Patents Examined by Daniel P Stephenson
  • Patent number: 11002722
    Abstract: Method of optimizing well placement in an unconventional reservoir, by obtaining a plurality of produced oil, produced water and produced gas samples from an unconventional reservoir over a period of time, and obtaining a plurality of rock samples from the reservoir. Each of those plurality of samples is chemically fingerprinted, as well as assigned time and location identifiers. This data is then used to generate a plurality of reservoir maps over time and those maps then used to optimizing well placement in the reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: CONOCOPHILLIPS COMPANY
    Inventors: Gerald E. Michael, Jason Jweda, Yishu Song, Aaron K. Summerfield, Faye Liu, Pipat Likanapaisal
  • Patent number: 10995601
    Abstract: A horizontal directional drill and method relate to a control system adapted to operate a pipe transport apparatus to move a drill rod between a rod box and a connection area. The control system commands the pipe transport apparatus to perform a plurality of actions wherein at least one of the actions comprises two or more of the plurality of physical operations. The control system includes an operator input device configured to generate a command in response to an operator input. The control system may require persistent engagement of the operator input device to complete each action. The pipe transport apparatus pauses upon completing each of the plurality of actions until the command is again provided from the operator input device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: THE TORO COMPANY
    Inventors: Richard John Guertin, Lee Evan von Lehe, Adam John Lorang, Stephen Joseph Sartori
  • Patent number: 10995744
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to lifting and lowering loads more efficiently and also more economically than known systems. This invention is the continuous movement by mechanical means of a moving effort force point to a desired advantageous position at a desired advantageous moment to achieve a desired low torque factor for a reduced net torque when lifting or lowering an unbalanced load with a beam with a fulcrum and connected to a load and an effort. One embodiment, a walking beam well pumping unit, the lifting and lowering of the well load can be caused by the reciprocating motion of a beam tipping on a fulcrum and with a moving effort force point. Potentially reduced net torque might allow longer life speed reducers, smaller speed reducers, and longer reciprocating vertical stroke length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Inventor: George R Dreher
  • Patent number: 10996637
    Abstract: A system includes at least one hardware processor interoperably coupled with computer memory and configured to perform operations of one or more components of the computer-implemented system. The system includes a detachable module (DM) delivery system configured to deploy, from release grooves of the NRSS and during a survey of the NRSS inside a wellbore during drilling of a well, plural DMs into an environment surrounding the NRSS, wherein the plural DMs are pre-loaded into the NRSS, and plural DMs are configured to gather and store sensing data from the environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Bodong Li, Chinthaka Pasan Gooneratne, Shaohua Zhou
  • Patent number: 10989036
    Abstract: A drilling casing includes a casing wall and several sand control apparatuses disposed on the casing wall in a spacing. Each sand control apparatus includes a sand control net, a sealing steel sheet and a sealing rubber plug. A plurality of mutually-paralleled sand control meshes are disposed on the sand control net. The sand control mesh exactly faces the sealing steel sheet. The sand control net is connected with the sealing steel sheet through a steel pin. Further, a method of performing fast drilling and completion of a large-borehole multilateral well by the drilling casing includes forming a main borehole by drilling to a destination well depth at one time with a large-size drill bit, drilling a lateral borehole in a natural gas hydrate reservoir by using the drilling casing, and taking out the drill bit for completion. The method is applicable to various natural gas hydrate extraction manners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: CHINA UNIVERSITY OF PETROLEUM (EAST CHINA)
    Inventors: Chuanliang Yan, Xu Ren, Yuanfang Cheng, Wanqing Tian, Yang Li, Qingchao Li, Jia Wei, Benjian Song
  • Patent number: 10989049
    Abstract: Methods and systems for collecting high quality reservoir samples are disclosed. The systems and methods of the present invention are especially important in collecting samples of reservoir fluids in a manner that most closely resembles production fluids. The systems include an upper shoe and a lower shoe that are asymmetrically spaced along the axial length of probe module with respect to a sampling probe to allow for the placement of a component compartment proximate the probe. Sensors or modules for testing or analyzing reservoir fluids are positioned within the compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Inventors: Michael Yuratich, Philip Powell
  • Patent number: 10975666
    Abstract: A welding tool for welding a blanking plate within a wellbore casing downhole thereby sealing the wellbore is described. The tool comprises a tubular body of a diameter sufficiently narrow to fit in a wellbore casing, the tubular body having a downhole end and a surface end; and a welding head assembly connected to the downhole end of the tubular body. The welding head assembly comprises a connector device for retaining a blanking plate to be welded within the wellbore casing, and a welding powder container which comprises a chamber for holding the exothermic welding powder, the chamber having at least a portion extending adjacent the blanking plate to be retained and proximate the wellbore casing to which the blanking plate is to be welded when the tool is positioned downhole in the wellbore casing; and an igniter wire opening for accommodating an igniter wire extending into the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: NuWave Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Wesley Chad Schroeder, Shaun Calvin Morton, Kade Demuth
  • Patent number: 10975678
    Abstract: A production well apparatus for underground coal gasification and an underground coal gasification method using same. The production well apparatus comprises a well head apparatus, a sleeve (8), a product pipe (1), a coolant pipe (3), and a monitoring meter system (7). Coolant is injected, during underground coal gasification, to be in contact and mixed with product gas, and the product gas is discharged after cooled, such that the operation is safer and more controllable. Moreover, most of the components of the production well apparatus can be completely or partially recycled and reused after the gasification is completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: ZHONGWEI (SHANGHAI) ENERGY TECHNOLOGY CO. LTD
    Inventors: Casper Jan Hendrik Burger, Zhenhua Min, Yuanli Wang
  • Patent number: 10968719
    Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for dropping a ball, plug or dart during oil and gas well operations (e.g., cementing operations) employs a specially configured valving member with curved and flat portions that alternatively direct fluid flow through a bore or opening in the valving member via an inner channel or around the periphery of the valving member in an outer channel. In one embodiment, the ball(s), dart(s) or plug(s) are contained in a sliding sleeve that shifts position responsive to valve rotation. An optional indicator indicates to a user or operator that a ball or plug has passed a selected one of the valving members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: GULFSTREAM SERVICES, INC.
    Inventor: Phil Barbee
  • Patent number: 10961822
    Abstract: A drill pipe mountable wellbore cleaning tool apparatus is of an improved configuration that enables attachment to a drill pipe joint having first and second connector end portions and a cylindrically shaped portion in between the connector end portions. The drill pipe joint with attached debris cleaning tool or tools is made part of a drill string. The apparatus includes a support sleeve that is mounted to the drill pipe joint in between the connector end portions. The support sleeve abuts but does not invade the integrity of the cylindrical portion. Centralizers are attached to the opposing ends of the support sleeve, with each centralizer overlapping a portion of the support sleeve. The support sleeve carries one or more debris cleaning tools in between the centralizers. These tools enable debris to be removed from a wellbore. At least one locking clamp is attached to the cylindrical portion next to a said centralizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Odfjell Well Services AS
    Inventors: Simon Leiper, Kevin Robertson
  • Patent number: 10954725
    Abstract: A downhole, hydraulically actuated drilling stabilizer provides versatility in a bottom-hole assembly. The drilling stabilizer can be used in a directional drilling application to help control the inclination in an extended reach or horizontal well. The drilling stabilizer has stabilizer blade members with an angular design portion that provides versatility in a bottom-hole assembly. The stabilizer can also be used in a conventional rotary bottom-hole assembly or positioned below a steerable motor. A drilling stabilizer with adjustable extension diameters provides improved inclination control over currently existing options.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Arrival Oil Tools, Inc.
    Inventors: Mike Crowther, Laurier E. Comeau, Kaidel Martinez, Jayson Russell
  • Patent number: 10954731
    Abstract: A method for conducting a wellbore operation includes drilling a wellbore through one or more hydrocarbon bearing subterranean formations with a drill bit arranged at an end of a drill string, wherein an annulus is defined between the drill string and an inner wall of the wellbore. A foam is generated with a foam generator of an annular injection system in communication with the annulus, and the foam is introduced into the annulus with the annular injection system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Gregory King, Kaustubh S. Kulkarni, Sai S. Rao, Andrey A. Troshko
  • Patent number: 10954721
    Abstract: An earth-boring tool includes a body, at least one blade extending axially from the body, at least one cutting element mounted at a leading face of the at least one blade and at least one hybrid ovoid mounted at an axial end of the at least one blade and rotationally trailing the at least one cutting element. The at least one hybrid ovoid includes a cylindrical base portion, a domed upper portion extending from a top of the cylindrical base portion, and an at least substantially planar cutting surface formed in at least the domed upper portion and defining a cutting edge extending angularly through an angle of at least 180°, the at least substantially planar cutting surface is configured for a shear-type cutting action, oriented substantially in the direction of intended bit rotation, and exhibits a lesser aggressiveness than the aggressiveness of the at least one cutting element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Steven Craig Russell, Stephen Duffy
  • Patent number: 10947841
    Abstract: A method for performing a formation-related physical action includes: receiving image data of a wall of a borehole penetrating a formation, the image data having image data of fractures intersecting the wall of the borehole; and defining a volume surrounding the borehole. The method also includes determining a surface area of each fracture intersecting the volume at each defined depth in a plurality of depths and calculating a fracture density for each defined depth based on the surface area of each fracture intersecting the volume at each defined depth in a plurality of depths and a size of the volume. The method further includes performing the formation-related physical action based on the fracture density for each defined depth using apparatus configured to perform the formation-related physical action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES, A GE COMPANY, LLC
    Inventor: Julio Roberto Arro
  • Patent number: 10947786
    Abstract: At least one mechanical face seal is disposed within a cutter cartridge of a roller reamer. The cutter cartridge includes a roller cutter and a retention assembly. A bearing shaft of the retention assembly extends through an inner channel of the roller cutter. A first mechanical face seal is disposed or shared between the roller cutter and a first pillow block of the retention assembly. An optional second mechanical face seal is disposed or shared between the roller cutter and a second pillow block of the retention assembly. Each pillow block is rotatably coupled at an opposing end of the bearing shaft. The retention assembly includes two separately matched sets of one pillow block and a wedge. The wedges in combination detachably secure the pillow blocks to a tool body of the roller reamer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Inventor: Duane Shotwell
  • Patent number: 10947811
    Abstract: Systems and methods for moving a tubular string within a subterranean well include a structural collar sized with a ring outer diameter to fit within a bore of the subterranean well. A plurality of individual openings are spaced around an outer diameter surface of the structural collar, each individual opening associated with an inflatable member. The inflatable member is operable to vibrationally impact an internal surface of the subterranean well with repeated inflating and deflating the inflatable member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Abdulaziz S. Al-Qasim, Ahmed Y. Bukhamseen
  • Patent number: 10941638
    Abstract: Methods and systems for restimulating a previously fractured subterranean formation penetrated by a wellbore are described. The methods include plugging existing perforations in an outer casing and existing fractures in the formation with a diverting agent, placing an inner casing in the wellbore while the existing perforations and existing fractures are plugged with the diverting agent, perforating the inner casing and the outer casing to form new perforations, and pumping a fluid through the new perforations to create new fractures in the formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventor: James Eldon Calvin, III
  • Patent number: 10934779
    Abstract: The invention relates to a rotary drilling tool and to a method for producing a borehole in the ground, having a base body, a removal device which has at least one hammer unit which comprises a hammer element driven in axially reversing manner, and a discharge line for discharging removed ground material and drilling suspension. According to the invention it is provided that a pumping device is arranged on the base body along the discharge line, and that the pumping device is configured for pumping off the removed ground material with drilling suspension through the discharge line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: BAUER Maschinen GmbH
    Inventor: Sebastian Bauer
  • Patent number: 10927623
    Abstract: A clean-out tool and method of cleaning out a wellbore. The clean-out tool is placed at the end of a coiled tubing or other conveyance string. The clean-out tool comprises a tubular housing providing an elongated bore through which fluid flows. The tubular housing has back-jetting ports disposed at an upward angle therein. The clean-out tool is configured to operate in a back-jetting mode when the clean-out fluid is pumped into the tubular housing at a first flow rate. In this mode, at least a portion of clean-out fluid flows through the bore, up an annular region and then through the back jetting ports. The clean-out tool is further configured to operate in a fluid flow-through mode when the clean-out fluids are pumped into the bore of the tubular housing at a second flow rate. In this mode, all of the clean-out fluid flows through the clean-out tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Stang Technologies Limited
    Inventors: Jonathan M. Stang, Daryl E. Magner
  • Patent number: 10927648
    Abstract: A perforating tool and method of use in a wellbore. The perforating tool is placed at the end of a coiled tubing or other conveyance string. The perforating tool comprises a tubular housing providing an elongated bore through which fluid flows. The tubular housing has jetting ports used for hydraulic perforating. The tool operates in a flow-through mode when working fluid is pumped into the tubular housing at a first flow rate, with all of the fluid flowing through the end of the tool. The perforating tool operates in a perforating mode when the working fluid is pumped into the bore of the tubular housing at a second flow rate. In this mode, all of the working fluid flows through the jetting ports. The perforating tool may include a sequencing mechanism responsive to a sequence of flow rates to cycle the tool through operating modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Stang Technologies Ltd.
    Inventors: Jonathan M. Stang, Daryl E. Magner