Patents Examined by Hoang Dang
  • Patent number: 8297375
    Abstract: In one aspect of the present invention, a drill bit has a jack element that is substantially coaxial with an axis of rotation of the drill bit and the jack element has an asymmetrical distal end that extends beyond a working face of the drill bit. A turbine is located within a bore formed in the drill bit and a flow valve is actuated by the turbine. The flow valve is adapted to route a drilling fluid in the bore into a porting mechanism adapted to extend the jack element farther beyond the working surface of the drill bit. The turbine is also adapted to rotate the jack element at variable speeds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: David R. Hall, Scott Dahlgren, Jonathan Marshall
  • Patent number: 8297378
    Abstract: A hammer assembly comprises a jack element substantially coaxial with an axis of rotation of a drill bit. The jack element includes a distal end extending beyond a working face of the drill bit. A porting mechanism within the bore comprises a first and second disc substantially contacting along a flat interface that is substantially normal to the axis of rotation. The first disc is attached to a turbine which is adapted to rotate the first disc with respect to the second disc. The first disc comprises a first set of ports adapted to align and misalign with a second and third set of ports in the second disc. As the first disc rotates, the sets of ports are adapted to route a drilling fluid into a piston chamber where a porting mechanism causes the jack element to repeatedly extend further beyond the working surface of the drill bit and then retract at a constant frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: David R. Hall, Scott Dahlgren, Jonathan Marshall
  • Patent number: 8281882
    Abstract: A drill bit has an axis of rotation and a working face with a plurality of blades extending outwardly from a bit body. The blades form, in part, an inverted conical region, and a plurality of cutters with a cutting surface is arrayed along the blades. A jack element is coaxial with the axis of rotation and extends within the inverted conical region within a range defined by the cutting surface of at least one cutter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: David R. Hall, Francis E. Leany, Joe Fox, Tyson J. Wilde
  • Patent number: 8281864
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for diverting fluids either into or from a well are described. Some embodiments include a diverter conduit that is located in a bore of a tree. The invention relates especially but not exclusively to a diverter assembly connected to a wing branch of a tree. Some embodiments allow diversion of fluids out of a tree to a subsea processing apparatus followed by the return of at least some of these fluids to the tree for recovery. Alternative embodiments provide only one flowpath and do not include the return of any fluids to the tree. Some embodiments can be retrofitted to existing trees, which can allow the performance of a new function without having to replacing the tree. Multiple diverter assembly embodiments are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Cameron Systems (Ireland) Limited
    Inventors: Ian Donald, John Reid
  • Patent number: 8272435
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for diverting fluids either into or from a well are described. Some embodiments include a diverter conduit that is located in a bore of a tree. The invention relates especially but not exclusively to a diverter assembly connected to a wing branch of a tree. Some embodiments allow diversion of fluids out of a tree to a subsea processing apparatus followed by the return of at least some of these fluids to the tree for recovery. Alternative embodiments provide only one flowpath and do not include the return of any fluids to the tree. Some embodiments can be retro-fitted to existing trees, which can allow the performance of a new function without having to replacing the tree. Multiple diverter assembly embodiments are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Cameron Systems (Ireland) Limited
    Inventors: Ian Donald, John Reid
  • Patent number: 8267196
    Abstract: In one aspect of the present invention, a downhole drill string assembly comprises a bore there through to receive drilling fluid. A turbine may be disposed within the bore and exposed to the drilling fluid. At least one flow guide may be disposed within the bore and exposed to the drilling fluid wherein the flow guide acts to redirect the flow of the drilling fluid across the turbine. The flow guide may be adjusted by an actuator. Adjustments to the flow guide may be controlled by a downhole telemetry system, a processing unit, a control loop, or any combination thereof. In various embodiments the turbine may comprise rotatable turbine blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: David R. Hall, Scott Dahlgren, Paula Turner, Christopher Durrand, Jonathan Marshall
  • Patent number: 8261828
    Abstract: The tubular cutting tool for severing downhole tubulars, the tool having a drive system, a pivoting system, a cutting head, a cutting member, and a lubricant delivery system. Cutting may be accomplished by rotatingly actuating the cutting head with an associated motor and extending the cutting member away from the cutting head. The lubricant delivery system lubricates the respective contacting surfaces of the cutting member and the tubular and is actuated when the cutting member extends from the cutting head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Karsten Fuhst, Sven Krueger
  • Patent number: 8261838
    Abstract: An artificial lift system provides an artificial lift design specifically for the pumping of liquids from natural gas wells, but not limited to this application. In doing so, production rates and reserves recovered can be significantly increased. The artificial lift system uses small diameter continuous tubing to run the pump in the hole and deliver small volumes of high pressure dry gas as a power fluid to the pump. This power fluid forces liquid that has been drawn into the pump from the bottom of the wellbore to surface. By removing the liquids from the wellbore the natural gas can flow unrestricted to surface. The design and equipment allow for a cost effective artificial lift alternative.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Inventor: Terry Bullen
  • Patent number: 8256508
    Abstract: The application discloses a safety valve including a flapper valve and a packer assembly to be installed in a bore to isolate a first zone from a second zone. Preferably, the safety valve includes a hydraulic conduit bypassing the flapper valve to allow communication therethrough when the valve is closed. Furthermore, the safety valve preferably allows unobstructed passage of tools and fluids therethrough when the flapper valve is open. The application discloses a method to install a safety valve in an existing string of tubing by deploying a packer assembly having an integral safety valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Bolding, David R. Smith
  • Patent number: 8256515
    Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for dropping a ball, plug or dart during oil and gas well operations (e.g., cementing operations) employs a specially configured valving member with curved and flat portions that alternatively direct fluid flow through a bore or opening in the valving member via an inner channel or around the periphery of the valving member in an outer channel. In one embodiment, the ball(s), dart(s) or plug(s) are contained in a sliding sleeve that shifts position responsive to valve rotation. An optional indicator indicates to a user or operator that a ball or plug has passed a selected one of the valving members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Gulfstream Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Phil Barbee
  • Patent number: 8235126
    Abstract: A transportable well service platform and method are provided. The transportable well service platform can have a main platform and a work platform. The work platform can be movable substantially vertically relative to the main platform. The well site platform can be transported to a well site and positioned at the well site relative to a well head so completion work can be performed on the well. The work platform can be moved vertically relative to the main platform to a desired height relative to the well head to perform the completion work.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Colter Energy Services Inc.
    Inventor: Clay Albert Bradley
  • Patent number: 8235149
    Abstract: A drill bit that includes a steel bit body having at least one blade thereon, at least one cutter pocket disposed on the at least one blade; at least one cutter disposed in the at least one cutter pocket; at least one recess formed in at least a portion of the surface of the at least one cutter pocket, wherein the recess is adjacent a leading face of the at least one blade; and an erosion resistant material in the at least one recess is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Smith International, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan W. Lockstedt, Thomas W. Oldham
  • Patent number: 8230933
    Abstract: A torque head for gripping tubular members, in at least some aspects, has a housing, grip mechanism secured within the housing, the grip mechanism for selectively gripping a tubular member, the grip mechanism including at least one jaw selectively movable toward and away from a portion of a tubular member within the housing, the at least one jaw having mounted thereon slip apparatus for engaging the portion of the tubular member, the slip apparatus including die apparatus movably mounted to the at least one jaw, the die apparatus movable with respect to the at least one jaw so that relative movement of the tubular with respect to the torque head is possible to the extent that the die apparatus is movable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Weatherford/Lamb, Inc.
    Inventors: Randy Gene Snider, David Othman Shahin, John Timothy Allen, Kevin Leon Gray, Gary Thompson
  • Patent number: 8230946
    Abstract: An apparatus and methods for sidewall percussion coring service are disclosed. In some embodiments, the side-wall percussion coring tool includes a voltage activated igniter, explosive material, and a core barrel in communication with the explosive material, wherein activation of the igniter causes detonation of the explosive material to propel the core barrel from tool. Some method embodiments for performing sidewall percussion coring service using the disclosed sidewall percussion coring tool include positioning the tool within a wellbore, activating the voltage activated igniter housed within the tool, detonating the explosive material within the tool with the voltage activated igniter, propelling a core barrel from the tool into the surrounding formation by detonation of the explosive material, retrieving the core barrel from the formation, and removing the tool from the wellbore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Don L. Crawford, Chi-Huang M. Chang, David L. Pozas
  • Patent number: 8230916
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods to analyze downhole fluids are described herein. A disclosed example method involves obtaining a sample of a downhole fluid. Additionally the example method involves ionizing at least a portion of the sample to decompose molecules having a relatively high molar mass into molecules having a relatively lower molar mass. Further, the example method involves analyzing the ionized portion of the sample to determine a parameter of the downhole fluid sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Ernest N. Sumrall, Anthony Goodwin, Erik Quam, Chengli Dong, Oliver C. Mullins
  • Patent number: 8225883
    Abstract: A downhole percussive tool is disclosed comprising an interior chamber and a piston element slidably sitting within the interior chamber forming two pressure chambers on either side. The piston element may slide back and forth within the interior chamber as drilling fluid is channeled into either pressure chamber. Input channels supply drilling fluid into the pressure chambers and exit orifices release that fluid from the same. An exhaust orifice allows additional drilling fluid to release from the interior chamber. The amount of pressure maintained in either pressure chamber may be controlled by the size of the exiting orifices and exhaust orifices. In various embodiments, the percussive tool may form a downhole jack hammer or vibrator tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: David R. Hall, Scott Dahlgren, Jonathan Marshall
  • Patent number: 8220535
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for diverting fluids either into or from a well are described. Some embodiments include a diverter conduit that is located in a bore of a tree. The invention relates especially but not exclusively to a diverter assembly connected to a wing branch of a tree. Some embodiments allow diversion of fluids out of a tree to a subsea processing apparatus followed by the return of at least some of these fluids to the tree for recovery. Alternative embodiments provide only one flowpath and do not include the return of any fluids to the tree. Some embodiments can be retro-fitted to existing trees, which can allow the performance of a new function without having to replacing the tree. Multiple diverter assembly embodiments are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Cameron Systems (Ireland) Limited
    Inventors: Ian Donald, John Reid
  • Patent number: 8220533
    Abstract: According to one or more aspects of the present disclosure, a piezoelectric pump may include a hydraulic fluid path between a low pressure source and a high pressure tool port; a fluid disposed in the hydraulic fluid path; a piston in communication with the fluid; and a piezoelectric material connected to the piston to pump the fluid through the high pressure tool port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Colin Longfield, David Wei Wang, Gary L. Rytlewski
  • Patent number: 8220545
    Abstract: In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a tool for a downhole operation. The tool includes a downhole power source to generate power. The tool also includes a cooler module to lower temperature based on the power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce H. Storm, Jr., Roger L. Schultz, Michael L. Fripp
  • Patent number: 8220532
    Abstract: A magnet fixing device in a cleaning tool (1) for use in a borehole where the cleaning tool (1) is externally provided with at least one projection (8) and at least two recesses (6) and where at least one magnet (12) is disposed in the projection (8), as the magnetic field from the at least one magnet (12) is active in that it is arranged to at least attract a magnet sensitive material (20) into a recess (6) or hold the material (20) in the recess (6), and where the magnet (12) runs through the projection (8), whereby the one magnet (12) pole is active in a first recess (6) while the other magnet (12) pole is active in a second recess (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: M-I Swaco Norge AS
    Inventor: Karluf Hagen