Patents Examined by Cathleen Hutchins
  • Patent number: 9435159
    Abstract: A polycrystalline diamond compact comprising a diamond table is formed in a high-pressure, high-temperature process using a catalyst, the catalyst being substantially removed from the entirety of the diamond table, and the diamond table attached to a supporting substrate in a subsequent high-pressure, high-temperature process using a binder material differing at least in part from a material of the catalyst. The binder material is permitted to penetrate substantially completely throughout the diamond table from an interface with the substrate to and including a cutting surface, and the binder material is selectively removed from a region or regions of the diamond table by a conventional technique (e.g., acid leaching). Cutting elements so formed and drill bits equipped with such cutting elements are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventor: Danny E. Scott
  • Patent number: 9429189
    Abstract: Disclosed is a torque limiter having driver mandrel and driven axially aligned mandrels, a piston movable into and out of an engaged position wherein the driver and driven mandrels are coupled together to transmit torque there between. Hydraulically locking the movable piston in an engaged position. Disengaging the hydraulic lock when during rotation when a specified torque magnitude is exceeded to allow relative rotation between the mandrels. Resetting the torque limiter by hydraulically locking the piston in the engaging position when relative rotation ceases or is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Benton T. Knobloch, Jr., Todd J. Roy, David J. Tilley
  • Patent number: 9428985
    Abstract: A swellable downhole article includes a swellable material and a carbon nitride material. The swellable material may include at least one of an elastomeric material and an absorbent material. The carbon nitride material may remove cations from a downhole fluid. Methods of forming the swellable downhole article are also disclosed, as are methods of forming a carbon nitride containing material for removing contaminants from a fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Oleg A. Mazyar, Valery N. Khabashesku
  • Patent number: 9428989
    Abstract: A method of variably restricting flow in a subterranean well can include resisting flow through a flow path, and then selectively opening a pressure barrier which previously prevented flow through another flow path. The flow paths are configured for parallel flow. A flow restrictor system for use with a subterranean well can include at least two flow paths configured for parallel flow, a flow restrictor which resists flow through one flow path, and a pressure barrier which prevents flow through another flow path. The pressure barrier is selectively openable to permit flow through the second flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Liam A. Aitken, Nicholas A. Kuo, Gregory S. Cunningham, Jean-Marc Lopez
  • Patent number: 9421671
    Abstract: Implementations of the present invention include infiltrated diamond tools with increased wear resistance. In particular, one or more implementations of the present invention include a body comprising at least 10% by volume diamond particles that are infiltrated with a binder. Implementations of the present invention also include drilling systems including such infiltrated diamond tool, and methods of forming and using such infiltrated diamond tools.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: LONGYEAR TM, INC.
    Inventors: Michael D. Rupp, Cody A. Pearce, Christian M. Lambert
  • Patent number: 9422795
    Abstract: The invention provides a method and system for radially expanding a tubular element below a previous tubular element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Petrus Cornelis Kriesels, Francesco Dalla Longa
  • Patent number: 9416607
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a downhole tool for guiding a device into a side track of a borehole, the tool having a tool axis and comprising a tool housing connected to an energy source. The invention further relates to a method for moving the downhole tool into a side track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: WELLTEC A/S
    Inventors: Jørgen Hallundbæk, Thomas Sune Andersen
  • Patent number: 9416636
    Abstract: A hydraulic cutting tool, a system, and a method are for hydraulic cutting through a pipe wall of a pipe body. For this purpose, the cutting tool is provided with at least one cutting section comprising at least one fluid discharge body. Each such fluid discharge body comprises at least two outwardly directed discharge openings having non-parallel discharge directions directed at a common intersection point located outside the fluid discharge body. The cutting is carried out by means of an abrasive fluid being supplied, via a flow-through pipe string, to the at least one fluid discharge body from a remote location. Thereby, abrasive cutting jets will discharge at high velocity from the fluid discharge body so as to meet and disperse in the intersection point, thus weakening the further cutting ability of the cutting jets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Well Technology AS
    Inventors: Morten Myhre, Arne Gunnar Larsen, Roy Inge Jensen, Patrick Andersen, Erlend Engelsgjerd, Markus Iuell, Arnt Olav Dahl, Nils Rune Haga, Arnold Ostvold
  • Patent number: 9416612
    Abstract: The cutting structure on the lower mill is arrayed in rows that are preferably parallel. The cutting structure in each row is made sharper and more durable than prior designs with the objective of cutting the window higher than where the window mill started the window. The use of the rows increases the contact stress of the inserts on the casing inside wall because at any given time fewer and sharper inserts are cutting the casing wall to lengthen the window. As a row wears down the next row takes over to continue the cutting where the previous row was active and to further penetrate the casing wall. The cutout angle can also increase as this occurs. As a result a decreased insert density results in more effective casing wall cutting to extend the window to allow larger tools to exit into the window off the whipstock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Calvin J. Stowe, Tejas J. Ghegadmal, Andrew D. Ponder
  • Patent number: 9416623
    Abstract: A tool string having a pressure dependent mandrel and actuator assembly can operate at the annulus pressure within a wellbore to lock the mandrel actuator assembly and prevent further motion of the mandrel within the tool string as the tool string is moved upward or downward in the wellbore. The tool string can further include a valve connected to the actuator assembly, where the valve can be in an open configuration within the wellbore due to the annulus pressure and related motion of the mandrel, and then be locked in an open configuration regardless of the annulus pressure as the tool string is moved upward or downward in the wellbore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Kevin Michael Renkes, Scott Luke Miller
  • Patent number: 9404318
    Abstract: Present embodiments are directed to a top drive system comprising a hoisting assembly having an upper link, a lower link, and a first joint coupling the upper link and the lower link. The top drive system also includes a main body coupled to the hoisting assembly by a second joint, wherein the hoisting assembly is configured to support the main body, and the main body is configured to support a tubular. Further, the top drive system includes a frame coupled to the main body and a counter moment system configured to apply a force on the first joint to create a bending moment about the second joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Tesco Corporation
    Inventors: Ryan Thomas Bowley, Edgar Fernando Yajure
  • Patent number: 9394763
    Abstract: A location and orientation assembly suitable for use in a multi-lateral wellbore may include a coupling portion, an upper muleshoe, a muleshoe spacer and a bottom muleshoe. The bottom muleshoe may connect to the coupling portion through a threaded connection. A method for locating and orienting in a multi-lateral wellbore includes providing a locating and orientation assembly. In the orientation assembly a coupling portion is provided and an upper muleshoe is inserted into the coupling portion. A muleshoe spacer is inserted into the coupling portion so as to matingly contact the upper muleshoe portion. Part of a bottom muleshoe is inserted into the coupling portion so as to matingly contact the muleshoe spacer. The coupling portion is jointed to the bottom muleshoe by a threaded connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: John Wolf, Michael Plooy, Victor Fridman, Hanif Hunter, Barton Sponchia, Lance M. Rayne
  • Patent number: 9394765
    Abstract: A gravel packing apparatus has first and second joints each including a sand control screen assembly having a filter medium positioned exteriorly of a base pipe and a slurry delivery subassembly positioned exteriorly of the sand control screen assembly. Each slurry delivery subassembly includes a transport tube extending longitudinally along at least a portion of the sand control screen assembly. A jumper tube extends between and is sealably coupled to the transport tube of the first joint and the transport tube of the second joint. A first locking assembly is positioned between the jumper tube and the transport tube of the first joint and a second locking assembly is positioned between the jumper tube and the transport tube of the second joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Brandon Thomas Least, Gregory Scott Cunningham, Jean Marc Lopez, Jan Veit
  • Patent number: 9388640
    Abstract: Polycrystalline compacts include non-catalytic nanoparticles in interstitial spaces between interbonded grains of hard material in a polycrystalline hard material. Cutting elements and earth-boring tools include such polycrystalline compacts. Methods of forming polycrystalline compacts include sintering hard particles and non-catalytic nanoparticles to faun a polycrystalline material. Methods of forming cutting elements include infiltrating interstitial spaces between interbonded grains of hard material in a polycrystalline material with a plurality of non-catalytic nanoparticles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Anthony A. DiGiovanni, Danny E. Scott
  • Patent number: 9388679
    Abstract: A gas separator connectable to a pump for flowing production fluid, the separator having a housing defining an internal cavity with an inlet end defining for the production fluid. A housing first pumping stage pressurizes the production fluid, and a first fluid flow restrictor downstream of the first pumping stage limits the production fluid to a selected first flow rate. A first separation chamber in the housing downstream of the first fluid flow restrictor separates some gas from the production fluid, and a housing second pumping stage further pressurizes the production. A second fluid flow restrictor downstream of the second pumping stage limits the production fluid flow to a selected second flow rate, and a second separation chamber downstream to the second fluid flow restrictor effects further gas separation from the production fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Legacy Separators, LLC
    Inventor: Guy Morrison
  • Patent number: 9382779
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for controlling the flow of fluid, such as formation fluid, through an oilfield tubular positioned in a wellbore extending through a subterranean formation. Fluid flow is autonomously controlled in response to change in a fluid flow characteristic, such as density or viscosity. In one embodiment, a fluid diverter is movable between an open and closed position in response to fluid density change and operable to restrict fluid flow through a valve assembly inlet. The diverter can be pivotable, rotatable or otherwise movable in response to the fluid density change. In one embodiment, the diverter is operable to control a fluid flow ratio through two valve inlets. The fluid flow ratio is used to operate a valve member to restrict fluid flow through the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason D Dykstra, Michael Linley Fripp, Orlando DeJesus, John C. Gano, Luke Holderman
  • Patent number: 9371730
    Abstract: A technique involves collecting formation fluids through a single packer. The single packer comprises an outer bladder with drains positioned in the outer bladder to obtain formation fluid samples. Features also may be incorporated into the single packer to limit sealing in the circumferential spaces between the drains and to provide a larger sampling surface than provided simply via the drain surface area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Pierre-Yves Corre, Stephane Metayer, Jean-Louis Pessin, Kathiravane Tingat Cody, Alexander F. Zazovsky
  • Patent number: 9371704
    Abstract: A device and a method for positioning a tool in a well tubular. The device comprising a housing having jacking arm assemblies with extendable jacking arms for fixating the device inside the well tubular. The device further comprising a tool connected to the housing and bellow assemblies comprising inflatable means for positioning the device substantially in the center of the well tubular. By deflating the inflatable means and simultaneously activating the jacking arms the device is pushed in a direction which is substantially perpendicular to the well tubular.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: MAERSK OLIE OG GAS A/S
    Inventors: Edo Boekholtz, Ulger Gokhan, Klaus Wahrmann
  • Patent number: 9359860
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an annular barrier for being expanded in an annulus between a well tubular structure and an inside wall of a borehole downhole. The annular barrier comprises a tubular part for mounting as part of the well tubular structure; an expandable sleeve made of a first metal, surrounding the tubular part and defining a space being in fluid communication with an inside of the tubular part, the expandable sleeve having a longitudinal extension, an inner face facing the tubular part and two ends; a connection part made of a second metal, connecting the expandable sleeve with the tubular part; an opening for letting fluid into the space to expand the sleeve, and a transition area comprising a connection of the sleeve with the connection part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: WELLTEC A/S
    Inventors: Jorgen Hallundbæk, Paul Hazel, Tomas Sune Andersen
  • Patent number: 9359828
    Abstract: Cutting elements for earth-boring tools comprise a substrate including at least one material selected from the group consisting of CoCr, CoCrMo, CoCrW, and Ti. A polycrystalline superabrasive material may be attached to the substrate. Earth-boring tools comprise a body. At least one cutting element is attached to the body. The at least one cutting element comprises a substrate including at least one material selected from the group consisting of CoCr, CoCrMo, CoCrW, and Ti. A polycrystalline superabrasive material may be attached to the substrate. Methods of forming cutting elements for earth-boring tools comprise disposing a substrate including at least one material selected from the group consisting of CoCr, CoCrMo, CoCrW, and Ti in a container. Particles of superabrasive material may be disposed in the container. The particles of superabrasive material may be sintered with the substrate in the container to form a polycrystalline superabrasive material attached to the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventor: Danny E. Scott