Patents Represented by Attorney James R. Duzan

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  • Method of well testing
    Patent number: 4753292
    Abstract: A method of well testing, including treating, whereby a testing string including a tool bore closure valve is run into the well bore with the valve in an open mode, the string may be automatically filled, a packer may be pressure tested without cycling the tool bore closure valve, and fluids may be spotted into the testing string, displacing wellbore fluids from the bottom of the testing string, prior to running the test.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 28, 1988
    Assignee: Halliburton Company
    Inventors: Paul D. Ringgenberg, Wesley J. Burris, II
  • Polygonal detonating cord and method of charge initiation
    Patent number: 4753170
    Abstract: The present invention comprises a detonating cord of polygonal cross section having three or more substantially flat sides of substantially equal length and substantially equal included angles between each of the sides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 28, 1988
    Assignee: Jet Research Center
    Inventors: John A. Regalbuto, Jack E. Dines
  • Local area network data transfer system
    Patent number: 4751648
    Abstract: A data monitoring system includes a display unit for communicating with an operation that has characteristics which are to be monitored, a recording unit located remotely from the environment of the monitored operation, and a local area network interconnect circuit for connecting the display and recording units. The local area network circuit allows multiple display units to be connected to a single pair of electrical conductors. Each display unit has at least one dual microcomputer configuration interconnected by a shared dual port random access memory. A third microcomputer is located in the recording unit for communicating over the local area network circuit with one of the microcomputers in the display unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 14, 1988
    Assignee: Halliburton Company
    Inventors: Leslie R. Sears, III, Alan J. Pitts, Stephen F. Crain, Edward L. Woodall, Michael L. Green, Don M. Roberts, Eugene J. Daunis, Mark A. Clark
  • Gun firing system using fluid filled pressure balance tubing
    Patent number: 4749039
    Abstract: Method and apparatus by which a gun firing head is maintained free of debris. An upper tubing string runs downhole in a cased borehole to a packer device. A jet gun, having a firing head located at the upper end thereof, is connected to a lower tubing string. A vent assembly is connected in series relationship within the lower string, and underlies the packer device. A barrier is contained within the lower tubing in underlying relationship to the vent and isolates the tubing interior immediately above the gun from contact with well fluids. A gun firing device is run from the surface, downhole through the packer device, and penetrates the barrier to gain access to the gun firing head, whereupon the gun is detonated, thereby perforating the casing and penetrating the payzone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 7, 1988
    Assignee: Halliburton Company
    Inventors: Roy R. Vann, Emmet F. Brieger, Flint R. George, Edward A. Colle, Jr., Hilton B. Jones
  • String bypass
    Patent number: 4749037
    Abstract: A string bypass for bypassing fluid around a packer as a testing string is lowered into or raised out of a well bore. The string bypass includes an outer case with an inner mandrel positioned therein such that an annular cavity is defined therebetween. A reciprocating piston is positioned in the annular cavity. The case and mandrel both define transverse holes therethrough, and the piston includes a transverse passageway which provides intercommunication between the holes when the piston is in an open position. A spring biases the piston toward the open position. A pump is used to inflate the packer, and, as the pump pressure gradually increases, a differential between the pump pressure and well annulus pressure acts against an annular area on the piston and overcomes the spring force so that the piston is moved to a sealed, closed position in which communication between the holes is prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 7, 1988
    Assignee: Halliburton Company
    Inventor: Jon B. Christensen
  • Data acquisition module and method
    Patent number: 4747060
    Abstract: A data acquisition apparatus includes two microcomputers interconnected by a shared dual access digital storage device. One microcomputer obtains the data related to the monitored condition, stores it in the digital storage device, and modifies a status word which is monitored by the other microcomputer. When the other microcomputer detects a change in the status word, it takes the data from the shared digital memory and moves it into its own memory for subsequent use or transfer. The data acquisition apparatus also includes, in a preferred embodiment, analog switches and a digital to analog converter by which external analog devices can be controlled to change the monitored operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1986
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1988
    Assignee: Halliburton Company
    Inventors: Leslie R. Sears, III, Stephen F. Crain, Don M. Roberts
  • Repair of railway cushioning apparatus
    Patent number: 4741085
    Abstract: A cushioning apparatus for a railway car includes a housing having a cylinder bore disposed therein with an end plate closing one end of the cylinder bore. A piston assembly includes a shaft extending through the end plate and a piston disposed on the shaft and slidably received within the cylinder bore. The piston is slidable between an axially innermost position furthest from the end plate and an axially outermost position closest to the end plate. A limit pin has an interference fit within a pin bore of the end plate and extends outward therefrom toward the piston for initially limiting axially outward movement of the piston short of its axially outermost position to thereby limit a length of the cushioning apparatus prior to installation of the cushioning apparatus in a railway car. To repair the cushioning apparatus, the cylinder, cylinder end plate and piston assembly are removed from the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1986
    Date of Patent: May 3, 1988
    Assignee: Halliburton Company
    Inventor: Charles T. Bomgardner
  • Railway cushioning apparatus
    Patent number: 4739889
    Abstract: A cushioning apparatus for a railway car includes a housing having a cylinder bore disposed therein with an end plate closing one end of the cylinder bore. A piston assembly includes a shaft extending through the end plate and a piston disposed on the shaft and slidably received within the cylinder bore. The piston is slidable between an axially innermost position furthest from the end plate and an axially outermost position closest to the end plate. A limit pin has an interference fit within a pin bore of the end plate and extends outward therefrom toward the piston for initially limiting axially outward movement of the piston short of its axially outermost position to thereby limit a length of the cushioning apparatus prior to installation of the cushioning apparatus in a railway car.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1986
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1988
    Assignee: Halliburton Company
    Inventor: Charles T. Bomgardner
  • Shaped charge carrier assembly
    Patent number: 4739707
    Abstract: A shaped charge carrier assembly is provided for use in a perforating gun of the type used to perforate oil or gas wells. The assembly includes at least one shaped charge including an outer case having an outer surface and a first shoulder extending radially outward from the outer surface. The assembly also includes a carrier having an opening therethrough large enough to receive the outer surface of the case, and having a resilient tab extending into the opening for frictionally engaging at least a first portion of the outer surface of the case, and for thereby holding the shaped charge in place relative to the carrier with the shoulder of the shaped charge abutting the carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1986
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1988
    Assignees: Jet Research Center, Inc., Halliburton Company
    Inventors: John A. Regalbuto, Philip W. Mayes, William C. Behling
  • Apparatus and method for conserving fuel during dynamic braking of locomotives
    Patent number: 4735385
    Abstract: A respective microcomputer-based dynamic braking proportioning unit is disposed on each locomotive of a group of locomotives of a train consist. Each unit is connected to the brake setup and brake control wires of a trainline communicating with all of the locomotives, and each unit is connected to the dynamic braking equipment of its respective locomotive. Each unit includes two data entry mechanisms, such as switches, by which the respective microcomputer is advised of the total number of locomotives and of a unique number identifying the respective locomotive within the group. From the two signals from the trainline and the total locomotive and unique locomotive identification data, the respective microcomputer determines and outputs appropriate dynamic brake equipment control signals for the respective locomotive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 5, 1988
    Assignee: Halliburton Company
    Inventors: Stephen K. Nickles, John E. Haley, Michael J. Lynch
  • High pressure gauge carrier
    Patent number: 4735264
    Abstract: The high pressure gauge carrier of the present invention uses an outer gauge carrier housing having disposed therein a pressure-tight inner housing carrying a temperature gauge in the interior thereof. The inner housing is substantially filled with a compressible liquid, and the pressure tight connections of the inner housing incorporated metal to metal seals in order to eliminate the failure of elastomeric seals at the elevated temperatures encountered by the gauge carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1986
    Date of Patent: April 5, 1988
    Assignee: Halliburton Company
    Inventors: Wesley J. Burris, II, Vincent P. Zeller, Jon B. Christensen, William H. Shoffner
  • Annulus pressure operated vent assembly
    Patent number: 4732211
    Abstract: A vent subassembly includes a vent body having an opening which is covered or uncovered dependent upon the location of a vent sleeve relative to the vent body. The vent subassembly can be connected below a packer, and the vent sleeve can be connected to a perforator so that movement of the vent sleeve is concurrently communicated to the perforator, such as for initiating the firing of the perforator. The vent sleeve is moved by an actuator subassembly, which is to be connected above the packer if the vent and actuator subassemblies are used with a packer. The actuator subassembly has a piston housing, a piston slidably disposed in the piston housing, and a connector string extending from the piston to the vent sleeve. The piston is responsive to a differential pressure existing between the annulus outside the actuator subassembly and an interior pressure within the actuator subassembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 22, 1988
    Assignee: Halliburton Company
    Inventors: David M. Haugen, David S. Wesson, Robert R. Luke, Kevin R. George
  • Method of logging a well using a non-radioactive material irradiated into an isotope exhibiting a detectable characteristic
    Patent number: 4731531
    Abstract: A method of logging a well includes the steps of moving a tagging agent into a well so that the tagging agent is deposited in an earthen formation of the well, which tagging agent is non-radioactive at least until just prior to entering the well; irradiating the tagging agent so that the tagging agent exhibits at least one tagging agent characteristic distinguishable from earthen formation characteristics, and detecting the at least one tagging agent characteristic after the tagging agent has been deposited in the earthen formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 15, 1988
    Assignee: Halliburton Company
    Inventor: Wayne A. Handke
  • Downhole foam generator
    Patent number: 4730676
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating foam in a well bore, the apparatus being a foam generator comprising a tubular body having a plurality of apertures circumferentially spaced about the wall thereof, the tubular body containing a choke therein disposed above said apertures as the foam generator is positioned in the well bore. The foam generator is located in a tubing string in the well bore, preferably with at least one stand of tubing between it and the area of the well bore to be treated with the foam. The liquid component of the foam, which may or may not carry solid particles such as fracturing proppants, is pumped down the well bore annulus, while the gaseous component of the foam is introduced through the tubing string.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1982
    Date of Patent: March 15, 1988
    Assignee: Halliburton Company
    Inventors: Thomas J. Luers, Vincent G. Reidenbach
  • Activation mechanism for differential fill floating equipment
    Patent number: 4729432
    Abstract: A differential fill valve assembly for application in float collars or shoes in well casing. The valve assembly comprises a back pressure flapper valve disposed within a substantially tubular upper housing, and a lower housing containing an activating sleeve slidably disposed therein above a double flapper valve assembly. The activating sleeve initially extends into the upper housing to a sufficient extent to maintain the flapper valve in an open position and comprises a lower tubular sleeve surmounted by a circumferential ring of longitudinally upwardly extending collet fingers having radially inwardly extending shoulders thereon, said fingers and shoulders having elastomeric inserts extending therebetween; the activating sleeve is maintained in this position through use of shear pins, by which it is secured to a support ring associated with the lower housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 8, 1988
    Assignee: Halliburton Company
    Inventor: Lonnie C. Helms
  • Pressure limiter for a downhole pump and testing apparatus
    Patent number: 4729430
    Abstract: A pressure limiter and pump for use in a testing string. The pressure limiter has an outer case and an inner mandrel which form an enclosure defining an annulus therebetween. The inlet and outlet check valves in the annulus define a pumping chamber therebetween which opens toward the pump. Fluid in the pumping chamber is never vented to the well annulus. In a first embodiment, a transversely mounted pressure limiter piston provides communication between the pumping chamber and a lower portion of the testing string when actuated. In the second and third embodiments, a pressure limiter piston is reciprocably disposed in the annulus between the case and mandrel; at a predetermined pressure differential, the pressure limiter piston reciprocates such that the volume in the pumping chamber is increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 8, 1988
    Assignee: Halliburton Company
    Inventors: Kevin M. White, Paul D. Ringgenberg
  • Well perforating apparatus and method
    Patent number: 4726431
    Abstract: A perforating gun is designed to have explosive charges spirally disposed around its circumference in accordance with a displacement angle defined as (m/p)(360.degree.), where p is a whole number greater than 4 and m is a whole number greater than 1 but less than (p-1) and where m/p is an irreducible fraction. A U, or horseshoe, shaped retainer clip holds individual charges in respective holes and cavities of an outer carrier tube and an inner carrier tube to prevent horizontal or transverse movement of each charge and thereby hold it in contact with an axially extending detonator cord.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1988
    Assignee: James R. Duzan
    Inventors: Michael L. Oestreich, Norman S. Pollard
  • Annulus pressure firer mechanism with releasable fluid conduit force transmission means
    Patent number: 4726610
    Abstract: A system for perforating a well with an annulus pressure firer is provided by the present invention. A pressure responsive means is positioned in a tubing string uphole a packer and includes a piston movable in response to a pressure differential between the upper annulus pressure and the pressure inside the tubing string. The movement of the piston is transferred through a second, concentric tubing string to a firing head on a perforating gun below the packer. The system includes a means for simultaneously decoupling the concentric tubing strings below the packer to drop the perforating gun to the bottom of the well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1988
    Assignee: Halliburton Company
    Inventors: Flint R. George, David M. Haugen
  • Single zone gravel packing system
    Patent number: 4726419
    Abstract: A setting device for a gravel packing system includes a housing having a slurry supply passage, a fluid return passage and a gravel packing port disposed therein. A weight responsive return valve is operatively associated with the housing for communicating an upper portion of the return passage with a well annulus exterior of the housing in response to reciprocation of a work string to which the setting device is attached. A hydraulic setting piston is operatively associated with the housing for setting a liner hanger of the gravel packing system in response to a first increase in fluid pressure within the supply passage of the housing. A hydraulically actuated supply valve is operatively associated with the housing for communicating the gravel packing port with the supply passage in response to a second increase in fluid pressure in the supply passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1988
    Assignee: Halliburton Company
    Inventor: Gary D. Zunkel
  • Surface packer and method for using the same
    Patent number: 4718495
    Abstract: Surface packer and method for using the same. An annular body is mounted on the upper end of a string of casing which extends above a drilling rig platform. An annular seal is received within the body at the upper end thereof and may be sealed against the radially outer surface of a string of drill pipe which is lowered therethrough into the casing. A radial circulation port is formed in the body beneath the annular seal. In a cementing operation, a string of drill pipe is lowered in the casing to the lower end thereof and the annular seal is sealed thereagainst. The pipe-casing annulus is pressurized and cement is pumped into the drill pipe for cementing the casing into the well bore. In one embodiment, the annular seal is of the inflatable type which permits vertical and rotational manipulation of the pipe string while maintaining the seal thereagainst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1988
    Assignee: Halliburton Company
    Inventors: Eric P. Lubitz, David D. Szarka, Ernest E. Carter, Jr., Robert L. Jessup