Patents Assigned to M-I LLC
  • Patent number: 7770665
    Abstract: A system for preparing a slurry in-transit including a first cuttings storage vessel disposed on a transport vehicle, a module configured to operatively connect to the first cuttings storage vessel, and a fluid supply line in fluid communication with the first cuttings storage vessel, the module including, a grinding device configured to facilitate the transfer of fluids and reduce particle size of drill cuttings, wherein the system is operated while the transport vehicle is moving. A method of operating an in-transit slurrification system including using a first vessel disposed on a moving transport vehicle for cuttings storage, and operating the first vessel in a slurrification process while the transport vehicle is moving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: M-I LLC
    Inventors: Jan Thore Eia, Gordon M. Logan
  • Publication number: 20100193409
    Abstract: A shaker apparatus including a basket having an upstream side, a downstream side, and two side walls, at least one wedge guide and one support rail disposed on each side wall, and at least one screen assembly. The support rails and the wedge guides may be configured to engage the screen assembly. The screen assembly may have one or more layers of screen mesh mounted on a screen frame. The screen frame may include a first and a second side rail, each having an upstream end, a downstream end, a top surface, and a bottom surface. A slope of the top surfaces intermediate the upstream end and the downstream end may be different than a slope of the bottom surfaces intermediate the upstream end and the downstream end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2010
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Applicant: M-I LLC
    Inventor: Eric Cady
  • Publication number: 20100186957
    Abstract: A pill for wellbore operations, that includes a base fluid; and at least two polymers that interact to form a gelatinous structure characterized as isolating and controllably transmitting hydrostatic pressure between a first wellbore fluid above the pill in a wellbore and a second wellbore fluid below the pill in the wellbore is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2008
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Applicant: M-I LLC
    Inventors: Ole Iacob Prebensen, Monica Norman, Anne-Marie Friestad, Egil Ronaes
  • Publication number: 20100190664
    Abstract: A method of cleaning a wellbore prior to the production of oil or gas, wherein the wellbore has been drilled with an invert emulsion drilling mud that forms an invert emulsion filter cake is disclosed. The method may include circulating a breaker fluid into the wellbore, where the breaker fluid includes a non-oleaginous internal phase and an oleaginous external phase, where the non-oleaginous phase includes a water soluble polar organic solvent, a hydrolysable ester of a carboxylic acid, and a weighting agent, and the oleaginous external phase includes an oleaginous fluid and an emulsifier, and where the hydrolysable ester is selected so that upon hydrolysis an organic acid is released and the invert emulsion of the filter cake breaks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Applicant: M-I LLC
    Inventors: Charles Svoboda, Raymond D. Ravitz, Mark Luyster
  • Patent number: 7753213
    Abstract: A screen support frame for a shale shaker includes a first end, a second end disposed opposite the first end, a first side disposed substantially perpendicular the first and second ends, a second side disposed opposite the first side and a plurality of transverse ribs disposed between the first end and the second end and between the first side and the second side, wherein at least one transverse rib extends downwardly below a lower plane of the screen support frame. A method of forming a screen support frame for a shale shaker includes forming a screen support frame and forming integrally a gasket along a perimeter of a lower plane of the screen support frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: M-I LLC
    Inventor: James F. Nogalski
  • Patent number: 7753990
    Abstract: The present invention provides a system for reducing entrained and dissolved gasses from a well fluid. The system includes a well fluid, at least one process tank into which the well fluid flows, wherein a first process tank comprises a weir arrangement over which the well fluid spills, a mechanical degasser coupled to the at least one process tank and configured to receive the well fluid, and an aeration device disposed in the at least one process tank that generates bubbles in the well fluid. The present invention also provides a method of reducing entrained and dissolved gases from a well fluid that includes flowing a well fluid into a process tank, exerting a centrifugal force on the well fluid, and generating bubbles in the well fluid in the process tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: M-I LLC
    Inventors: Michael A. Freeman, Eric Hand
  • Publication number: 20100163255
    Abstract: A method for treating a wellbore in a hydrogen sulfide-containing formation that includes injecting a first slug in the wellbore, the first slug comprising: at least one of primary amine and ammonia; and a base fluid; injecting a second slug in the wellbore, the second slug comprising: a triazine scavenger; and a base fluid; and allowing the triazine scavenger to react with the hydrogen sulfide is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2008
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Applicant: M-I LLC
    Inventors: Robert L. Horton, Randy Stoker, Paul Davis
  • Patent number: 7740068
    Abstract: A method for treating a subterranean formation penetrated by a wellbore that includes injecting an alkali silicate into the wellbore; injecting a solid micronized silicate-precipitating agent into the wellbore; and allowing the alkali silicate and the solid micronized silicate-precipitating agent to react to form a silicate gel is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: M-I LLC
    Inventor: David Antony Ballard
  • Publication number: 20100139914
    Abstract: A drilling fluid test device including a cell body having a pressurization inlet configured to allow for pressurization of the cell body, a fluid inlet configured to provide a test fluid, a filtrate outlet configured to discharge a filtrate, and a fluid outlet configured to discharge the fluid. The device also including a filter medium disposed in the cell body and a cleaning system disposed in the cell body and configured to clean the filter medium. Additionally, a method of testing a drilling fluid including injecting a drilling fluid into an automated testing cell, the automated testing cell having a filter medium. Furthermore, pressurizing the automated testing cell, forming a filter cake on the filter medium, and separating the drilling fluid into a filtrate and a residual drilling fluid. Additionally, transferring the filtrate to a filtrate collection vessel and determining a volume of filtrate in the filtrate collection vessel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2008
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Applicant: M-I LLC
    Inventors: Mostafa Ahmadi Tehrani, Jacqueline Joan Cameron
  • Publication number: 20100140145
    Abstract: A system for separating hydrocarbons from a solid source including a primary separation tank including a first hydrocarbon removing device to remove hydrocarbons from a slurry of water and solids. Further, the system including a transfer device between the primary separation tank and a secondary separation tank, wherein the transfer device is configured to transfer solids from the slurry to the secondary separation tank. Further still, the system including a second hydrocarbon removal device, a fine particle separation device to remove remaining solids in the secondary separation tank, and a product collection tank to receive hydrocarbons removed from the primary and secondary separation tanks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2010
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Applicant: M-I LLC
    Inventors: Michael A. Freeman, Alex Stoian, Lewis J. Dutel, Cory C. Melancon, Richard Bingham, Paul Newman
  • Publication number: 20100133204
    Abstract: A reusable filter for testing drilling fluids including a non-porous filter medium configured to be disposed in a drilling fluid testing device. The non-porous filter medium having a plurality of perforations extending therethrough. Additionally, a method of cleaning a reusable filter medium for a drilling fluid test device including exposing the reusable filter medium to a washing fluid, and agitating the washing fluid with a mechanical agitator to break up solids disposed on the reusable filter medium. Also, a drilling fluid test device including a cell body having a fluid inlet configured to provide a test fluid, a filtrate outlet configured to discharge a filtrate, and a fluid outlet configured to discharge the fluid. The drilling fluid test device also having a non-porous filter medium disposed in the cell body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2008
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Applicant: M-I LLC
    Inventors: Mostafa Ahmadi Tehrani, Jacqueline Joan Cameron
  • Patent number: 7717177
    Abstract: A process for generating and subsequently breaking a filter cake, including dissolving a non-reactive gas in a wellbore fluid to form an energized fluid; pumping the energized fluid into a formation at a downhole pressure, wherein the pumping is at overbalanced conditions; producing a filter cake; and decreasing the down hole pressure to below a cut point of the dissolved gas in the energized fluid to form a vapor phase, wherein the vapor phase compromises the integrity of the filter cake is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: M-I LLC
    Inventor: Frederick B. Growcock
  • Patent number: 7704299
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of treating a process fluid that includes assembling a modular system, flowing the process fluid through the modular system, the flowing the process fluid through the modular system including degassing the process fluid, neutralizing the process fluid, reducing an amount of one of the group consisting of entrained gases, oil and solids in the process fluid, monitoring and analyzing the process fluid for at least one of the group consisting of engrained gases, oil, and solids, and flowing the process fluid out of the modular system for disposal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: M-I LLC
    Inventors: Frank Mueller, Michael A. Freeman, Eric Hand
  • Publication number: 20100004145
    Abstract: A fluid loss pill that includes a crosslinked polymer gel, a brine, and solid salt particles disposed in said gel is described. Further, a method for reducing fluid loss that includes pumping a selected amount of a fluid loss pill into a wellbore leading to an oil-condensate-, or gas-producing formation, the fluid loss pill including a crosslinked polymer gel, a brine, and solid salt particles disposed in said gel is described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2006
    Publication date: January 7, 2010
    Applicant: M-I LLC
    Inventors: Robert L. Horton, Bethicia B. Prasek
  • Publication number: 20090321074
    Abstract: A down hole tool including a compression surface, a compression surface axis, and at least one support member configured to attach the compression surface to a well drilling tool assembly, wherein the extendable support member is extendable by an extension force provided to the support member. The down hole tool is rotable relative to an axis of the well drilling tool assembly, and as the well drilling tool assembly rotates, the at least one compression device exerts a lateral force along a sidewall of a wellbore. Also, a method of forming filter cake comprising releasing a drilling fluid and contacting the drilling fluid with a mechanical pressure on the sidewall of the wellbore and the drilling fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2009
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Applicant: M-I LLC
    Inventor: Michael A. Freeman
  • Publication number: 20090260698
    Abstract: A fluid control system, including: a housing having an inlet, an outlet, and a pressure chamber; a shuttle assembly adapted to reciprocate in the pressure chamber to regulate the flow of an operating fluid from the inlet to the outlet; the operating fluid applying an opening force to a first end of the shuttle assembly; a control fluid to apply a closing force to an opposite end of the shuttle assembly; wherein an operating fluid pressure area of the first end of the shuttle assembly when in a closed position is at least 65 percent of the operating fluid pressure area of the first end of the shuttle assembly when in an open position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2008
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Applicant: M-I LLC
    Inventor: Roger Suter
  • Publication number: 20090260826
    Abstract: A system for injecting a fluid into a formation including a fluid, and at least one injection pump configured to receive the fluid, the at least one pump including a centrifugal pump having at least two stages configured to increase the pressure of the received fluid is disclosed. The system further includes a drive device coupled to the injection pump. A method of injecting a fluid downhole including providing a fluid to an injection pump, the injection pump including a centrifugal pump having at least two stages, pumping the fluid through the at least two stages of the centrifugal pump, thereby increasing the pressure of the fluid, and injecting the fluid from the injection pump into a wellbore is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2009
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Applicant: M-I LLC
    Inventors: Joe Sherwood, Greg McEwen, Gary Woolsey, Katerina Newman
  • Publication number: 20090258799
    Abstract: A wellbore fluid that includes a base fluid; a weighting agent having a d90 greater than 30 microns; and a micronized weighting agent having a d90 less than 25 microns, the micronized weighting agent comprising less than 30 percent by volume of the total weighting agents is disclosed herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2008
    Publication date: October 15, 2009
    Applicant: M-I LLC
    Inventors: Mike Hodder, Andy Popplestone
  • Patent number: 7563424
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a compressed metal oxide composition particle comprised of metal oxide and an organic binder, with the binder preferably being a water insoluble cellulose composition. The present invention also relates to a method for forming a compressed metal oxide composition particle, with the preferred method including compressing a metal oxide and binder mixture to form compressed metal oxide composition particles having a final particle size of between about 0.1 mm and about 200 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: M-I, LLC
    Inventors: Delbert C. Scranton, Jr., Thomas G. Braga, Alan D. Johnson, Alvin Samuels
  • Publication number: 20090151443
    Abstract: A screen test apparatus includes a test cell disposed within a pressure vessel, a piston disposed within the pressure vessel, wherein the piston is in sealing contact with an inner surface of the pressure vessel, and a screen assembly disposed in an end of the test cell. The screen assembly includes a mount collar, a screen disposed in the mount collar, and an end cap adjacent the screen which includes grooves in a face adjacent the screen and passages extending through the end cap, wherein the screen assembly is configured to fully support the screen while allowing a fluid to pass through the screen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2008
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Applicant: M-I LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth Slater, Michael T. Darring, Marian Baranowski