Patents Examined by Kenneth L. Thompson
  • Patent number: 11168532
    Abstract: An apparatus or a well tool for testing a blowout preventer (BOP) on a surface wellhead. The apparatus includes a sacrificial wellhead adapter, a top locking mechanism adapted to lock the adapter to a BOP riser, and a bottom locking mechanism adapted to lock the adapter to a permanent tubing or casing spool of the surface wellhead. The apparatus further includes a plurality of lock down screws configured to be activated as a load ring. The sacrificial wellhead adapter further comprises a first profile for accommodating a test plug load ring, and a sealing profile for a test plug. The apparatus further includes a test plug with an activated load shoulder. The test plug is activated externally by energizing the lock down screws. The apparatus further includes a load ring configured to lock the test plug in place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventor: Mohammed E. Mukhlifi
  • Patent number: 11168537
    Abstract: A fluid-pressure-set uphole end for a hybrid straddle packer has a multicomponent mandrel with a fixed piston and a multicomponent sliding sleeve with a sliding sleeve piston housing that houses the fixed piston. The multicomponent sliding sleeve reciprocates within a limited range on the multicomponent mandrel in response to fluid pressure pumped into a central passage of the multicomponent mandrel. An anti-set spring constantly resists relative movement between the multicomponent mandrel and the multicomponent sliding sleeve and returns the uphole end to a run-in condition when fluid pressure in the central passage is released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: EXACTA-FRAC ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Joze John Hrupp, Ahmed Mohamed Saeed
  • Patent number: 11162332
    Abstract: Methods and systems for modeling the efficiency of fluid transfer between a wellbore and containers during a displacement operation. In one embodiment, the methods and systems may include providing a fluid transfer model based on constraints determined from data obtained from a wellbore servicing system, wherein the fluid transfer model comprises expected properties of the wellbore servicing system at one or more intervals during a fluid displacement operation, selecting containers for transferring a wellbore servicing fluid to a wellbore based on the expected properties, selecting containers for transferring a return fluid from the wellbore based on the expected properties, determining actual properties of the wellbore servicing system from data obtained from the wellbore servicing system, comparing the expected properties and the actual properties, and if the expected properties are different from the actual properties, modifying at least one of the expected properties of the wellbore servicing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Vitor Lopes Pereira, Dale E. Jamison, Alexandra Clare Morrison
  • Patent number: 11162350
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a downhole drilling tool that may include: an earth-boring drill bit including: a bit body; a shank coupled to the bit body; a strain puck removably coupled to the earth-boring drill bit, the strain puck including a strain gauge to collect data indicating a downhole force applied to the earth-boring drill bit during a drilling operation; and a plurality of blades disposed on exterior portions of the bit body, each blade having respective cutting elements disposed thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Bradley David Dunbar
  • Patent number: 11151454
    Abstract: A system for multi-stage placement of material in a wellbore includes a recurrent neural network that can be configured based on data from a multi-stage, stimulated wellbore. A computing device in communication with a sensor and a pump is operable to implement the recurrent neural network, which may include a long short-term neural network model (LSTM). Surface data from the sensor at each observation time of a plurality of observation times is used by the recurrent neural network to produce a predicted value for a response variable at a future time, and the predicted value for the response variable is used to control a pump being used to place the material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Landmark Graphics Corporation
    Inventors: Srinath Madasu, Keshava Prasad Rangarajan
  • Patent number: 11149523
    Abstract: A toe sleeve that is configured to disconnect from casing. More specifically, a toe sleeve that is configured to shear from casing creating a dynamic opening that does not get plugged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Vertice Oil Tools
    Inventors: Mohamed Ibrahim Saraya, Stephen Parks, Michael Lo
  • Patent number: 11149534
    Abstract: A method of processing a fluid produced from a well, the produced fluid being a high pressure fluid, the method comprising: reducing the pressure of the fluid to a reduced pressure such that a gas phase and a liquid phase are formed; separating the gas phase from the liquid phase thus forming a gas product and a liquid product; and storing the liquid product in a storage tank at a pressure such that the liquid product remains in a stable liquid phase during storage, wherein the reduced pressure is greater than atmospheric pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: EQUINOR ENERGY AS
    Inventors: Arne Olav Fredheim, Bjørgulf Haukelidsæter Eidesen, Idar Olav Grytdal, Ola Ravndal
  • Patent number: 11149515
    Abstract: Aspects of the subject technology relate to systems and methods for injecting down-hole tools into a fracturing line. A fracturing system may include a fracturing line of a respective wellbore and a launcher operationally coupled to the fracturing line though a respective supply line at a pressure lower than a pressure of the fracturing line. The fracturing system may further include a magazine containing a plurality of down-hole tools that is operationally coupled to the launcher for sending a down-hole tool of the plurality of down-hole tools to the launcher. The fracturing system may also include a launching chamber operationally coupled to the respective supply line for receiving the down-hole tool and having a pressure automatically adjustable to substantially equal the pressure of the fracturing line after the launching chamber is sealed from the respective supply line for disposing the down-hole tool into the fracturing line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Brad Robert Bull, Tim H. Hunter, Kurt Rohrbough Harpold, Jr., William Joe Robinson, Glen L. Handke, Chad Adam Fisher
  • Patent number: 11142989
    Abstract: A tool for perforating, packing and fracturing and a tubing string comprising the tool are disclosed. The tool comprises an upper connector, a connection sleeve, a mandrel, a packer, a lower connector, and an inner sleeve. The upper connector is provided with communication holes, and a nozzle is provided at each communication hole. The inner sleeve is provided on an inner wall of the upper connector to block the nozzle. Under an action of a fracturing fluid, the inner sleeve moves downwards to expose the nozzle, and the packer is packed. Then, perforating is performed through the nozzle. After perforating is finished, the nozzle is configured to be lost at a communication hole, and then fracturing is performed. When the tool is used, operation cost can be reduced, and reservoir stimulation effect can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignees: CHINA PETROLEUM & CHEMICAL CORPORATION, SINOPEC SOUTHWEST OIL & GAS COMPANY
    Inventors: Zhenwei Gan, Bin Qi, Shunqu Hu, Zhimin Hou, Yongmao Lin, Yijun Zhou, Lei Wang, Tao Liu, Wenjiang Teng, Jingyu Cui
  • Patent number: 11142988
    Abstract: An inflatable packer assembly comprising a first fixed sleeve fixed to a mandrel, a first sliding sleeve moveable along the mandrel, and a first inflatable member connected to the first fixed sleeve and the first sliding sleeve. A second sliding sleeve is moveable along the mandrel, and a second inflatable member is connected to the first sliding sleeve and the second sliding sleeve. A second fixed sleeve is fixed to the mandrel and slidably engages the second sliding sleeve. An inflation flowline disposed within the mandrel is in fluid communication with interiors of the first and second inflatable members for inflating the first and second inflatable members to isolate a portion of a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation. An injection flowline is disposed within the mandrel for injecting a fluid into the isolated wellbore portion at a high enough pressure to create microfractures in the subterranean formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Pierre-Yves Corre, Patrice Milh, Stephane Briquet
  • Patent number: 11142959
    Abstract: Rotatable elements for use with earth-boring tools include a movable element and a stationary element. The rotatable element may include a void within the support structure and at least one pin protruding from the void through an exterior side of the support structure. The rotatable element may further include at least one aperture configured to provide a vent to the void. The rotatable element may be disposed at least partially within a cavity of the stationary element. The stationary element may further include a track configured to interact with the at least one pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Oilfield Operations LLC
    Inventors: Jon David Schroder, John Abhishek Raj Bomidi
  • Patent number: 11136870
    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: June 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: U.S. Well Services, LLC
    Inventors: Joel N. Broussard, Jeff McPherson, Robert Kurtz
  • Patent number: 11131185
    Abstract: Aspects of the subject technology relate to systems and methods for deploying fiber optic lines in a wellbore using a fiber optic deployment device. The device can include at least one fiber optic spool forming a canister. The canister can be operable to self-propel through at least a portion of the wellbore. Each of the at least one fiber optic spool can comprising one or more fiber optic lines. Each of the one or more fiber optic lines can be coupled to a bridge plug at a first end and coupled to a cable at a second end opposite the first end. The device can include a sleeve covering the at least one fiber optic spool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Mikko Jaaskelainen, Brian Vandellyn Park, John L. Maida
  • Patent number: 11118429
    Abstract: Methods and systems for controlling a set of tools for hydrocarbon recovery are presented. One example system generally includes a first tool and a first control device mounted on the first tool and configured to operate the first tool. The first control device includes an explosion-proof housing and a processor disposed in the housing. The system further includes a second tool and a second control device mounted on the second tool and configured to operate the second tool. The second control device includes an explosion-proof housing and a processor disposed in the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: WEATHERFORD TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Wiedecke, Bjoern Thiemann, Carlo Hoelterling, Frank Wern
  • Patent number: 11111781
    Abstract: A system for deploying sensors throughout a vertical section and a horizontal section of an unconventional well comprises a mandrel comprising a set of extendable arms; a conductivity sensor mounted on a first predetermined subset of the set of movable arms; a strain sensor mounted on a second predetermined subset of the set of movable arms; a first downhole tool configured to be placed in the horizontal section of the unconventional well; a second downhole tool placed in a vertical section of the well, the first downhole tool and the second downhole tool adapted to operate simultaneously; a navigation package; a real time communications short hop data communicator; a data communicator; a downhole power source; and a surface system configured to collect and process data obtained in the well. The system can be used to provide data to evaluate conditions in the well and its reservoirs as well as frac height and frac width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: Tubel LLC
    Inventor: Paulo Tubel
  • Patent number: 11111778
    Abstract: A method for providing a well injection program in which injection testing is performed on an existing well which is intended to be an injection well in a field development. Water is injected into the well in a series of step rate tests or injection cycles, the data is modelled to determine thermal stress characteristics of the well and by reservoir modelling the optimum injection parameters are determined for the well injection program to provide for maximum recovery. The thermal stress characteristics are those that would previously have been obtained from core samples when the well was drilled. Further wells on a development can be tested and the individual thermal stress characteristics of each well combined in the reservoir model for optimized field development.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: GEOMEC ENGINEERING LTD.
    Inventor: Frederic Joseph Santarelli
  • Patent number: 11111767
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates, according to some embodiments, to apparatus, systems, and methods of fracturing a geological structure including the application of kinetic energy (e.g., from high velocity frack fluid) to a subterranean structure. In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to apparatus, systems, and methods for delivery of high velocity fluid to a well using a down hole valve and/or throttling system. The present disclosure relates to apparatus, systems, and methods of generating pressure using accumulators (e.g., high pressure accumulators) at the surface of a well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: THE ANDERS FAMILY LIVING TRUST
    Inventor: Edward O. Anders
  • Patent number: 11105170
    Abstract: A jarring tool includes a spring and a hydraulic piston cylinder arrangement for controlling the release of a mandrel to initiate a jarring force. The tool includes an adjustment mechanism for adjusting the minimum amount of an upward pulling force required to release the mandrel. The adjustment mechanism includes an axially adjustable trigger sleeve that cooperates with a dog clutch surrounding the mandrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Inventor: Robert W. Evans
  • Patent number: 11105182
    Abstract: A compact rotary surface jack with a driven rotary hanger flange on an upper travelling plate of the jack is provided by the invention; the jack is preferably a horseshoe jack. Capabilities to work on the well such as rotating and reciprocating while cementing casing in place in the well, or setting or unsetting in-hole devices such as packers, anchors and bridge plugs (etc.) by providing low speed (1-6 rpm) rotational force and short (1-6 feet) linear vertical forces to tubulars in a well to which the device is attached, are enabled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: PIPE SLIDERS LTD.
    Inventors: Conrad Petrowsky, Jeremy Hayter
  • Patent number: 11105196
    Abstract: A leak detection system includes an annular housing that defines a bore, a constriction with the bore, and a channel extending radially-outwardly from the bore and positioned upstream of the constriction. The leak detection system also includes a sensor positioned outside of the bore and fluidly coupled to the channel, wherein the sensor is configured to detect a leaked fluid within the bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Jonathan Haslanger, Vikas Rakhunde, Ian McDaniel