Patents Assigned to National-Oilwell
  • Publication number: 20210190242
    Abstract: A connection between a first tubular member and a second tubular member includes a first tubular end, a second tubular end, a load shoulder member threadable onto the first tubular end, and a nut receivable around the first tubular end and the load shoulder member and threadable onto the second tubular end. The connection also includes a keyway through the load shoulder member and into the first tubular end to receive a key member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Publication date: June 24, 2021
    Applicant: NATIONAL OILWELL VARCO UK LIMITED
    Inventor: Richard Matthew Westgarth
  • Patent number: 11041356
    Abstract: A wireline sealing assembly adapted to seal a line such as wireline or slickline deployed in an oil or gas well has a body to receive a line and a seal adapted to be actuated into sealing engagement with the line to contain wellbore pressure within the well below the actuated seal. The seal comprises first and second seal members, each seal member comprising at least one sealing element, wherein the first and second seal members are formed of different materials. The second seal member may have a greater hardness rating or lower degree of resilience that the first seal member. The first and second seal members may radially deform against the line when the seal is actuated, and the first seal member may radially deform more than the second seal member. The seal may also comprise a third seal member comprising at least one sealing element, wherein the third seal member is formed of a different material to the first and second seal members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: NATIONAL OILWELL VARCO UK LIMITED
    Inventors: John Ronald Hartley Craig, George Alexander Senkbeil
  • Patent number: 11035183
    Abstract: Systems and methods for clearing a top drive from an operational area of the mast such that operations may be performed along the rail without interference from the top drive. Systems and methods of the present disclosure provide for arranging the top drive in a parked configuration outside of, or generally behind, the mast. A guide rail may be arranged within an operational area of a mast and may have a pair of interchangeable rail sections, each of which may be configured for arrangement in either an operating configuration, where the rail section may be positioned within the operational area of the mast to form part of the rail, or a parked configuration, where the rail section may be positioned outside of the operational area. Each interchangeable rail section may be pivotable about an axis and may be arranged on a pivotable gate of the mast.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: NATIONAL OILWELL VARCO, L.P.
    Inventors: Robert Benjamin Donnally, Xi Lin Liu, Jay John Thiessen
  • Patent number: 11035415
    Abstract: A driveshaft assembly includes a driveshaft including a longitudinal shaft axis, a first end, a second end, and a radially outer surface. The first end includes a plurality of recesses extending radially inward from the radially outer surface. The recesses each include a convex engagement surface. The driveshaft assembly also includes a first end housing including a longitudinal housing axis and an axially extending receptacle. The receptacle includes a plurality of planar receptacle surfaces. In addition, the driveshaft assembly includes a plurality of torque transfer keys configured to transfer torque between the driveshaft and first end housing. Each of the torque transfer keys includes a planar key surface and a concave key surface. The convex engagement surface of each recess engages the concave key surface of one of the torque transfer keys. The planar key surface of each torque transfer key engages one of the planar receptacle surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: NATIONAL OILWELL VARCO, L.P.
    Inventors: Nicholas Ryan Marchand, Masoud Kalantari
  • Patent number: 11035348
    Abstract: A pump assembly including a power end including an output shaft having an output shaft axis. In addition, the pump assembly includes a fluid end including a piston configured to reciprocate to pressurize the working fluid. Further, the pump assembly includes a transmission coupled to each of the power end and the fluid end. The transmission includes a carriage coupled to the piston and a pivoting arm pivotably coupled to the carriage at a first connection about a first pivot axis. The first pivot axis extends in a perpendicular direction to a direction of the output shaft axis, and rotation of the output shaft about the output shaft axis is configured to cause the pivoting arm to pivot about the first pivot axis at the first connection and to cause the carriage to reciprocate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: National Oilwell Varco, L.P.
    Inventor: Adrian Marica
  • Publication number: 20210172261
    Abstract: A tubular member includes a tube body, a tube end, an exterior surface, an interior surface, a nominal wall thickness, a longitudinal axis, a welded seam, and a patch of material. The welded seam forms an arcuate portion of the interior surface, and the patch covers a portion of the interior surface that includes a portion of the welded seam, extending from the tube end to an axially spaced first location. The resulting interior surface from the tube end to the axially spaced first location has a uniform inside diameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2021
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Applicant: National Oilwell Varco, L.P.
    Inventors: Roger Edward Ethridge, Christopher E. Desadier
  • Publication number: 20210172258
    Abstract: A cutter element for a drill bit includes a base portion having a central axis, a first end, and a second end. In addition, the cutter element includes a cutting layer fixably mounted to the first end of the base portion. The cutting layer includes a cutting face distal the base portion. The cutting face includes an elongate raised ridge having a first end at a radially outer surface of the cutting layer and a second end at the radially outer surface of the cutting layer. The raised ridge defines a maximum height of the cutter element measured axially from the second end of the base portion to the cutting face. The cutting face also includes a first planar lateral side surface and a second planar lateral side surface. Each planar lateral side surface extends from the raised ridge to the radially outer surface of the cutting layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2019
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Applicant: National Oilwell DHT, L.P.
    Inventors: Ryan Basson Graham, Reza Rahmani, Olivia N. Pacheco
  • Publication number: 20210164297
    Abstract: A nozzle for distributing drilling fluid from a drill bit has a central axis and includes a first end, a second end, and a radially inner surface extending axially from the first end to the second end. The radially inner surface defines a flow passage extending from the first end to the second end. The flow passage has a central axis, an inlet at the first end, an outlet at the second end, a first section extending from the inlet, and a second section extending from the outlet to the first section. In addition, the nozzle includes a side outlet extending radially from the radially outer surface to the radially inner surface. The side outlet extends axially from the second end and is contiguous with the outlet. The second section of the flow passage at least partially overlaps with the side outlet. The first section of the flow passage is curved as viewed in a cross-section of the nozzle taken in a reference plane containing the central axis of the nozzle and bisecting the side outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2021
    Publication date: June 3, 2021
    Applicant: National Oilwell DHT, L.P.
    Inventors: John Francis Bradford, III, Navid Omidvar, Reza Rahmani
  • Patent number: 11002104
    Abstract: Plug assemblies for plugging a wellbore tubular and methods relating thereto are disclosed. In an embodiment, the plug assembly includes a central axis and a seal sub including a plurality of axially extending fingers and a tapered outer surface. In addition, the plug assembly includes a sealing element coupled to the axially extending fingers of the seal sub. Further, the plug assembly includes a slip sub including a tapered inner surface, and a plurality of axially extending fingers. The fingers of the slip sub each include one or more teeth. The seal sub is configured to be at least partially inserted within the slip sub so that the tapered outer surface engages with the tapered inner surface, and axial advance of the tapered inner surface within the tapered outer surface is to radially expand the fingers of the slip sub to engage with an inner surface of the tubular.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: National Oilwell Vareo, L.P.
    Inventors: John Chrysostom Wolf, Aju Abraham, Brian Paul Brubaker
  • Patent number: 11002099
    Abstract: A system for generating pressure pulses in drilling fluid includes a concentric drive power section. The power section includes a stator and a rotor rotatably disposed in the stator. The rotor is coaxially aligned with the stator. The system also includes a valve. The valve includes a first valve member coupled to the stator and a second valve member coupled to the rotor. The second valve member is configured to rotate with the rotor relative to the first valve member and the stator. The rotation of the second valve member relative to the first valve member is configured to generate pressure pulses in drilling fluid flowing through the concentric drive power section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: NATIONAL OILWELL DHT, L.P.
    Inventors: Jeffery Ronald Clausen, Nicholas Ryan Marchand, Sean Matthew Donald
  • Publication number: 20210131189
    Abstract: An insert for a drill bit includes a base portion having a central axis and a formation engaging portion. The formation engaging portion includes an elongate peaked ridge, a first flanking surface extending from the peaked ridge, and a second flanking surface extending from the peaked ridge. The first flanking surface is defined by a first curve rotated about a first axis and the second flanking surface is defined by a second curve rotated about a second axis. The first axis and the second axis are disposed in a reference plane that bisects the base portion and contains the central axis of the base portion. The first axis is disposed at a first radius measured in the reference plane and the second axis is disposed at a second radius measured in the reference plane. The first radius is different from the second radius.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2018
    Publication date: May 6, 2021
    Applicant: National Oilwell DHT, L.P.
    Inventors: Reza Rahmani, Navid Omidvar, Afshin Babaie Aghdam, Ryan Basson Graham
  • Publication number: 20210131268
    Abstract: A method includes receiving a drill bit design. The design specifies a design parameter for a plurality of cutter elements of a drill bit. The method also includes estimating a temperature value for the cutter elements based on the design parameter and a drilling parameter; estimating a wear value for the cutter elements based on the design parameter and the temperature value; updating a value of the design parameter for at least one of the cutter elements based on the wear value and a time period; and using the updated design parameter value, repeating the steps of estimating the temperature value, estimating the wear value, and updating the design parameter value until the design parameter value for the at least one of the cutter elements reaches a threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2020
    Publication date: May 6, 2021
    Applicant: National Oilwell Varco, L.P.
    Inventors: Reza Rahmani, Afshin Babaie Aghdam
  • Patent number: 10995564
    Abstract: A system for handling tubulars on a rig may include a top handling device configured for arrangement on the rig and for handling a top portion of a tubular to and from a setback area. The system may also include a lower handling device configured for arrangement on the rig and for handling a bottom portion of the tubular between well center and a release position. The system may also include a bottom handling device configured for arrangement on the rig and for handling the bottom portion of the tubular between the release position and the setback area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: NATIONAL OILWELL VARCO, L.P.
    Inventors: Travis James Miller, Frank Benjamin Springett
  • Patent number: 10988988
    Abstract: Drill bits and methods relating thereto are disclosed. In an embodiment, the drill bit includes a body having a plurality of legs each having a lower section that has a leading surface and a trailing surface. A plurality of cone cutters are each rotatably mounted to the lower section of one of the legs, each having a cone axis, and including a first plurality of cutter elements arranged about the cone axis such that each is shear the formation when the body is rotated about the bit axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: NATIONAL OILWELL DHT, L.P.
    Inventor: Jeffery Ronald Clausen
  • Patent number: 10975629
    Abstract: An offshore installation comprising a riser pipe and a bend stiffener. The riser pipe comprises a flexible pipe body having a pipe length and an end fitting and the riser has a longitudinal pipe axis. The bend stiffener comprises a helically shaped body arranged to surround a stiffened length section of the flexible pipe body. The bend stiffener has a root end and a far end, wherein the root end is closer to the end fitting than the far end and the root end is locked at an axial distance to the end fitting, determined along the longitudinal pipe axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: NATIONAL OILWELL VARCO DENMARK I/S
    Inventor: Jens Rordam Thomsen
  • Patent number: 10975634
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to novel and advantageous devices, systems, and methods for stabilizing a coiled tubing guide extending from a coiled tubing unit. Stabilization of the guide may mitigate movement of the guide from lateral operational forces. The guide may be stabilized by clamping or anchoring a connection point between the guide and the unit, such as between the guide and a coiled tubing injector frame or a tubing guide mount coupled to the coiled tubing injector frame. In general, a clamp or other mechanism may operate to preload the pinned connection with a prescribed force. The direction of the force may be perpendicular, or near perpendicular, to an axis of rotation about which lateral loading on the guide causes moment forces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: NATIONAL OILWELL VARCO, L.P.
    Inventors: Marcus Joseph Doran, Timothy Scott Steffenhagen, Antonio Ruiz, Kevin Edwin AuBuchon
  • Patent number: 10968733
    Abstract: Temperature sensing devices and methods for determining downhole fluid temperature at a drill string in a borehole while drilling are disclosed. The device includes a temperature sensor capable of detecting and measuring rapid temperature changes and may be used to sense the temperature of fluid inside or outside the drill string. In addition, the device includes a thermal conductor that receives and secures the temperature sensor; the thermal conductor is in turn received and secured in a thermal insulator that provides a thermal barrier. In an embodiment, the device is disposed in a channel within an outer diameter of the drill string such that the device is protected from the side wall of the borehole and drilling fluid and cuttings can pass through the channel without becoming packed around the temperature sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: National Oilwell Vareo, L.P.
    Inventors: Gregory T. McGinnis, Alamzeb Hafeez Khan, Kevin W. Clark, Gregory E. Leuenberger, Brandon C. Epperson
  • Patent number: 10961787
    Abstract: A tubular member includes a tube body, a tube end, an exterior surface, an interior surface, a nominal wall thickness, a longitudinal axis, a welded seam, and a patch of material. The welded seam forms an arcuate portion of the interior surface, and the patch covers a portion of the interior surface that includes a portion of the welded seam, extending from the tube end to an axially spaced first location. The resulting interior surface from the tube end to the axially spaced first location has a uniform inside diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: National Oilwell Varco, L.P.
    Inventors: Roger Edward Ethridge, Christopher E. Desadier
  • Patent number: 10961780
    Abstract: A mast erection system includes a first mast erection apparatus that is adapted to pivotably raise a drilling rig mast of a drilling rig assembly to an intermediate raised position wherein the drilling rig mast is oriented at a first acute angle relative to a horizontal plane, and a second mast erection apparatus that is adapted to further pivotably raise the drilling rig mast from the intermediate raised position at the first acute angle to a fully raised position wherein the drilling rig mast is oriented at a second angle relative to the horizontal plane that is greater than the first acute angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: NATIONAL OILWELL VARCO, L.P.
    Inventors: Fuquan Chen, Robert Benjamin Donnally, Hua Jiang
  • Patent number: 10961825
    Abstract: A system comprising a drilling rig having a rig floor, a derrick, a master control computer system and at least one camera, the at least one camera capturing a master image of at least a portion of the rig floor, sending the master image to the master control computer, the master control computer system mapping said master image into a model to facilitate control of items on said drilling rig.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: NATIONAL OILWELL VARGO NORWAY AS
    Inventors: Hugo Leonardo Rosano, Stig Vidar Trydal, Erik Haavind, Frode Jensen