Patents Examined by Blake Michener
  • Patent number: 11591903
    Abstract: A method for determining a location of a proppant in a subterranean formation includes obtaining a first set of data in a wellbore using a downhole tool. The proppant is pumped into the wellbore after the first set of data is obtained. The proppant is pumped while or after the subterranean formation is fractured. A second set of data is obtained in the wellbore using the downhole tool after the proppant is pumped into the wellbore. The first set of data and the second set of data include a gravitational field measurement. The first and second sets of data are compared, and in response to the comparison, the location of the proppant in the subterranean formation is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: CARBO CERAMICS INC.
    Inventor: Souvik Mukherjee
  • Patent number: 11585185
    Abstract: An assembly and method of manufacturing an assembly for use as an isolation barrier to be run in and secured within a well. The assembly has a sleeve member positioned on the exterior of a tubular body, fixed at each end to create a chamber therebetween. Fluid can enter the chamber through a port in the tubular body to morph the sleeve member against a larger diameter surface in the well. The sleeve member is formed of at least two materials, welded together and machined before being arranged on the tubular body. One material is more expandable than the other so as to morph more easily. The sleeve is connected to the tubular body by screw threads and seals. Initial construction of the sleeve member allows welding, inspection and machining without affecting the tensile strength of the tubular body or complete assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: VERTICE OIL TOOLS INC.
    Inventors: Cameron Hill Radtke, William Luke McElligott, Philip Henry Turrell, Christopher Brian Kevin Cockrill
  • Patent number: 11585158
    Abstract: An isolated lubrication system for a drill bit is disclosed. The system comprises a body having a cutting arm with a journal and a rotary cutter mounted on the journal. The system also comprises a reservoir in a body to contain a fluid lubricant that isolated from communication outside the body. The system also comprises multiple conduits in communication with the reservoir and with respect to each other. The multiple conduits facilitate lubrication between the journal and the rotary cutter, including the bearings, by means of a gravitational force and/or a centrifugal force acting of the fluid lubricant. Further, the system comprises a sealing system. The sealing system includes a sealing cap provided to the reservoir, a seal provided between the journal and the rotary cutter, and a stepped passageway provided in a clearance between the rotary cutter and a cutting arm of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Swetha Suresh, Brian Stuart Skauge, David Hakes, Chetan Vilas Dahiwal, Timothy A Thorson, Gary Clifford Yerby, Geoffrey Damien Chovanec, Thomas John Yaniak
  • Patent number: 11585170
    Abstract: A system is disclosed for measuring fluid flow. The system may include a plurality of sensors and a computing device. The plurality of sensors may be positionable at different angles in a container of an offshore drilling rig to sense data about drilling fluid flow in the container. The computing device may be communicatively couplable to the plurality of sensors for receiving the data about the drilling fluid flow in the container and using the data to determine a calculated fluid flow rate compensating for movement of the offshore drilling rig.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Karl Kristian Olsen, Hans Harald Berge, Olav Kvilhaug
  • Patent number: 11578559
    Abstract: A downhole temporary pressure isolation tool configured to withstand very high gas pressures at high temperatures may be achieved by a variety of configurations, processes, and techniques. In particular implementations, a barrier valve having one or more frangible discs configured to resist fluid flow in a particular specified duration. In some implementations, the barrier valve may achieve a V0 rating. In one embodiment, for example, a barrier valve may prevent the passage of fluid (i.e., gas and/or liquid) at 15,000 psi and a temperature of 400 degrees F. for at least 15 minutes. If the barrier valve has two frangible ceramic discs, it may prevent the passage of fluid from two directions for at least 15 minutes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Nine Downhole Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: W. Lynn Frazier, Steven Bailey, Ronald Abt
  • Patent number: 11578555
    Abstract: An outer diameter of a mandrel with a recess to accommodate lower slips with a larger thickness, a sealing element with a concave outer diameter to control a pressure differential caused by a Bernoulli Effect across the sealing element, and a disc that is selectively secured to a housing via a removable shear pin, wherein shear pins with different pressure ratings may be inserted into the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Vertice Oil Tools Inc.
    Inventors: Mohamed Ibrahim Saraya, Mike Lo
  • Patent number: 11578538
    Abstract: A cutting element has a cutting face at an opposite axial end from a base, a side surface extending from the base to the cutting face, an edge formed at the intersection between the cutting face and the side surface, and an elongated protrusion formed at the cutting face and extending between opposite sides of the edge, wherein the elongated protrusion has a geometry including a border extending around a concave surface and sloped surfaces extending between the border and the edge, and wherein the concave surface has a major axis dimension measured between opposite sides of the border and a minor axis dimension measured perpendicularly to the major axis dimension and ranging from 50 percent to 99 percent of the major axis dimension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Manoj Mahajan, John Daniel Belnap, Xiaoge Gan, Yi Fang, Cheng Peng, Lynn Belnap, Youhe Zhang, Michael George Azar, Venkatesh Karuppiah, Anthony LeBaron, Xian Yao
  • Patent number: 11572753
    Abstract: A downhole tool includes a main body, and a setting member configured to press the main body radially outwards so as to set the main body with the surrounding tubular, made at least partially from a dissolvable material configured to dissolve in a well fluid, and defining a bore therein. The tool also includes an acid pill positioned in the bore of the setting member. The acid pill contains an acid therein, and is made at least partially from a dissolvable material configured to dissolve in the well fluid such that the acid mixes with the well fluid upon the acid pill at least partially dissolving. The acid mixed in the well fluid increases a rate at which the dissolvable material of the setting member dissolves in the well fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: INNOVEX DOWNHOLE SOLUTIONS, INC.
    Inventor: Nick Tonti
  • Patent number: 11560759
    Abstract: A cutter element for an earth-boring tool, comprising a polycrystalline diamond (PCD) volume joined at an interface boundary to a cemented carbide substrate. The PCD volume includes a rake face opposite the interface boundary, an edge of the rake face being suitable as a cutting edge of the cutter element. The PCD volume comprises a plurality of strata directly joined to each other at inter-strata boundaries, in which each of a first plurality of the strata comprises PCD material having a first diamond content; each of a second plurality of the strata comprises PCD material having a second diamond content; the second diamond content being greater than the first diamond content; and the strata of the first and second pluralities disposed in an alternating arrangement with respect to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Element Six (UK) Limited
    Inventors: Raymond Anthony Spits, Gerard Dolan, Emilio Lopez Lopez, Changzheng Ji, Nicholas J. Lyons, Konrad Izbinski
  • Patent number: 11555368
    Abstract: A junk recovery tool may include a longitudinal axial mandrel, a plurality of junk recovery baskets, and at least one junk recovery sensor. The plurality of junk recovery baskets may be spaced apart and attached to the longitudinal axial mandrel. A first one of the junk recovery baskets may be disposed uphole of a second one of the junk recovery baskets. Each of the junk recovery baskets may include a plurality of apertures, allowing a drilling fluid to pass through the junk recovery basket while collecting junk from the drilling fluid. The at least one junk recovery sensor may be disposed in one of the plurality of junk recovery baskets. The at least one junk recovery sensor may be operable to measure an amount of collected junk in the one of the plurality of junk recovery baskets. The present disclosure also includes systems and methods incorporating the junk recovery tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Ibrahim Ghamdi, Ossama R. Sehsah, Mahmoud Adnan Alqurashi
  • Patent number: 11536118
    Abstract: A method of avoiding a frac hit in a hydrocarbon producing field. The method comprises locating a parent wellbore in the hydrocarbon producing field, and then locating a child wellbore in the hydrocarbon producing field. The method also includes running a perforating gun assembly into the child wellbore, wherein the perforating gun assembly comprises a first perforating gun and a second perforating gun, with each defining a gun barrel housing having a first end and an opposing second end. The assembly also includes a tandem sub, with the tandem sub having first and second opposing ends defining a threaded connector, and each end having a side port configured to receive an alignment screw. The method also comprises linearly aligning charges of each of the first and second perforating guns, wherein all charges are aligned in a single direction by rotating one or both of the respective perforating guns relative to the tandem sub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: XConnect, LLC
    Inventors: Shelby L. Sullivan, Aaron Holmberg
  • Patent number: 11525448
    Abstract: A system includes an electric submersible pump (ESP) configured for pumping fluid through a flow path. An autonomous inflow control device (AICD) is included in fluid communication with the flow path to separate one of gas or liquid out of the flow path. A method includes producing liquid from a wellbore using an electric submersible pump (ESP) in the wellbore. The method includes bypassing gas from a headspace the wellbore using an autonomous inflow control device (AICD) to prevent gas locking the ESP.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Donn J. Brown, Michael L. Fripp, Stephen M. Greci, Richard D. Ornelaz
  • Patent number: 11519263
    Abstract: Use of traceable micro-electro-mechanical systems (“MEMS”) in subterranean formations. A method may comprise introducing a treatment fluid comprising a traceable micro-electro-mechanical system into a wellbore, wherein the traceable micro-electro-mechanical system comprises a micro-electro-mechanical system and a tagging material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Craig Wayne Roddy
  • Patent number: 11519231
    Abstract: During a drilling operation, drilling mud is degaussed to remove magnetic interference that may disrupt measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: CONOCOPHILLIPS COMPANY
    Inventors: Avinash L. Ramjit, Alexander B. Bowen
  • Patent number: 11512548
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for removal of tools, tubulars, casing, or other components that become stuck in a well. An anchor includes a mandrel, a carrier disposed on the mandrel and movable relative to the mandrel between an extended position and a retracted position, and an insert configured to engage an internal surface of a tubular, the insert movably disposed in the carrier as the carrier moves between the extended position and the retracted position. A method for anchoring a tool in a wellbore includes deploying the tool into the wellbore through a tubular to a first position, the tool comprising an anchor having a carrier and an insert disposed in the carrier, extending the carrier towards the tubular, and moving the insert relative to the carrier while engaging the inserts with the tubular, thereby anchoring the tool in the wellbore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Ronald G. Schmidt, Michael Smalley
  • Patent number: 11512547
    Abstract: A dump bailer includes a bailer body defining an interior space for conveying cement slurry downhole. A dump release mechanism is operatively connected to the bailer body for releasing cement slurry from the interior space. An agitator is operatively connected to the bailer body for agitating cement slurry in the interior space. In general, in another aspect, the disclosed embodiments relate to a method of delivering cement slurry to a downhole position in a well bore. The method includes a running a bailer downhole in a well bore, wherein cement slurry is housed within the bailer. The method includes agitating the cement slurry within the bailer and releasing the cement slurry from the bailer into the well bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Pramod Chamarthy, Qian Wu
  • Patent number: 11512532
    Abstract: A drilling rig is adapted to perform drilling and/or other wellbore related activities. The drilling rig includes a drilling tower, a drill floor with a well center, a slip device arranged at the well center, a tubulars connection makeup and breaking device near the well center, and a top drive system. The top drive system includes a traveling carriage that is vertically mobile along one or more vertical rails of the drilling tower by a vertical motion drive. The system also includes a top drive unit supported by said carriage and including a top drive motor and a rotary torque output member. The system further includes a tripping operation elevator that is adapted to be engageable with a drilling tubulars string or drilling tubulars stand, e.g. with the top end thereof, in order to perform tripping operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: ITREC B.V.
    Inventors: Arthur Alexander De Mul, Joop Roodenburg
  • Patent number: 11505998
    Abstract: An earth-boring tool may include at least one blade including a shoulder region and a face. A plurality of cutting elements may be arranged on the face of the blade and at least one cutting element may be positioned in the shoulder region such that a cutting face of the at least one cutting element is spaced a distance behind the face of the blade. A recessed portion of the blade may extend under at least one of the plurality of cutting elements arranged on the face of the blade and extending to the at least one cutting element positioned in the shoulder region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Oilfield Operations LLC
    Inventor: John Morin
  • Patent number: 11506008
    Abstract: A tool for cleaning out the lower end of a cased wellbore having an installed production string. The tool is lowered down the production string until it projects from an end of the production string and into the wellbore. High pressure fluid is then sprayed from the tool's fluid openings into nearby portions of the wellbore. Once cleaning operations are complete, the tool is carried back to the ground surface using subterranean fluid pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Tenax Energy Solutions, LLC
    Inventor: Kevin Dewayne Jones
  • Patent number: 11499381
    Abstract: A gap sub uses a plurality of insulating members in conjunction with at least two metallic members to effect a mechanically and electrically robust configuration. The gap sub includes an upper end portion, a lower end portion, an outer sleeve, an inner sleeve, an insulating outer washer, an insulating inner washer, and an insulating spider. The insulating outer washer is configured to transfer a first axial load between the upper end portion and the outer sleeve. The insulating inner washer is configured to transfer a second axial load between the inner sleeve and the lower end portion. The insulating spider is configured to transfer a torsional load between outer sleeve and the inner sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: ISODRILL, INC.
    Inventors: Saad Bargach, Stephen D. Bonner, Madhusudhan Nagula