Patents Assigned to NCS Multistage Inc.
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Patent number: 12669040Abstract: A valve assembly for integration within a wellbore string is provided. The valve assembly includes a valve housing defining a fluid passage therethrough and having injection ports, and a flow restriction component extending between the fluid passage and the injection ports to establish fluid communication therebetween. The flow restriction component is configured to create a flowrate restriction along a flow path length thereof, with each injection port being aligned with respective portions of the flow restriction component to define respective flow path lengths defining respective degrees of flowrate restriction. The valve assembly also includes a flow adjuster connected to the valve housing and being fluid-pressure actuatable to align an outlet with one of the injection ports such that fluid flow between the fluid passage and the reservoir is restricted by a corresponding degree of flowrate restriction to maintain an injection rate substantially constant.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 2023Date of Patent: June 30, 2026Assignee: NCS Multistage Inc.Inventors: Michael Werries, Brock Gillis, Juan Montero, Doug Brunskill
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Patent number: 12624606Abstract: A high force stroker tool for integration within a wellbore string disposed along a wellbore defined within a subterranean reservoir is provided. The stroker tool includes a hydraulic anchor hydraulically operable to deploy slips securable to the wellbore and to define a mechanical brace, a shifting tool operatively coupled to the hydraulic anchor and comprising a mechanical anchor securable to a movable component, the shifting tool being mechanically operable to move the movable component; and an actuator coupled between the hydraulic anchor and the shifting tool, the actuator being hydraulically operable to brace against the mechanical brace and create a downhole mechanical force adapted to mechanically operate the shifting tool. A method of shifting downhole valve assemblies using the high force stroker tool is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2021Date of Patent: May 12, 2026Assignee: NCS Multistage Inc.Inventors: Michael Werries, Jonathan Raasch, Juan Montero, Brock Gillis
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Patent number: 12571285Abstract: A valve assembly for integration within a wellbore string has a valve housing with a housing port, a bottom sleeve mounted and slidable within the valve housing between closed and open positions, and a top sleeve mounted within the valve housing and defining an annular region therebetween. The top sleeve has a sleeve port and is slidable within the valve housing between a first position where the top sleeve engages the valve housing and defines an annular chamber within the annular region, and a production position where the sleeve port is in fluid communication with the housing port to define a fluid pathway along which fluids flow from the reservoir through the annular chamber. While in the first position, the annular chamber has an inlet allowing fluid to flow into and pressurize the annular chamber to prevent particulates from flowing into the annular region.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 2022Date of Patent: March 10, 2026Assignee: NCS Multistage Inc.Inventors: Michael Werries, Brock Gillis, Tim Johnson, Nick Getzlaf
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Patent number: 12492612Abstract: Disclosed is a rupture disc assembly for use in making a temporary seal in a vessel such as a casing string. The rupture disc assembly may include a rupture disc having a side surface that has a shallow angle taper inward towards a bottom surface of the rupture disc, and a mounting apparatus to support the rupture disc so that the rupture disc forms the temporary seal. When a disc working pressure is applied to a top surface of the rupture disc, engagement/force transmission between the rupture disc and the mounting apparatus produces enough radial compression in the rupture disc due to the shallow angle taper to significantly mitigate or cancel tensile stresses thereby avoiding the rupture disc from breaking. The rupture disc may be configured to break when the rupture disc is subjected to a disc working pressure that is greater than the disc rupture pressure, thereby removing the temporary seal.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 2024Date of Patent: December 9, 2025Assignee: NCS MULTISTAGE INC.Inventors: Daniel Stannus, Masoud Kalantari, Srinivas Gopal Krishna, Timothy Johnson
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Patent number: 12480381Abstract: A valve assembly for downhole completion operations and method for using the assembly is described. The valve assembly relies on non-polymeric interfaces between the valve components for sealing the valves without elastomeric materials, thereby making the valve assembly suitable for high temperature well operations, such as 320° C. to 600° C. which are typically encountered in geothermal well operations. The valve assembly includes a first seat which receives an actuating member to actuate the opening of ports in the housing, thereby allowing for fluid injection into the formation adjacent the valve assembly through the ports. A seal assembly suitable for use in high temperature well operations is also described.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2022Date of Patent: November 25, 2025Assignees: NCS MULTISTAGE INC., NCS MULTISTAGE, LLC.Inventors: Michael Werries, Jesse Powell, James King
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Patent number: 12473798Abstract: A valve assembly suitable for use in a high temperature well, such as a geothermal well. The valve assembly comprises a tubular housing having ports to allow fluid communication between a fluid passageway in the valve assembly and the outside of the valve assembly, an outer sleeve longitudinally slidable in the tubular housing, and an inner sleeve longitudinally slidable in the outer sleeve. The outer and inner sleeves are slidable to various positions to prevent, allow or restrict flow through the ports. The valve assembly may include sealing assemblies that can withstand high temperatures, frangible plugs in the ports that can be sheared to open the ports, and/or a coupling member for coupling the inner and outer sleeve while the ports are being opened. The valve assembly may have ports configured in a manner that allows for sequential opening of the ports.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2022Date of Patent: November 18, 2025Assignees: NCS Multistage Inc., NCS Multistage, LLCInventors: Michael Werries, Jesse Parker Powell, James Gambrell King
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Patent number: 12442280Abstract: Oil recovery can include providing a tubing string and isolation devices to define isolated intervals for an existing well previously operated using plug-and-perf and primary production. Valve assemblies are installed in respective isolated intervals, each valve assembly including at least two valves. The valve can be operated in open and closed configurations, and at least one open configuration provides choked flow via an elongated passage. The valves can have a housing and a shiftable sleeve. The valve assemblies can be operated to provide a desired openness based on the injectivity or other properties by shifting the sleeves of the valves. Different flow resistance levels can be provided to facilitate enhanced operations for water flooding and other oil recovery processes.Type: GrantFiled: July 5, 2023Date of Patent: October 14, 2025Assignee: NCS Multistage Inc.Inventors: Timothy Johnson, Michael Werries, Lyle Laun
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Patent number: 12410679Abstract: A well completion system for producing fluids from a wellbore provided in a subterranean reservoir is provided. The well completion system includes tubing segments connectable to one another along the wellbore. The tubing segments include injection segments provided along the wellbore in spaced-apart relation to each other, each injection segment has an injection valve toollessly operable between a closed configuration preventing fluid flow into the reservoir, and an open configuration allowing fluid flow into the reservoir. The tubing segments also include production segments provided along the wellbore in a staggered relation with respect to the injection segments and configured to allow fluids received from the reservoir to be produced from the reservoir.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2021Date of Patent: September 9, 2025Assignee: NCS MULTISTAGE INC.Inventors: Michael Werries, Jesse Powell, Ryan Redecopp, Juan Montero
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Patent number: 12404743Abstract: Disclosed is a rupture disc assembly for use in making a temporary seal in a vessel such as a casing string. The rupture disc assembly may generally include (A) a rupture disc having a side surface having a shallow taper inward towards a bottom surface of the rupture disc (B) an actuating mechanism including (i) an outer sled having an inner supporting surface forming a taper complimentary to the shallow taper of the side surface, (ii) an inner sled disposed within the outer sled and having a support shoulder to support the bottom surface of the rupture disc and (iii) a securing mechanism and (C) a housing to house the rupture disc and actuating mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2024Date of Patent: September 2, 2025Assignee: NCS MULTISTAGE INC.Inventors: Michael Werries, Brock Gillis, Daniel Stannus, Timothy Johnson, Masoud Kalantari
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Patent number: 12371969Abstract: A flow control apparatus for producing hydrocarbon material from a subterranean formation is disclosed. The apparatus includes a housing that defines a housing passage, and a flow communicator that extends through the housing for effecting fluid communication between the housing passage and the subterranean formation. The apparatus includes a flow controller within the housing for modulating flow communication between the housing passage and the subterranean formation via the flow communicator. The flow controller includes a filter medium-defining counterpart and a shroud-defining counterpart, and the filter medium-defining counterpart has a filter medium. The flow controller is configurable for disposition relative to the flow communicator to open, close, or screen the flow communicator. While the filter medium and the flow communicator are not aligned, the housing and shroud-defining counterpart shields the filter medium from the housing passage and the external environment.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2023Date of Patent: July 29, 2025Assignee: NCS MULTISTAGE INC.Inventors: Stanley Mberia, Doug Brunskill
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Patent number: 12091936Abstract: Disclosed is a rupture disc assembly for use in making a temporary seal in a vessel such as a casing string. The rupture disc assembly may include a rupture disc having a side surface that has a shallow angle taper inward towards a bottom surface of the rupture disc, and a mounting apparatus to support the rupture disc so that the rupture disc forms the temporary seal. When a disc working pressure is applied to a top surface of the rupture disc, engagement/force transmission between the rupture disc and the mounting apparatus produces enough radial compression in the rupture disc due to the shallow angle taper to significantly mitigate or cancel tensile stresses thereby avoiding the rupture disc from breaking. The rupture disc may be configured to break when the rupture disc is subjected to a disc working pressure that is greater than the disc rupture pressure, thereby removing the temporary seal.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2021Date of Patent: September 17, 2024Assignee: NCS MULTISTAGE INC.Inventors: Daniel Stannus, Masoud Kalantari, Srinivas Gopal Krishna, Timothy Johnson
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Patent number: 12060772Abstract: A valve assembly for integration within a wellbore string disposed within a subterranean reservoir is provided. The valve assembly includes a valve housing having one or more injection ports for establishing fluid communication between a central passage and the reservoir. The valve assembly includes a valve sleeve operatively mounted within the valve housing and comprising a fluid channel adapted to establish fluid communication between the central passage and the injection ports, and configured to create a fluid flowrate restriction. The valve assembly has a flow adjuster connectable to the valve sleeve, and is selectively arranged to align an opening with the fluid channel and allow fluid to flow from the fluid channel through the opening to the injection port, wherein connecting the flow adjuster to the valve sleeve defines a flow length of the fluid channel to adjust the fluid restriction created by the fluid channel.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 2023Date of Patent: August 13, 2024Assignee: NCS MULTISTAGE INC.Inventors: Brock Gillis, Juan Montero, Jonathan Raasch
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Patent number: 11959370Abstract: A valve assembly for integration within a wellbore string disposed within a hydrocarbon-containing reservoir is provided. The valve assembly includes a valve housing having a plurality of frac ports for establishing fluid communication between a central passage and the reservoir. The valve assembly includes a bottom sleeve operatively mounted within the valve housing configured to selectively open the frac ports, and a top sleeve operatively mounted within the valve housing slidable between (i) a first position defining a first fluid pathway whereby fluid is flowable down into the central passage and into the reservoir via the frac ports, and (ii) a tracing position defining a second fluid pathway whereby fluid is flowable from the reservoir into an annulus defined between the top sleeve and the housing. The valve assembly also has a tracer compartment defined within the annulus forming part of the second fluid pathway and accommodating a tracer material.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2020Date of Patent: April 16, 2024Assignees: NCS MULTISTAGE INC., NCS MULTISTAGE, LLC., REPEAT PRECISION, LLC.Inventors: Dustin Ellis, Shan Zi, John Ravensbergen, Craig Harty, Brock Gillis, Stanley Mberia, Anna Cruse, Rio Whyte
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Patent number: 11927075Abstract: There is provided a bottomhole assembly that is deployable downhole within a wellbore via a conveyance system. The conveyance system includes a fluid conductor for effecting fluid communication between the surface and the bottomhole assembly. The bottomhole assembly includes an actuator tool and a shifting tool. In some embodiments, for example, the actuator tool is disposed for receiving transmission of a compressive force being applied to the conveyance system from the surface, and transmitting the compressive force for actuating the shifting tool. In some embodiments, for example, the actuator includes an anchoring tool configured for hydraulic actuation, via fluid pressure forces communicated by the fluid conductor of the conveyance system, for becoming retained relative to the wellbore string.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2020Date of Patent: March 12, 2024Assignee: NCS MULTISTAGE INC.Inventors: Juan Montero, Rio Whyte, Brock Gillis, Timothy Johnson
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Patent number: 11867025Abstract: A flow control apparatus for producing hydrocarbon material from a subterranean formation is disclosed. The apparatus includes a housing that defines a housing passage, and a flow communicator that extends through the housing for effecting fluid communication between the housing passage and the subterranean formation. The apparatus includes a flow controller within the housing for modulating flow communication between the housing passage and the subterranean formation via the flow communicator. The flow controller includes a filter medium-defining counterpart and a shroud-defining counterpart, and the filter medium-defining counterpart has a filter medium. The flow controller is configurable for disposition relative to the flow communicator to open, close, or screen the flow communicator. While the filter medium and the flow communicator are not aligned, the housing and shroud-defining counterpart shields the filter medium from the housing passage and the external environment.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2020Date of Patent: January 9, 2024Assignee: NCS MULTISTAGE INC.Inventors: Stanley Mberia, Doug Brunskill
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Patent number: 11821286Abstract: There is provided a flow control apparatus configured for integration within a wellbore string disposed within a wellbore extending into a subterranean formation and useable for effecting production of hydrocarbon material by providing flow communication for injection of treatment material for stimulating the reservoir and then receiving hydrocarbon material from the stimulated reservoir, and also for effecting production of hydrocarbon material by providing flow communication for injection of a displacement fluid for displacing hydrocarbon material to a second wellbore.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2022Date of Patent: November 21, 2023Assignee: NCS Multistage Inc.Inventors: John Ravensbergen, Lyle Laun, Michael Werries, Tim Johnson, Juan Montero, Brock Gillis
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Patent number: 11808099Abstract: There is provided a downhole tool comprising a locator. The locator includes a wellbore coupler for becoming releasably retained relative to a locate profile; and a wellbore coupler release opposer configured for opposing release of the wellbore coupler from the retention relative to the locate profile. While the opposing of the release of the wellbore coupler from the retention relative to the locate profile is being effected by the wellbore coupler release opposer, relative displacement between the wellbore coupler release opposer and the wellbore coupler is effectible, with effect that the opposing is defeated. The locator also includes a displacement impeder for impeding the relative displacement between the wellbore coupler release opposer and the wellbore coupler.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2021Date of Patent: November 7, 2023Assignee: NCS Multistage Inc.Inventors: Tim Johnson, Michael Werries
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Patent number: 11732559Abstract: Oil recovery can include providing a tubing string and isolation devices to define isolated intervals for an existing well previously operated using plug-and-perf and primary production. Valve assemblies are installed in respective isolated intervals, each valve assembly including at least two valves. The valve can be operated in open and closed configurations, and at least one open configuration provides choked flow via an elongated passage. The valves can have a housing and a shiftable sleeve. The valve assemblies can be operated to provide a desired openness based on the injectivity or other properties by shifting the sleeves of the valves. Different flow resistance levels can be provided to facilitate enhanced operations for water flooding and other oil recovery processes.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2022Date of Patent: August 22, 2023Assignee: NCS Multistage Inc.Inventors: Timothy Johnson, Michael Werries, Lyle Laun
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Patent number: 11697968Abstract: A rupture disc assembly and a float tool incorporating the rupture disc assembly is disclosed. The rupture disc assembly may include a rupture disc assembly comprising a rupture disc, an upper tubular portion and a lower tubular portion, and a securing mechanism for holding the rupture disc between the upper and lower tubular portions. A float tool for creating a buoyant chamber in a casing string may include the rupture disc assembly and a sealing device for sealing the lower end of the casing string, the buoyant, sealed chamber may be created there between. In operation, applied fluid pressure causes the rupture disc to move downward. The rupture disc may be shattered by contact with a surface on the lower tubular portion. Full casing internal diameter may be restored in the region where the rupture disc formerly sealed the casing.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2022Date of Patent: July 11, 2023Assignee: NCS MULTISTAGE INC.Inventors: Donald Getzlaf, Marty Stromquist, John Ravensbergen, David Devlin, Douglas Braden, Travis Harris
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Patent number: 11578589Abstract: A method of fault detection and recovery in a tubing string located in a hydrocarbon well, a method of fault protection in a tubing string located in a hydrocarbon well, and an apparatus and system for same. In one aspect, there is provided a method of fault detection and recovery in a tubing string located in a hydrocarbon well, the tubing string having a plurality of valves, each valve having a control unit, each control unit being connected in series to a power-line providing power and communication, each of the control units being independently controllable.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 2021Date of Patent: February 14, 2023Assignee: NCS MULTISTAGE INC.Inventors: Patrick Williamson, Ramin Tajallipour