Patents Examined by George S Gray
  • Patent number: 10883350
    Abstract: A device for water drainage and gas production by pressure control and gas lift and a method for collecting formation gas using the device for water drainage and gas production by pressure control and gas lift. The device for water drainage and gas production by pressure control and gas lift achieves water drainage and gas production by means of the combination of pressure control technology and gas lift technology, includes an inner tube, an intermediate tube, and an outer tube buried within a gas well and configured to be nested with each other, the inner tube being provided with a gas-lift valve and a pressure-control valve, the pressure-control valve being connected to a gas pressure source and being able to control the operation of the gas pressure source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Inventors: Maohe Shen, Hongbao Xu
  • Patent number: 10871069
    Abstract: A well testing tool mounted on a drill string is positioned within a zone of interest in a wellbore. An RFID tag with a density between 400 and 500 pounds per square foot is dropped through the drill string to activate the well testing tool. An uphole packer positioned at an uphole end of the well testing tool and a downhole packer positioned at a downhole end of the well testing tool are expanded to isolate a portion of the zone of interest between the expanded uphole packer and the expanded downhole packer. A three-way valve positioned between the uphole packer and the downhole packer is adjusted to allow fluid to flow from the isolated portion of the zone of interest into the drill string. One or more sensors within the well testing tool are activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventor: Ismail Adebiyi
  • Patent number: 10858900
    Abstract: The downhole tool comprises: (i) a housing connected with a collection chamber for receiving debris, the housing having an opening for collecting the debris from the petroleum well, the opening in fluid communication with the collection chamber through the housing; (ii) a rotatable shaft with transport blades arranged within the housing and extending from the opening to the collection chamber, the rotatable shaft configured for transporting debris from the opening to the collection chamber in operational use; (iii) an annular area defined between the rotatable shaft and an inner wall of the housing and (iv) a valve configured for keeping debris in the collection chamber. The valve is located within the housing between the opening and the collection chamber. The valve comprises a seal member with a movable part mounted in the annular area and around the rotatable shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: Altus Intervention (Technologies) AS
    Inventors: Lasse Haugland, Espen Osaland
  • Patent number: 10851290
    Abstract: Methods and compositions using surface chemistry and internal porosity of proppant particulates to consolidate the proppant particulates are described herein. The methods can include a method of gravel packing a wellbore. The method can include mixing an activator, a thickener, a crosslinker and a plurality of resin-coated proppant particulates to provide a gravel pack fluid and introducing the gravel pack fluid into a gravel pack region of the wellbore. The method can also include consolidating at least a portion of the plurality of resin-coated proppant particulates to provide a consolidated gravel pack, wherein the consolidated gravel pack has a UCS of at least about 60 psi when formed under a pressure of about 0.01 psi to about 50 psi and a temperature of about 160° F. to about 250° F.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: CARBO CERAMICS INC.
    Inventors: Thu Lieng, Daryl Erwin Johnson, Todd Roper, Chad Cannan
  • Patent number: 10851594
    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 comprising: at least one cutter comprising a substrate and a diamond table having a substantially planar cutting face; and at least two non-planar cutting elements comprising a substrate and a diamond layer having a non-planar cutting end, wherein in a rotated view of the plurality of cutting elements into a single plane, the at least one cutter is located a radial position from the bit axis that is intermediate the radial positions of the at least two non-planar cutting elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: SMITH INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Michael George Azar, Balasubramanian Durairajan, Madapusi Keshavan
  • Patent number: 10844686
    Abstract: An annular barrier is expandable in an annulus between a well tubular structure and an inside wall of a borehole downhole for providing zone isolation between a first zone and a second zone of the borehole. The annular barrier has a tubular part for mounting as part of the well tubular structure, an expandable metal sleeve surrounding the tubular part and having an inner face facing the tubular part and an outer face facing towards the inside wall of the borehole, each end of the expandable metal sleeve being connected with a connection part which is connected with the tubular part, a space between the inner face of the expandable metal sleeve and the tubular part, and an expansion opening in the tubular part through which fluid may enter into the space in order to expand the expandable metal sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: Welltec Oilfield Solutions AG
    Inventors: Jørgen Hallundbæk, Ricardo Reves Vasques
  • Patent number: 10837266
    Abstract: A shaped charge comprising a case, a liner positioned within the case, and an explosive filled within the case. The liner is shaped with a subtended angle ranging from 100° to 120° about an apex, a radius, and an aspect ratio such that a jet formed with the explosive creates an entrance hole in a well casing. The jet creates a perforation tunnel in a hydrocarbon formation, wherein a diameter of the jet, a diameter of the entrance hole diameter, and a width and length of the perforation tunnel are substantially constant and unaffected with changes in design and environmental factors such as a thickness and composition of the well casing, position of the charge in the perforating gun, position of the perforating gun in the well casing, a water gap in the wellbore casing, and type of the hydrocarbon formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: GEODYNAMICS, INC.
    Inventors: Wenbo Yang, Philip M. Snider, John T. Hardesty, David S. Wesson
  • Patent number: 10837273
    Abstract: A system includes a surface coil positioned at a known surface position, the surface coil including at least one loop of a conductor. The system also includes a coil controller coupled to the surface coil and adapted to inject a current into the surface coil such that the surface coil generates an electromagnetic field. In addition, the system includes a sensor package positioned within a wellbore adapted to detect the electromagnetic field and determine the position of the wellbore relative to the surface coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: SCIENTIFIC DRILLING INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Clinton Moss, Douglas Ridgway, Troy Martin
  • Patent number: 10829998
    Abstract: A self-contained module for actuating an element of an earth-boring tool comprises a drive unit configured to be coupled to at least one actuatable element of the earth-boring tool. The drive unit is configured to be disposed at least partially within a compartment of a body of the earth-boring tool. The compartment is radially decentralized within the earth-boring tool. The drive unit includes a drive element configured to be coupled to the at least one actuatable element. The drive unit is configured to move the drive element in a manner moving the at least one actuatable element from a first position to a second position in a direction having a component parallel with a longitudinal axis of the earth-boring tool. The self-contained module is configured to be repeatedly attached to and detached from the earth-boring tool. Such a module may be attached to a tool body carrying extendable elements to form an earth-boring tool for borehole enlargement or stabilization within an enlarged section of the borehole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: Baker Hughes, a GE company, LLC
    Inventor: Volker Peters
  • Patent number: 10822910
    Abstract: A packer including a body having a first axial end and a second axial end, an element disposed about the body, and a flow passage within the body extending from the first axial end to the second axial end. The body defines a first pathway including a first port dimensioned and configured to receive a first penetrator and a second opening having a dimension smaller than the first port, the first port being located at the first axial end of the body and the second opening being located at the second axial end of the body. A second pathway defined by the body includes a second port dimensioned and configured to receive a second penetrator and a first opening having a dimension smaller than the second port, the second port being located at the second axial end of the body and the first opening being located at the first axial end of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES, A GE COMPANY, LLC
    Inventor: James Doane
  • Patent number: 10822883
    Abstract: A mobile well drilling apparatus for a drilling site with clustered wells includes a substructure. A mast includes hinging points and fixing points. The mast is hinged to the substructure via the hinging points, about which the mast rotates between a horizontal and a vertical position. A drill floor includes a first portion hinged to the mast, and a second portion fixed to the mast and moving integrally therewith; and a draw-works permanently installed on the substructure. The substructure includes first and second sub-bases. The sub-bases are parallel and spaced apart. The first portion of the drill floor includes a connection portion facing one of the sub-bases. The hinging points are connected to one of the sub-bases. In operation, the fixing points are connected to the opposite sub-base. Each sub-base includes hydraulic walking devices adapted to move the well drilling apparatus between the clustered wells on the drilling site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: DRILLMEC INC.
    Inventors: Adolfo Basile, Andrea Tiberi
  • Patent number: 10781640
    Abstract: A downhole cutting tool which may be a reamer or a mill has a rotary tool body with at least one block which carries hard-faced cutters and projects or is extensible from the tool body. A radially outward facing part of the cutter block defines a channel for fluid flow which extends generally axially along the cutter block. The channel is configured such that at least the rotationally trailing edge of the channel extends along the block in one or more directions which are inclined relative to the tool axis. This reduces or avoids the amount of channel edge parallel to the tool axis and thereby mitigates whirling and/or or vibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ashley Bernard Johnson, Jonathan Robert Hird
  • Patent number: 10781647
    Abstract: A downhole roller having a body. The downhole roller also has a wheel connected with the body, and a bearing assembly disposed between the body and the wheel to allow the wheel to move relative to the body. The downhole roller can also have an internal shaft between the wheel and the bearing assembly, wherein the internal shaft holds the bearing assembly in place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Derek Copold
  • Patent number: 10774615
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling fluid flow in a wellbore may include a valve disposed along a drill string. The valve includes a valve body having an internal chamber, a plurality of ports formed in the valve body, a ball disposed in the internal chamber, and an actuator operatively connected to the ball. The ball includes at least one flow bore. The actuator shifts the ball into at least a first position wherein the flow bore is in fluid communication with at least two of the plurality of ports, and a second position wherein the flow bore is isolated from at least one of the plurality of ports. A related method includes conveying a drill string having the above-described valve along the wellbore and controlling a flow of fluid by shifting the ball using the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES HOLDINGS LLC
    Inventor: Joern Froehling
  • Patent number: 10774624
    Abstract: A shaped charge comprising a case, a liner positioned within the case, and an explosive filled within the case. The liner is shaped with a subtended angle ranging from 100° to 120° about an apex, a radius, and an aspect ratio such that a jet formed with the explosive creates an entrance hole in a well casing. The jet creates a perforation tunnel in a hydrocarbon formation, wherein a diameter of the jet, a diameter of the entrance hole diameter, and a width and length of the perforation tunnel are substantially constant and unaffected with changes in design and environmental factors such as a thickness and composition of the well casing, position of the charge in the perforating gun, position of the perforating gun in the well casing, a water gap in the wellbore casing, and type of the hydrocarbon formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: GEODYNAMICS, INC.
    Inventors: Wenbo Yang, Philip M. Snider, John T. Hardesty, David S. Wesson
  • Patent number: 10767451
    Abstract: A tubular for reservoir fines control includes a body having an outer surface and an inner surface defining a flow path. A plurality of openings are formed in the body connecting the outer surface and the flow path. A material mesh is overlaid onto the outer surface. The material mesh is formed from a material swellable upon exposure to a selected fluid. The material mesh has a selected porosity allowing methane to pass into the flow path while preventing passage of fines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES, A GE COMPANY, LLC
    Inventors: John K. Wakefield, Michael H. Johnson
  • Patent number: 10753183
    Abstract: A re-fracturing method using a perforating gun system in a multistring wellbore casing with an inner well casing installed in an outer well casing. The charges in the perforating system include a case, a liner positioned within the case, and an explosive filled within the liner. The liner shaped with a subtended angle about an apex of the liner such that a jet formed with the explosive creates an entrance hole in the inner well casing and the outer well casing; the liner having an exterior surface, the exterior surface substantially conical proximate the apex; the subtended angle of the liner ranges from 100° to 120°. The method includes covering the existing openings with the inner casing, perforating with the perforating system and creating constant diameter entrance holes in the outer casing and fracturing through the inner casing and outer casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: GEODYNAMICS, INC.
    Inventors: Wenbo Yang, Philip M. Snider, David Ambler, David Cuthill, John T. Hardesty, David S. Wesson
  • Patent number: 10746001
    Abstract: A system includes a pair of wellbore tubulars coupled together via a casing collar. A hold down collar is arranged circumferentially about the casing collar. An actuating piston of the system includes an actuating body, the actuating piston being axially movable along the wellbore axis between an activated position and a deactivated position. Slip elements are arranged downstream of the actuating piston, the slip elements receiving the actuating body in a space formed between the slip elements, wherein the actuating body drives the respective slip elements in opposite radial directions when in the activated position to secure the wellbore tubulars within the wellbore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: GE OIL & GAS PRESSURE CONTROL LP
    Inventors: Joseph Shu Yian Liew, Hoong Man Ng
  • Patent number: 10738560
    Abstract: A sealing system for a flow channel includes a mandrel, a swellable element disposed about the mandrel, and a degradable polymeric element disposed on a surface of the swellable element and configured to delay swelling of the swellable element. The degradable polymeric element comprises one or more of the following: polyurethane; cured cyanate ester; an epoxy; polyimide; unsaturated polyester; or nylon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES, A GE COMPANY, LLC
    Inventors: Ping Duan, Anil Sadana, Wayne Furlan
  • Patent number: 10731427
    Abstract: A system and method for moving directional drill pipe with vacuum power. The system is used with a vacuum beam mounted on a boom. It has a vacuum pad that is pivotally attached at one end by a hinge to the vacuum beam. The other end of the vacuum pad is attached to the vacuum beam via an actuatable cylinder. Operation of the cylinder causes the vacuum pad to rotate about the hinge and change the angle of the vacuum pad relative to the vacuum beam. Lateral movement of the vacuum pad relative to the vacuum beam is provided by one or more pinned connections located adjacent to the hinge. Vacuum pressure from the vacuum pad is used to grasp and release drill pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Vacuworx Global, LLC
    Inventors: William J. Solomon, Justin Hendricks