Patents Examined by David Andrews
  • Patent number: 9068408
    Abstract: Earth-boring tools comprise a body comprising a plurality of radially extending blades. At least one blade of the plurality of radially extending blades comprises a blade support segment integral with the body. A blade frame segment is attached to a rotationally leading portion of the blade support segment. A plurality of cutting elements is attached to the blade frame segment. Methods of forming an earth-boring tool comprise forming a body including a blade support segment of at least one blade. At least one blade frame segment is attached to a rotationally leading portion the support segment of the at least one blade. A plurality of cutting elements is secured to the at least one blade segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Chaitanya K. Vempati, Suresh G. Patel
  • Patent number: 9062521
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for commingling sweet gas and sour gas production in a gas well having an upper sweet zone and a lower sour zone. The apparatus comprises a commingling valve which prevents cross flow of sour fluids into the sweet zone or casing annulus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: RAISE PRODUCTION INC.
    Inventor: Geoff Steele
  • Patent number: 9057253
    Abstract: A liner top packer is configured to be secured in a liner string, such as in a liner drilling operation. The packer is actuated from within the liner or packer body. An actuator assembly includes an inner piston, an actuator housing, and an outer piston. A tubular setting tool is moved upwardly through the inner piston, and dogs on the setting tool allow for force to be applied to the inner piston, pressurizing fluid and forcing it to the outer piston to compress a pack off element. The actuator assembly is removed by upward force applied by a foot of the setting tool on the inner piston, the actuator housing, or any other component of the actuator assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: Schlumberber Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Michael Eric Moffitt
  • Patent number: 9051796
    Abstract: A system for performing a downhole operation including a tubular string having a locking profile non-movably located therewith. At least one member is movably mounted with the string and includes an engagement profile. A tool is runnable with the string and has at least one sub with a key. The key is selectively engagable and disengagable with the engagement profile for enabling the tool to control movement of the member with respect to the string when engaged therewith. The key is engagable with the locking profile for restricting relative movement between the string and the tool when engaged therewith. A method of performing a downhole operation is also included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Matthew T. McCoy, Colin Patrick Andrew
  • Patent number: 9045962
    Abstract: A downhole apparatus (10) adapted to be run on a workstring in a well bore. The apparatus has a body (12) including ports (42) and a valve (26) which is rotatable to open and close the ports to selectively allow fluid flow through the body between regions of a well bore above and below the apparatus. The valve is rotated via a gearbox (28) and motor (30) in the apparatus. A sealing arrangement between the valve and body is also described. A method of running the apparatus in a well bore and monitoring pressure above the apparatus in order to control opening and closing of the valve under predetermined conditions is presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: Halliburton Manufacturing & Services Limited
    Inventors: Michael John Christie, Stuart Gordon, Irvine Cardno Brown, Michael Adam Reid
  • Patent number: 9045946
    Abstract: In an aspect, an apparatus for use in a wellbore includes a tubular and a drilling assembly configured to carry a drill bit at an end thereof, wherein the drilling assembly is configured to be positioned within the tubular, wherein the tubular and drilling assembly are configured to be run in the wellbore together. The apparatus also includes an actuation device in the tubular configured to selectively extend the drilling assembly from and retract the drilling assembly into the tubular.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventor: Sven Krueger
  • Patent number: 9038748
    Abstract: Expandable apparatus for use in subterranean boreholes include at least one member configured to move between a retracted position and an extended position. A latching member disposed in the tubular body may selectively retain the at least one member in the retracted position. Methods of operating an expandable apparatus include securing at least one member of the expandable apparatus in a retracted position by engaging an inner wall of a tubular body with at least one latch member disposed in at least one aperture formed in a latch sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Steven R. Radford, Khoi Q. Trinh, S. Richard Gentry
  • Patent number: 9033058
    Abstract: A stator for a progressive cavity pump comprises a stator housing having a central axis, a first end, and a second end opposite the first end. In addition, the stator comprises a stator liner disposed within the stator housing. The stator liner has a first end and a second end opposite the first end. The first end of the stator liner is axially spaced from the first end of the stator housing. Further, the stator comprises a tag insert positioned in the stator housing between the first end of the stator housing and the first end of the stator liner. The tag insert has a through passage defining a radially inner surface that includes a tag shoulder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: NATIONAL OILWELL VARCO, L.P.
    Inventors: Tariq Ahmed, Denis J. Blaquiere
  • Patent number: 9033060
    Abstract: A tubular anchoring system includes a frustoconical member and a sleeve with at least one first surface that is radially alterable in response to longitudinal movement of the frustoconical member relative to the sleeve. The at least one first surface is engagable with a wall of a structure positioned radially thereof to maintain position of at least the sleeve relative to the structure when engaged therewith. A seal with at least one second surface is radially alterable in response to longitudinal movement of the frustoconical member relative to the seal, and a seat is in operable communication with the frustoconical member having a land which is sealingly engagable with a removable plug runnable thereagainst. The land is longitudinally displaced relative to the sleeve in an upstream direction defined by direction of flow that urges the plug thereagainst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: YingQing Xu, Gregory Lee Hern
  • Patent number: 9027640
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the operation of a well involves locating a pressure monitoring device downhole and arranging it to be operative: to monitor a characteristic pressure profile of a well during a certain time span controlled by a downhole clock associated with the device; to monitor the temperature downhole in the region of the clock; to calibrate a time reading of the downhole clock with reference to the monitored temperature to correct for drift between the clock time and real time resulting from the downhole elevated temperature; and to respond and generate a triggering output when a significant deviation to the pressure profile is introduced into the well as a control signal to the monitoring device, by comparing two separate pressure profiles within the time span, the device only generating the triggering output when the same pressure profile is monitored twice within the time span.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Omega Completion Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Mark Buyers, David Forsyth
  • Patent number: 9022118
    Abstract: A heater includes a conduit and three insulated electrical conductors located in the conduit. At least one of the three insulated conductors includes an electrical conductor at least partially surrounded by an insulation layer and an electrically conductive sheath at least partially surrounding the insulation layer. One or more layers of electrical insulation at least partially surround the three insulated electrical conductors in the conduit. The one or more layers of electrical insulation electrically isolate the insulated electrical conductors from the conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventor: David Booth Burns
  • Patent number: 9022129
    Abstract: A method and system are described for identifying a geologic object through cross sections of a geologic data volume. The method includes obtaining a geologic data volume having a set of cross sections. Then, two or more cross sections are selected and a transformation vector is estimated between the cross sections. Based on the transformation vector, a geologic object is identified within the geologic data volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Mark W. Dobin, Chul-Sung Kim, Ross Whitaker
  • Patent number: 9022130
    Abstract: A downhole isolation valve for testing the integrity of a tubular within a wellbore includes a tubular body with an axial through bore having a reduced diameter portion defining a valve seat and a ledge; an inner sleeve, with a closed end configured to seal within the valve seat, a shoulder spaced from that closed end, and a radial outlet positioned between the shoulder and the closed end; wherein in use the inner sleeve is selectively moveable within the bore at a predetermined pressure between a closed position, in which there is no flowpath through the bore, and an open position, in which the closed end is positioned beyond the valve seat to expose the radial outlet to the through bore beyond the valve seat and provide a flowpath through the bore of the outer tubular body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Specialised Petroleum Services Group Limited
    Inventor: George Telfer
  • Patent number: 9022145
    Abstract: In some example embodiments, a system includes a drill string having a drill bit. The drill string extends through at least part of a well bore. The system also includes a first vibrational sensor, positioned on the drill bit to measure, at a first location on the drill string, an amplitude of one or more of an axial vibration and a lateral vibration. The system also includes a second vibrational sensor, positioned above the drill bit and on the drill string. The second vibration sensor is to measure, at a second location on the drill string, one or more of an axial vibration and a lateral vibration. The system includes a processor unit to determine a type of vibration based on a comparison of the amplitude at the first location to the amplitude at the second location, wherein the type of vibration is at least one of bit whirl of the drill bit and a while of a bottom hole assembly that is part of the drill string.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul F. Rodney, Chenkang David Chen, Carl A. Robbins
  • Patent number: 9022144
    Abstract: A drill bit assembly for measuring reservoir formation properties comprises a bit head and a pin body, and an electrically insulated gap joint between two conductive parts of the drill bit assembly. The bit head has a cutting end and an opposite connecting end with an engagement section. The pin body comprises a connecting end with an engagement section. The pin connecting end is connected to the bit head connecting end such that the engagement sections overlap. The electrically insulating gap joint can fill a gap between the bit head and pin body engagement sections such that the bit head and pin body are mechanically connected together at the connecting ends but electrically separated. Alternatively or additionally, the pin body can have two pieces which are separated by an electrically insulating gap joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Brian Clark, Reza Taherian, Derek W. Logan, Garry Holmen, Anthony R. Dopf, Aaron Logan, Robert Utter
  • Patent number: 9010425
    Abstract: Methods and washing tools are for combined cleaning of an annulus in a well across a longitudinal section of the well, and subsequent plugging of the longitudinal section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Hydra Systems AS
    Inventors: Arne Gunnar Larsen, Roy Inge Jensen, Patrick Andersen, Atle Johnny Sorhus, Morten Myhre
  • Patent number: 9010413
    Abstract: A ball drop wellhead control apparatus provides a control ball between one of a frac ball drop and a frac ball injector used to drop frac balls into a frac fluid stream being pumped into a subterranean well to ensure that only frac balls intended to be dropped reach the frac fluid stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Oil States Energy Services, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Danny Lee Artherholt, Bob McGuire
  • Patent number: 9010414
    Abstract: An annular seal for a setting tool in a packer tieback extension comprises a downhole oriented packer cup assembly. As the tool is run in the hole the packer cup flexes as the rising hydrostatic pressure equalizes across the cup into what started as a zone with atmospheric pressure inside the packer tieback extension. Once the pressure is equalized the self energizing feature of the packer cup maintains grit and debris in the mud from entering the tieback extension where the spring loaded dogs of the setting tool are held in a retracted position. If the seal fails to equalize and allows a large differential across the setting sleeve from the surrounding annulus, the rupture disc breaks inwardly into the tieback extension so that pressure is equalized. If the packer is never set after being lowered to depth and the pressure from the tieback extension is equalized into the annulus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventor: Benjamin J. Gorman
  • Patent number: 9010412
    Abstract: A ball drop wellhead control apparatus provides a ball controller between a frac ball drop or frac ball injector used to drop frac balls into a frac fluid stream being pumped into a subterranean well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Oil States Energy Services, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Bob McGuire
  • Patent number: 9010429
    Abstract: An embodiment of an integrated well access assembly comprises a prime mover, a positioning pump coupled to the prime mover for positioning a well access line relative to the well, and a hydraulic treating pump coupled to the prime mover for pumping a fluid into the well access line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Rod Shampine