Patents Examined by Dany E Akakpo
  • Patent number: 11965391
    Abstract: An assembly includes a cone having a tapered outer surface, a slips assembly positioned at least partially around the tapered outer surface of the cone, and a sealing ring positioned at least partially around the tapered outer surface of the cone. The slips assembly directly engages the sealing ring, such that the slips assembly is configured to transmit a setting force to the sealing ring, which moves the sealing ring on the tapered outer surface of the cone and expands the sealing ring radially outward. The assembly includes an anti-seal ring positioned adjacent to the sealing ring and around the cone. The anti-seal ring is driven along the tapered outer surface of the cone by engagement with the sealing ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: INNOVEX DOWNHOLE SOLUTIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Nick Tonti, Carl Martin, Justin Kellner
  • Patent number: 11952894
    Abstract: A rotary steerable system including a steering section having not more than one piston or not more than two pistons in a transverse cross-sectional plane of the steering section. The steering section includes two distribution flow passages each extending from a valve to a piston. A ratio of a distribution flow passage diameter to steering section diameter is at least 0.07. The distribution flow passages are contained within a central area of the steering section, with a ratio of a central area diameter to steering section diameter being 0.5 or less, preferably 0.4 or less. The steering section may include two pistons having center points that are separated by an angle greater than 120 degrees, preferably about 180 degrees. A duration for which only one of the sets of pistons is activated is greater than 110 degrees of rotation of a valve rotor, preferably greater than 150 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: OnTarget Drilling, LLC
    Inventor: Sylvain Bedouet
  • Patent number: 11946339
    Abstract: A valve arrangement is for a downhole apparatus having a tubular body having first and second ports in a wall thereof. The valve arrangement comprises a valve member that comprises a first port associated with the first port of the tubular body; and a second port associated with the second port of the tubular body. The valve arrangement is configurable to be locked in a first configuration with the tubular body, such that the first port is closed and the second port is closed. The valve arrangement is configurable to be locked in a second configuration with the tubular body, such that the first port is open and the second port is closed. The valve arrangement is configurable to be locked in a third configuration with the tubular body, such that the first port is closed and the second port is open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Halliburton Manufacturing and Services Limited
    Inventors: Stephen Edmund Bruce, David Grant, Scott E. Wallace, Ewan Smith
  • Patent number: 11939839
    Abstract: A valve arrangement is for a downhole apparatus having a tubular body having first and second ports in a wall thereof. The valve arrangement comprises a first valve arrangement comprising a first valve member associated with the first port of the tubular body; and a second valve arrangement comprising a second valve member associated with the second port of the tubular body. The first valve arrangement and the second valve arrangement are configurable to lock in a first configuration with the tubular body, such that the first port is closed and the second port is closed; to lock in a second configuration with the tubular body, such that the first port is open and the second port is closed; and to lock in a third configuration with the tubular body, such that the first port is closed and the second port is open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Halliburton Manufacturing and Services Limited
    Inventors: Stephen Edmund Bruce, David Grant, Scott E. Wallace, Ewan Smith
  • Patent number: 11939840
    Abstract: A swellable metallic material is activated upon functional movement of a tubular member to lock the tubular member in place. In one example, a well tool includes a tubular member moveable within a through bore of a tool housing from a first position to a second position to perform a tool function. A swellable metallic material is captured in a cavity. The tubular member blocks flow to the cavity in the first position and opens the cavity for exposure of the swellable metallic material to an activation fluid in the second position. The swellable metallic material is configured to swell into engagement with the tubular member in response to the exposure to the activation fluid to hold the tubular member in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel Newton
  • Patent number: 11933154
    Abstract: Methods and systems for delivering well stimulation materials to a wellbore using a high-pressure delivery manifold are provided. In some embodiments, the methods of the present disclosure include: providing a pressurizable delivery manifold at a well site, wherein the pressurizable delivery manifold is continuously equalized with a piping system; providing a pressurized treatment fluid to the pressurizable delivery manifold; releasing one or more well stimulation materials into the pressurized treatment fluid to create a payload delivery treatment fluid; and injecting the payload delivery treatment fluid into at least a portion of a subterranean formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Geoffrey Wedell Gullickson, John Dean Stabenau, Jon Preston Doucette, William Owen Alexander Ruhle, Richard David Grisinger
  • Patent number: 11933157
    Abstract: Transmitting and receiving mud pulse pressure waves at a downhole device. The mud pulse pressure waves may be transmitted from a surface mud pulser and/or by a downhole mud pulser to a downhole device. The mud pulse pressure waves may be detected directly by a transducer or indirectly by detecting physical changes induced in the downhole tool by the pressure waves of the mud pulse. The detected physical changes can be converted to a digital signal for use by the downhole tool. The mud pulse pressure waves may encode information including data, or instructions to the downhole devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Bradley David Dunbar, John Leslie Wisinger, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11933139
    Abstract: A method for removing filter cake from a subterranean wellbore includes running a completion string into the wellbore on production tubing, the completion string including one or more screen assemblies coupled therein, conveying a running tool through the production tubing to a shifting tool arranged within the completion string, opening a circulation port of the shifting tool with the running tool, flowing a spotting fluid through the running tool and the shifting tool and discharging the spotting fluid from the completion string into an annulus defined between the completion string and the wellbore, interacting the spotting fluid with the filter cake to remove the filter cake from a wall of the wellbore, and circulating the spotting fluid from the annulus and into the production tubing through the circulation port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Ahmed Abdullah Al-Mousa, Marius Neascu, Omar M. Alhamid
  • Patent number: 11927073
    Abstract: A pulsation valve system and method can include a mandrel, an oscillating valve head and a stationary valve head. The mandrel can be operably coupled to a rotor of a pulsation assembly, and can include bypass bores controlled by a spring biased piston that moves in response to a predetermined fluid pressure acting thereon. The oscillating valve head can be attached to and rotatable with the mandrel. The stationary valve head can be positioned adjacent and stationary with respect to the oscillating valve head. The stationary valve head can include a stationary valve bore defined therethrough. The oscillating valve head can include an oscillating valve bore defined therethrough that is alignable with the stationary valve bore at a predetermined rotational position. The stationary valve bore can have a radial length greater than the oscillating valve bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Inventor: Talal Elfar
  • Patent number: 11927096
    Abstract: A pulsation valve system and method can include a valve mandrel, an oscillating valve and a stationary valve. The valve mandrel can be operably coupled to and downstream of a rotor of a drilling motor. The oscillating valve can be attached to and rotatable with the valve mandrel. The stationary valve can be positioned adjacent and stationary with respect to the oscillating valve head. The stationary valve can include a stationary valve bore defined therethrough. The oscillating valve can include an oscillating valve bore defined therethrough that is alignable with the stationary valve bore at a predetermined rotational position. A valve mandrel cavity allows fluid to travel from the oscillating valve bore and down toward a tool. Rotation of the oscillating valve creates a cyclic obstruction with the stationary valve bore, that results in an agitation force on the drilling motor or bottom hole assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Inventor: Talal Elfar
  • Patent number: 11927092
    Abstract: A status of an isolation barrier can be determined by comparing data collected by a sensor below the isolation barrier to data collected by a sensor above the isolation barrier. A sensor assembly can be coupled to an isolation barrier assembly downhole from the isolation barrier assembly for collecting data related to a characteristic of the wellbore. The sensor assembly can transmit the data collected to a tool positioned up-hole from the isolation barrier. The tool can transmit the data to a surface of the wellbore. The sensor assembly can be powered by a battery pack or via a connection to a downhole tool that supplies the power to the sensor assembly. The downhole tool that receives the data from the sensor assembly (and optionally provides power to the sensor assembly) can be inserted and removed from the wellbore over the lifetime of the well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark S. Holly, Kevin Dwain Fink, Celso Max Trujillo, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11920433
    Abstract: A valve arrangement is for a downhole apparatus having a tubular body having first and second ports in a wall thereof. The valve arrangement comprises a first valve arrangement associated with the first port and comprising a first valve; and a second valve arrangement associated with the second port comprising a second valve. The valve arrangement is configurable to lock in a first configuration with the tubular body, such that the first port is closed and the second port is closed; lock in a second configuration with the tubular body, such that the first port is open and the second port is closed; and lock in a third configuration with the tubular body, such that the first port is closed and the second port is open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Halliburton Manufacturing and Services Limited
    Inventors: Stephen Edmund Bruce, David Grant, Scott E. Wallace, Ewan Smith
  • Patent number: 11920434
    Abstract: A method comprising operating a first valve arrangement and a second valve arrangement from a locked first configuration, in which the first port is closed and the second port is closed, to a locked second configuration, in which the first port is open and the second port is closed, wherein the first valve arrangement comprises one or more locking devices configured to lock a first valve member of the first valve arrangement in place relative to the tubular body. The method comprising operating the first valve arrangement and the second valve arrangement from the locked second configuration to a third configuration, in which the first port is closed and the second port is open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Halliburton Manufacturing and Services Limited
    Inventors: Stephen Edmund Bruce, David Grant, Scott E. Wallace, Ewan Smith
  • Patent number: 11913334
    Abstract: A method for controlling a rotary steerable system (RSS) may comprise disposing the RSS into a borehole, storing a curvature for the borehole into an information handling system, storing one or more steering commands in the information handling system, taking a first attitude measurement at a first sensor and a second sensor disposed on the RSS at a first location in the borehole, and calculating a first relative attitude from the first attitude measurement at the first sensor and the second sensor. The method may further comprise taking a second attitude measurement at the first sensor and the second sensor disposed on the RSS at the second location in the borehole, calculating a second relative attitude from the second attitude measurement at the first sensor and the second sensor, and comparing the first relative attitude to the second relative attitude to find a difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Umut Zalluhoglu, Wei Zhang
  • Patent number: 11913335
    Abstract: An apparatus for use in a wellbore includes a non-rotating section disposed along the drill string. The non-rotating section has a bore and at least one biasing member engaging an adjacent wall. A rotating section is disposed in the bore of the non-rotating section and a bearing is positioned between the rotating section and the non-rotating section. The apparatus also includes a relative rotation sensor that generates signals representative of a rotation of the rotating section relative to the non-rotating section, an orientation sensor that generates signals representative of an orientation of the non-rotating section relative to a selected frame of reference, and a controller in signal communication with the at least one relative rotation sensor and the at least one orientation sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Oilfield Operations LLC
    Inventor: Volker Peters
  • Patent number: 11905777
    Abstract: An agitator deployable in a wellbore includes a housing including a central axis and a central passage, a valve including a first valve body having a first contact face and a second valve body permitted to rotate relative to the first valve body and having a second contact face configured to contact the first contact face, a first valve adapter including a first receptacle which receives at least a portion of the first valve body to couple the first valve adapter to the first valve body, and a flexible valve configured to permit the first valve body to flex relative to the first valve adapter whereby an angular misalignment may form between a central axis of the first valve body and a central axis of the first valve adapter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: National Oilwell Varco, L.P.
    Inventors: Khoi Trinh, Russell Gilleylen
  • Patent number: 11905760
    Abstract: An inner tube head assembly for a core barrel assembly having a latch casing coupled to a latch body, a landing shoulder coupled to the latch body and a spindle, and an inner tube cap assembly coupled between the spindle and an inner tube cap adapter. The landing shoulder and the inner tube cap adapter are a first size. The latch casing, the latch body, the spindle, and the inner tube cap assembly are a second size. The inner tube head assembly includes latches configured to work with the inner tube head assembly of the first size and the drill string of the second size. The first size is larger than the second size. The inner tube head assembly engages a drill string sized to cooperate with the first size. A core drilling system is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Epiroc Canada Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick Salvador, Ian D. Wilson
  • Patent number: 11905814
    Abstract: A method for preparing a geothermal system involves preparing a wellbore that extends into an underground magma reservoir. Characteristics of the drilling process and the borehole are monitored to detect when the magma reservoir is reached, such that specially configured drilling operations can be performed to drill to a target depth within the magma reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: EnhancedGEO Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Benjamin Chris Smith, James Michael Browning, Randall Howard Hornbaker, Kevin Martin Stone, Georgios Evangelatos, Shamsul Abedin Al-Tomal, Andrew Nguyen
  • Patent number: 11898405
    Abstract: A horizontal directional drilling system. The system has a pilot drill and an exit side drill, with a drill string extending between them. A backreamer is positioned between the drills to enlarge a borehole. The pilot drill pulls and rotates the backreamer. The exit side drill adds segments to the product pipe and pushes the product pipe into the enlarged borehole. The exit side drill is equipped with a rotational disconnect. The disconnect is engaged to allow torque transfer between a motor and a spindle when adding segments to the product pipe. The disconnect is disengaged to prevent torque transfer between the motor and the spindle when pushing the product pipe into the enlarged borehole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: The Charles Machine Works, Inc.
    Inventors: David L. Horst, B J Burky, Tim Casey, Richard B. Gentry, Stuart Riggenbach, Aaron Edward Traxler
  • Patent number: 11885211
    Abstract: Automated drilling may include receiving a tool-agnostic request to perform a process, determining one or more activities to complete the process, identifying a controller module associated with a first activity of the one or more activities, and triggering the controller module to initiate the first activity, wherein the controller module identifies and directs one or more drilling tools to initiate the first activity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: National Oilwell Varco, L.P.
    Inventors: Edgar Grimberg, Gaute Eilertsen, Cole Wong