Patents Assigned to Frank's International, Inc.
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Patent number: 9995095Abstract: A power tong assembly includes a power tong and an interlock system operably coupled to the power tong. The power tong is configured to grip and rotate a tubular segment in a first direction to make-up a threaded connection with the tubular segment and in a second direction to break-out the threaded connection with the tubular segment. The interlock system is configured to selectively allow the power tong to rotate the tubular segment in one of the first direction and the second direction unrestricted while restricting the power tong to rotate the tubular segment in the other of the first direction and the second direction at a limited speed.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2015Date of Patent: June 12, 2018Assignee: Frank's International, Inc.Inventors: Jarred M. Thibodeaux, Charles M. Webre, Reese M. Comeaux
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Patent number: 9765581Abstract: A tubular gripping apparatus includes a main bowl including a bore formed therethrough about an axis, and a movable bowl movably receivable within the main bowl. The movable bowl includes a bore formed therethrough about an axis with a tapered surface extending along the bore of the movable bowl, in which the tubular gripping apparatus further includes a plurality of slip assemblies movably receivable within the movable bowl, the plurality of slip assemblies configured to engage an outer surface of a tubular member.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2014Date of Patent: September 19, 2017Assignee: Frank's International, Inc.Inventors: Logan Essex Smith, Robert L. Thibodeaux, Jeremy Richard Angelle
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Publication number: 20150275597Abstract: A power tong assembly includes a power tong and an interlock system operably coupled to the power tong. The power tong is configured to grip and rotate a tubular segment in a first direction to make-up a threaded connection with the tubular segment and in a second direction to break-out the threaded connection with the tubular segment. The interlock system is configured to selectively allow the power tong to rotate the tubular segment in one of the first direction and the second direction while preventing the power tong to rotate the tubular segment in the other of the first direction and the second direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 10, 2015Publication date: October 1, 2015Applicant: FRANK'S INTERNATIONAL, INC.Inventors: Jarred M. Thibodeaux, Charles M. Webre, Reese M. Comeaux
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Publication number: 20150275598Abstract: A power tong assembly includes a power tong and a speed limiting system operably coupled to the power tong. The power tong is configured to grip and rotate a tubular segment in a first direction to make-up a threaded connection with the tubular segment and in a second direction to break-out the threaded connection with the tubular segment. The speed limiting system is configured to selectively allow the power tong to rotate the tubular segment in one of the first direction and the second direction at a maximum speed while limiting the power tong to rotate the tubular segment in the other of the first direction and the second direction below the maximum speed.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 30, 2015Publication date: October 1, 2015Applicant: FRANK'S INTERNATIONAL, INC.Inventors: Charles M. Webre, Jarred M. Thibodeaux, Dax J. Neuville
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Publication number: 20150159445Abstract: A tubular gripping apparatus includes a main bowl including a bore formed therethrough about an axis, and a movable bowl movably receivable within the main bowl. The movable bowl includes a bore formed therethrough about an axis with a tapered surface extending along the bore of the movable bowl, in which the tubular gripping apparatus further includes a plurality of slip assemblies movably receivable within the movable bowl, the plurality of slip assemblies configured to engage an outer surface of a tubular member.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 10, 2014Publication date: June 11, 2015Applicant: FRANK'S INTERNATIONAL, INC.Inventors: Logan Essex Smith, Robert L. Thibodeaux, Jeremy Richard Angelle
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Publication number: 20140224473Abstract: A multi-functional apparatus and method for drilling fluid and cementing operations to set casing in a wellbore for use on either top drive or rotary type rigs. The apparatus and method includes a fill-up and circulating tool, a cementing head assembly, and a wiper plug assembly. The fill-up and circulating tool comprises a mandrel with a sealing element disposed about the outside diameter of the mandrel. The cementing head and wiper plug assemblies are useable on any fill-up and circulating tool capable of being inserted into a casing. To fill the casing, the assembly is lowered from the rig such that a portion of the fill-up tools inserted into the casing, the pumps are then actuated to flow fluid into the casing. To circulate fluid, the tool is lowered further such that the sealing element sealingly engages the inside diameter of the casing to allow fluid to flow through the casing, into the wellbore, and back to the fluid pumps.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 5, 2014Publication date: August 14, 2014Applicant: Frank's International, Inc.Inventors: Donald E. Mosing, Samuel P. Hawkins, III, David L. Sipos, Keith T. Lutgring, Burney J. Latiolais, Jr.
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Patent number: 8783339Abstract: Apparatuses, systems, and methods in accordance with the present disclosure are disclosed herein. The system includes a gripping tool operatively connected to and suspended from the top drive assembly, in which the gripping tool includes an axis defined therethrough and a gripping member, and an adaptor apparatus having a first end and a second end. The at least one gripping member engages the adaptor apparatus, and the second end includes a connection member to connect with the tubular member.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2011Date of Patent: July 22, 2014Assignee: Frank's International, Inc.Inventors: Edward Sinclair, Guy Hustinx, Patrick Neil Sibille
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Patent number: 8708043Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein relate to an apparatus to fluidly couple to a casing string. The apparatus may include a fill-up and circulating tool having a flow path extending therethrough, in which the fill-up and circulating tool may be configured to fluidly seal internally within an upper end of the casing string. The apparatus may further include a cementing head assembly having a flow path extending therethrough, in which the flow path of the cementing head assembly is fluidly coupled to the flow path of the fill-up and circulating tool, and a releasing mechanism coupled to the cementing head assembly, in which the releasing mechanism is configured to release a fluid-conveyed sealing device through the cementing head assembly and into the fill-up and circulating tool.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2013Date of Patent: April 29, 2014Assignee: Frank's International, Inc.Inventors: Donald E. Mosing, David L. Sipos, Burney J. Latiolais, Jr., Samuel P. Hawkins, III, Keith T. Lutgring
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Publication number: 20130220610Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein relate to an apparatus to fluidly couple to a casing string. The apparatus may include a fill-up and circulating tool having a flow path extending therethrough, in which the fill-up and circulating tool may be configured to fluidly seal internally within an upper end of the casing string. The apparatus may further include a cementing head assembly having a flow path extending therethrough, in which the flow path of the cementing head assembly is fluidly coupled to the flow path of the fill-up and circulating tool, and a releasing mechanism coupled to the cementing head assembly, in which the releasing mechanism is configured to release a fluid-conveyed sealing device through the cementing head assembly and into the fill-up and circulating tool.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 27, 2013Publication date: August 29, 2013Applicant: FRANK'S INTERNATIONAL, INC.Inventors: Donald E. Mosing, David L. Sipos, Burney J. Latiolais, JR., Samuel P. Hawkins, III, Keith T. Lutgring
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Patent number: 8455793Abstract: An embodiment of an apparatus for laser shock peening a treatment region of a metallic member includes a base oriented along a longitudinal axis; an engagement member actuable to engage a surface of the metallic member, the base in connection with engagement member; and a laser peening head adapted to emit laser radiation disposed with the base, the laser peening head moveable relative to the longitudinal axis.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2009Date of Patent: June 4, 2013Assignee: Frank's International, Inc.Inventors: Brennan S. Domec, Pradeep Kumar Mallenahalli, John Fletcher Wheeler
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Patent number: 8424604Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein relate to an apparatus to fluidly couple to a casing string. The apparatus may include a fill-up and circulating tool having a flow path extending therethrough, in which the fill-up and circulating tool is configured to fluidly couple to an upper end of the casing string, a cementing head assembly having a flow path extending therethrough, in which the flow path of the cementing head assembly is fluidly coupled to the flow path of the fill-up and circulating tool, and a releasing mechanism coupled to the cementing head assembly, in which the releasing mechanism is configured to release a fluid-conveyed sealing device through the cementing head assembly and into the fill-up and circulating tool.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2011Date of Patent: April 23, 2013Assignee: Frank's International, Inc.Inventors: Donald E. Mosing, David L. Sipos, Burney J. Latiolais, Jr., Samuel P. Hawkins, III, Keith T. Lutgring
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Publication number: 20130087334Abstract: A temperature activated actuator installed on a tubular to actuate an adjacent device may include one or more shape-memory alloy elements. The elements may be coupled between a first portion and a second portion of a device, or the elements may be coupled between the tubular and a portion of the device. The elements are activated by raising the temperature to a transition temperature to cause metallurgical phase transformation, causing the elements to shrink and displace at least a portion of the device. The actuator may be used, for example, to actuate a centralizer from a run-in mode to a deployed mode or, alternately, to actuate a packing member from a run-in mode to an isolating mode. A nickel-titanium alloy, for example, may be used as the shape-memory alloy material from which the shape-memory element is made.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 29, 2012Publication date: April 11, 2013Applicant: FRANK'S INTERNATIONAL, INC.Inventors: Jean Buytaert, Eugene Miller
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Publication number: 20130025881Abstract: A centralizer having a plurality of collapsible bows interconnecting a first collar and a second collar, with the centralizer disposed on a tubular with a stop collar, and an attachable retainer(s) of the centralizer blocking passage of the stop collar therethrough. The bows may have a yield strength of at least about 200,000 psi. Outer surface of the bows may have a coefficient of friction equal or less than about 0.02. Maximum radial thickness of centralizer when the plurality of collapsible bows is fully collapsed may be equal to or less than 3/16?. Centralizer may be rotatable relative to tubular. Centralizer having a split tubular body forming first and second collars connected by collapsible bows and a retainer to retain the split tubular body on the tubular, and the retainer, the first collar and/or the second collar providing a recess therein to receive a stop collar of the tubular.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 26, 2011Publication date: January 31, 2013Applicant: FRANK'S INTERNATIONAL, INC.Inventors: Jean Buytaert, Ira Eugene Hining
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Patent number: 8360161Abstract: A temperature activated actuator installed on a tubular to actuate an adjacent device may include one or more shape-memory alloy elements. The elements may be coupled between a first portion and a second portion of a device, or the elements may be coupled between the tubular and a portion of the device. The elements are activated by raising the temperature to a transition temperature to cause metallurgical phase transformation, causing the elements to shrink and displace at least a portion of the device. The actuator may be used, for example, to actuate a centralizer from a run-in mode to a deployed mode or, alternately, to actuate a packing member from a run-in mode to an isolating mode. A nickel-titanium alloy, for example, may be used as the shape-memory alloy material from which the shape-memory element is made.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2009Date of Patent: January 29, 2013Assignee: Frank's International, Inc.Inventors: Jean Buytaert, Eugene Miller
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Publication number: 20120312553Abstract: Apparatus and method for limiting movement of gripping members of an elevator are provided. The apparatus includes a locking arm coupled to one or more of the gripping members and configured to move in a first direction when the gripping members move toward engagement with a tubular and to move in a second direction when the gripping members move away from engagement with the tubular. The apparatus also includes a first engagement member configured to move between a disengaged position, in which the first engagement member and the locking arm are relatively moveable, and an engaged position, in which the first engagement member allows the locking arm to move in the first direction but restrains the locking bar from moving in the second direction by more than a selected distance.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 22, 2011Publication date: December 13, 2012Applicant: Frank's International, Inc.Inventors: Donald E. Mosing, Jeremy Richard Angelle, John Erick Stelly
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Patent number: 8316930Abstract: A hydraulic connector to provide a fluidic connection between a fluid supply and a downhole tubular, the connector comprising: a body; an engagement assembly comprising an extendable portion selectively extendable from the body, the engagement assembly being configured to extend and retract a seal assembly disposed at a distal end of the extendable portion into and from a proximal end of the downhole tubular; and a valve assembly operable between an open position and a closed position, the valve assembly being configured to: allow a fluid to communicate between the fluid supply and the downhole tubular through the seal assembly when in the open position; and prevent fluid communication between the fluid supply and the downhole tubular when in the closed position.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 2010Date of Patent: November 27, 2012Assignees: Pilot Drilling Control Limited, Frank's International, Inc.Inventors: Matthew Clubb, Dougal Hugo Brown, Alan Payne, Stuart Card, George Swietlik, Robert Large, Burney J. Latiolais
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Publication number: 20120227959Abstract: A close-tolerance expandable bow spring centralizer 8 having a first expandable collar 10A coupled to and spaced apart from a second expandable collar 10B through a plurality of bow springs 30 wherein expandable collars 10A, 10B comprise a plurality of slidably coupled links 16 that separate to expand the diameter of the collars 10A, 10B, e.g., upon expansion of an expandable pipe string 80 on which the centralizer 8 is received. Expandable bow spring centralizer 8 may grip the expandable pipe string 80 when in the collapsed configuration to eliminate the need for a stop collar. Additionally or alternatively, a fin 32 may be connected to each bow spring 30, and then connected to one or more adjacent fins 32 upon collapse of the bow springs 30 to form a restraining band 39 that may be ruptured, e.g., upon expansion of the expandable pipe string 80.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 21, 2012Publication date: September 13, 2012Applicant: FRANK'S INTERNATIONAL, INC.Inventors: Jean Buytaert, Eugene Edward Miller, Donald Elwin McDowell
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Publication number: 20120175117Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein relate to an apparatus to fluidly couple to a casing string. The apparatus may include a fill-up and circulating tool having a flow path extending therethrough, in which the fill-up and circulating tool is configured to fluidly couple to an upper end of the casing string, a cementing head assembly having a flow path extending therethrough, in which the flow path of the cementing head assembly is fluidly coupled to the flow path of the fill-up and circulating tool, and a releasing mechanism coupled to the cementing head assembly, in which the releasing mechanism is configured to release a fluid-conveyed sealing device through the cementing head assembly and into the fill-up and circulating tool.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2011Publication date: July 12, 2012Applicant: FRANK'S INTERNATIONAL, INC.Inventors: Donald E. Mosing, Samuel P. Hawkins, III, David L. Sipos, Keith T. Lutgring, Burney J. Latiolais, JR.
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Patent number: 8196654Abstract: A close-tolerance expandable bow spring centralizer 8 having a first expandable collar 10A coupled to and spaced apart from a second expandable collar 10B through a plurality of bow springs 30 wherein expandable collars 10A, 10B comprise a plurality of slidably coupled links 16 that separate to expand the diameter of the collars 10A, 10B, e.g., upon expansion of an expandable pipe string 80 on which the centralizer 8 is received. Expandable bow spring centralizer 8 may grip the expandable pipe string 80 when in the collapsed configuration to eliminate the need for a stop collar. Additionally or alternatively, a fin 32 may be connected to each bow spring 30, and then connected to one or more adjacent fins 32 upon collapse of the bow springs 30 to form a restraining band 39 that may be ruptured, e.g., upon expansion of the expandable pipe string 80.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2011Date of Patent: June 12, 2012Assignee: Frank's International, Inc.Inventors: Jean Buytaert, Eugene Edward Miller, Donald Elwin McDowell
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Publication number: 20120138288Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure provide a rigid centralizer having at least one annular band with radially extending embossed flutes spaced around an outer surface of the at least one annular band and a plurality of elongated connecting posts welded to an inner surface of the at least one annular band to form a tubular receiving annulus.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 6, 2010Publication date: June 7, 2012Applicant: FRANK'S INTERNATIONAL, INC.Inventors: Jean Buytaert, Christopher M. Penry, Troy L. McDaniel