Patents Examined by David Andrews
  • Mechanically modified filter cake
    Patent number: 9140075
    Abstract: A down hole tool including a compression surface, a compression surface axis, and at least one support member configured to attach the compression surface to a well drilling tool assembly, wherein the extendable support member is extendable by an extension force provided to the support member. The down hole tool is rotable relative to an axis of the well drilling tool assembly, and as the well drilling tool assembly rotates, the at least one compression device exerts a lateral force along a sidewall of a wellbore. Also, a method of forming filter cake comprising releasing a drilling fluid and contacting the drilling fluid with a mechanical pressure on the sidewall of the wellbore and the drilling fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: M-I L.L.C.
    Inventor: Michael A. Freeman
  • Drill pipe connector and method
    Patent number: 9127517
    Abstract: A drill pipe connector assembly capable of connecting drill pipe segments without rotation. The assembly includes the pin end of a first drill pipe stabbed within the connector end of a second drill pipe. A connector nut is threadedly connected or snap locked to the connector end of the second drill pipe. The connector nut includes a retaining shoulder cooperating with a beveled shoulder on the pin end of the first drill pipe to retain the first drill pipe. The assembly includes seals to provide pressure integrity and prevent leaking. Cooperating rotational torque transfer profiles in the first and second drill pipes enable operational rotation of the drill string.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: Expert E & P Consultants, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Kenneth Dupal, Gary Allen Snyder, II
  • Barrier methods for use in subsurface hydrocarbon formations
    Patent number: 9127523
    Abstract: Methods and systems for establishing a double barrier around at least a portion of a subsurface treatment area in a hydrocarbon containing formation are disclosed. First barrier wells may be used to form a first barrier around a portion of the subsurface treatment area. Second barrier wells may be used to form a second barrier around the first barrier. A space may exist between the first barrier and the second barrier. The first barrier and second barrier may be inhibited from forming a single combined barrier by the injection, and in some cases circulation, of fluids such as saline water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Wolfgang Friedrich Johann Deeg, Mikhail Boris Geilikman, Fersheed Khodadad Mody
  • System and method for triggering a downhole tool
    Patent number: 9121267
    Abstract: Disclosed are systems and method for servicing a wellbore and otherwise triggering a downhole tool. One method includes arranging an assembly within a lubricator coupled to a tree, the assembly including at least one downhole tool and a signal receiver subassembly, communicating a signal to the signal receiver subassembly while the assembly is arranged within the lubricator, the signal being configured to activate a timer communicably coupled to the signal receiver subassembly, introducing the assembly into the wellbore and advancing the assembly until reaching a target depth, and transmitting a trigger signal with the signal receiver subassembly to the at least one downhole tool and thereby actuating the at least one downhole tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles M. MacPhail, Paul Ringgenberg
  • Reaming shell for mining
    Patent number: 9115551
    Abstract: A reaming shell for mining is provided. The reaming shell has a shank, and a plurality of pads attached at circumferential intervals from each other to extend lengthwise on an outer periphery of the shank. The reaming shell is coupled to a core bit of a diamond drilling tool for mining. The reaming shell includes a water groove of a recessed shape formed respectively between each adjacent pair of the pads, and extending from a leading edge along a length of the shank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: EHWA DIAMOND INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ki-Ho Kim, Sung-Hoon Chung
  • Earth drilling machine
    Patent number: 9115545
    Abstract: A machine for the drilling of the ground includes a guide tower (2) along which slides a group (3) for the handling of a battery of drilling rods (5) which moves along guides (21) of the tower. The group includes a sleeve (31) which gives rotation to a tube (4) to the lower part of which can be constrained at least a drilling rod (5) with a digging tool (6) or directly a digging tool (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: SOILMEC S.P.A.
    Inventor: Ezio Biserna
  • Reducing differential sticking during sampling
    Patent number: 9109431
    Abstract: A method includes lowering a downhole tool via a pipe into a wellbore drilled through a formation via the pipe and establishing a fluid communication between the downhole tool and the formation at a location in the wellbore. The method also includes extracting from the formation a first fluid stream through the fluid communication and passing the first fluid stream through the downhole tool for a first duration. The method further includes breaking the fluid communication between the downhole tool and the formation, moving the pipe in the wellbore, and reestablishing the fluid communication between the downhole tool and the formation essentially at the location in the wellbore subsequent to moving the pipe in the wellbore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Steven Villareal, Julian J. Pop
  • Head assembly
    Patent number: 9103178
    Abstract: A latching system has a latch body, a latch carrier and two latch dogs. The latch dogs are retained in the latch carrier by two pins. The latch carrier is located within the latch body. The latch body has slots through which the latch dogs can extend. The pins pass through both latch dogs and through longitudinal slots in the latch carrier. The pins are fixed at their opposite ends to the latch body. When the latch carrier is moved axially the latch dogs move parallel to each other between: a latching position where the latch dogs extend from the latch body and latch carrier and can engage a latching mechanism; and a release position where the latch dogs retract inwardly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: 2iC Australia Pty Ltd.
    Inventors: Andrew Beach, Gavin McLeod, Ben Blakeway
  • Downhole fishing tool and method of use
    Patent number: 9103187
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed toward a downhole tool used to free stuck tools in a wellbore and the method of using the downhole tool. The downhole tool includes at least one packer element for engaging a casing in a wellbore. The packer works to isolate one area of the casing from another. The downhole tool also includes at least one slip element for engaging the casing to maintain the position of the downhole tool in the casing or wellbore. Further, the downhole tool includes a mandrel slidably disposed within the at least one packer element and the at least one slip. The mandrel includes at least one port disposed therein above the at least one packer element when the mandrel is in a first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Inventors: Jeffrey J. Brown, Henry F. Brown
  • Wellbore fluid treatment and method
    Patent number: 9102018
    Abstract: A wellbore screen including: an apertured base pipe; an intermediate filtering layer including a plurality of metal fibers wrapped helically around the apertured base pipe and a fluid tracing filament wrapped helically about the apertured base pipe, the fluid tracing filament including a filament structure and a tracer carried by the filament structure, the tracer being entrainable in produced fluids in a wellbore environment; and an outer apertured shell over the intermediate layer. A method for producing a wellbore screen, the method comprising: forming a filter tube by wrapping an intermediate layer, including a metal wool fiber strip and a fluid tracing filament, about an apertured base pipe in a helical arrangement under tension; positioning the filter tube within the long bore of an outer apertured sleeve; and securing the outer apertured sleeve and the filter tube together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignees: Absolute Completion Technologies Ltd., Resman AS
    Inventors: Glenn Edward Woiceshyn, Fridtjof Nyhavn
  • Single packer system for fluid management in a wellbore
    Patent number: 9097107
    Abstract: A technique involves collecting formation fluids through a single packer having at least one drain located within the single packer. The single packer is designed with an outer structural layer that expands across an expansion zone to facilitate creation of a seal with a surrounding wellbore wall. An inflatable bladder can be used within the outer structural layer to cause expansion, and a seal can be disposed for cooperation with the outer structural layer to facilitate sealing engagement with the surrounding wellbore wall. One or more drain features are used to improve the sampling process and/or to facilitate flow through the drain over the life of the single packer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Pierre-Yves Corre, Edward Harrigan, Alexander F. Zazovsky, Stephane Briquet, Stephen Yeldell, Carsten Sonne, Stephane Metayer
  • Abrasive tip for abrasive tool and method for forming and replacing thereof
    Patent number: 9097067
    Abstract: A device for securing a plurality of abrasive segments to an abrasive tool is provided. The abrasive tool includes a rotatable body with an outer diameter and an inner diameter. The device includes a carrier element that includes a first portion that accommodates the plurality of abrasive segments and a second portion opposite from the first portion that attaches to the rotatable body. The second portion includes a shoulder extending therefrom that facilitates centering with the rotatable body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignees: SAINT-GOBAIN ABRASIVES, INC., SAINT-GOBAIN ABRASIFS
    Inventors: Ignazio Gosamo, Sebastien Marcel Robert Douveneau
  • Apparatus and method for cementing liner
    Patent number: 9091148
    Abstract: A method of cementing a liner in a well includes mounting a valve assembly that is biased in a closed position to a running tool assembly. The running tool assembly has a stinger inserted through the valve assembly, retaining the valve assembly in an open position. The stinger has a cement retainer releasably mounted to it. After lowering the running tool assembly into engagement with the liner string, the operator pumps a cement slurry through the stinger and the valve assembly. The operator then pumps the cement retainer down the liner string into latching engagement with a lower portion of the liner string. Afterward, the operator lifts the stinger from the valve assembly, causing the valve assembly to move to the closed position. The valve assembly blocks upward flow of fluid from the well conduit through the valve assembly in the event of leakage of the cement retainer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Michael E. Moffitt, Erik P. Eriksen
  • Perforating gun with internal shock mitigation
    Patent number: 9091152
    Abstract: A perforating gun can include at least one explosive component, and a shock mitigation device including a shock reflector which indirectly reflects a shock wave produced by detonation of the explosive component. Another perforating gun can include a gun housing, at least one explosive component, and a shock mitigation device in the gun housing. The shock mitigation device can include a shock attenuator which attenuates a shock wave produced by detonation of the explosive component. Yet another perforating gun can include a shock mitigation device with an explosive material which produces a shock wave that interacts with another shock wave produced by detonation of an explosive component in a gun housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: John P. Rodgers, Timothy S. Glenn, Marco Serra, Edwin A. Eaton, John D. Burleson, John H. Hales
  • Anti-rotation device for wellahead stuffing box
    Patent number: 9085955
    Abstract: A device for preventing rotation of a stuffing box cap to avoid leakage of contents, the device comprising an upwardly projecting stop member mounted on the stuffing box body which is configured to abut a protuberance on the cap and thereby prevent cap rotation. The stop member is preferably configured to pivot away from the stuffing box cap when cap removal is desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Inventor: Duane Bazylinski
  • System and methods for using dielectric properties of an insulated conductor in a subsurface formation to assess properties of the insulated conductor
    Patent number: 9080917
    Abstract: A system for assessing one or more temperatures along an insulated conductor in an opening in a subsurface formation includes an insulated conductor with a length comprising at least two sections of insulation with different capacitances. The sections with the different capacitances include different takeoff temperatures for at least one dielectric property of the insulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Scott Vinh Nguyen, Ronald Marshall Bass, Stephen Taylor Thompson, Edward Everett de St. Remey, Dhruv Arora, David Booth Burns, Christopher Kelvin Harris
  • Tubular anchoring system and method
    Patent number: 9080403
    Abstract: A tubular anchoring system includes a frustoconical member having a first frustoconical portion and a second frustoconical portion. The first frustoconical portion is tapered in a direction opposing a direction of taper of the second frustoconical portion and slips in operable communication with the first frustoconical portion are radially expandable in response to longitudinal movement of the first frustoconical portion relative to the slips. A seal in operable communication with the second frustoconical portion is radially expandable in response to longitudinal movement of the second frustoconical portion relative to the seal, and a seat having a surface configured to be sealingly engagable with a plug runnable thereagainst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: YingQing Xu, Gregory Lee Hern
  • System and method for downhole cooling of components utilizing endothermic decomposition
    Patent number: 9080424
    Abstract: A system for controlling a temperature of a downhole component is disclosed. The system includes: a cooling material in thermal communication with the downhole component; and a container configured to house the cooling material therein, the cooling material configured to undergo an endothermic reaction and decompose at a selected temperature and absorb heat from the downhole component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventor: Rocco DiFoggio
  • Method of treating a downhole formation using a downhole packer
    Patent number: 9080414
    Abstract: This disclosure is directed to a method of using a packer having at least two areas of relative rotation. The disclosure is further directed toward a method of using a packer incorporating a jet port, a highly debossed mandrel and/or a J-pin rotatably disposed within a drag block assembly for continuously and redundantly engaging a J-slot area disposed in the mandrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Thru Tubing Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Brock Watson, Roger Schultz, Andy Ferguson, Mark Britton
  • Coil tubing injector using linear bearings
    Patent number: 9074432
    Abstract: A coiled tube injection drive assembly having a pair of opposed, upwardly extending movable carriages positioned in opposed fashion so that portions of tubing may be vertically disposed and engaged between the movable carriages, each of the movable carriages comprising a respective gripper chain and associated bearing chain assembly, where the bearing chain is mounted on sprockets that are coaxially disposed between spaced apart gripper chain sprocket wheels so that the bearing sprockets are mounted about the same shafts as the gripper chain sprockets, without being directly mounted to rotate with those shafts. Other assembly features and related methods are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: Total E&S, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Allan Crosby, Brian K. Fuerstenberg