Patents Examined by James Sayre
  • Patent number: 8297354
    Abstract: An apparatus and method of measuring a parameter characteristic of a rock formation in an oil well is provided with a device for generating a sensing field within a volume of the rock formation and a device for causing a flow through the volume in the presence of the sensing field, further including sensors responsive to changes in the volume, wherein a sensor response is indicative of the amounts of fluid, particularly hydrocarbon and water saturations and irreducible hydrocarbon and water saturations. Measurements can be made before the flow affects the measuring volume and after onset of the flow through the measuring volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Cosan Ayan, Fikri John Kuchuk, Terizhandur S. Ramakrishnan, Thomas J. Neville, Raghu Ramamoorthy, Andrew Carnegie
  • Patent number: 8297359
    Abstract: Systems and methods for well intervention include a lower riser package (LRP), and an emergency disconnect package (EDP). The LRP includes a tree connector, a connector and seal stab adapter (CSSA), and a LRP body; the tree connector has a profile for mating to the CSSA. The CSSA has at least one seal stab assembly for fluidly connecting with a subsea tree. The body of the LRP includes one or more sealing elements that are capable of sealing upon command, an integral annulus with an annulus isolation valve, an upper hub profile compatible with the EDP, and a lower flange profile that mates with the CSSA. The EDP includes a quick disconnect connector, at least one annulus isolation valve, and one or more sealing elements that are capable of sealing upon command. In some embodiments, an internal tie-back tool connects to the EDP via an EDP internal tie-back profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: BP Corporation North America Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Kean McKay, Michael J. Bednarz
  • Patent number: 8286711
    Abstract: A running tool sets a casing hanger packoff and ensures that the packoff is not pressure tested unless the proper setting stroke was made by the running tool. The running tool has a stem, an inner body, and a piston. The inner body is connected to the stem so that rotation of the stem relative to the inner body will cause the stem to move longitudinally. The piston is connected to the stem so that the stem and piston rotate and move longitudinally in unison. A test slot is located in the outer surface of the inner body. A limit pin is connected to the piston and is adapted to engage the test slot when the piston moves longitudinally relative to the inner body. The stem has a raised profile on a portion of its exterior surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Vetco Gray Inc.
    Inventors: Guilherme Pedro Eppinghaus Neto, Francisco Kobata, Nicholas P. Gette
  • Patent number: 8267179
    Abstract: A connection tool for connecting a pipeline to a subsea connection structure which includes a connection porch (22) into which the pipeline is connected, the tool comprising:—a tool chassis (26);—a carrier (28) mounted on the chassis (26) and adapted to releasably carry the pipeline;—at least one locating member (30) positioned at the front of the chassis (26) so as to be engageable with the locating posts (24) on the connection porch (22) to hold the chassis (26) adjacent to the connection porch (22), a hinge connecting the locating member (30) to the chassis (26), such that the azimuthal orientation of the chassis relative to the connection porch can be varied when the locating member (30) is engaged with the locating post, wherein the locating member (30) includes a locking member that engages the locating post when the locating member (30) is engaged thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: VerdErg Connectors Limited
    Inventors: David John Butcher, Richard John Wood
  • Patent number: 8256520
    Abstract: Floating systems for well operations are disclosed with a height-adjustable crown assembly movably connected to a derrick; in one aspect, movable within the derrick by movement apparatus; and, in one aspect, movable with a motion compensator. This abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure and is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims, 37 C.F.R. 1.72(b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: National Oilwell Varco L.P.
    Inventors: Alan Randall Lucas, Marcus Sherwin McCoo
  • Patent number: 8251144
    Abstract: A downhole tool comprises a body defining a fluid inlet and two or more fluid outlets. A valve arrangement cycles the proportion of fluid directed from the inlet to each of the outlets. One of the outlets may be associated with a fluid pressure responsive device, such as a cleaning blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Andergauge Limited
    Inventor: Alastair Henry Walter Macfarlane
  • Patent number: 8240389
    Abstract: A subsea wellhead assembly provided over a wellbore, the assembly having a wellhead housing, a tubing hanger in the housing, a production tree on the wellhead housing above the tubing hanger, and a control circuit that passes axially downward from the production tree and through the tubing hanger. A tree stab assembly may be included that is set between the tubing hanger and production tree. The wellhead assembly can also include a casing hanger landed in the housing, casing attached to the casing hanger, and tubing attached to the tubing hanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Vetco Gray Inc.
    Inventor: David S. Christie
  • Patent number: 8235112
    Abstract: A gas flow system for removing a liquid from a well bore and allowing for gas production is provided. The gas flow system comprises a casing in the well bore for allowing flow of the liquid and gas; a tubing string in the casing for allowing flow of the liquid and gas; pressure measurement devices for use in determining a rate of liquid influx into the well bore; a casing control valve moveable between various positions ranging from fully open to fully closed for controlling flow through the casing; a tubing control valve moveable between various positions ranging from fully open to fully closed for controlling flow through the tubing; and flow measurement devices for determining the rate of flow through the tubing and the total rate of flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: EnCana Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth W. Lowe, Javier Alfonso Becaria Valero, Clarence Robert Dyck
  • Patent number: 8205692
    Abstract: A drill bit for cutting a borehole comprises a bit body. In addition, the drill bit comprises a rolling cone cutter mounted on the bit body and adapted for rotation about a cone axis. Further, the drill bit comprises at least one insert having a base portion secured in the rolling cone cutter and a cutting portion extending therefrom. The cutting portion includes a pair of flanking surfaces that taper towards one another to form an elongate chisel crest including a first crest end, a second crest end, and an apex positioned therebetween. A transverse radius of curvature at the first crest end is less than a transverse radius of curvature at the apex, and a transverse radius of curvature at the second crest end is less than the transverse radius of curvature at the apex.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Smith International, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott D. McDonough, Brandon M. Moss, James C. Minikus
  • Patent number: 8201634
    Abstract: A subsea cementing system that includes a first wiper plug having a central bore releasably connected to a launching mandrel, and a second wiper plug having a central bore releasably connected to the first wiper plug. The system includes a first dart that is adapted to seal the central bore of the second wiper plug. A first increase in pressure releases the second wiper plug from the first wiper plug and a second increase in pressure breaks a burst disc of the first dart allowing cement to flow past the second wiper plug. A second wiper dart is adapted to seal the central bore of the first wiper plug. A third increase in pressure releases the first wiper plug from the launching mandrel. A fourth increase in pressure releases a sealing member from the second dart, which is adapted to seal the central bore of the second wiper plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: David Fernando Laurel, Kurt Randall Koenig
  • Patent number: 8196649
    Abstract: A single or multi-bowl wellhead may be positioned in a diverter housing over the wellbore. Protrusions on the wellhead may be installed after the diverter housing is removed. The wellhead accommodates the direct connection of hydraulic lines to a hanger seated therein. An overshot running tool protects the wellhead during placement and certain operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: T-3 Property Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Steven Allen, David Earl Cain, Bashir M. Koleilat
  • Patent number: 8186442
    Abstract: A system for production of oil and heavier gas fractions from a reservoir under a seabed includes a field installation with at least one production well and one injection well, a vessel with means to be connected to a loading and unloading station, and a receival plant configured to load and unload the vessel. The vessel includes a high-pressure three-phase separator, an injection compressor, and either water cleaning equipment or water injection equipment that the vessel can load high-pressure well fluid that is brought into the separator and separated to lighter gas fractions, oil and heavier gas fractions, and water, of which oil and heavier gas fractions are brought to high-pressure storage tanks in the vessel, which high-pressure storage tanks include high-pressure gas which thereby is displaced out of the tanks and injected into the reservoir together with the lighter gas fractions, via the injection compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Compressed Energy Technology AS
    Inventors: Kåre Breivik, Petter Gundersen
  • Patent number: 8176975
    Abstract: A tubing pressure insensitive actuator system includes a housing having a bore therein. A force transmitter is sealingly moveable within the bore, the force transmitter defining with the bore two fluid chambers. One of the fluid chambers is at each longitudinal end of the force transmitter. At least two seals are sealingly positioned between the housing and the force transmitter, with one of the seals isolating one end of the force transmitter from tubing pressure and another of the seals isolating another end of the force transmitter from tubing pressure. A method is also included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Gary B. Lake, David Z. Anderson, Darren E. Bane, Aaron T. Jackson
  • Patent number: 8171989
    Abstract: A system includes a subsea well and a carousel of tools. The carousel of tools is adapted to automatically and selectively deploy the tools in the well to perform an intervention in the well. The flow of fluid in a well is halted, and a tool is deployed from within the well while the fluid is halted. The tool is allowed to free fall while the fluid is halted. The flow is resumed to retrieve the tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Peter A. Goode, Andrew Gould, Alan Christie, Charles E. Vise, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8167312
    Abstract: An adjustable casing sub having an outer housing, an inner housing insertable into the outer housing, and a ratcheting system for coupling the inner housing within the outer housing. An annulus is between a portion of the inner and outer housing, the annulus including an inwardly tapered section. A metal faced seal is disposed in the annulus, wherein the metal faced seal includes a sliding surface and a compressive sealing surface. The sliding surface may include a malleable inlay and the compressive sealing surface may include a spring like element. Moreover, the metal faced seal radial thickness is greater than the inwardly tapered section radial thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Vetco Gray Inc.
    Inventor: Frank C. Adamek
  • Patent number: 8162064
    Abstract: An autonomous junk collecting sleeve for a riser is provided. The sleeve is constructed and arranged to be independently lowered and seated above a subsea tree section and, subsequently, raised and removed independent of the work string. The autonomous junk collecting sleeve includes a first cylindrical structure, a second cylindrical structure concentric to the first cylindrical structure and which are joined together in spatial relation at a bottom end to form an interior J-channel basket. The J-channel basket is operable to collect debris traveling up through the bottom end and over of the second cylindrical structure for deposit therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Wellbore Specialties, LLC
    Inventor: Dennis J. Penisson
  • Patent number: 8141641
    Abstract: A technique is presented for providing a double-barrier to formation fluids during drilling operations with a concentric drill string having an inner bore and an annulus. A primary flow control system is used to provide a first barrier to formation fluids in the inner bore and annulus of the drill string. A backup flow control system is used to provide a second barrier to formation fluids. The backup flow control system comprises a backup inner bore shutoff valve and a backup annulus shutoff valve. The backup inner bore shutoff valve is dropped from the surface through the inner bore of the drill string. The backup inner bore shutoff valve has spring-biased tabs that are configured to extend outward to contact an inner surface profile of the inner bore of the drill string. The backup annulus shutoff valve may be provided with the profile to receive the spring-biased tabs from the backup inner bore shutoff valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Vetco Gray Inc.
    Inventors: Kwong O. Chan, Henry X. He
  • Patent number: 8136600
    Abstract: A Vertical Annular Separation and Pumping System (VASPS) utilizing an isolation baffle to replace a standard pump shroud associated with an electrical submersible pump. The isolation baffle may be a one piece plate positioned so as to direct produced wellbore liquids around the electrical submersible pump motor to provide a cooling medium to prevent overheating and early failure of the electrical submersible pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Tracy A. Fowler, Brian J. Fielding
  • Patent number: 8127851
    Abstract: A system used to remove multiple isolation plugs from a wellbore. The system is efficient in fluidizing and circulating proppant located below an upper plug resting on top of proppant settled above a lower plug. The system uses a central port of the mill that is in communication with coiled tubing to fluidize and circulate the proppant around the perimeter of the upper plug. Once the proppant has been circulated from underneath the upper plug, the upper plug may mate and rotationally lock with a lower plug set within the wellbore. Upon locking, the system is able to rapidly mill out the upper plug and the lower plug until the lower plug is no longer set within the wellbore. The system provides for the rapid removal of multiple plugs positioned within a wellbore where an amount of proppant is present between the plugs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventor: John Gordon Misselbrook
  • Patent number: 8127835
    Abstract: A hanger system is provided for supporting a cable-supported dewatering pump in a gas well. A dewatering pump is supported in a downhole location by a cable. A cable hanger bears the weight of the cable and the weight of the dewatering pump. A pulling tool is configured to detachably connect to the cable hanger and to support the weight of the cable hanger, cable and gas well dewatering system as it is pulled out of a seated position in the well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Michael A. Dowling, Jason Kamphaus, Harryson Sukianto, Alain P. Dorel, Joseph Varkey