Patents Examined by Jennifer H Gay
  • Patent number: 10655435
    Abstract: A hydraulic fracturing system includes a plurality of pumps positioned at a wellsite and configured to pressurize a fracturing fluid, a distribution system fluidly coupled to receive and consolidate fracturing fluid from the plurality of pumps for injection into a wellhead. The hydraulic fracturing system further includes a control system, which includes a plurality of sensing devices configured to measure one or more parameters of the plurality of pumps and the distribution system, one or more processing device configured to receive and analyze the one or more parameters measured by the plurality of sensing devices and generate control instructions based at least in part on the one or more parameters, and one or more control device configured 110 to receive the control instructions and control one or more aspects of the plurality of pumps or the distribution system based on the control instructions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: U.S. Well Services, LLC
    Inventors: Jared Oehring, Alexander James Christinzio, Brandon N. Hinderliter
  • Patent number: 10655426
    Abstract: A system for use with a well can include a perforating assembly with at least one perforator, the perforating assembly conveyed through a wellbore with fluid flow through the wellbore, and plugging devices spaced apart from the perforating assembly in the wellbore, the plugging devices conveyed through the wellbore with the fluid flow. A method of deploying plugging devices in a wellbore can include conveying a perforating assembly including a dispensing tool through the wellbore, the dispensing tool including a container, and then releasing the plugging devices from the container into the wellbore at a downhole location. Another method of deploying plugging devices in a wellbore can include conveying the plugging devices through the wellbore with fluid flow through the wellbore, and conveying a perforating assembly through the wellbore while the plugging devices are being conveyed through the wellbore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: Thru Tubing Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Brock W. Watson, Andrew M. Ferguson, Roger L. Schultz, Gary P. Funkhouser, Jenna N. Robertson
  • Patent number: 10655425
    Abstract: An annular space surrounding an expandable well tubular (1) is sealed by: —a concave seal pusher assembly (5) with concave pusher elements comprising buckling joints (7) of which assembly (5) a first end is secured at a selected first location (2) of the outer surface of the unexpanded well tubular (1); —an annular elastomeric sealing ring (9) arranged with an inwardly tapered first end thereof against an outwardly tapered second end (8) of the concave seal pusher assembly (5); —a set of staggered and overlapping steel support strips (11) arranged around a second end of the sealing ring (9) and connected at one end thereof to a selected second location (3) of the outer surface of the unexpanded tubular (1); —expanding and thereby shortening the tubular (1) to push the inwardly tapered end of the sealing ring over the outwardly tapered end (8) of the seal pusher assembly (5) and buckling the staggered strips (11) against the outer surface (12) of the annular space surrounding the expanded tubular (1) to compre
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: SHELL OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Jelle Hofstee, Antonius Leonardus Maria Wubben, Djurre Hans Zijsling
  • Patent number: 10648299
    Abstract: A pin-box well tubular connector assembly having pin and box connector members (6, 5) with intermeshing external and internal screw thread profiles is optimized for expansion downhole in a wellbore by: A) configuring the box connector member (5) such that it has at least one thread (10) that does not engage a thread on the pin member (6); and optionally: B) configuring the pin and box connectors (6, 5) such that in axial direction a gap of at least 0.2 mm is present between the external and internal screw thread profiles; and/or C) inserting a swellable dope in the gap between the pin and box connector members (6, 5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: SHELL OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Daniele Di Crescenzo, Serge Methieu Roggeband
  • Patent number: 10648298
    Abstract: A tubular member (1) with a relative rough (1.5-10 ?m) inner surface (5) coated solid lubricating film (10) which is transformed into a substantially viscous rubbery viscoelasto-plastic phase at temperatures in a range between 50° C. and 110° C. is expanded by moving an expansion member (24) with a relatively smooth outer surface (roughness<1.5 ?m) therethrough, such that during expansion a viscous viscoelastoplastic substantially rubbery lubricating film (44) is generated between the tubular member (1) and the expansion mandrel (24), which film remains bonded to the rough inner surface (5) of the expanded tubular (1), but does not stick to the relatively hot and smooth expansion member (24).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: SHELL OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Daniele Di Crescenzo, Mark Michael Shuster, Djurre Hans Zijsling, Rob Bosman
  • Patent number: 10648265
    Abstract: A method of drilling a substantially lateral section of a wellbore includes extension of a first segment of a drilling string with a bottom hole assembly is extended into a wellbore. At determined intervals of the drilling string, a plurality of friction reduction segments are connected as the wellbore is drilled and the drilling string is extended into the wellbore. The friction reduction segments comprise a friction reduction tool and corresponding activation tool for activating the friction reduction tool. The activation tool selectively diverts drilling fluid into a motor powering the friction reduction tool or away from the motor, and can be a ball catch assembly that is activated when a suitably sized projectile is seated in the assembly. Multiple friction reduction segments can be connected to the drilling string and one or more of the plurality of segments can be activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: IMPULSE DOWNHOLE SOLUTIONS LTD.
    Inventors: Douglas Kinsella, Kevin Leroux, Troy Lorenson, Dwayne Parenteau
  • Patent number: 10648319
    Abstract: A rotary steerable bottom hole assembly includes a drill bit disposed at a distal end thereof, and azimuthal resistivity antennas and electronics configured to measure a distance to a formation boundary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Well Resolutions Technology
    Inventor: Borislav J. Tchakarov
  • Patent number: 10641073
    Abstract: A means to generate increasing geological permeability to produce greater volumes of various subsurface geological resources when compared to the current conventional production methods is disclosed. The means include a Pulsed Power Plasma Emitter System capable of substantially increasing the available electrical energy for use in high power compression surge currents that can be discharged and transmitted to power a simplified downhole Plasma Emitter Tool subsystem. The simplified downhole Plasma Emitter Tool sub-system is capable of generating a broad range of precisely controlled magnetohydrodynamic plasma spark discharges that produce a broad range of high power electromagnetic, acoustic and hydrodynamic surge waves. These powerful surge waves are generated at energy and power levels that are necessary to physically modify all types of geological formation permeability and to energize the mobilization of various subsurface fluids and fluidized resources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: Curlett IP LLC
    Inventor: Harry Bailey Curlett
  • Patent number: 10641481
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for producing a superheated steam having a specified ratio of water vapor to combustion gases for injection into a well to enhance heavy oil production. Embodiments comprise indirect-contact steam generators and direct-contact steam generators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: Energy Analyst LLC
    Inventors: A. Burl Donaldson, Brian Hughes
  • Patent number: 10641090
    Abstract: A method for characterizing a hydraulic fracture in a subsurface formation includes inducing a pressure change in a well drilled through the subsurface formation. At least one of pressure and pressure time derivative are measured in or at a location proximate to a wellhead for a selected length of time. At least one of a physical parameter, a time derivative, and a change in the parameter with respect to time of the physical parameter of at least one fracture is determined using the measured at least one of pressure and the time derivative of pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: Seismos Inc.
    Inventors: Jakub Felkl, Youli Quan, Junwei Zhang, Kaitlyn Christine Mascher-Mace, Panagiotis Adamopoulos
  • Patent number: 10619470
    Abstract: Hydrajetting assemblies provide data communication and the ability to jet abrasive fluid at pumping rates exceeding the abrasiveness rating of downhole devices. A hydrajetting tool includes jetting nozzles to jet a fluid into a subterranean formation. A capillary to house a data communication line is positioned along the housing of the tool. The communication line in run through the capillary and couples to a downflow sensing device having a fluid flow prevention device thereon. During perforating, the fluid flow device is closed, thus causing the pressurized abrasive fluid to jet out the nozzles. Since the sensing device is positioned downflow of the hydrajetting tool, the abrasive fluid may be pumped at a rate exceeding the abrasiveness rating of the sensing device. Also, real-time data may be communicated from the sensing device using the communication line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexis Garcia, Ahmed Hamdy El-Beltagy
  • Patent number: 10612309
    Abstract: A reaming tool for enlarging an underground borehole comprises a plurality of cutter assemblies distributed azimuthally around a longitudinal axis of the tool, wherein each cutter assembly includes a supporting structure bearing a sequence of cutters which have hard surfaces exposed and facing in a direction of rotation of the tool. The outer surface of the support structure on each cutter assembly includes zones which each face towards an end of the assembly and is configured such that as it extends circumferentially relative to the tool axis in the direction opposite to rotation of the tool, it also extends away from an end of the assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jonathan Robert Hird, Ashley Bernard Johnson, Gokturk Tunc
  • Patent number: 10612315
    Abstract: A smart skidding system includes a transverse skidding platform comprising a plurality of first skidding rails for skidding the a rig floor of the drilling rig sideways, wherein the plurality of first skidding rails are parallel to each other, a longitudinal skidding platform comprising a plurality of second skidding rails for skidding the rig floor of the drilling rig forward and backward, the plurality of second skidding rails being perpendicular to the plurality of first skidding rails, and a skidder unit configured to skid the rig floor of the drilling rig along the transverse skidding platform or the longitudinal skidding platform, the skidder unit further comprising a gear box assembly having a gear structure configured to engage with the plurality of first skidding rails and the plurality of second skidding rails, and an AC motor configured to drive the skidder unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Ibrahim A. Ghamdi, Ossama R. Sehsah, Mahmoud Adnan Alqurashi
  • Patent number: 10612324
    Abstract: A guide assembly for a downhole tool and related method is disclosed. The guide assembly comprises a guide housing, flappers, and a driver. The guide housing has a passage to receive the downhole tool therethrough. The flappers are movably positionable about the passage to selectively reduce an inlet thereto. The driver comprises a translator rotationally coupled to the flappers via the rods and an actuator to rotate the translator. The flappers are rotatable between the closed and the open position by the driver whereby passage of the downhole tool into the passage is selectively permitted. The translator may be a cam, gear, or rotary driver. The actuator may axially or rotationally drive the translator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: NATIONAL OILWELL VARCO, L.P.
    Inventors: Michael Bradford Jordan, Marcus Joseph Doran, Richard Michael Ward
  • Patent number: 10605021
    Abstract: A method can include latching a well pressure control device releasable assembly in an outer housing, and then rotating a tubular string, thereby disengaging an engagement lug from an engagement profile. A well system can include a pressure control device including a releasable assembly and an outer housing, and a running tool including an engagement lug releasably engaged with an engagement profile of the releasable assembly, and a clutch device that resists relative rotation between the engagement lug and an inner mandrel. A pressure control device can include a bearing assembly that rotatably supports an annular seal relative to an outer case, and an extension attached to the outer case, the extension having an engagement profile including at least two longitudinally elongated sections, one section extending to an end of the extension, and another section being blocked from the end of the extension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC
    Inventor: Tuong T. Le
  • Patent number: 10605064
    Abstract: A sand bypass separator is provided for separating particulate matter from a fluid mixture in a production well and directing the separated particulate matter away from a pump intake. The separator includes an outer tube, an inner tube positioned within the outer tube, and a bypass. The outer tube has a plurality of slots to allow the fluid mixture to enter the separator between the outer tube and the inner tube. As the fluid mixture moves downward, the fluid mixture reaches a downward velocity sufficient to allow the particulate matter in the fluid mixture to continue downward as the fluid is drawn into the inner tube through the pump intake. The bypass extends from above the pump intake to below the pump intake to collect and direct the separated particulate matter separated below the pump intake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: WellWorx Energy Solutions LLC
    Inventor: John M. Raglin
  • Patent number: 10605037
    Abstract: A drone conveyance system for deploying drones into an oil or gas wellbore is described. The system includes a platform, a drone magazine, a platform receiver, a conveyance, and a wellhead receiver. A drone magazine contains a plurality of the drones and selectively releases/feeds the drones into the platform receiver. More than one drone magazine, each containing different drone types, may supply drones to the platform receiver such that different drones may be ordered for disposal into the wellbore. The platform receiver prepared the drones to be moved from the platform to the wellhead by the conveyance. The wellhead receiver accepts the drones from the conveyance and prepares each received drone for dropping into the wellbore via the wellhead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: DynaEnergetics Europe GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Eitschberger, Liam McNelis, Thilo Scharf, Andreas Robert Zemla, Shmuel Silverman
  • Patent number: 10605011
    Abstract: A method for deploying a pump in a wellbore includes coupling the pump to an end of a coiled tubing having upper and lower coiled tubing portions interconnected by a releasable tubing connector, and inserting the pump into the wellbore by extending the coiled tubing therein until the releasable tubing connector is disposed in a suspending arrangement proximate a surface of the wellbore. The method includes uncoupling the upper coiled tubing portion from the releasable connector, wherein the releasable connector, lower coiled tubing portion and pump are retained suspended in the wellbore from the suspending arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: ZiLift Holdings Limited
    Inventor: Jamie Cochran
  • Patent number: 10590748
    Abstract: A reservoir stimulation tool for stimulating a formation surrounding a wellbore having an inner wall includes: a tubular string including an outer wall defining therein an inner bore, the tubular string being configured to be inserted into the wellbore so as to form an annular space between the tubular string and the inner wall of the wellbore, a plurality of ports formed in the outer wall of the tubular string; a plurality of port valves for opening or closing the ports; and a plurality of packers coupled to the tubular string, wherein each packer is configured to be expanded in order to engage the inner wall of the wellbore, thereby isolating two or more longitudinal segments of the annular space from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: STATOIL GULF SERVICES LLC
    Inventors: Auristela Carolina Vasquez Quintero, Jason Bryant
  • Patent number: 10584538
    Abstract: A reamer for enlarging an underground borehole comprises a plurality of cutter assemblies distributed azimuthally around a longitudinal axis of the tool, and each cutter assembly comprises a supporting structure and a plurality of hard faced cutters (211-216) embedded therein with a hard face of each cutter exposed and facing in a direction of rotation of the tool. Each cutter assembly includes at least one outward-facing gauge surface (220), at a radial distance from the tool axis which aligns the gauge surface with the radially outer extremity (218) of at least one cutter. This gauge surface (220) extends (221) in the direction of rotation circumferentially ahead of the extremity of the exposed face of the aligned at least one cutter. It may meet the side of the assembly at a curved (222) or bevelled (342) edge and may also extend back from the exposed face of the cutter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jonathan Robert Hird, Ashley Bernard Johnson, Gokturk Tunc