Patents Examined by Christopher J Sebesta
  • Patent number: 11898444
    Abstract: Contamination estimation of a mud filtrate or reservoir sample requires a robust handle on the properties of mud filtrate at downhole conditions. Coupling acquired data with downhole measured data provides a robust estimation of contamination by encompassing the entire available data. Downhole density of the mud filtrate sample may be estimated based on a characteristic of the mud filtrate sample. A density of a formation fluid of the reservoir may be determined using a formation tester tool. The contamination of the formation fluid may be estimated based on the clean fluid density and the estimated mud filtrate density by, for example, using a material balance equation or ratio. An estimated pump-out time for the formation fluid may be determined based on the estimated contamination and a trend of the estimated contamination of the formation fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Waqar Ahmad Khan, Mehdi Azari, Abbas Sami Eyuboglu
  • Patent number: 11885189
    Abstract: A severing apparatus is used for severing a conduit. The apparatus includes a main body section having an upper portion, a lower portion, and an intermediate portion. A combustible charge is located in the intermediate portion, and an ignition mechanism is coupled to the upper portion for igniting the combustible charge. A nozzle head is located in the lower portion and includes an internal cavity and a nozzle portion having apertures at spaced apart positions for providing passages from the internal cavity to outside of the nozzle head. The ignition mechanism is configured to ignite the combustible charge to create a flame and combustion products and pressure in the internal cavity for moving the nozzle head relative to the lower portion so that the nozzle portion protrudes out of the lower portion for passage of the flame and hot combustion products out of the apertures to sever the conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Robertson Intellectual Properties, LLC
    Inventor: Michael C. Robertson
  • Patent number: 11879326
    Abstract: Apparatus, methods, and systems are provided to count one or more magnetically permeable objects that have passed by a magnetic sensor and determine a direction thereof. The apparatus comprises a first permanent magnet; a second permanent magnet; a magnetic field sensor disposed between opposing poles of the first permanent magnet and the second permanent magnet; and a circuit connected to the magnetic field sensor, the circuit configured to count one or more magnetically permeable objects that have passed by the magnetic field sensor, and determine direction of the one or more magnetically permeable objects based on an output of the magnetic field sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory Thomas Werkheiser, Michael Linley Fripp, Zachary William Walton
  • Patent number: 11879300
    Abstract: A sonic tooling handling apparatus includes a gantry support structure with a base frame structure and an overhead frame structure operatively coupled to the base frame structure. The overhead frame structure has a pair of longitudinal beams and a transverse beam coupled to the pair of longitudinal beams. The transverse beam is movable along each of the pair of longitudinal beams. The gantry support structure includes a lifting device coupled to the transverse beam and is movable along part of the transverse beam. The lifting device includes a sonic tooling clamp. The lifting device may raise or lower sonic tooling held by the sonic tooling clamp. The sonic tooling apparatus further includes a removable sonic tooling holding rack having a plurality of stanchions creating at least one sonic tooling holding space for holding sonic tooling. A method of handling sonic tooling and a pipe tong is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Terra Sonic International, LLC
    Inventors: Mark Knolle, Edwin Sprout
  • Patent number: 11867030
    Abstract: Provided is a downhole tool. The downhole tool, in one aspect, includes an isolation system for placement at a junction between a first wellbore and a secondary wellbore. In at least one aspect, the isolation system includes an elongated tubular, the elongated tubular having an opening connecting an interior of the elongated tubular and an exterior of the elongated tubular; and a slot located in the elongated tubular, the slot spanning the opening. In at least one aspect, the isolation system further includes an isolation sleeve located within the isolation system, the isolation sleeve configured to slide within the slot to either isolate the interior of the elongated tubular from the exterior of the elongated tubular or provide access between the interior of the elongated tubular and the exterior of the elongated tubular, and an I-shaped seal located in an annulus between the elongated tubular and the isolation sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin Butler, Leonque Jose Rondon, David Joe Steele
  • Patent number: 11859450
    Abstract: A drilling fluid channel structure of a core drilling rig includes a fluid channel activation module, a pressure relief module, a flow diverging and blocking module, a driving fluid channel and a cooling fluid channel. The fluid channel activation module, the pressure relief module and the flow diverging and blocking module are connected sequentially from the rear to the front. The driving fluid channel and the cooling fluid channel are connected at the rear side thereof to the flow diverging and blocking module. The driving fluid channel includes a driving section located between a stator and a rotor of a driving motor. The driving fluid channel is provided with a driving fluid outlet at the front side of the driving section. The cooling fluid channel passes through a layer disposed between an integrity-preserving compartment and an outer barrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignees: SHENZHEN UNIVERSITY, SICHUAN UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Mingzhong Gao, Heping Xie, Ling Chen, Jun Guo, Zhilong Zhang, Zetian Zhang, Ru Zhang, Yiqiang Lu, Cong Li, Zhiqiang He
  • Patent number: 11851964
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for deploying an elongate medium in a bore is described. The apparatus includes a housing defining an internal spool cavity, and the housing is configured to be deployed in the bore. A spool of elongate medium is mounted within the spool cavity. The housing defines an outlet to permit the elongate medium to be deployed from the spool cavity, and an inlet to permit bore fluid to enter the housing during deployment of the elongate medium from the spool cavity. In use, the housing includes an isolating fluid to isolate the elongate medium from the bore fluid entering the housing. Also described is a kit for deploying elongate medium in a bore and a method of preparing an apparatus for deployment of an elongate medium in a bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: WELL-SENSE TECHNOLOGY LIMITED WELLHEADS CRESCENT, WELLHEADS INDUSTRIAL ESTATE
    Inventor: Daniel George Purkis
  • Patent number: 11846171
    Abstract: A frac plug with a flapper positioned within a shearable housing. More specifically, embodiments are directed towards an upper portion of the shearable housing that is configured to be separated from an insert responsive to flowing back through the frac plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: Vertice Oil Tools Inc.
    Inventors: Mike Lo, Stephen Parks
  • Patent number: 11846176
    Abstract: A downhole tool for connecting and releasing portions of a tool string includes a housing; an electronics assembly; an activation mechanism; a valve assembly and a set of retainer dogs to connect and release a neck of another tool. The downhole tool may also include one or more measurement sensors for measuring a parameter and transferring one or more measured parameter values to the surface of the well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: GEODYNAMICS, INC.
    Inventors: Phil Phelps, John T. Hardesty, Dennis E. Roessler, Terrell Saltarelli
  • Patent number: 11846186
    Abstract: Provided, in one aspect, is a whipstock. The whipstock may include a tubular having a longitudinal passageway extending along a length thereof, the tubular having a tapered face extending along at least a portion of the length; a support structure movably coupled to the tubular and extendable across the tapered face, wherein the support structure is operable to move from a first closed position closing the longitudinal passageway and a second open position exposing the longitudinal passageway; and a locking mechanism in the tubular for releasably holding the support structure in the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Matthew Bradley Stokes
  • Patent number: 11846177
    Abstract: This disclosure provides a sensor assembly. The sensor assembly, in one aspect, includes a flange housing, the flange housing including a mating surface for engaging a wellhead and an opposing surface, an interior cavity extending into the flange housing from the mating surface, and an exterior cavity extending into the flange housing from the opposing surface. The sensor assembly, according to this aspect, further includes a connector in sealed engagement with the flange housing proximate the exterior cavity, and a control line extending into the interior cavity through the connector. The sensor assembly, according to this aspect, further includes a sensor coupled to an exposed end of the control line proximate the interior cavity, the control line slidable within the connector, the exterior cavity and the interior cavity to move the sensor between a retracted position and an expanded position to accommodate different thickness wellheads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Gregory James, Ravi Sharad Vayeda, Sean Michael Gum
  • Patent number: 11840914
    Abstract: A multi-stage perforation and shock wave combined device and method for initial fracture enhancement are provided. The multi-stage perforation and shock wave combined device for initial fracture enhancement includes a perforating gun and a shock wave excitation nipple, where the perforating gun is configured to fire perforating bullets into a formation to form initial fractures; the shock wave excitation nipple is connected to the perforating gun, and includes an energetic rod capable of exploding after excitation and a feeding assembly; the feeding assembly includes a pushing head, a reciprocating spring, and a feeding spring; and the reciprocating spring is configured to push the pushing head, so as to push a spare energetic rod into a target position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: INSTITUTE OF GEOLOGY AND GEOPHYSICS, CHINESE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES
    Inventors: Tianqiao Mao, Xiao Li, Guanfang Li, Shouding Li, Yanzhi Hu, Bo Zheng
  • Patent number: 11834909
    Abstract: A cutting insert having an insert body with an upper surface. The upper surface of the insert body has an exterior cutting surface having an exterior cutting edge and an interior cutting surface having an interior cutting edge. The exterior cutting surface extends peripherally around and is coplanar with the upper surface of the insert body. The interior cutting surface is also coplanar with the upper surface of the insert body and is positioned within and is concentric with the exterior cutting surface. An exterior chip break separates the exterior cutting surface from the interior cutting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Inventors: David J. Ruttley, Darrell Wall
  • Patent number: 11828162
    Abstract: A casing pipe extends in a vertical direction and is configured to be lowered into a borehole, and a mounting hole penetrates a side wall of the casing pipe; a push body is mounted in the mounting hole, a push groove is provided in one side, facing an interior of the casing pipe, of the push body, a flexible body is attached to an inner side wall of the casing pipe, one end of the flexible body is connected to the push body, the other end thereof is located in the casing pipe, and a sensor is mounted on the flexible body; and a propelling portion is connected to a driving mechanism and configured to be lowered to a position, opposite the push groove, in the borehole, and the driving mechanism drives the propelling portion to move towards the push groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: CHINA UNIVERSITY OF GEOSCIENCES (WUHAN)
    Inventors: Junrong Zhang, Huiming Tang, Yongquan Zhang, Changdong Li, Chengyuan Lin, Qinwen Tan, Shu Zhang, Xuexue Su
  • Patent number: 11828108
    Abstract: A cutting element includes a substrate that is axially symmetric about a central axis. The substrate has a radius perpendicular to the central axis and that extends from the central axis to an outer surface of the substrate. A super-hard material is coupled to the substrate, and the central axis passes through the super-hard material. The super-hard material has an external surface defining at least one ridge protruding from a remainder of the external surface. A central point on the central axis is offset from the external surface of the super-hard material by a distance equal to the radius of the substrate. A distance measured from the external surface of the super-hard material to the central point is greatest at a position between 25° and 45° from the central axis of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ronald B. Crockett, Dwain Norris, Aaron Madsen, Neil Cannon, John Daniel Belnap
  • Patent number: 11828178
    Abstract: A lunar excavation and projectile transport system includes a projectile launcher having a base and a throwing arm and a projectile catcher. The throwing arm is rotatably coupled to the base and arranged at a mounting angle relative to a central axis defined by the base. The mounting angle defines a lunch angle for a processed core sample that is launched from within the throwing arm during rotation of the throwing arm by an electric motor. The projectile catcher includes a storage body, a plurality of telescoping arms coupled to the storage body, and a fabric wrapped around each of the plurality of telescoping arms to define a catching volume within which the processed core sample launched by the projectile launcher is caught.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Oshkosh Corporation
    Inventors: Annelise Kotenberg, Alex Bare, Christian Becker, Mark Charniak, Zac Hassman, Jacob Klaameyer, Nick Winter
  • Patent number: 11821297
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling fracturing operations include monitoring pressure within a monitor well poroelastically couplable to an active well. In response to pressure changes observed in the monitor well, operational parameters of the fracturing operation are modified to, among other things, encourage or inhibit fracture initiation and propagation. For example, modifications to properties of the fracturing fluid, modification to pumping parameters, rate cycling, and diversion operations may each be undertaken in response to observed pressure changes within the monitor well. Single-well applications are also provided in which pressure measurements are obtained from an isolated section of a well poroelastically couplable to an uphole section of the same well. The pressure measurements are subsequently used to control fracturing operations of the uphole section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Devon Energy Corporation
    Inventors: Kyle L. Haustveit, Tarik Ouradi, Brendan M. Elliott, Jacob R. Melton, Toby T. Deen, John T. Dwyer
  • Patent number: 11814928
    Abstract: A valve assembly that can be deployed in a subterranean well that includes a valve adapted to selectively isolate a region of the subterranean well, and a separating apparatus. The separating apparatus may further include at least one member being formed from a functional material and at least two sleeves connected by the at least one member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ganesh Balasubramanian, Ashish Sharma
  • Patent number: 11814904
    Abstract: A cutting element may include a substrate; and an ultrahard layer on the substrate, the substrate and the ultrahard layer defining a non-planar working surface of the cutting element such that the ultrahard layer forms a cutting portion and the substrate is at least laterally adjacent to the ultrahard layer. Another cutting element includes a pointed region having a side surface extending from the pointed region outer perimeter to a peak. An ultrahard material body forms a portion of the pointed region including the peak, and a base region extends a depth from the pointed region outer perimeter. The ultrahard material body has a height to width aspect ratio with the height and width measured between two points of the body having the greatest distance apart along a dimension parallel with a longitudinal axis (i.e., height) along a dimension perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (i.e., width).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Huimin Song, Xiaoge Gan, Zhijun Lin, Ke Chen
  • Patent number: 11814950
    Abstract: A planning tool plans movement of a boring tool for an underground drilling operation. The planning tool includes one or more wheels for rolling on a surface of the ground along a path responsive to movement by an operator to characterize the surface contour and to generate guidance for the boring tool to reach a target position. Planning can additionally be based on waypoints. The planning tool can be rolled unidirectionally or bidirectionally to characterize the surface contour. Bidirectional movement cancels accelerometer fixed bias. Path stitching is used to plan around obstacles. The planning tool can facilitate tracker placement. The planning tool can collect noise information for frequency selection purposes. A described technique maximizes linear drilling in an underground plan. Compensation and/or warnings are provided for unsteady, fast and slow movement of the planning tool while measuring the surface contour.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Merlin Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Rudolf Zeller, Timothy Shaw, Timothy Bayliss, Craig Caswell