Patents Examined by Kenneth L. Thompson
  • Patent number: 10378531
    Abstract: The utility belongs to the field of the non-beam pumping unit, specifically relating to a non-beam pumping unit driven by a motor reduction unit. The non-beam pumping unit driven by a motor reduction unit comprises a base, a tower body and a drive mechanism. The drive mechanism is mounted on the platform, comprising a motor reduction unit, a large roller, a small roller, a belt and a counterweight device. The motor reduction unit drives the large roller to rotate by a coupling, and one end of the belt is connected with a beam hanger and the other end hangs down after wrapping around the large roller and the small roller from the upper side and then connected with the counterweight device. The motor reduction unit is composed of a motor and a planetary gear reducer in series.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Daqing Dannuo Petroleum Technology Development Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Zhishen Su
  • Patent number: 10378298
    Abstract: An unbalanced sub-assembly includes a turbine and a shaft coupled to the turbine at a first end of the shaft. The unbalanced sub-assembly is capable of rotating and imparting a vibration to the casing in response to a fluid being passed through the casing. A rupture disc is positioned on one end of the unbalanced sub assembly. The rupture disc is configured to rupture above a specified differential pressure threshold caused by fluid flowing through the vibration assembly. The rupture disc is capable of allowing the fluid to bypass the unbalanced sub assembly when the rupture disc is in a ruptured state. The rupture disc directs fluid through the unbalanced sub assembly when the rupture disc is in an un-ruptured state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Victor Carlos Costa de Oliveira, Dean S. Porter, Khaled K. Abouelnaaj
  • Patent number: 10370918
    Abstract: The present disclosure is for a vibratory downhole rotary apparatus. The apparatus includes a cylindrical hollow body, a stator disposed within the cylindrical hollow body and a rotor disposed within the stator. The apparatus also includes a flow resistance system to vary the resistance of fluid flow through the apparatus to increase and decrease backpressure across the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Thru Tubing Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Roger Schultz, Brock Watson
  • Patent number: 10364632
    Abstract: A downhole assembly arranged within a borehole includes a downhole tool including a degradable-on-demand material, the degradable-on-demand material including: a matrix material; and, an energetic material configured to generate energy upon activation to facilitate the degradation of the downhole tool; and, a triggering system including: an electrical circuit; an igniter in the electrical circuit arranged to ignite the energetic material; a sensor configured to sense a target event or parameter within the borehole; and, a control unit arranged to receive sensed signals from the sensor and to deliver a start signal to the electrical circuit in response to the sensed signals indicating an occurrence of the target event or parameter; wherein, after the start signal is delivered from the control unit, the electrical circuit is closed and the igniter is initiated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES, A GE COMPANY, LLC
    Inventors: Zhiyue Xu, James Doane, Yingqing Xu, Zhihui Zhang
  • Patent number: 10364612
    Abstract: Roller cutters comprise a diamond-bonded body joined to an infiltration substrate. An extension is joined to the substrate and includes first section having a diameter sized the same as the substrate, and an integral second section having a diameter smaller than the substrate. The extension is joined to the substrate during an HPHT process. The first section has a thickness greater than that of the infiltration substrate. The second section has an axial length greater than the combined thickness of the substrate and the first section. The extension has a strength and/or toughness greater than the substrate as a result of its material composition, e.g., the amount of binder phase material and/or the size of hard phase material. The roller cutter is rotatably disposed within a pocket internal cavity, wherein the pocket is attached to a drill bit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: SMITH INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventor: Feng Yu
  • Patent number: 10364631
    Abstract: A downhole assembly includes a downhole tool including a degradable-on-demand material including: a matrix material; and, an energetic material configured to generate energy upon activation to facilitate the degradation of the downhole tool; and, a triggering system including: an electrical circuit having an open condition and a closed condition, the electrical circuit configured to be in the closed condition after movement of an object downhole that engages directly or indirectly with the triggering system; and, an igniter within the electrical circuit, the igniter arranged to ignite the downhole tool in the closed condition of the electrical circuit. In the open condition of the electrical circuit the igniter is inactive, and in the closed condition of the electrical circuit the igniter is activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES, A GE COMPANY, LLC
    Inventors: Zhiyue Xu, James Doane, Yingqing Xu, Zhihui Zhang
  • Patent number: 10364630
    Abstract: A downhole assembly includes a downhole tool including a degradable-on-demand material and a triggering system. The degradable-on-demand material includes a matrix material and an energetic material configured to generate energy upon activation to facilitate the degradation of the downhole tool. The triggering system includes an igniter arranged to ignite the downhole tool, an electrical circuit, and a pre-set timer. In an open condition of the circuit the igniter is not activated, and in a closed condition of the circuit the igniter is activated. The pre-set timer is operable to close the electrical circuit after a pre-set time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES, A GE COMPANY, LLC
    Inventors: Zhiyue Xu, James Doane, Yingqing Xu, Zhihui Zhang
  • Patent number: 10351751
    Abstract: A wellbore is internally sealed using nanoparticles. Permeability properties are determined for a particular formation, along with its pore throat size distribution. A wellbore internal sealant (nanoparticle treatment fluid) is designed based on the determined permeability properties and pore throat size distribution. The nanoparticle treatment fluid is introduced into the formation. Pore throats within the formation are plugged by nanoparticles in the nanoparticle treatment fluid. Internal sealing reduces leak-off from filtercake damage, and also eliminates build-up of surface filtercake. Sealing the pore-structure of a particular wellbore zone alleviates the need for additional lost circulation material, resulting in a very thin filtercake and significantly reducing the chance of differential sticking. Oil-based muds can be replaced with water-based equivalents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Dominic Joseph Brady, Mohan Kanaka Raju Panga, Wael Abdallah
  • Patent number: 10352146
    Abstract: Present embodiments are directed to a method that includes receiving inputs indicative of a property of a fracture within a dynamic fracture network, assigning an orientation to each of the plurality of fractures, and assigning a plurality of fracture nodes and fracture cells encompassing each fracture node along the fracture. The method also includes receiving variables representative of apertures at a first fracture node and a second fracture node and determining fluid flow within the fracture cell based on Navier-Stokes equations with proppant transport, as a function of the conditions at the first fracture node and the second fracture node. The method further includes displaying a simulation representative of a flow of proppant through the fracture based on the junction conditions via a display coupled to the processing component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Dinesh Ananda Shetty, Avi Lin
  • Patent number: 10344562
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an annular isolation device for a riser includes a tubular body connectable to the riser. A closure member is rotatable between a closed position isolating fluid communication in the tubular body and an open position permitting fluid communication through the tubular body. The annular isolation device further includes an actuator disposed outside the tubular body and operable to rotate the closure member between the open position and the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: WEATHERFORD TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, LLC
    Inventors: Joe Noske, Christopher L. McDowell
  • Patent number: 10344580
    Abstract: A passive multiphase separator is configured to separate gas from a two-phase fluid in a wellbore. The passive multiphase separator includes an intake tube that has an intake end, a discharge end and an interior section between the intake end and the discharge end. The interior section includes a rifled interior surface that induces rotation in fluids passing through the interior section. The passive multiphase separator further includes a head assembly connected to the discharge end of the intake tube. The head assembly includes a crossover tube extending into the interior section, one or more gas vents extending from an interior of the crossover tube to an exterior of the head assembly and a liquid discharge. The passive multiphase separator can be deployed in a variety of hydrocarbon recovery systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: GE Oil & Gas ESP, Inc.
    Inventor: Jason Ryan Williams
  • Patent number: 10337308
    Abstract: A system for hydraulically fracturing an underground formation in an oil or gas well to extract oil or gas from the formation, the oil or gas well having a wellbore that permits passage of fluid from the wellbore into the formation. The system includes a plurality of electric pumps fluidly connected to the well, and configured to pump fluid into the wellbore at high pressure so that the fluid passes from the wellbore into the, and fractures the formation. The system can also include a plurality of natural gas powered generators electrically connected to the plurality of electric pumps to provide electrical power to the pumps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: U.S. Well Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Joel N. Broussard, Jeff McPherson, Robert Kurtz
  • Patent number: 10329870
    Abstract: A backup ring assembly has a base ring to support the plastically deformed extrusion barrier when the packer sealing element is set. The base ring has a thin walled tapered extending ring out of the base ring and into the direction of the sealing element. The sealing element fills the annular gap volume between an upper taper on the extending ring and the body of the backup ring such that on setting the pressure internally in the seal material helps to apply a force in a direction toward the mandrel and for the full circumference of the mandrel. This force and the flexibility of the extending ring helps push the extending ring toward the mandrel outer surface to close extrusion gaps between the mandrel and the base ring of the backup ring assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES, A GE COMPANY, LLC
    Inventors: YingQing Xu, Guijun Deng
  • Patent number: 10329862
    Abstract: A coiled adaptive seat is held to a smaller diameter for delivery with a tool that can feature a locating lug for desired alignment of the seat with an intended groove in the inner wall of a tubular. The release tool retracts a cover from the seat allowing its diameter to increase as it enters a groove. Alternatively the adaptive seat is released near the groove and pushed axially in the string to the groove for fixation. Once in the groove the inside diameter of the string is a support for a blocking object so that sequential treatment of parts of a zone can be accomplished. The blocking object is removed with pressure, dissolving, milling or disintegration leaving a narrow ledge in the tubular bore from the seat that can simply be left in place or milled as well. An E4#10 from Baker Hughes is modified for adaptive seat delivery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Inventor: Stephen L. Crow
  • Patent number: 10323491
    Abstract: Systems and methods for variable rate steam injection, including via solar power for enhanced oil recovery, are disclosed. Several embodiments include using the variable nature of solar-generated steam to improve the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of enhanced oil recovery processes. In particular embodiments, the variable rate injection can provide more uniform steam distribution in an oil-bearing formation, at a lower cost than if the same amount of steam were provided on a continuous basis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: GlassPoint Solar, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Palmer, Peter Emery von Behrens, John Setel O'Donnell, Ali Hassan Ibrahim Mohammadi
  • Patent number: 10301931
    Abstract: A downhole system provides a data interface to a first downhole tool such as a steerable rotary tool. The data interface uses a close proximity data connection such as a connection between inductive loops or coils or a direct wired or optical connection. The interface provides data to a second downhole tool in a drill string section adjacent to the first downhole tool. In some embodiments data is passed to a third downhole tool that includes a telemetry transmitter. The third downhole tool may comprise a MWD (measurement while drilling) tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Evolution Engineering Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick R. Derkacz, Aaron William Logan, Justin C. Logan, Kurtis West, Jili (Jerry) Liu, Barry D. Buternowsky
  • Patent number: 10294728
    Abstract: A downhole under-reamer for use in reaming a downhole bore. The under-reamer comprises a body and a plurality of cutters mounted on the body. The cutters are mounted on the body so as to be extendable from a retracted position to at least two extended positions. The at least two extended positions comprise reaming positions at respective first and second reaming diameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: NOV Downhole Eurasia Limited
    Inventors: Brian Andrew McCarthy, Philip Graham Rodger
  • Patent number: 10287870
    Abstract: An apparatus for drilling a borehole in an earth formation includes: a plurality of drill pipes configured to be coupled together to form a drill string that is configured to convey an earth formation disintegrating device while progressing into the earth formation; a communication medium disposed on the drill string and configured to communicate a signal; and one or more processors. The one or more processors are configured to: receive drilling information; determine a stress distribution along at least a part of the drill string using the drilling information; determine a cumulative fatigue damage of at least a part of one drill pipe in the drill string using the stress distribution; and write the cumulative fatigue damage of the at least a part of one drill pipe to a memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES, A GE COMPANY, LLC
    Inventor: Thomas G. Dahl
  • Patent number: 10287838
    Abstract: The present invention provides a running tool 10 for a casing hanger 12 in which the casing hanger 12 is arranged to be clamped within a well bore. In the clamped position, the suspension weight of the casing hanger 12 (and suspended) casing string is supported by the wellhead and the running tool 10 is then releasable from the casing hanger 12. The release of the running tool 10 from the casing hanger 12 is performed by applying an axial pressure down the running tool 10 which then enables the securement means 30 of the running tool 10 to be moved into an unsecured position. In the secured position, the casing hanger 12 is suspendable from the running tool 10 and the running tool 10 supports the suspension weight of the casing hanger 12 (and the casing string located there below). The running tool 10 comprises activation means 40 in order to enable the securement means 30 to move from the secured position to the unsecured position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: Plexus Holdings, PLC.
    Inventors: Bernard Herman Van Bilderbeek, Michael Robertson, Craig Francis Bryce Hendrie, Mark Bridges
  • Patent number: 10287835
    Abstract: A coiled adaptive seat is held to a smaller diameter for delivery with a tool that can feature a locating lug for desired alignment of the seat with an intended groove in the inner wall of a tubular. The release tool retracts a cover from the seat allowing its diameter to increase as it enters a groove. Alternatively the adaptive seat is released near the groove and pushed axially in the string to the groove for fixation. Once in the groove the inside diameter of the string is a support for a blocking object so that sequential treatment of parts of a zone can be accomplished. The blocking object is removed with pressure, dissolving, milling or disintegration leaving a narrow ledge in the tubular bore from the seat that can simply be left in place or milled as well. An E4#10 from Baker Hughes is modified for adaptive seat delivery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Inventor: Stephen L. Crow