Patents Examined by Abby J Flynn
  • Patent number: 11454075
    Abstract: A lock plug (7A) is inserted into a plug installation position of an insertion hole (5a) of a tool stem (5) connected to a drill string (10), and when a fluid has flowed to the insertion hole (5a), a stopper (62) protrudes radially outward from a tool body (6) and is locked to a subsea wellhead (4) and an internal stopper (66) protrudes radially inward from the tool body (6) and is locked to the tool stem (5) in a lock state. An unlock plug is inserted into the plug installation position of the insertion hole (5a), and when the fluid has flowed into the insertion hole (5a), the stopper (62) is separated from the subsea wellhead (4) and the internal stopper (66) is separated from the tool stem (5) to release the lock state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignees: Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology, NuStar Technologies Pte Ltd
    Inventors: Tomokazu Saruhashi, Ikuo Sawada, Masanori Kyo, Takahiro Yokoyama, Noriaki Sakurai, Ryan Bo Jia Wee, Chamal Jayanath Seneviratne, Kim Kok Goi, Sim Guan Teo
  • Patent number: 11448069
    Abstract: A tunnel boring machine for boring a tunnel in rock including: locating means mounted to a frame for supporting and locating the frame in a disposition with respect to a tunnel axis and a boring face of the tunnel being bored; a first boring assembly operatively associated with said frame for boring into an annular face surrounding a core substantially coaxial with the tunnel axis, the annular face being a portion of the boring face; a core removal assembly operatively associated with said frame and disposed axially with respect to said first boring assembly away from the annular face, said core removal assembly being operable for removing at the core exposed by the first boring assembly transverse to the tunnel axis to expose the remainder of the boring face; and drive means operatively associated with said first boring assembly for driving said boring assembly into the annular face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Inventor: Malcolm John Peardon
  • Patent number: 11447918
    Abstract: A milling unit for an earth working machine including a milling drum and a milling drum housing; the milling unit comprising a closed operating-medium circuit that includes an operating-medium pump that is embodied to drive the operating medium to circulate in the operating-medium circuit; the operating-medium circuit including a heat exchanger through which operating medium flows during circulating flow of the operating medium; the heat exchanger being arranged on the milling drum housing. Provision is made that the heat exchanger is configured for flow impingement by a cooling gas separate from the operating medium; and that a cooling fan, which is embodied to drive the cooling gas for flow impingement onto the heat exchanger, is arranged on the milling drum housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Inventors: Tobias Stinner, Christian Berning, Sebastian Bötzius
  • Patent number: 11448067
    Abstract: A cutting tool for a tunnel boring machine, including a tool head equipped with a wear sensor detachably connectable to a tool holder. A line arrangement having a wireless, connector-free coupling module between the tool head and the tool holder is provided for connecting the wear sensors to an evaluation module. In the event of wear, a tool head to be replaced may be removed from the tool holder and a new tool head may be connected to the tool holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: HERRENKNECHT AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventor: Christian Himmelsbach
  • Patent number: 11448027
    Abstract: A system for acid treating a section of a well includes a wireline or slickline extending from a surface of the well into the well and a bailer tool assembly attached to an end of the wireline or slickline. The bailer tool assembly includes a first piston positioned in a first piston housing at an axial end of at least one bailer, the first piston being slidable through the at least one bailer, at least one rotatable nozzle positioned at a lower end of the bailer tool assembly and fluidly connected to a fluid reservoir in the at least one bailer, and a depth indicator tool attached to an upper end of the bailer tool assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Mohammed Y. Al Daif, Ahmed A. Al Jaafari
  • Patent number: 11448021
    Abstract: A drilling liner is configured to be positioned in a lost circulation zone of a subterranean formation in which a wellbore is being drilled. The drilling liner is configured to flow wellbore drilling fluids from a surface of the wellbore to the subterranean formation while avoiding the lost circulation zone. The drill head assembly is attached to a downhole end of the drilling liner, and is configured to drill the subterranean formation to form cuttings, receive the wellbore drilling fluids, and flow the cuttings and the wellbore drilling fluids into the drilling liner while avoiding the lost circulation zone and towards the surface of the wellbore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventor: Shaohua Zhou
  • Patent number: 11441416
    Abstract: Logging electronics are housed within a tool housing. A first coolant reservoir is housed within the tool housing. A second coolant reservoir is housed within the tool housing. A tubing length defines a coolant passage. The tubing length fluidically connects the first coolant reservoir to the second coolant reservoir. A portion of the tubing length is adjacent to the logging electronics. A flow regulator is within the coolant passage. The flow regulator regulates a coolant flow between the first coolant reservoir and the second coolant reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Ismail Adebiyi, Ziyad Alsahlawi, Ossama R. Sehsah
  • Patent number: 11441399
    Abstract: A system of a downhole conformable screen system including a tubular, and a screen defined by a plurality of screen segments positioned radially outward of the tubular, each of the plurality of screen segments being positioned perimetrically between two other of the screen segments, the screen being configured to expand radially to engage with an inner surface of a wellbore after the tubular and screen have been positioned within the wellbore. A method of making a conformable screen for downhole use including forming a plurality of screen segments out of a porous foam, and attaching the plurality of screen segments to a tubular to form a screen around the tubular.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES OILFIELD OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Sean Gaudette
  • Patent number: 11441388
    Abstract: Systems and methods for a flow activated choke device that is activated by the choke device directly interacting with the flow of fluid in an upstream direction. More specifically, a choke device formed of chain like materials that is configured to be extended in a first mode and compacted in a second mode, wherein the choke device moves from the first mode to the second mode responsive to an upward fluid flow rate being greater than a flow rate threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Sharp-Rock Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Hong Wang
  • Patent number: 11428092
    Abstract: A well-logging system includes a downhole tool coupled to a cable. The downhole tool may measure physical parameters of a wellbore via a first plurality of sensors. The well-logging system may include wellbore equipment including a winch. The winch may traverse the downhole tool through the wellbore by spooling or unspooling the cable. The well-logging system may also include a second plurality of sensors that may measure operational parameters of the wellbore equipment. The well-logging system may further include an automation controller that is communicatively coupled to the first plurality of sensors and the second plurality of sensors. A set of defined operating instructions may be prepared during the assembly of the job. The automation controller may control the wellbore equipment based at least in part on feedback from the first plurality of sensors, feedback from the second plurality of sensors, and the defined operating instructions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Matthew Billingham, Erwan Olliero, Adolfo Recio, David Schlosser
  • Patent number: 11421509
    Abstract: A high-pressure float valve for positioning downhole within a well to control fluid flow includes a valve cage having a pair of side seal grooves each for receiving an exterior elastomeric seal therein and a plurality of cutouts provided on the top end of the valve cage. The valve cage can undergo nitride heat treatment and the internal components are made from 1018 hot rolled steel. The dimensions of a Model 5RF plunger-type valve and Model 5RG flapper-type float valve can be modified to meet the high pressure of a 10 ksi rating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Inventor: Pamala Ranee Cress
  • Patent number: 11414820
    Abstract: The invention relates to a self-propelled construction machine, comprising a machine frame supported by a chassis having wheels or crawler tracks. The basic principle of the invention involves determining a variable ? which is characteristic of the milling profile on the basis of a functional relationship between the variable which is characteristic of the milling profile and the advance speed v and/or milling drum rotational speed n. The variable ? which is characteristic of the milling profile is a correction variable for adjusting the height of the milling drum with respect to the surface of the ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Inventors: Christian Berning, Rene' Müller, Sebastian Hofrath, Cyrus Barimani
  • Patent number: 11408136
    Abstract: A rotary mixer includes a frame. The rotary mixer also includes a milling enclosure supported by the frame. The milling enclosure includes a side plate. The rotary mixer further includes a rotor disposed within the milling enclosure. The rotary mixer includes at least one vibration device coupled to the milling enclosure. The at least one vibration device is arranged to induce vibrations in at least one component of the milling enclosure for resisting accumulation of debris on the at least one component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew-David S. Frantz, Derek Peter Nieuwsma, Nathaniel S. Doy, Dustin William Sondreal, Jason W. Muir
  • Patent number: 11401794
    Abstract: A system for drilling a well may be adapted to process signals received from a fiber optic cable located in the casing of a previously drilled well or wells. The fiber optic cable may act as a distributed sensor receiving acoustic signals generated during the drilling of the well, and the system may be programmed to process the signals from the fiber optic cable to locate the borehole of the well being drilled, including its location relative to the previously drilled well or well. The system may be used to automatically update a well plan for the well being drilled responsive to information about the location of the borehole and also may be used to automatically adjust one or more drilling parameters or drilling operations responsive to the location of the second well borehole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: MOTIVE DRILLING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Todd W. Benson, George Michalopulos
  • Patent number: 11359468
    Abstract: The disclosed embodiments include bulkheads for perforating guns and perforating gun assemblies. A bulkhead includes a threadless exterior surface that spans a length of a threaded connection of adjacent first and second perforating guns. The bulkhead also includes a first exterior groove having a first sealing element partially disposed in the first exterior groove. The bulkhead further includes a second exterior groove having a second sealing element partially disposed in the second exterior groove, where the first sealing element and the second sealing element are positioned around the threaded connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Courtney Ann Thain Roberts, Richard Ellis Robey, Christopher C. Hoelscher, Joseph T. MacGillivray
  • Patent number: 11359469
    Abstract: Gas is injected into the interior of the production string. The gas eventually reaches a gas lift mandrel that provides access from the interior of the gas lift mandrel to a chamber on the exterior of the gas lift mandrel. The chamber includes a cap that provides gas access between the interior of the chamber and the annulus. However, the cap is fitted with a gas lift valve and a check valve that regulates the gas flow into the fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Liberty Lift Solutions, LLC
    Inventor: William Garrett Archa
  • Patent number: 11359472
    Abstract: A fluid rotor and a fluid stator. The fluid stator surrounds the fluid rotor. The fluid stator has an intake end and a discharge end. The fluid stator is shaped to be inserted into a wellbore. A shaft passes through a rotational axis of the fluid rotor. The shaft is attached to the fluid rotor to rotate in union with the fluid rotor. The shaft defines a central fluid passage that extends from the intake end of the fluid rotor to the discharge end of the fluid rotor. A balance piston surrounds the shaft. The balance piston extends from an outer surface of the shaft to an inner surface of the fluid stator. The balance piston is positioned at the intake end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Jinjiang Xiao, Chidirim Enoch Ejim
  • Patent number: 11352877
    Abstract: A distributed acoustic system (DAS) may include an interrogator that includes two or more lasers, a pulser module disposed after and connected to each of the two or more lasers, a wavelength division multiplexer (WDM), wherein each of the pulser modules are connected to the WDM as inputs, and a downhole fiber attached to the WDM as an output and wherein the downhole fiber includes at least one sensing fiber. A method for increasing a sampling frequency may include identifying a length of a downhole fiber connected to an interrogator, generating and launching a light pulse from each of the two or more lasers the pulser module, and delaying an output from the pulser module into the downhole fiber by k N seconds, where k is a pulse repetition interval of the pulser module and N is equal to the two or more lasers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Andreas Ellmauthaler, John Laureto Maida, Jr., Glenn Andrew Wilson
  • Patent number: 11346190
    Abstract: A downhole tool for applying a force to a component in a borehole penetrating a subsurface formation includes an acoustic transducer configured to receive an acoustic signal. The tool also includes a spring having a spring force, a spring force retention device defining a perimeter having a gap and in mechanical communication with the component where the spring force retention device being configured to retain the spring force, and a gap member configured to be disposed in the gap. The tool further includes a force generator coupled to the gap member and in operable communication with the acoustic receiver and configured to operate in response to receiving the acoustic signal to withdraw the gap member from the gap to cause the spring force retention device to release the spring force thereby applying the spring force to the component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES OILFIELD OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Ryan Rogers, Charles Meador, Keven O'Connor, Steve Cortez
  • Patent number: 11346065
    Abstract: A self-propelled construction machine comprises a machine frame, at least three travelling devices, at least one hydraulic drive system for driving at least two travelling devices, wherein the hydraulic drive system comprises at least one controllable hydraulic motor with variable displacement volume and at least one hydraulic pump, at least one working device (e.g. a milling drum), for working the ground pavement. A detection device detects fluctuations in the longitudinal speed of the construction machine during movement thereof, wherein a control unit alters the displacement volume of the at least one controllable hydraulic motor as a function of the detected fluctuations so that the natural frequency of the hydraulic drive system is altered, wherein the control unit adjusts the discharge volume of the pump as a function of the amount of adjustment of the displacement volume in such a fashion that the specified drive speed remains constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Inventors: Stefan Wagner, Markus Bach, Axel Mahlberg, Markus Schäfer, Eduard Fitz