With Below Ground Screen Patents (Class 166/74)
  • Patent number: 11299960
    Abstract: Provided are systems and methods for controlling the fluid flow to and from the flow ports of an autonomous inflow control device (AICD). Features may include the addition of a ball check valve to the AICD. A well system may comprise: a production tubing; a flow control device, wherein the flow control device is disposed onto the production tubing; and a ball check valve disposed between the flow control device and the production tubing to restrict flow into the production tubing through a port in the flow control device, wherein the ball check valve comprises a housing and a ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Jacob Zachariah, Ping Chew Chay, Stephen Michael Greci
  • Patent number: 9341046
    Abstract: A method comprising moving a shifting tool in a first direction through a moveable member positioned in a casing of a wellbore, including moving the shifting tool through a shifting tool interface member (STIM) adjacent the moveable member, until the shifting tool is positioned past the moveable member and the STIM. The shifting tool is then moved in a second direction substantially opposite the first direction until the shifting tool and the STIM engage. The shifting tool is then further moved in the second direction, thereby moving the STIM and the moveable member in the second direction, until the STIM substantially simultaneously (1) engages the casing and (2) disengages the shifting tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Huh, Partha Ganguly, Jake A. Danos, Jessica Schulte
  • Patent number: 9334704
    Abstract: A wellbore bailer has a rotary motor coupling, a cylinder having an open end, and a pump in the cylinder coupled to the rotary motor coupling and configured to pump fluid when rotated via the coupling. A closure of the bailer is changeable between sealing and allowing flow through the open end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Mineo, Dominick Joseph Bellotte
  • Patent number: 8689878
    Abstract: A downhole tool for removing debris from fluid flowing through the downhole tool uses a screen member and wiper member, the wiper member having at least one window disposed through the inner and outer wall surfaces of the wiper member. Either the screen member or the wiper member is rotatable such that rotation of the screen member or the wiper member causes debris disposed on the outer wall surface of the screen member to fall-off the screen member. At least one directional port disposed at either the upper end of the screen member or the upper end of the wiper member causes rotation of the screen member or wiper member when fluid flows through the downhole tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Ying Qing Xu, Yang Xu
  • Patent number: 8403038
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling flow of fluid from a reservoir into a wellbore is provided, which apparatus in one embodiment may include a flow-through region configured to substantially increase value of a selected parameter relating to the flow-through region when selected parameter is in a first range and maintain a substantially constant value of the selected parameter when the selected property of the fluid is in a second range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Ronnie D. Russell, Luis A. Garcia, Gonzalo A. Garcia, Eddie G. Bowen, Sudiptya Banerjee
  • Publication number: 20120067574
    Abstract: A method of selectively controlling flow through a well screen can include installing the well screen in a wellbore, and then exposing the well screen to an aqueous fluid, thereby permitting flow through the well screen. A well screen assembly can include a well screen and an acid containing structure which dissolves in response to contact with an aqueous fluid, whereby flow through the well screen is selectively permitted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2010
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Applicant: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventor: Jean-Marc LOPEZ
  • Publication number: 20080185157
    Abstract: A low drag flotation system for placing screens in horizontal wells is provided which includes a screen exterior to the washpipe to be placed for sand control, and hydraulically actuated valves for trapping air within the washpipe. The air in the washpipe creates a buoyancy force that decreases the drag force of the pipe string in the horizontal well, allowing it to move further down the well under its own weight. As a result, screens can be placed in longer lengths of horizontal wells to maximize oil and gas production.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2008
    Publication date: August 7, 2008
    Applicant: BJ Services Company
    Inventors: Andrew K. Jordan, Alvaro Jose Vilela, Frederico Carvalho
  • Publication number: 20080073087
    Abstract: An underground porosity reservoir includes substantially impermeable barriers and an aquiclude surrounding a volume of alluvial deposits for storing water within the pore spaces of the alluvial deposits. A conduit positioned below a surface layer of the reservoir includes an interior volume that communicates with the pore spaces of the alluvial deposits. An air vent connects the interior volume of the conduit with atmospheric air above the reservoir and allows air to pass to and from the pore spaces of the reservoir. Ventilation of the porosity reservoir provides pressure-relief during reservoir filling operations (when the incoming water would otherwise cause an increase in air pressure within the reservoir), and further provides a vacuum-break as water is extracted from the reservoir (i.e., air from the conduit enters the pore spaces as the water is extracted).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2007
    Publication date: March 27, 2008
    Applicant: PS Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Stanley R. Peters, Donald O. Summers
  • Patent number: 7069657
    Abstract: A method for reducing the width of slots spaced about the surface of a pipe or tube. The method comprises subjecting the surface of the pipe or tube to bombardment by a quantity of shot of a pre-determined size and for a pre-determined length of time to cause deformation of the surface of the pipe or tube adjacent to the slots therein so that the width of the slots is reduced to within a pre-determined size range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Reservoir Management (Barbados) Inc.
    Inventors: Darcy Culp, Don Graham
  • Patent number: 6328103
    Abstract: A method of performing a downhole well completion cleanup is provided. In a described embodiment, completion fluids from a first zone are flowed into a tubular string, and then the fluids are discharged into a second zone. An apparatus usable in the method is provided, in which a downhole pump is utilized to pump the fluids from one zone to the other. The pump may be operated in a variety of manners. The apparatus may also include fluid identification sensors and telemetry devices for monitoring the progress of the cleanup operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2001
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert C. Pahmiyer, Paul David Ringgenberg
  • Patent number: 6311774
    Abstract: A well casing for receiving well fluid from a producing formation includes a first tubular section that has a tortuous outer surface for directing the flow of a bonding agent around the exterior of the first tubular section. The first tubular section has a central passageway. The well casing also has a second tubular section that is coaxial with and is connected to the first tubular section. The second tubular section has at least one opening for directing well fluid into a central passageway of the second tubular section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2001
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Mark W. Brockman, Klaus B. Huber
  • Patent number: 6237688
    Abstract: A tubular casing section for a subterranean well has side wall apertures therein which are temporally sealed with plug structures. The plugged casing section is positioned within a wellbore at a selected subterranean formation and cemented in place within the wellbore. The plugs are removed, such as by melting, fracturing, shearing or corrosion, and a stimulation tool is lowered into the casing and operated to pierce through the cement lining at the unplugged casing side wall apertures and into the surrounding subterranean formation to establish communication between the formation and the interior of the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: John D. Burleson, Flint R. George
  • Patent number: 6230802
    Abstract: An apparatus for use in gravel packing a well includes a tool body adapted to be lowered into the well, a screen coupled to the tool body, and a resilient member coupled to the screen. The apparatus is placed at a selected position in the well, and sand control media is disposed between the screen and the well while the resilient member is periodically excited to vibrate the screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2001
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Mark Duhon
  • Patent number: 5690173
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for achieving in situ bioremediation of dissolved or dispersed organic contaminants in the groundwater phase at a contaminated site. The apparatus of this invention is configured to be used within an injection well of the type employed with known remediation techniques and enhances the biological treatment of soil contaminants in situ with microbes through achieving optimal levels of oxidizing agents within the soil. As such, the present invention is adapted to be employed in conjunction with conventional remediation systems to treat water-borne contaminants more efficiently. Importantly, the apparatus is also capable of delivering oxidizing agents in a manner that prevents or at least reduces the occurrence of biofouling of the injection and recovery wells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1997
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Abdul Shaheed Abdul, Thomas Loughborough Gibson
  • Patent number: 5560427
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for fracturing and propping a fracture interval wherein a workstring is lowered into the wellbore and a fracturing slurry comprised of a fracturing fluid and proppants is flowed down the workstring to a downhole slurry splitter which separates a portion of the fracturing fluid from the slurry and delivers it to the bottom of the fracture interval to initiate and propagate a fracture in the interval. The remaining slurry including the proppants is at the same time delivered to the top of the interval to prop the fracture as it is being formed. Alternate flowpath(s) deliver fracturing fluid and/or slurry to different levels within the interval to by-pass any sand bridges which may be formed during the fracturing operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1996
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventor: Lloyd G. Jones
  • Patent number: 5394938
    Abstract: A gravel pack well tool comprised of a workstring having a gravel pack screen thereon wherein the workstring can be rotated without applying any substantial torque to the screen jacket which forms part of the gravel pack screen. This allows the workstring to be rotated in either direction during installation or removal of the gravel pack screen without damaging the screen jacket. The gravel pack screen is comprised of a fluid-permeable base pipe having a screen jacket rotatably mounted thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 7, 1995
    Assignee: Atlantic Richfield Company
    Inventors: Holley M. Cornette, Robert K. Bethel, Elmer R. Peterson
  • Patent number: 5366009
    Abstract: A gravel pack well tool for use in a gravel pack completion which does not require the circulation of fluids during installation. The gravel is first placed or preset within the completion zone and then the well tool having a auger-liner assembly is lowered and rotated into the preset gravel. The liner assembly is comprised of a fluid-permeable linear surrounded by a torque sleeve which transmits torque from a workstring to a nose sub at the leading edge of the liner assembly. The nose sub has a fish-tail bit thereon to assist the downward movement of the liner assembly into the preset gravel and has passages therein for fluid flow therethrough in the event the assembly becomes stuck in the gravel during installation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1994
    Assignee: Atlantic Richfield Company
    Inventors: Holley M. Cornette, Michael H. Johnson
  • Patent number: 5261486
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for installing a gravel pack well completion wherein flow of fluid in the well can be effectively blocked and excessive hydrostatic pressure can be isolated from the top of a pre-placed column of gravel while an auger-liner assembly is rotated into the gravel. Basically, gravel is first placed within the zone after which a liner is lowered on a workstring and the liner is augered into the pre-placed gravel. A packer cup and by-pass assembly is coupled into the workstring having cup packers which effectively block flow within the well during installation of the liner. The cups are mounted on a rotatably mounted sleeve so that the workstring can be rotated while the cups are expanded against the well casing. The packer cup and by-pass assembly includes a bypass which can be opened after the liner has been placed so that the workstring can easily be withdrawn from the well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1993
    Assignee: Atlantic Richfield Company
    Inventors: Holley M. Cornette, Michael H. Johnson, Robert K. Bethel
  • Patent number: 5190108
    Abstract: Biological fouling of water wells is inhibited by replacing the air in the well column with an anoxic gas such as nitrogen to deprive aerobic bacteria of oxygen. The anoxic gas is applied from a cylindrical tank at the surface and through a gas pipe extending from the tank down into the well casing. The well casing is sealed near the top to prevent air infiltration and maintain a positive gas pressure. The anoxic gas is applied at a slightly positive pressure to maintain the well column filled with it and to prevent air penetration. The gas can be supplied to the well column only or to both the well column and the aquifer so that a blanket of gas in the area of the well inhibits air penetration of the water from the unsaturated cover layer above the aquifer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1993
    Assignee: Layne-Western Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Neil Mansuy
  • Patent number: 5143606
    Abstract: An arrangement for cleaning contaminated ground water and a ground region through which it flows, comprises a shaft extending to a region of the ground water to be cleaned and having water permeable shaft walls separated from one another by a separating wall and adapted for aspirating of water from a ground region and reintroducing of the water into the ground region, elements for circulating water and including a water circulating pump and a passage extending through the separating wall and forming a part of a flow path, a shaft insert formed so that the passage is a part of the shaft insert. The shaft insert has a gas chamber through which a gas is supplied under the action of negative pressure. The water circulating pump is formed as a suction pump arranged on the shaft insert in a water aspiration region of the shaft. A water receiving chamber starts underneath the gas chamber and extends above the gas chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1992
    Assignee: IEG Industrie-Engineering GmbH
    Inventor: Bruno Bernhardt
  • Patent number: 5143607
    Abstract: An arrangement for driving out volatile impurities from ground water by air or another gas, has a shaft adapted to extend to a ground water region and having at least locally a water-permeable wall formed as another wall and limiting at least partially an air receiving chamber communicating with an outside air, a ventilator communicating with the shaft for producing a negative pressure and aspirating air from a shaft portion located above a ground water level, a pipe extending in the shaft to an area under the ground water level so as to form the air receiving chamber and to provide communication to the outside air, the pipe having an inner end region provided with nozzle openings, a screening sleeve arranged concentrically relative to the pipe and at least partially covering the end region of said pipe provided with said nozzle openings. The screening sleeve is supported displaceably relative to the pipe and sealed relative to the pipe and a floating body coupled with the pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1992
    Assignee: IEG Industrie-Engineering GmbH
    Inventor: Bruno Bernhardt
  • Patent number: 5036920
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for installing a gravel pack completion which does not require the circulation of fluids during installation. The gravel is first placed or preset within the completion zone and then a well completion tool (e.g. a fluid-permeable liner) having an auger blade thereon is lowered and rotated into the present gravel without circulating fluid through the tool. Since the auger blade mechanically displaces the gravel upward as the tool is moved into the preset gravel, there is no need to flow fluid under pressure to "fluidize" the gravel as is required in prior completions of this type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1991
    Assignee: Atlantic Richfield Company
    Inventors: Holley M. Cornette, Michael H. Johnson, Bennett M. Richard
  • Patent number: 5033551
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for sealing a well annulus, the apparatus comprising a resilient sealing element molded in a upwardly oriented frustro-conical form affixed to a packer body. A running tool is mated with the packer body, the running tool having an internal bore adapted to collapse the sealing element to the diameter of the internal bore. The packer body is mated with a tubing screen by right hand threads and the running tool, packer body and tubing screen lowered into a well casing at the end of a pipe string. The well seal is activated when the pipe string is rotated in a clock-wise direction, disengaging and withdrawing the running tool and releasing the skirt which expands to seal with the internal walls of the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1991
    Inventor: Charles A. Grantom
  • Patent number: 4497370
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for recovery of liquid hydrocarbons on ground water in which one or more perforate, small diameter (2 to 4 inch) well casings are installed in the ground in or at least adjacent to a contaminated soil area containing the liquid hydrocarbons. A liquid recovery unit is in each well casing and each recovery unit has a hollow housing covered by a semi-permeable membrane which passes liquid hydrocarbons but blocks the flow of ground water into the housing. The liquid hydrocarbons collected in the housings can be moved to a receiver by pressurizing the housings, by suction applied to the housings, by pressurizing the well casings, and by the use of submersible pumps near the housings. Several embodiments of the recovery units are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1982
    Date of Patent: February 5, 1985
    Inventor: Michael K. Breslin
  • Patent number: 4359092
    Abstract: Natural gas and thermal energy are produced from aquifers containing appreciable quantities of dissolved natural gas at or near saturation levels in the aquifer water, with or without associated dispersed vapor phase gas, using a particular method and apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1979
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1982
    Inventor: Paul H. Jones
  • Patent number: 4260016
    Abstract: A self-cleaning helical spring sand screen for use at the petroliferous unconsolidated sand strata of an oil well are disclosed. The sand screen comprises a hydraulically actuated, spring based spool valve connected to the upper end of the sand screen for receiving liquid under high pressure, for storing energy in the spring, for expanding the helical spring sand screen, and for ejecting liquid into the helical spring sand screen for cleaning thereof. Then upon ceasing of flow of the high pressure liquid, the stored energy in another spring contracts the helical spring sand screen for restorating production of sand-free oil from the production tube. A second modification is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1980
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1981
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventor: Reynaldo Calderon
  • Patent number: 4182414
    Abstract: A water screen displaying a variable filtration feature is provided wherein the water screen comprises a pipe length made of a compressible plastic material. The pipe length is provided with a plurality of inlet openings thereby permitting fluid located peripheral to the exterior surface of the pipe length to be transported through the inlet openings and at the same time filtering particulate matter and debris from the water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1977
    Date of Patent: January 8, 1980
    Inventors: Larry D. Sanders, Marvin E. Gilbert