Patents Examined by David J. Bagnell
  • Patent number: 10871059
    Abstract: An illustrative modular manifold disclosed herein includes, among other things, a low-pressure manifold comprising a frac fluid outlet valve, wherein a fracturing fluid is adapted to be supplied from the low-pressure manifold via the frac fluid outlet valve to a suction side of a frac pump, and a high-pressure manifold comprising at least one frac fluid inlet valve, wherein the high-pressure manifold is adapted to receive, via the frac fluid inlet valve, a fracturing fluid discharged from the frac pump. In this example, the modular manifold also includes a support structure for mechanically supporting the low- and high-pressure manifolds and a plurality of height-adjustable support legs operatively coupled to the support structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: FMC Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Julian Keihany, Corey Massey
  • Patent number: 10871063
    Abstract: In accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure, systems and methods for a toolface control system is disclosed. The system includes, a rotating drill string of a drilling tool, an assembly located within the rotating drill string representing a current toolface of the drilling tool, and a controller configured to use pulse width modulation to adjust a rotational speed of the assembly to maintain the current toolface at a desired toolface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Ravi P. Nanayakkara
  • Patent number: 10858889
    Abstract: A steering assembly includes a housing having a longitudinal axis, a mandrel having a front connecting extremity and a rear connecting extremity, the mandrel passing through the housing and arranged in a first position coaxially to the longitudinal axis of the housing, a deflector device configured to exert a side force on the mandrel to offset the front connecting extremity of the mandrel from the longitudinal axis, and a tool face assembly configured to rotate the front connecting extremity of the mandrel in a desired direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: Kinetic Upstream Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Bowden Lasater, George Brian Sutherland, Gary Dean Althoff, John Harrison Farrah, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10858929
    Abstract: A system and method for drilling a second well with respect to a first well is disclosed. A first drill string having a known magnetic signature is disposed at a first depth in the first well. A second drill string is used to drill the second well. The second drill string includes a magnetometer that obtains a magnetic measurement of the first drill string during drilling of the second well. A processor uses the obtained magnetic measurement and the magnetic signature of the first drill string to steer the second drill string to drill the second well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES, A GE COMPANY, LLC
    Inventors: Robert A. Estes, Catalina Leal
  • Patent number: 10851592
    Abstract: A rotatable element for an earth-boring tool in a subterranean borehole includes a rotatable element and a stationary element. The rotatable element and stationary element include a seal arrangement between the rotatable element and the stationary element. The seal arrangement encloses a volume that remains substantially constant as the rotatable element moves relative to the stationary element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: Baker Hughes
    Inventors: Jon David Schroder, John Abhishek Raj Bomidi, Kegan L. Lovelace
  • Patent number: 10844701
    Abstract: A fluid rotor and a fluid stator. The fluid stator surrounds the fluid rotor. The fluid stator has an intake end and a discharge end. The fluid stator is shaped to be inserted into a wellbore. A shaft passes through a rotational axis of the fluid rotor. The shaft is attached to the fluid rotor to rotate in union with the fluid rotor. The shaft defines a central fluid passage that extends from the intake end of the fluid rotor to the discharge end of the fluid rotor. A balance piston surrounds the shaft. The balance piston extends from an outer surface of the shaft to an inner surface of the fluid stator. The balance piston is positioned at the intake end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Jinjiang Xiao, Chidirim Enoch Ejim
  • Patent number: 10844666
    Abstract: Geotechnical apparatus comprising at least one rod provided with a probe, which rod has a longitudinal bore extending along its body which is in fluid communication with one or more lubricating openings behind the probe for introducing lubricant along the rod's superficial area, wherein the apparatus further comprises a drive unit for the at least one rod for pushing said rod into the ground or pulling it from the ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: FUGRO ENGINEERS B.V.
    Inventor: Peter Nicolaas Looijen
  • Patent number: 10837249
    Abstract: A method of dislodging a tubular string or well equipment connected to the tubular string can include connecting a dislodging tool in the tubular string, so that a flow passage of the dislodging tool extends through the tubular string, deploying a plug into the dislodging tool, applying a pressure differential across the plug, thereby displacing the plug through a seat of the dislodging tool, and dislodging the tubular string or the component in response to the displacing. A dislodging system can include a dislodging tool connected as part of a tubular string, the dislodging tool including a flow passage and a seat configured to sealingly engage a plug deployed into the tubular string, and at least one of a jarring force, load, impact, shock wave, elastic strain release and pressure pulse being generated in the tubular string in response to displacement of the plug through the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: Thru Tubing Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Brock W. Watson, Roger L. Schultz, Gregory A. Kliewer
  • Patent number: 10830042
    Abstract: A cutter bit assembly for use in underground mining, road grading, and the like includes a water spray assembly having a water nozzle in a first chamber that discharges a water spray through an air gap and into the open end of a second chamber facing the air gap. Air is drawn into the water spray entering the second chamber from the air gap to produce a finer spray that is discharged from a second open end of the second chamber. The water spray helps clear the second chamber of any dirt or debris drawn by the air into the second chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: Minnovation Limited
    Inventor: George Albert Parrott
  • Patent number: 10830006
    Abstract: Embodiments include a system for setting a seal in a wellbore including a sabot arranged proximate the seal, the sabot being supported by the seal and having a first diameter larger than a second diameter of the seal. The system also includes a bridge coupled to the sabot and in contact with the seal, the bridge extending axially away from the sabot and positioned within a slot formed by an extension of the seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: VETCO GRAY, LLC
    Inventors: Samuel Heung Yeung Cheng, Kevin O'Dell, Gregory Dunn, Joseph Pallini
  • Patent number: 10822754
    Abstract: An earth working machine (10), having a propelling unit (22) and a machine frame (12) carried by the propelling unit (22), comprises a working apparatus (32) for earth working; an operator's platform (24), having an operating console (26) comprising a console body (52) and an operating panel (54, 66) that is movable relative to the console body (52) and has at least one operating element (58) associated or associatable with a functional device (32, 39) for control thereof. The operating panel (54, 66) is displaceable into a stowed position in which the at least one operating element (58) is covered by a portion (56a, 72a) of the console body (52.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Wirtgen GmbH
    Inventors: Cyrus Barimani, Christian Berning, Stephan Drumm
  • Patent number: 10822878
    Abstract: A method for forming a wellbore in an earth formation includes positioning a drill string in a wellbore; the drill string including a bottom hole assembly (BHA) that includes a steering unit, one or more sensors responsive to one or more formation properties, and one or more sensors responsive to the current orientation of the BHA in a wellbore. The method also includes receiving information from the BHA related to the formation properties and information related to a current orientation of the BHA in the wellbore and processing the information using computing device that is either a programmable optical computing device or a quantum computing device. The computing device calculates the position of formation features with respect to current wellbore position in real time and compare the current position to a prescribed path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES, A GE COMPANY, LLC
    Inventors: Rocco Difoggio, Hans-Martin Maurer, Leonty Tabarovsky
  • Patent number: 10822888
    Abstract: A method of protecting a nipple profile of a downhole tool that forms a portion of a tubing string and that is exposed to through-tubing completion operations includes securing a single-trip protective sleeve to the tool so that the sleeve covers the nipple profile of the tool during the completion operations and dissolving the single-trip protective sleeve so that it breaks away from the nipple profile to expose the nipple profile for use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventor: Nicholas Kok Jun Sim
  • Patent number: 10822902
    Abstract: A pump down ring is utilized in a downhole tool for use in a subterranean well. The pump down ring is positioned around the outer surface of a sleeve and is slidably disposed thereon. The pump down ring slidably engages the sleeve so as to have a radially-relaxed position and an expanded position where the pump down ring is expanded radially outward from the radially-relaxed position. Accordingly, the pump down ring can be placed in its expanded position to facilitate placement of the downhole tool in a wellbore by use of fluid pressure and can be placed in its radially-relaxed position to facilitate removal of the downhole tool from the wellbore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Kyle Davis, Matthew James Merron
  • Patent number: 10815754
    Abstract: A splitflow valve comprises a tubular body, a valve element and a lock. The tubular body defines a through hole and has at least one lateral bypass port. The valve element defines a flow restriction and is moveable along the through hole along a first direction between a first position and a second position, wherein the bypass port is closed by the valve element in the first position. In the second position the bypass port is open. The lock maintains the valve element in the second position wherein a flow of fluid entering the through hole of the tubular body is split into a first flow portion passing the flow restriction and a second flow portion exiting the at least one bypass port. Further, the lock is deactivatable to allow the valve element to return to the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: SCHOELLER-BLECKMANN OILFIELD EQUIPMENT AG
    Inventors: Richard Earle, Nathan Strilchuk
  • Patent number: 10815733
    Abstract: A downhole cutting apparatus includes a cutter block. The cutter block includes a formation facing surface with cutting elements coupled thereto. The cutting elements are arranged in rows that may extend at an angle across a width of the formation facing surface. Mud flutes may optionally be located between rows of cutting elements. A gauge portion of the formation facing surface may be adjacent a leading edge having reinforcement members coupled thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Philip G. Trunk
  • Patent number: 10815626
    Abstract: An earth working machine (10), for example a road milling machine (10), recycler, stabilizer, or surface miner, having a propelling unit (22) and a machine frame (12) carried by the propelling unit (22), comprises a working apparatus (32) for earth working. Provision is made that the earth working machine (10) comprises, on an underside (12a) of the machine frame (12) facing toward the supporting substrate of the machine (10), a maintenance door (52) that is movable between a raised operational readiness position and a lowered maintenance position and that comprises, on its inner side (52a) that faces away from the supporting substrate (U) in the operational readiness position, at least one functional configuration (56, 58) that assists a maintenance operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Wirtgen GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Berning, Tobias Stinner, Hardy Wilhelmi, Cyrus Barimani
  • Patent number: 10808509
    Abstract: There is provided a flow control apparatus including a housing, a port, a flow control member, a sensor, and a trigger. The housing includes a housing passage. The port extends through the housing. The flow control member includes a fluid responsive surface, and is configured for displacement, relative to the port, such that fluid communication is effected between the port and the housing passage. The sensor is coupled to the housing for sensing an actuating signal. The trigger is configured for effecting fluid communication between the housing passage and the fluid responsive surface, in response to the sensing of an actuating signal by the sensor, for effecting displacement of the flow control member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: NCS Multistage Inc.
    Inventors: Don Getzlaf, John Ravensbergen, Brock Gillis
  • Patent number: 10808479
    Abstract: A setting tool for setting a ball actuated device includes a ball carrying assembly. The ball carrying assembly includes a ball, an outer housing including an axis extending therethrough, and an inner housing positionable within the outer housing and configured to move axially along the axis with respect to the outer housing. The inner housing includes a recess formed therein to receive the ball therein, and the inner housing is releasably coupled to the ball actuated device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: FORUM US, INC.
    Inventor: Robert DiRocco
  • Patent number: 10801293
    Abstract: A system and technique for locating a tool in a channel of a blowout preventer. The system and technique may include the use of a tool locating device that includes flappers to detect tool components of a toolstring for a well application. The toolstring is segmented with deployment bars and tool components of differing diameters. For example, the deployment bars may be of a diameter that substantially matches that of an associated conveyance such as coiled tubing whereas the tool components may be of larger detectable diameters by the flappers. Once more, the flappers may also serve a centralization function as the conveyance is run through the blowout preventer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Rod William Shampine