Patents Represented by Attorney Jim Patterson
  • Patent number: 8337181
    Abstract: The claimed invention relates to rotary pumps. The claimed rotary pump comprises: an hollow housing having a side wall and end-face walls; a shaft rotatably positioned in the housing essentially in parallel with the side wall, the distance between the housing side wall and the shaft is variable; deformable rollers that are arranged and adapted to move, when the shaft rotates, between the housing side-wall and the shaft, while moving their deformation being maximal in the region of the minimal distance between the housing side-wall and the shaft; and sealed cavities, each of which cavities being defined by two contiguous rollers, the housing's side wall and end-face walls; the sealed cavities being adapted to communicate with the suction port as their volume increases, and communicate with the delivery port as their volume decreases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Jacques Orban
  • Patent number: 8337142
    Abstract: A technique is provided to facilitate pumping of fluids in a well environment. A submersible pumping system having a submersible pump incorporates features that manage thrust loads resulting from rotating impellers. The thrust reducing features cooperate with the action of the impellers in one or more pump stages to reduce forces otherwise acting on certain pump related components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: David M. Eslinger, Matthew R. Hackworth
  • Patent number: 8327941
    Abstract: A downhole device having an oil/water separator having a well fluid inlet, an oil stream outlet conduit, and a water stream outlet conduit; a removable flow-restrictor located in at least one of the water stream outlet conduit or the oil stream outlet conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew R. Hackworth, Nihat Ovutmen, Kevin J. Forbes, Lance I. Fielder, Allan Ross
  • Patent number: 8328539
    Abstract: According to one or more aspects of the present disclosure, a motor protector comprises a housing defining a compensator chamber; a compensator disposed in the housing having a motor fluid end in fluid communication with a motor fluid and a well fluid end, the compensator axially moveable relative to the housing in response to the expansion and contraction of the motor fluid; and a port formed through the housing to provide fluid communication from exterior of the housing to the well fluid end of the compensator. The compensator may be one selected from the group of a bellows and a plunger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Sclumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Arthur I. Watson, Christopher E. Featherby
  • Patent number: 8322444
    Abstract: An electric pumping system having an electric submersible pump located downhole in a well, the electric submersible pump comprising a motor part, a pump part, and a protector part; the motor part has an internal motor volume containing motor oil; the motor part connected to an electric power source at surface; a motor oil container located at surface outside of the well; a conduit fluidly connecting the motor oil container with the internal motor volume containing motor oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Lauro De Camargo
  • Patent number: 8291979
    Abstract: A technique includes providing equipment downhole in a well to receive flows. The technique includes regulating a ratio of the flows in the well. The regulation includes regulating the ratio of the flows such that the ratio is substantially independent of pressures of the flows downstream of a point at which the regulation occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Gary M. Oddie
  • Patent number: 8286712
    Abstract: An apparatus for use with a subsea well includes a lubricator configured to attach to subsea wellhead equipment, an electrically-activated tool, and a coiled tubing attached to the electrically-activated tool. The electrically-activated tool is initially provided in the lubricator to allow for deployment of the electrically-activated tool on the coiled tubing into the subsea well. Multiple tools may be deployed independently from within the lubricator to latch into a concentric electrical connector within the well which may also act as a switch. A concentric electrical connector will permit the passage of a tool through the body of the connector retaining full bore access when the tool is withdrawn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Steve Wilson
  • Patent number: 8287235
    Abstract: The invention relates to high-speed electrical submersible pumps used for hydrocarbons production from oil wells with high concentration of solids. The technical result such as a longer service life is achieved with the technical design, wherein the pump comprises: a housing with a head and a base, a compression nut, a shaft installed on a journal bearing, stages of impellers and spacers installed on the shaft, set of diffusers installed on the housing, wherein the diffusers and impellers are manufactured from a ceramic material. The preferable design has metal spacers between the diffusers, wherein the length of the diffuser spacer between the contact surfaces equals the distance between the impeller spacers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Jacques Orban, Mikhail Gotlib
  • Patent number: 8261821
    Abstract: A hydrocyclone separator assembly includes a longitudinal housing configured for disposal in a wellbore, wherein the longitudinal housing comprises a discharge head disposed at one end of the longitudinal housing, wherein the discharge head includes at least one overflow port and at least one underflow port; a plurality of hydrocyclones disposed arranged in a same orientation in the longitudinal housing, wherein the plurality of hydrocyclone each comprise an overflow exit and an underflow exit, wherein at least two of the overflow exits of the plurality of hydrocyclones are connected to a common tubing that is connected to the at least one overflow port on the discharge head, wherein at least two of the underflow exits of the plurality of hydrocyclones are connected to separate tubings that are connected to the at least one underflow port on the discharge head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew Hackworth, Brigitte Finkiewicz, Dwayne Cartier
  • Patent number: 8257103
    Abstract: A technique enables protection of electrical conductors in a submerged environment, such as a wellbore environment. A connector system is deployed at the end of an electric cable to enable connection of the electric cable with a submersible component. The connector system comprises a connector body formed of a moldable material that is molded around at least one conductor of the electric cable. The moldable material insulates and protects the at least one conductor when the connector body is engaged with the submersible component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Wayne L. Costa, Gregory H. Manke, Melissa Ver Meer
  • Patent number: 8225874
    Abstract: An apparatus that is usable with a well includes a gas lift valve and an isolation member. The gas lift valve includes a valve element that is located between an annulus and a passageway of a tubing. The valve element is adapted to selectively open and close to control fluid communication through the valve element. The isolation member is adapted to in a first state, isolate the valve element from at least one of the annulus and the passageway and in a second state, permit fluid communication between the valve element and the annulus or passageway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Tyson R. Messick, Thomas M. White, Kenneth C. Burnett, III
  • Patent number: 8225872
    Abstract: A technique is provided to facilitate movement of fluids in wells where the fluids have a relatively high gas-to-liquid ratio. A submersible pump is combined with a separate, dedicated mixer. The dedicated mixer is positioned upstream of the components of the submersible pump designed to move the well fluid. The mixer reduces large gas structures and homogenizes the fluid flow fed into the submersible pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Ashley B. Johnson
  • Patent number: 8176979
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for surveying a well in real-time and responding to operational conditions in response to the surveillance. According to one or more aspects of the present disclosure a method for surveillance of a well includes providing a producing a fluid from the formation into the wellbore, injecting a fraction of the fluid from the wellbore into an injection zone of the formation via operation of a pumping system. Well data is sensed in the wellbore proximate to the injection zone and a formation injection performance parameter is determined using the sensed well data. The formation injection performance parameter comprises one selected from the group of stable injection, negative skin, positive skin and water channeling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Albert G. Ollre
  • Patent number: 8127835
    Abstract: A hanger system is provided for supporting a cable-supported dewatering pump in a gas well. A dewatering pump is supported in a downhole location by a cable. A cable hanger bears the weight of the cable and the weight of the dewatering pump. A pulling tool is configured to detachably connect to the cable hanger and to support the weight of the cable hanger, cable and gas well dewatering system as it is pulled out of a seated position in the well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Michael A. Dowling, Jason Kamphaus, Harryson Sukianto, Alain P. Dorel, Joseph Varkey
  • Patent number: 8113273
    Abstract: An electric power cable for high temperature environments includes an electric conductor; an electrical insulator disposed on the electric conductor to form an insulated conductor, the electrical insulator suited for operation in a high temperature environment; and a protective sheath disposed over the insulated conductor to form a sheathed conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory H. Manke, Mark Metzger, Melissa Ver Meer, Tricia Lespreance, Wayne L. Costa, Jason Holzmueller
  • Patent number: 8096353
    Abstract: An oilfield apparatus includes an oilfield element made of a composite that includes a matrix material; and a plurality of functionalized graphene sheets dispersed in the matrix material. A method of oilfield operation includes selecting an oilfield apparatus having an oilfield element, wherein at least a portion of the oilfield element is made of a composite comprising a plurality of functionalized graphene sheets dispersed in a matrix material; and using the oilfield apparatus in an oilfield operation, thereby exposing the oilfield element to an oilfield environment. A method for modifying a functionalized graphene sheet includes obtaining the functionalized graphene sheet; and subjecting the functionalized graphene sheet to atom transfer radical polymerization to attach polymers on surfaces of the functionalized graphene sheet. The polymers attached to the surfaces of the functional graphene sheet may comprise co-polymers or magnetic particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Melissa Ver Meer
  • Patent number: 8083501
    Abstract: A technique is provided for pumping fluid in subsea applications, such as booster pumping applications. A self-contained pumping module has a pump and a motor mounted on a skid. The self-contained pumping module also includes electrical connections by which electrical power can be provided to the motor and hydraulic connections for connecting suitable hydraulic lines with a pump intake and a pump discharge. The self-contained nature of the pumping module enables easy deployment to a sea floor in a variety of applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Kevin T. Scarsdale
  • Patent number: 8082991
    Abstract: A monitoring and control system for a dewatering pump configured to dewater a gas well is provided. A dewatering pump is driven at a first speed to pump fluid out of a well annulus. A fluid level detection device is configured to identify a change of fluid level in the well annulus occurring between a first time and a second, later time. A controller is configured to change the speed of the dewatering pump from the first speed to a second speed based upon the identified change in fluid level. Several embodiments of the fluid level detection devices are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Michael A. Dowling, Jason Kamphaus, Harryson Sukianto, Alain P. Dorel
  • Patent number: 8084914
    Abstract: A downhole electric motor device has a longitudinally extending tubular housing; a stator part deployed within the tubular housing; a stator coil winding looped through the stator part with an end turn having an apex; and a connecting device connecting between at least one of the coil windings and an end of the housing adjacent to an end of the stator part, thereby supporting the coil winding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick M. McCartney, David Fielder
  • Patent number: 8066476
    Abstract: A pump stage is disclosed for use with an electrical submersible pump. The stage includes an impeller and diffuser, each having a hub, blades and an outside ring. In such pump stage, the stage flow area is constructed from separate segments manufactured from wear resistant material. Furthermore, each separate segment is retained by the hub using an external compression fit ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Jacques Orban, Mikhail Gotlib, David Eslinger