing element that is formed of PVA compounds of various types.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Bubbletight, LLC
    Inventor: Carl Andrew Rosenholm
  • Patent number: 10731437
    Abstract: A frac plug with a flapper, wherein the flapper is configured to set and unset based on a pressure differential and/or fluid flow associated with the frac plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Vertice Oil Tools
    Inventor: Mohamed Saraya
  • Patent number: 10704363
    Abstract: An operating system for a barrier valve or safety valve is responsive to increments in annulus or tubing pressure. An indexing device controls valves that selectively direct pressure applied to one side of an operating piston or the other for attaining the open and closed positions of the barrier valve. One such indexing device can be a j-slot. Other devices that operate a pair of hydraulic valves in tandem for pressure direction to one side of an actuation piston or another are contemplated. The system needs no electric power and there are no control lines needed to run below the production packer in the case of using annulus pressure to actuate the piston or at all if access to tubing pressure is provided from the vicinity of the barrier valve components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES, A GE COMPANY, LLC
    Inventors: Michael H. Johnson, Todd C. Jackson
  • Patent number: 10669811
    Abstract: The invention relates to a fluid control device (500) for treating a well, to expand a liner (100) radially outward, said device comprising a piston (550) translatably mounted in said chamber (320), and degradable immobilization means (590), secured in translation with the piston (550), wherein the degradable immobilization means (590) are movable in translation in a cavity (700), wherein the device comprises protection means (800) isolating the cavity (700) from a discharge pipe (810) configured to introduce fluid degrading the pin (590) in said cavity (700), such that, in the initial state, the protection means (800) protect said degradable immobilization means (590), the protection means (800) being configured to break when the pressure in the cavity reaches a threshold pressure gap (?Ps) allowing degradation of the degradable immobilization means (900).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: Saltel Industries
    Inventors: Gwenaël Tanguy, Samuel Roselier, Jean-Louis Saltel
  • Patent number: 10661549
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method of forming an energy absorbing three dimensional (3D) structure. The method involves forming an outer shell for the 3D structure from a shell material, the outer shell having a void forming a core volume. The method also involves filling the core volume with a transformative liquid. When the 3D structure is fully formed, the transformative liquid is encapsulated within the outer shell and provides enhanced energy absorbing properties to the 3D structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignees: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC, The Regents of the Univeristy of California
    Inventors: Julie A. Jackson, Eric Duoss, Alexandra Golobic, Mark Christian Messner, Christopher Spadaccini, Kenneth J. Loh
  • Patent number: 10655428
    Abstract: A flow control apparatus includes a housing having a bore extending and a port formed through a wall of the housing; and a port sleeve disposed in the housing and having a port in communication with the port of the housing. The apparatus also includes a first sleeve releasably attached to the housing, wherein the first sleeve is movable from a first position preventing axial movement of the port sleeve relative to the housing to a second position allowing axial movement of the port sleeve relative to the housing. The apparatus further includes a second sleeve releasably attached to the port sleeve, wherein the second sleeve is movable from a first position blocking fluid communication through the port of housing and the port of the port sleeve to a second position allowing fluid communication through the ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Richard L. Giroux, Michael J Sepulveda, Joshua Vernon Symms, Jobby T. Jacob
  • Patent number: 10641063
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a safety valve chamber housing can include depositing a chamber housing material, and thereby gradually building up the chamber housing and forming a chamber in the chamber housing enclosed by the chamber housing material, the chamber being bounded by only a single solid structure of the chamber housing. A safety valve can include a piston, and a chamber housing having a piston bore and a chamber formed therein, the piston bore being in communication with the chamber, the chamber being enclosed by only a single chamber housing material. A well system can include a safety valve connected in a tubular string, the safety valve including a chamber housing with a chamber in communication with a control line, inner and outer walls of the chamber housing being made of a continuous chamber housing material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC
    Inventor: Gary Benjamin Lake
  • Patent number: 10619084
    Abstract: A plug for well drilling includes a mandrel and at least one diametrically expandable annular rubber member and at least one slip disposed on an outer circumferential surface orthogonal to an axial direction of the mandrel; (i) the mandrel being formed from a degradable material; and (ii) the at least one diametrically expandable annular rubber member being formed from a degradable rubber material having a rate of decrease of not less than 5% in 50% strain compressive stress after immersion in water at a temperature of 150° C. for 24 hours relative to the compressive stress before immersion; and/or having a rate of loss of mass of from 5 to 100% after immersion in water at a temperature of 150° C. for 72 hours relative to the mass before immersion. A well drilling method includes a step of isolating a borehole using the plug for well drilling, part or all of the plug being degraded thereafter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: KUREHA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masayuki Okura, Takeo Takahashi
  • Patent number: 10605028
    Abstract: There is described a method of removing equipment from a section of a wellbore, and related apparatus. In embodiments of the invention a tool string (10) is provided having a tractor (15) and a GS-pulling tool (14). The tool string (10) is run into the wellbore using the tractor (15), at least one section of the tractor being positioned ahead of the GS-pulling tool (14) within the tool string (10), and the GS-pulling tool (14) is used to couple the equipment (12) to the tool string (10), for allowing the equipment (12) to be removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Qinterra Technologies AS
    Inventor: Erik Boge
  • Patent number: 10597973
    Abstract: A method of hydraulically actuating downhole equipment includes supplying pressure P(z) to a downhole network comprising tools T(n), tool T(x), control lines C(z), and control lines Y(z), wherein n and z are integers, and x=n+1, wherein a pressure P(z) is applied to tool T(n) using at least one control line C(z) in hydraulic communication with tool T(n); applying pressure P(z) to a hydraulically movable portion of tool T(n), wherein pressure P(z) to tool T(n) is not high enough to independently activate tool T(x); and applying each pressure P(z) to a hydraulically movable portion of tool T(x), wherein tool T(x) is only activated when all of pressures P(z) are simultaneously applied to the hydraulically movable portion of tool T(x), and wherein tool T(x) is only activated when each pressure P(z) is at least at a preset value PV(z).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Brad Richard Pickle
  • Patent number: 10557669
    Abstract: Counter-flow heat exchanger is constructed with plenums at either end that separate the opposing fluids, the channels of which are arrayed in a checkerboard patterns, such that any given channel is surrounded by channels of opposing streams on four sides—laterally on both sides and vertically above and below.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: THAR ENERGY LLC
    Inventors: Lalit Chordia, John C. Davis
  • Patent number: 10539435
    Abstract: A pressure compensated sensing system and methods for using the same are provided. The system can include a housing, a seal, an incompressible fluid, and sensing elements. The seal can be positioned within a housing cavity and divide the cavity into two portions. A first cavity portion can be sealed from the fluid environment by the seal and contain the sensing elements and the incompressible fluid. A second cavity portion can be in fluid communication with the fluid environment. The fluid environment can apply an external pressure to the seal that is opposed by an internal pressure of the sealed cavity applied to the seal by the incompressible fluid. When the internal pressure and the external pressure are different, the seal can move in a manner that changes the volume of the sealed cavity by an amount sufficient to equalize the internal pressure with the external pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Dan Tho Lu, Lam Arthur Campbell, David O'Connor, Bryan Shadel
  • Patent number: 10513907
    Abstract: A downhole tool subassembly has an outer sleeve with a first set of apertures extending from an inner bore of the outer sleeve. An intermediate sleeve positioned is within the outer sleeve and defines an intermediate flow path extending from an inner bore of the intermediate sleeve to a cavity formed between the uphole portion of the outer sleeve and the downhole portion of the intermediate sleeve. An inner sleeve is positioned within the intermediate sleeve and has an external sealing portion that restricts flow across the intermediate flow path when the downhole tool is in a first configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas Lee Strohla, Matthew Ryan Gray, Daniel Keith Moeller
  • Patent number: 10513894
    Abstract: A method for use in well drilling, development, completion, and production, including supplying hydraulic pressure to a tubing spider having at least one actuating component, generating position data from a position sensor based on the position of the actuating component, generating pressure data from a pressure sensor based on the pressure supplied to the spider, and automatically handling tubing with the spider by actuating the actuating component by adjusting pressure supplied to the spider based on the position data, the pressure data, and a prescribed control algorithm. The method may be implemented as part of a system including a tubing spider having at least one actuating component, sensors detecting hydraulic pressure supplied to the spider and the position of the actuating component, and a programmable logic controller capable of generating spider control data to control the spider based on data from the sensors and a prescribed control algorithm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: Hydril USA Distribution LLC
    Inventors: Amine Mounir Abou-Assaad, Jamie Clay Gamble, Daniel Lynn Carpenter
  • Patent number: 10502025
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate to injecting steam into a wellbore using a device. The device includes a body having a bore configured to communicate steam through the body. The device also includes a sleeve movable in the bore of the body between a first position and a second position, wherein the sleeve in the first position blocks steam from exiting an opening of the body and the sleeve in the second position allows steam to exit the opening of the body. The device can be activated by an activation device conveyed down a tubing string and can include a seat on which the activation device. The seat is expandable to allow the activation device to pass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Inventors: Ronald van Petegem, Craig Skeates, John Lee Emerson, Chris Desranleau
  • Patent number: 10443347
    Abstract: A downhole tool and method of operation thereof is provided. The downhole tool may be configured to permit fluid communication between a combined flowbore of the casing string and the downhole tool and the subterranean formation or wellbore, or both, after a pressure test has been completed, a second threshold pressure is reached or applied, and a third threshold pressure has been applied to the downhole tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Inventors: Kevin Scott Kippola, Tracy Dean Blanton, Todd Ulrich Chretien, William John Darnell
  • Patent number: 10392898
    Abstract: A crossover tool for use in a wellbore includes: a tubular housing having a bypass port; a mandrel having a bore therethrough and a mandrel port in fluid communication with the mandrel bore, the mandrel movable relative to the tubular housing between a first position where the mandrel port is isolated from the bypass port and a second position where the mandrel port is aligned with the bypass port; and an actuator operable to move the mandrel between the first position and the second position. The actuator includes a first piston connected to the mandrel and a second piston operable in response to the first piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: WEATHERFORD TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, LLC
    Inventors: Richard L. Giroux, Eric R. Evans
  • Patent number: 10358892
    Abstract: Salt or acid solution is stored inside a frac sleeve instead of being pumped from a surface location. A mechanically-actuated valve releases the stored salt or acid solution into the borehole to electrochemically degrade the frac ball and allow it to pass through the seat. The stored fluid can be immediately released upon mechanical actuation or released after a specified delay using an integrated timer. In multiple sleeve applications a first ball shifts a first sleeve to open treatment ports and a second ball shifts a second sleeve to close the treatment port and open screened production ports while releasing the stored material either between the seated objects or above one of the seated objects to initiate the disintegration that will allow objects on both seats to disintegrate and pass through.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES, A GE COMPANY, LLC
    Inventors: John K. Wakefield, Zachary S. Leonard, Colin P. Andrew, Matthew Stone
  • Patent number: 10323508
    Abstract: A system to monitor the retrieval of a well tool from a wellbore comprises a deployment member coupled to the well tool to retrievably insert the well tool in the wellbore. At least one first identification transducer is coupled to a top end of the well tool to transmit an identification signal during retrieval of the well tool. At least one second identification transducer is located at at least one axial location along a surface pressure control assembly to detect the identification signal. A controller is in data communication with the at least one second identification transducer to determine the position of the well tool relative to the pressure control assembly, and to output at least one command related to the position of the well tool relative to the pressure control assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Randolph S. Coles, Sushovon Singha Roy, Batakrishna Mandal
  • Patent number: 10301901
    Abstract: A technique facilitates pressure containment with a retrievable cement bushing. The retrievable cement bushing includes a body and an engagement lug that cooperates with a sleeve. The engagement lug is mounted on the body and is movable to a radially outward position for engagement with a corresponding portion of a surrounding wall, e.g an internal packer wall. The sleeve is sized to receive a slick joint therethrough and is secured to a radially inward position relative to the engagement lug via a retention member movably mounted on the sleeve, so as to hold the engagement lug in the radially outward position. The sleeve protects the slick joint from inwardly directed loading via the engagement lug when the retrievable cement bushing is subjected to differential pressures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Asif Javed, James Hall
  • Patent number: 10280709
    Abstract: An autonomous valve includes a fluid-sensitive actuator operable to automatically actuate the valve in response to being exposed to a target fluid. The target fluid may be a fluid whose presence is generally undesirable in a production fluid, such as water, and the valve may be actuated to stop flow from an interval within a wellbore that is no longer expected to produce hydrocarbon-bearing fluids. The valve further includes a protective layer disposed between the fluid inlet and the fluid-sensitive actuator, the protective layer being insoluble in the target fluid. The fluid-sensitive actuator may include a swellable piston that swells to actuate the valve in the presence of the target fluid, a soluble plug that isolates a hydraulic, closing piston until the soluble plug is dissolved into the target fluid, and an electromechanical actuator that closes the valve in response to detecting the target fluid using an electronic sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Jimmie R. Williamson, Jr., Adam E. Beck
  • Patent number: 10246994
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to data communication in subsea oil and gas drilling and production operations. In particular, data communication from sensors located on a piece of subsea oil and gas drilling and/or production equipment to a remote location, such as to a demodulation system, is disclosed. The data communication system can include sensors for measuring various characteristics of the subsea equipment, for coding the measured data into a signal, for transmitting the signal, and for ultimately decoding the signal. The signal is transmitted along the structures which provide the containment for existing hydraulic fluid lines associated with the subsea equipment by a variety of methods, such as by pulse position modulation and/or reverse time pulse position modulation. The communication system can further include a local power generator assembly to power associated sensors and transmitters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: Cameron International Corporation
    Inventor: Andrew Jaffrey