Patents Assigned to M-I LLC
  • Publication number: 20080078702
    Abstract: A shaker screen including a sealing element and a composite frame, wherein the sealing element is attached to a basal perimeter of the composite is disclosed. Furthermore, a method of forming a shaker screen including forming a sealing element, forming a composite frame, and attaching the sealing element to the composite frame, wherein the sealing element is disposed along at least one surface of a basal perimeter of the composite frame is disclosed. Also, a shaker screen attachment including a sealing element, a composite frame, and a wedge is disclosed. The shaker screen attachment further includes wherein the sealing element is attached to a basal perimeter of the composite frame, and wherein the wedge is disposed between the composite frame and a shaker basket such that the sealing element compresses against the shaker basket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2007
    Publication date: April 3, 2008
    Applicants: M-I LLC, M-I LLC
    Inventors: Brian Carr, Graham Robertson, Eric Cady
  • Publication number: 20080078701
    Abstract: A system including a first screen having a first frame and a first sealing element attached to an outer perimeter of the first frame, and a second screen disposed adjacent the first screen, the second screen having a second frame and a second sealing element attached to an outer perimeter of the second frame, wherein the first sealing element and the second sealing element provide a seal between the first screen and the second screen is disclosed. Further, a method of forming a screen frame including forming a frame and attaching a sealing element to an outer perimeter of the frame is disclosed. Additionally, a shaker screen including a frame and a sealing element attached to an outer perimeter of the frame, wherein the sealing element is attached by one selected from thermal bonding and co-molding is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2007
    Publication date: April 3, 2008
    Applicant: M-I LLC
    Inventors: Brian Carr, Graham Robertson, Eric Cady
  • Publication number: 20080078700
    Abstract: A vibratory separator including a housing having a drilling material inlet and at least one basket, at least one screen assembly configured to be disposed in the at least one basket, an actuator connected to the at least one basket, wherein the actuator provides vibratory motion to the at least one basket, a sump configured to receive drilling material that passes through the at least one screen assembly, and at least one spray nozzle for cleaning the vibratory separator is disclosed. A method for cleaning a vibratory separator including providing instructions to a programmable logic controller to activate at least one spray nozzle disposed on the vibratory separator is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2007
    Publication date: April 3, 2008
    Applicant: M-I LLC
    Inventors: Bradley Jones, Brian Carr
  • Publication number: 20080064613
    Abstract: A method of formulating a wellbore fluid that includes providing a base fluid; and adding a sized weighting agent coated with a dispersant made by the method of dry blending a weighting agent and a dispersant to form a sized weighting agent coated with the dispersant is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2007
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Applicant: M-I LLC
    Inventor: Jarrod Massam
  • Publication number: 20080049544
    Abstract: A method for mixing a drilling fluid formulation that includes establishing a flow path for a base fluid, adding drilling fluid additives to the base fluid to create a mixture, aerating the mixture of base fluid and drilling fluid additives, and injecting a compressible driving fluid into the mixture of base fluid and drilling fluid additives to form a mixed drilling fluid is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2007
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Applicant: M-I LLC
    Inventors: Richard Bingham, Diana Garcia
  • Patent number: 7334639
    Abstract: A method for sealing a subterranean zone is disclosed. The method includes the steps of preparing a wellbore fluid, placing the wellbore fluid into at least a portion of an annular space between the sidewalls of a wellbore and the exterior of a casing string disposed in the wellbore, and allowing the wellbore fluid to solidify therein, wherein the wellbore fluid includes an oleaginous fluid as the continuous phase of the wellbore fluid, a non-oleaginous fluid as the discontinuous phase of the wellbore fluid, and about 5 to about 50 pounds per barrel of a thermally activated hydrocarbon gellant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: M-I LLC
    Inventor: Charles Svoboda
  • Publication number: 20080041589
    Abstract: A method for drilling and completing a wellbore that includes drilling a wellbore through a subterranean formation with a wellbore fluid, the wellbore fluid comprising: a base fluid; and micronized weighting agent; and disposing a sand screen in an interval of the wellbore with the wellbore fluid is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2007
    Publication date: February 21, 2008
    Applicant: M-I LLC
    Inventors: Doug Oakley, Gunnar Fimreite, Grete Svanes, Jarrod Massam, Andrew Bradbury
  • Publication number: 20080035375
    Abstract: A method for controlling a peripheral drilling operation involves obtaining a first property of a first drilling operation component associated with the peripheral drilling operation, via a wireless network, obtaining a second property of a second drilling operation component associated with the peripheral drilling operation, generating a control signal for the first drilling operation component, based on the first property and the second property, and communicating the control signal to the first drilling operation component, via the wireless network, where the first drilling operation component is adjusted, based on the control signal, to control the peripheral drilling operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2007
    Publication date: February 14, 2008
    Applicant: M-I LLC
    Inventors: Alan Wayne Burkhard, Mario Zamora
  • Publication number: 20080029458
    Abstract: Systems and methods for dewatering drilling fluid including a feeder, an aging tank, a polyductor configured between the feeder and the aging tank and a flocculant solution pump fluidly connected to the aging tank. Further, the system includes a portable skid to house the feeder, the aging tank, the polyductor, and the flocculent solution pump. In certain embodiments, the polyductor is configured to mix a liquid with a dry flocculant from the feeder, and disperse a resultant flocculent solution in the aging tank, the aging tank is configured to receive the flocculant solution, and the flocculant solution pump is configured to remove the flocculant solution from the aging tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2006
    Publication date: February 7, 2008
    Applicant: M-I LLC
    Inventors: Gary E. Fout, Julio Roberto Ronderos, Catalin Ivan
  • Publication number: 20080023202
    Abstract: A method for removing mineral scale from tubing is disclosed. The method may include the steps of making a first longitudinal cut along a length of the tubing, making a second longitudinal cut along a length of tubing, and removing a plurality of sections of tubing, wherein the sections of tubing are defined by the first and second longitudinal cuts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2007
    Publication date: January 31, 2008
    Applicant: M-I LLC
    Inventors: Richard Keatch, Simon Ray
  • Publication number: 20080009421
    Abstract: A composition that includes a product resulting from a condensation reaction of quebracho with at least one organophilic species that includes a reactive amine is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2007
    Publication date: January 10, 2008
    Applicant: M-I LLC
    Inventors: Arvind D. Patel, Sashikumar Mettath, Emanuel Stamatakis, Steve Young, Jim Friedheim
  • Publication number: 20080009422
    Abstract: A water based drilling fluid which includes an aqueous fluid, at least one of a weighting agent and a gelling agent, and a lubricant, which includes at least one ester derivative of at least one fatty acid derived from castor oil is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2007
    Publication date: January 10, 2008
    Applicant: M-I LLC
    Inventors: Arvind D. Patel, Emanuel Stamatakis, Steve Young, Jim Friedheim
  • Publication number: 20070293401
    Abstract: A wellbore fluid that includes an oleaginous continuous phase; a non-oleaginous phase; and a modified polyesteramide surfactant; methods of formulating such wellbore fluid; and methods of drilling a subterranean formation with such wellbore fluid are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2007
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Applicant: M-I LLC
    Inventor: David Antony Ballard
  • Publication number: 20070293402
    Abstract: A wellbore fluid having at least two phases, the wellbore fluid including a fluid phase; and a solid phase including a powdered solid material coated with a polymer, wherein the polymer is the reaction product of a polyesteramide and a crosslinking agent is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2007
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Applicant: M-I LLC
    Inventor: David Antony Ballard
  • Publication number: 20070287767
    Abstract: A method of treating an earth formation that includes injecting at least one lipophilic monomer into the earthen formation; wherein the at least one lipophilic monomer is selected from epoxide-functionalized derivative of soybean oil linseed oil, rapeseed oil, cashew nut shell oil; perilla oil, tung oil, oiticia oil, safflower oil, poppy oil, hemp oil, cottonseed oil, sunflower oil, high-oleic triglycerides, triglycerides of euphorbia plants, peanut oil, olive oil, olive kernel oil, almond oil, kapok oil, hazelnut oil, apricot kernel oil, beechnut oil, lupine oil, maize oil, sesame oil, grapeseed oil, lallemantia oil, castor oil, herring oil, sardine oil, menhaden oil, whale oil, and tall oil, injecting at least one crosslinking agent into the earthen formation; wherein the at least one crosslinking agent comprises at least one primary amine; and allowing the lipophilic monomer and the crosslinking agent to react in the earth formation is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2007
    Publication date: December 13, 2007
    Applicant: M-I LLC
    Inventor: David Antony Ballard
  • Publication number: 20070287640
    Abstract: A wellbore fluid that includes an oleagninous continuous phase; a non-oleaginous phase; and a polymeric additive formed by reaction of at least one lipophilic epoxy modifier and at least one epoxide-reactive agent, wherein the at least one epoxide-reactive agent comprises at least one selected from lignins, tannins, biopolymers, starches, carboxy methyl cellulose, polyacrylates, polyacrylamides, and synthetic polymers is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2007
    Publication date: December 13, 2007
    Applicant: M-I LLC
    Inventor: David Antony Ballard
  • Publication number: 20070281867
    Abstract: A method of increasing a rate of penetration when drilling as compared to drilling with a baseline drilling fluid comprising an API-grade barite weighting agent and having a given sag, settling rate, density, flow rate, and pressure drop through a wellbore, comprising: circulating a drilling fluid comprising a base fluid and a micronized weighting agent through the wellbore; wherein the drilling fluid is characterized as having an equivalent density, an equivalent or lower settling rate, and an equivalent or lower sag than the baseline drilling fluid; wherein the circulating is at a higher flow rate than the baseline drilling fluid flow rate; and wherein the circulating results in an equivalent or lower pressure drop through the wellbore.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2007
    Publication date: December 6, 2007
    Applicant: M-I LLC
    Inventors: Jarrod Massam, Doug Oakley, Todd Reid, Andrew Bradbury
  • Publication number: 20070272409
    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: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2007
    Publication date: November 29, 2007
    Applicant: M-I LLC
    Inventor: Frederick B. Growcock
  • Publication number: 20070246221
    Abstract: A method for drilling riserless that includes providing a drilling fluid to a drilling assembly for drilling a borehole on a seafloor, the drilling assembly comprising a drill string and a bottomhole assembly, and wherein the drilling fluid includes a brine, and a non-hydratable clay, wherein the drilling fluid is substantially free of hydrating clays, and flowing the drilling fluid and cuttings through an annulus formed by the drill string and the borehole into sea water is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2007
    Publication date: October 25, 2007
    Applicant: M-I LLC
    Inventors: Doug Jones, Randy Ray, Jay Forrester
  • Publication number: 20070249504
    Abstract: A process for treating an earth formation is disclosed, the process may include: injecting a gelling agent into the earthen formation; injecting a crosslinking agent into the earthen formation; and reacting the gelling agent and the crosslinking agent to form a gel. The gelling agent may include at least one of a lignin, a lignosulfonate, a tannin, a tannic acid, a modified lignin, a modified lignosulfonate, a modified tannin, a modified tannic acid, biopolymers, starches, carboxy methyl cellulose, polyacrylates, polyacrylamides, polyamines, polyether amines, poly vinyl amines, polyethylene imines, and combinations thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2007
    Publication date: October 25, 2007
    Applicant: M-I LLC
    Inventor: David Ballard