Patents Examined by Jennifer H Gay
  • Patent number: 12031431
    Abstract: Systems and methods presented herein provide for the generation of acoustic waves for acoustic stimulation, as well as for analysis of subterranean formations, using downhole tools and associated equipment that are not conventionally designed to do so. For example, in certain embodiments, formation testing tools, formation, measurement tools, inflatable packers, and so forth, may be controlled by control systems to, for example, create pressure pulses that generate the acoustic waves. In addition, in certain embodiments, a tool conveyance system that conveys a formation testing or measurement tool into a wellbore may include acoustic receivers that may detect the acoustic waves after they reflect from subterranean features of the formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Henri-Pierre Valero, Hugues Dupont, Pierre Clery, Pierre-Yves Corre, German Garcia, Alejandro Martinez Pereira, Hadrien Dumont
  • Patent number: 12024965
    Abstract: A system includes a tool mandrel securable to a landing nipple and a prong receptacle coupled to a lower end of the tool mandrel. The prong receptacle includes a central bore and a pressure release port in communication with the central bore. The system also includes an equalizing prong initially securable within the tool mandrel in a run-in position. Further, the system includes a tubular prong extension coupled to the equalizing prong. An upper end of the tubular prong extension extends up out of the tool mandrel. Moreover, axially downward movement of the tubular prong extension from the run-in position to a set position secures the tool mandrel to the landing nipple, and axially upward movement of the tubular prong extension from the set position to a released position disengages the tool mandrel from the landing nipple.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Ibrahim El Mallawany
  • Patent number: 12012812
    Abstract: A flow-actuated valve for use in a wellbore includes: a body; a poppet movable relative to the body between an open position and a closed position; a spring biasing the poppet toward the closed position; and a shifter having a drogue and a detent engaged with a detent profile of the poppet and a locking receptacle of the body when in an auto-fill mode, thereby keeping the poppet in a partially open position. The valve is operable to shift to a float mode in response to a first flow rate moving the poppet toward the open position to disengage the detent from the locking receptacle and a second flow rate imparting a drag force on the drogue sufficient to disengage the detent from the detent profile. The second flow rate is different than the first flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2024
    Inventors: Darko Arsoski, Alexander Craig Mackay
  • Patent number: 11993997
    Abstract: The sealed lubricating head provides a lubricating compartment with no oiler or oil lines. The lubricating compartment is sealed by a top seal and a bottom seal that seals between the inner barrel and the outer barrel. The sealed lubricating head provides a bottom seal that seals the lubricating compartment. A rubber adapter secures the seal while also securing the rubber to the inner barrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: PRUITT TOOL & SUPPLY CO.
    Inventors: Grant Pruitt, Cris Braun, Benjamin Micah Spahn
  • Patent number: 11982176
    Abstract: A system for monitoring an annular fluid level may include a floating element disposed on a surface of a drilling fluid within an annulus of the well, during mud cap drilling operations. The system may also include an antenna disposed above the floating element. The antenna may be configured to transmit a first signal to the floating element, and to receive a second signal from the floating element in response to the first signal. The system may also include a processor configured to determine a time value that measures a time between a transmittal, by the antenna, of the first signal and a receipt, by the antenna, of the second signal. The processor may also determine a state of a drilling fluid level within the annulus based on the time value, and update a drilling program for the well based on the state of the drilling fluid level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Michael Anthony Affleck, Krzysztof Karol Machocki, Chinthaka Pasan Gooneratne, Timothy Eric Moellendick
  • Patent number: 11982154
    Abstract: The present invention is related to cooling systems for electronic devices used in downhole operations. In this scenario, the present invention provides a downhole electronic device cooling system comprising a first heat exchanger element (1) internal to a heat exchanger vessel (3), and a second heat exchanger element (2) associated with the electronic device (4), wherein the first (1) and second (2) heat exchanger elements are in fluid communication by a cooling fluid, wherein the heat exchanger vessel (3) allows the circulation of a secondary cooling fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: PETRÓLEO BRASILEIRO S.A.-PETROBRÁS
    Inventors: Mario Germino Ferreira Da Silva, Paulo Guilherme Oliveira De Oliveira
  • Patent number: 11982181
    Abstract: A servo valve in a servo pulser used to restrict flow to a larger main valve includes external stops on a housing to define rotational starting/stopping points and sweep zones for a servo rotor having digits for contacting the stops. The digits extend longitudinally away from the servo valve seat and extend into the sweep zones. Interaction between the stops and the digits in the sweep zones limit rotation of the rotor to a swept arc between the stops. The servo pulser rotor oscillates between stopping points in alternating clockwise/counterclockwise sweeps. Each sweep in a given direction creates one full pulse: closed, open, and closed. The servo pulser carries out a feedback/decision loop between hydraulic pulses (and sweeps) that receives information on one or more previous pulses and calculates how fast or slow it should drive the servo rotor for the current pulse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: RIME Downhole Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Robert A Weber, Manoj Gopalan
  • Patent number: 11970936
    Abstract: Methods and systems for monitoring an annulus pressure of a well. The method includes performing periodic surveys to monitor an annulus pressure of the well, determining the annulus pressure of the well over a period of time, comparing the annulus pressure to a Maximum Allowable Wellhead Operating Pressure (MAWOP), and generating a decision on whether the well is a workover candidate based on results of the comparison. The system includes a collecting tool that performs periodic surveys to monitor an annulus pressure of the well, determines the annulus pressure of the well over a period of time, and broadcasts information relating to the periodic surveys. The system further includes a processor that obtains the information relating the periodic surveys, compares the annulus pressure to a Maximum Allowable Wellhead Operating Pressure (MAWOP), and generates a decision on whether the well is a workover candidate based on the results of the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Abdullah M. Al-Dhafeeri, Shebl Fouad Abo Zkry
  • Patent number: 11970933
    Abstract: Systems for a transducer assembly for oil and gas wells are provided herein. The transducer assembly may include transducer block and a transducer flange. The transducer block may include a central channel having an inlet and an outlet, wherein the inlet is adapted to receive at least a portion of a fluid from a wellbore and the outlet is adapted to discharge the fluid from the central channel. The flange block may also include a port adapted to receive at least a portion of a transducer. The port may be in fluid communication with the central channel and include a channel extending from an external environment to the central channel. The transducer flange may have a central orifice that is configured to align with the port of the transducer block to create a seal between the transducer block and the transducer flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: HELMERICH & PAYNE TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Adam Robert Fosson
  • Patent number: 11965408
    Abstract: Measurement of the inclination and azimuthal direction of a borehole extending beneath an obstacle, such as a body of water, which utilizes magnetic and gravity sensors at the drill bit of a borehole being drilled. Embodiments of the present invention determine and remove remanent field components and the effects of ferromagnetic permeability prior to and during drilling of the borehole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: Vector Magnetics, LLC
    Inventors: Arthur F. Kuckes, Mariano S Garcia
  • Patent number: 11965384
    Abstract: A centralizer for use in a wellbore includes a body for disposing around a periphery of a downhole tubular. The body has a plurality of bow springs biased toward an expanded position and a pair of end rings connecting the bow springs. The centralizer further includes an indentation or row of indentation segments formed in a surface of and along each bow spring. The indentations or indentation segments are operable to reduce a stiffness of the centralizer as the bow springs move from the expanded position to a restricted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Inventor: Darko Arsoski
  • Patent number: 11965397
    Abstract: A downhole apparatus has a sleeve body sleeve body defining a sleeve body inner surface. The sleeve body has an internal thread on at least a portion thereof. The internal thread defining having a thread minor diameter. A plug seat is pressed into the threaded portion of the sleeve body. The plug seat has an unthreaded outer surface defining a plug seat outer diameter. The plug seat outer diameter is greater than the thread minor diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Lonnie Carl Helms
  • Patent number: 11952887
    Abstract: A plunger lift system, as well as a method for monitoring plunger parameters within a wellbore using such a plunger lift system, are provided. The plunger lift system includes a lubricator attached to a wellhead at the surface and a plunger dimensioned to travel through the production tubing upon being released from the lubricator. The plunger lift system also includes magnetic sensor systems installed along the production tubing, where each magnetic sensor system includes a magnetic sensor for detecting the passage of the plunger as it travels through the production tubing, as well a communication device for transmitting communication signals between the magnetic sensor systems and a computing system located at the surface, where the computing system includes a processor and a non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium including computer-executable instructions that direct the processor to dynamically determine the plunger position and/or velocity based on the received communication signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Technology and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Michael C. Romer, Michael C. Tschauner, Christopher C. Frazier, Andrew D. McFadden, Salvador G. Vela, III, Billy-Bob K. Walker, Adam J. Johnson
  • Patent number: 11946342
    Abstract: A drilling tool includes an outer cylinder; a power rotary shaft arranged in an inner chamber of the outer cylinder; a percussion generator arranged below the power rotary shaft, having a transmission shaft extending in the outer cylinder and can be driven by the power rotary shaft to rotate around its axis, an output main shaft engaged with a lower end of the transmission shaft so as to be driven by the transmission shaft to rotate about its axis and is movable relative to the transmission shaft along an axial direction, and an percussion assembly The percussion assembly is arranged between an annulus formed between the upper end of the output main shaft and the outer cylinder and can generate reciprocating impact along the axial direction on the output main shaft. A drilling bit connected with the output main shaft extending out of the inner chamber of the outer cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignees: China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation, Sinopec Petroleum Engineering Technology Research Institute Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Baoping Lu, Haiping Zhang, Mingguang Sun, Jiachang Wang, Yanbin Zang, Xinghua Tao, Lingchao Xuan, Xiaodan Liu, Renlong Zhang, Lishuang Wang
  • Patent number: 11933122
    Abstract: Downhole tractor control systems and methods to maintain a load among multiple tractors are disclosed. A method to adjust a load among multiple tractors includes receiving first power feedback of a first downhole tractor, receiving second power feedback of a second downhole tractor, identifying an unbalance load condition when a difference between the first power feedback and the second power feedback exceeds a predetermined threshold, and adjusting, in response to identifying the unbalance load condition and based on the difference, power reference of the first downhole tractor and the second downhole tractor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Yuan Qi, Sudhir Kumar Gupta
  • Patent number: 11927074
    Abstract: Provided is a communications sub. The communications sub, in one aspect, includes a fluid chamber, and a pressure-activated indexing device positioned within the fluid chamber, the pressure-activated indexing device including a lock mandrel configured to incrementally move between an engaged state and a disengaged state when subjected to two or more pressure cycles. The communications sub, in accordance with one aspect, further includes a latch body positioned in the fluid chamber, the latch body configured to be fixed in place by the lock mandrel and close a fluid path from the fluid chamber to a control line when the lock mandrel is in the engaged state, and configured to be allowed to move and open the fluid path from the fluid chamber to the control line when the lock mandrel is in the disengaged state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter D. W. Inglis, Katherine Davies
  • Patent number: 11927089
    Abstract: A downhole tool comprising, a coring module for obtaining at least one rotary core sample from a formation, a core storage module for storing the at least one rotary core sample and connected to the coring module, and a motor module for moving the at least one rotary core sample from the coring module to the core storage module and wherein the motor module is connected to the coring module. Additionally, the downhole tool may comprise a first, second, and third sensing modules configured to take measurements of the core sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Rohin Naveena-Chandran
  • Patent number: 11920442
    Abstract: A wellbore select fire switch retaining member system and method with an integrated through wire and ground wire in a switch sub. The system/method includes a retaining member that has a form factor acceptable by a conventional switch sub. The retaining member incorporates an electrical connection to the center pin of a pressure switch. The system further includes a secondary piston aligned with a piston in the switch (switch piston) so that external pressure is fully acted upon the entire switch piston creating a reliable switch connection. Another system includes an integrated retaining member and switch module having a form factor compatible with existing switch subs. The integrated module inputs include a ground wire and a through wire and the outputs include a ground wire, through wire and an arming wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: GEODYNAMICS, INC.
    Inventors: John T. Hardesty, James A. Rollins
  • Patent number: 11920447
    Abstract: A method of oil recovery by applying an electrical signal to a reservoir of interest, wherein said method comprises the following steps: obtaining the characteristic frequency of the water-oil interface of the reservoir; and applying the electrical signal to the reservoir, wherein said electrical signal is an alternating current signal or a combination of a direct current signal and an alternating current signal, and wherein the frequency of the alternating current signal is the characteristic frequency of the water-oil interface, thereby producing alteration of the water-oil interface and movement of the oil for extraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: YPF TECNOLOGÍA S.A.
    Inventors: Walter Morris, Albert Ulises Saavedra Olaya
  • Patent number: 11913327
    Abstract: A downhole connection includes a rotating member and an independently rotating member. A solenoid is connected to the independently rotating member and a moving member is connected to the rotating member. The moving member is movable by the solenoid and connected to an actuation valve of a downhole tool on the rotating member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Edward Richards