Patents Examined by George Gray
  • Patent number: 9416611
    Abstract: An embodiment of a method for forming slots in a wellbore casing, comprises providing at least one cutting tool, the cutting tool comprising at least a jetting assembly and an indexing assembly, disposing the cutting tool into the wellbore via a conveyance, stopping movement along the wellbore axis of the cutting tool, and forming slots in the casing by actuating the indexing assembly such that the jetting assembly forms slots in a predetermined pattern in the casing. In an embodiment, the method further comprises flowing a material into the slots formed in the casing to seal the wellbore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Matthias Heil, Frank Andriessen, Mirjam Zwanenburg
  • Patent number: 9416608
    Abstract: A slip for a tangentially loaded retrievable slip system includes a frame including an interior having first and second sides; and, a key having a first portion within the interior of the frame. The first portion of the key movable within the interior of the frame; wherein the key is movable from a set condition with at least a contact point of first and second sides of the first portion of the key pushing against at least a portion of the first and second sides of the interior of the frame in the set condition to an unset condition with the first and second sides of the first portion of the key releasing pressure from the first and second sides of the interior of the frame. Also included is a method of managing a tangential load imparted by a tangential slip system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Antonio C. Ruffo
  • Patent number: 9416633
    Abstract: A screen assembly including one or more screen members that correspondingly form one or more flow paths. The one or more flow paths are discrete from a tubular with which the one or more screen members are associated, but in fluid communication with an axial passageway of the tubular. A method of using a screen assembly is also included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Robert O'Brien
  • Patent number: 9410404
    Abstract: A pumping system for the simultaneous extraction of fluids and maintenance of a well. The pumping system includes a hollow production tubing secured at the surface and extending down into a well, and a flexible hollow tubing also secured to a surface structure and extending downward into the production tubing. A pump assembly connected to a lower end of the flexible tubing includes an upper section through which well maintenance fluids may be pumped, and a lower section that includes a mechanical pump. An impermeable barrier separates the upper and lower sections of the pump assembly. Holes formed on the upper and lower sections of the pumping assembly allow for the simultaneous maintenance of well and extraction of fluids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: AVANTUB, S.A. de C.V.
    Inventor: William Anthony Hammond Bravo
  • Patent number: 9410400
    Abstract: A downhole completion includes a production casing and a sliding sleeve assembly connected as part of the production casing. The completion includes a tubular part and a tubular sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: WELLTEC A/S
    Inventor: Jørgen Hallundbæk
  • Patent number: 9410411
    Abstract: Fractures are induced from lobe shaped inflatable members disposed at different axial locations along a string with frac ports in the circumferential gaps between the lobes. The lobes are inflated by landing a ball on a seat on a sleeve that is initially shifted enough to expose a fill port on each lobe. The lobes are inflated to a pressure that initiates fractures in the formation as the lobes extend. Further raising the pressure induces the sleeve to move a second time to open frac ports. The annulus can be cemented and fracturing can penetrate the cement to further propagate the initiated fractures from lobe inflation. The process is repeated at different levels until the zone of interest is completed. Sensors can relay information by telemetry techniques as to the onset of fractures or other well conditions. The sleeve for the frac ports can be moved in a variety of ways without intervention tools.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Edward J. O'Malley, James G. King, Paul Madero
  • Patent number: 9388687
    Abstract: In some embodiments, an apparatus and a system, as well as a method and an article, may operate to advance a geological formation probe with a surrounding pad to seal the pad against a borehole wall, to adjust the size of the area associated with a fluid flow inlet of the probe, where the size of the inlet area is selectably and incrementally variable, and to draw fluid into the fluid flow inlet by activating at least one pump coupled to at least one fluid passage in the probe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald Johannes Dirksen, Mark A. Proett, Jim Wilson, Abbas Sami Eyuboglu, Lizheng Zhang, Wei Zhang, Abdolhamid Hadibeik
  • Patent number: 9382773
    Abstract: The casing stripper attachment secures the casing stripper within a housing, such as the bowl. The casing stripper rubber attaches to an attachment body for installation within the housing. The attachment body includes a base and an attachment lip. The base provides an outer surface for securing the attachment body and stripper rubber to the housing. The clamp secures the outer surface of the base with the housing. The stripper rubber fastens to the attachment lip of the attachment body to be secured within the bowl. The base of the present invention could attach to a drilling nipple that assists with inserting the casing into the well, a process known as running casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: PRUITT TOOL & SUPPLY CO.
    Inventors: Grant Pruitt, Cris Braun
  • Patent number: 9376886
    Abstract: Systems and methods for remotely setting a downhole device. The system includes a base pipe having inner and outer radial surfaces and defining one or more pressure ports extending between the inner and outer radial surfaces. An internal sleeve is arranged against the inner radial surface and slidable between a closed position, where the internal sleeve covers the one or more pressure ports, and an open position, where the one or more pressure ports are exposed to an interior of the base pipe. A trigger housing is disposed about the base pipe and defines an atmospheric chamber in fluid communication with the one or more pressure ports. A piston port cover is disposed within the atmospheric chamber and moveable between blocking and exposed positions. A wellbore device is used to engage and move the internal sleeve into the open position by applying predetermined axial force to the internal sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank V. Acosta, Wesley G. Duke, Stoney M. Yates, John Key, Nicholas Budler
  • Patent number: 9376895
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is used for pumping fluid at a wellhead. The apparatus has a support structure that supports a pumping assembly and removes liquid from the well site through a small diameter pipeline as a continuous flow at a constant flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: Well Control Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Fink, Richard Michael Wright
  • Patent number: 9376907
    Abstract: A method of hydrocarbon resource recovery from a subterranean formation may include forming a plurality of spaced apart injector/producer well pairs in the subterranean formation. Each injector/producer well pair may include a laterally extending producer well and a laterally extending injector well spaced thereabove. The method may include forming an intermediate well adjacent a given injector/producer well pair, and operating a positioning actuator to position a radio frequency (RF) sensor coupled to the positioning actuator to at least one predetermined location within the intermediate well. The method may further include operating the RF sensor at the at least one predetermined location within the intermediate well to selectively sense at least one corresponding portion of the subterranean formation adjacent the given injector/producer well pair. The method may also include recovering hydrocarbon resources from the plurality of injector/producer well pairs including the given injector/producer well pair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: HARRIS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Francis E. Parsche, Mark Trautman
  • Patent number: 9371708
    Abstract: Techniques for continuously circulating fluid into a drill string are disclosed. These techniques involve a circulation sub (108) including a tubular and a diverter valve (200A). The tubular has a first end connectable to the drill string, a second end connectable to a pipe segment, and a port (220) therein. The tubular has a fluid path (202) for allowing the fluid to flow from the pipe segment to the drill string and a circulation path (204) for allowing the fluid to flow from the port to the drill string. The diverter valve has a channel therethrough in selective fluid communication with the fluid path. The diverter valve is positionable between a flow through position for selectively allowing the fluid to flow through the fluid path and a diversion position for selectively allowing the fluid to flow through the circulation path whereby the fluid may continuously flow through the drill string.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: National Oilwell Varco, L.P.
    Inventors: James William Weir, Andrew Shelton
  • Patent number: 9371692
    Abstract: A downhole tool including a fluid-actuated piston and a motor-driven valve. The fluid-actuated piston is operatively associated with a reciprocating mass. The motor-driven valve is configured to supply actuating fluid sequentially to drive the piston downwards and upwards. A method of reciprocating a mass in a downhole tool. The method including cycling a motor-driven valve between a first configuration and a second configuration. In the first configuration actuating fluid pressure drives a piston associated with the mass downwards. In the second configuration actuating fluid pressure drives the piston upwards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: NOV DOWNHOLE EURASIA LIMITED
    Inventor: Alan Martyn Eddison
  • Patent number: 9366090
    Abstract: A drill bit for drilling a borehole in earth formations may include a bit body having a bit axis and a bit face; a plurality of blades extending radially along the bit face; and a plurality of cutting elements disposed on the plurality of blades. The plurality of cutting elements may include: at least one cutter including a substrate and a diamond table having a substantially planar cutting face; and at least two conical cutting elements including a substrate and a diamond layer having a conical cutting end. In a rotated view of the plurality of cutting elements into a single plane, the at least one cutter may be located a radial position from the bit axis that is intermediate the radial positions of the at least two conical cutting elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: Smith International, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael G. Azar, Bala Durairajan, Madapusi K. Keshavan
  • Patent number: 9359863
    Abstract: The present invention relates to downhole tools and methods of removing such tools from wellbores. More particularly, the present invention relates to downhole tools designed to be comprised of dissolvable materials or frangible materials and methods for dissolving or fragmenting such downhole tools in situ.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven G. Streich, Donnie G. Loveday, Donny W. Winslow, John T. Brandell, Earl D. Webb
  • Patent number: 9359876
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for pumping fluid at a wellhead that improves liquid removal by eliminating the need to transport liquid produced from a well to containment facilities using trucks or large diameter pipelines capable of accommodating periodic surges of a high volume of fluid. The danger that the liquid will freeze in cold weather is also addressed. The invention removes liquid from the well site through a small diameter pipeline as a continuous flow at a constant flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Well Control Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph M. Fink
  • Patent number: 9359848
    Abstract: A method includes conveying a casing cutting tool into the wellbore lined with at least one casing string and cement, and stroking the casing cutting tool over a predetermined axial length of the wellbore while ejecting fluid from one or more nozzles in the casing cutting tool and thereby forming a plurality of longitudinal cuts through the casing string and cement. The casing cutting tool is then rotated about its longitudinal axis at two or more axially offset locations along the predetermined axial length while ejecting fluid from nozzles and thereby forming a plurality of axially offset transverse cuts in the casing string and the cement. The longitudinal cuts and axially offset transverse cuts form wedges in the wellbore, and the wedges are dislodged from the wellbore to expose formation rock along the predetermined axial length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Jim Basuki Surjaatmadja, Jorn Tore Giskemo, Oyvind Rakstang, Aimee Greening, Desmond Jones
  • Patent number: 9353615
    Abstract: A down hole surveying tool (10) is for directional surveying of boreholes. The tool (10) includes a body (11) which accommodates a two-axis gyroscope (13) and a two-axis accelerometer (15). The gyroscope (13) and accelerometer (15) are rigidly fixed with respect to each other to provide a composite sensor device (17). The sensor device (17) is supported in a rotary mount (31) for rotation about an indexing axis (4). The sensor device (17) can be indexed about the indexing axis between two indexing positions which are 180 degrees apart. An indexing mechanism (70) is provided for selectively indexing the sensor device (17) about the indexing axis (4). The indexing mechanism (70) includes a drive portion (71) and a driven portion (72) adapted for selective interaction to impart indexing motion to the sensor device (17). The driven portion (72) is movable into and out of engagement with the drive portion (71) upon rotation of the rotary mount (31) about a pitch axis (1) using a pitch drive mechanism (51).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Imdex Global B.V.
    Inventor: Richard John Parfitt
  • Patent number: 9353593
    Abstract: A handler holds a blowout preventer (BOP) assembly (partially or fully assembled) for transport and then erects it from a transport position to a vertical position for deployment. In the transport position the BOP assembly generally rests in a horizontal position. During deployment of the BOP assembly by the handler, the handler is capable of moving the BOP assembly to a vertical position, elevating it, and moving it outward, away from the base of the handler and toward a wellhead, so that the BOP assembly may be connected to a coiled tubing injector, work may be performed underneath the BOP assembly before connection to a well head, and the BOP assembly may be placed on top of a well head for connection to the well head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: National Oilwell Varco, LP
    Inventors: Mike Xiaolei Lu, David W. McCulloch
  • Patent number: 9341030
    Abstract: Disclosed is a landing sub for a wiper. The wiper is adapted for internal removal of drilling mud from a drill string during its pull-out from a borehole. The landing sub is mountable in the drill string, the landing sub includes a longitudinal bore for through-flow of drilling mud and a landing seat for receiving the lower end of the wiper during pumping of drilling mud through the drill string, and the landing seat is equipped with at least one duct or passage for through-flow of drilling mud past the lower end of the wiper during continued pumping of drilling mud in the drill string.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: 2K TOOLS AS
    Inventors: Kjell Mikalsen, Ketil Botn-Mark