Patents Examined by Kristyn Hall
  • Patent number: 11454072
    Abstract: A method includes performing a downhole operation in a borehole in a formation. Downhole particles and drilling mud are captured at a surface from the borehole into a screen of a shaker during the downhole operation. Input power that comprises at least one of voltage, current, and leakage current being supplied to the shaker is monitored during operation of the shaker, it is determined whether the input power exceeds a threshold as a result of change in a load on the shaker. In response to determining that the input power exceeds the threshold as the result of change in the load on the shaker, it is determined that there is a kick condition in the borehole, where the kick condition comprises a condition in which a pressure of the formation exceeds a pressure in the borehole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Abhijit Kulkarni, Gillies Alexander MacDonald, Prashant Shekhar, Brian Scott Cooper
  • Patent number: 11448025
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for using a plurality of impact dampening discs composed of a closed cell polyurethane foam composite with polyborodimethylsiloxane as a dilatant non-Newtonian fluid dispersed through a foam matrix in a downhole setting tool to absorb the energy released during setting operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Hunting Titan, Inc.
    Inventors: Johnny Covalt, Joseph Albert Henke
  • Patent number: 11434708
    Abstract: A lost circulation system and a method for reducing losses of drilling fluid in a lost circulation zone of a wellbore are described. The lost circulation system includes a sheet of lost circulation material and particles of a lost circulation material. The sheet of lost circulation material has a maximum thickness of 1 millimeter, a length of one foot to one thousand feet, and a width of one inch to twenty inches. The method for reducing losses of drilling fluid in a lost circulation zone of a wellbore includes identifying the lost circulation zone, deploying a sheet of a first lost circulation material in the wellbore at the lost circulation zone, and circulating a slurry containing particles of the lost circulation material through the wellbore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Bodong Li, Jothibasu Ramasamy, Chinthaka Pasan Gooneratne, Guodong Zhan
  • Patent number: 11434707
    Abstract: A wellbore loss zone remediation method to reduce losses of drilling fluid in a lost circulation zone of a wellbore is described. The wellbore loss zone remediation method includes identifying a lost circulation zone in a wellbore, selecting a lost circulation fabric, selecting a lost circulation material for a slurry, disposing the lost circulation fabric in the wellbore, circulating the slurry in the wellbore, and determining if the lost circulation zone is remediated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Bodong Li, Jothibasu Ramasamy, Chinthaka Pasan Gooneratne, Guodong Zhan
  • Patent number: 11421524
    Abstract: A method of determining the condition of a drill string includes receiving, by a processing device and from one or more sensors coupled to a portion of a drill string at or near a surface of a wellbore, noise information. The noise information represents drilling vibrations of the drill string during drilling of the wellbore. The method also includes determining, by the processing device based on the noise information, multiple vibration modes of the drill string. The method also includes comparing, by the processing device, the vibration modes to at least one vibration mode threshold. The method also includes determining, by the processing device based on the comparison of the vibration modes to the at least one vibration mode threshold, a condition of the drill string.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventor: Roberto Castillo Duran
  • Patent number: 11421516
    Abstract: An enhanced oil recovery method in which carbon dioxide is injected into a well to pressure the well or add lift a production flow from the well recaptures the injected carbon dioxide for reinjection into the well for lift or into another well in a group of for pressuring the well or adding lift to the production flow from the well. Geothermal energy in the production stream can be converted to electrical power for use in the recapturing of the carbon dioxide or other operations at the well site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: SIGL-G, LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth Bowdon, A. Judson Hill, David Rounds
  • Patent number: 11414978
    Abstract: In at least one embodiment, a control system may include a processor coupled to the database. The control system may include a memory accessible to the processor and storing instructions executable by the processor for: during slide drilling, detecting an increase to a first differential pressure (?P) that is greater than a first threshold pressure. In at least one embodiment, the control system may responsive to detecting the first ?P, determining a time duration for which the first ?P exceeds the first threshold pressure. In at least one embodiment, the control system may responsive to the first ?P exceeding the first threshold pressure for less than a first threshold time, continuing the slide drilling without modifying a drilling parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Motive Drilling Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: William Edward Weideman, John Jeremy Cantwell, An Binh Ho
  • Patent number: 11401754
    Abstract: Systems and methods for drill head position determination are disclosed. A method for determining a position of a drill head of a drilling machine may include: retrieving a stored rotational position of at least one sheave and a stored position of the drill head; measuring the rotational position of the at least one sheave using a sheave sensor; initially calibrating the rotational position of the at least one sheave before the drill head moves; dynamically determining the position of the drill head based on the rotational position of the at least one sheave while the drill head is moved; and storing the rotational position of the at least one sheave and the position of the drill head during a shutdown event of the drilling machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Caterpillar Global Mining Equipment LLC
    Inventors: Carl J. Moberg, Rex A. Glover
  • Patent number: 11396782
    Abstract: A window cutting system includes a whipstock having an outer surface, an inner surface, a recess, and a passage extending through the outer surface and the inner surface in the recess. A window mill is connected to the whipstock. The window mill includes a body having a tip portion, a pressure compartment formed in the tip portion, and an axial passage extending though the tip portion from the pressure compartment. A pin connects the window mill and the whipstock. The pin is arranged in the pressure compartment and extends through the axial passage and the passage into the recess. The pin is axially shiftable relative to the window mill and the whipstock when exposed to pressure in the pressure compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES OILFIELD OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Ahmed AlAdawy, Naeem-Ur-Rehman Minhas, Asok Janardhanan Nair, Raghava Raju Lakhamraju
  • Patent number: 11391116
    Abstract: A retrievable setting tool includes a collapsible expansion punch formed by sections. Each section includes an external surface that forms a portion of an expansion face of the collapsible expansion punch. Some sections are capable of sliding relative to other sections. As such, the overall shape of the expansion face may be continuous or discontinuous. The retrievable setting tool could be inside a wellbore to set an expandable member, such as a plug assembly, a patch, a liner hanger, or a packer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: SOLGIX, INC
    Inventor: Gregoire Max Jacob
  • Patent number: 11391129
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling a gas supply to provide gas lift for a production wellbore makes use of Bayesian optimization. A computing device controls a gas supply to inject gas into one or more wellbores. The computing device receives reservoir data associated with a subterranean reservoir to be penetrated by the wellbores and can simulate production using the reservoir data and using a physics-based or machine learning or hybrid physics-based machine learning model for the subterranean reservoir. The production simulation can provide production data. A Bayesian optimization of an objective function of the production data subject to any gas injection constraints can be performed to produce gas lift parameters. The gas lift parameters can be applied to the gas supply to control the injection of gas into the wellbore or wellbores.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Landmark Graphics Corporation
    Inventors: Srinath Madasu, Terry Wong, Keshava Prasad Rangarajan, Steven Ward, ZhiXiang Jiang
  • Patent number: 11391111
    Abstract: The swivel device attaches to a bowl or is implemented as a component of the bowl. The swivel device enables adjustment of the bowl to align the outlet with the flowline. A flange of the swivel device includes multiple fastener apertures for securing the flange to the stack. The swivel device secures the bowl to the stack while allowing rotation of the bowl. Rotation of the bowl adjusts the positioning of the outlet to align the outlet with the flowline for connecting the outlet to the flowline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: PRUITT TOOL & SUPPLY CO.
    Inventors: Grant Pruitt, Cris Braun
  • Patent number: 11391093
    Abstract: A hydraulic rock breaking machine and an apparatus and method for monitoring operation of the same is provided. The apparatus includes at least one pneumatic sensor arranged for monitoring an inner space of the machine and at least one control unit configured to receive and process the pneumatic sensing data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Sandvik Mining and Construction Oy
    Inventor: Erkki Anttila
  • Patent number: 11391114
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of a pressure compensation piston and embodiments of rotary seal assemblies. In one embodiment, a pressure compensation piston for use with a rotary seal assembly includes a stepped piston having an opening extending there through for positioning the stepped piston about a rotatable shaft of a rotary seal assembly. In accordance with this embodiment, the pressure compensation piston further includes a rotary seal positioned along a radial surface of the opening for sealing the stepped piston relative to the rotatable shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph Robert Munguia
  • Patent number: 11391130
    Abstract: A gas-lift system and method, of which the gas-lift system includes a first valve configured to be coupled to a production tubing, a second valve configured to be coupled to the production tubing at a position that is subjacent to the first valve, and a control line coupled to the first valve and the second valve, and configured to apply a control line pressure to the first and second valves, the control line pressure applied by the control line being independent of an annulus pressure in the annulus and a production tubing pressure in the production tubing. The first valve is configured to actuate at least partially in response to the control line pressure, and the second valve is configured to actuate at least partially in response to the control line pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: INNOVEX DOWNHOLE SOLUTIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Adam Anderson, Sam Wildman, Jr., Carlos Isaac Venegas
  • Patent number: 11377912
    Abstract: A shock absorber apparatus includes a rod; a tool connection on a first end of the rod; a piston on a second end of the rod; a flange on the rod between the tool connection and the piston; a ring connection slidably connected to the rod between the tool connection and the flange; a first spring between the ring connection and the flange to bias the ring connection axially away from the flange; a sleeve, connected to a second spring between the second spring and the piston, slidably encircling the piston and a portion of the rod, and extending past the piston to a pumpdown connection; and a fin. A method for a placing a tool in a landing ring of a drilling tubular includes using the shock absorber apparatus to absorb shocks caused by the landing operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: CORDAX EVALUATION TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventor: Charanjit Singh Sandhu
  • Patent number: 11371307
    Abstract: The modular bowl system provides a detachable bowl top and a modular bottom. The bowl top detaches to allow for easy repair of the bowl system should the bowl top become damaged. The detachable modular bottom securing to the bowl body for attaching the bowl body to the annular. The modular bottom provides a fixed attachment or a rotatable attachment of the bowl body with the annular. The modular bottom provides different sized bottom flanges for attachment to different sized annulars. The bowl body rotates for positioning of the bowl and the outlets and the inlet of the bowl for attachment to the flow line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: PRUITT TOOL & SUPPLY CO.
    Inventors: Grant Pruitt, Cris Braun, Andrew Lloyd Plowman
  • Patent number: 11352851
    Abstract: A well (10) in a geological structure (11), the well (10) comprising: a first casing string (12a) and a second casing string (12b) inside the first casing string (12a) and defining a first inter-casing annulus (14a) therebetween. A wirelessly controllable valve (16a), in the second casing string (12b) provides fluid communication between the first inter-casing annulus (14a) and a second casing bore (14b). The first or second casing string are less than 250 meters longer in length than the second or first casing string respectively and may be the same length. The distal ends of the first and second casing strings may be in a substantially impermeable formation (11). A number of benefits can be realised from such an arrangement. For example, in the event of a “blow-out”, kill fluid may be introduced into the well bore without the need to drill a relief well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: METROL TECHNOLOGY LIMITED
    Inventors: Shaun Compton Ross, Leslie David Jarvis
  • Patent number: 11352850
    Abstract: System and methods for detecting a composition in a wellbore during a cementing operation. An electrochemical cell can be disposed towards an end of a wellbore. The electrochemical cell can generate electrical energy in response to a physical presence of a composition at the electrochemical cell. The composition can be pumped from a surface of the wellbore during a cementing operation of the wellbore. Further, a telemetry signal indicating the physical presence of the composition at the electrochemical cell can be generated based on the electrical energy generated by the electrochemical cell. As follows, the telemetry signal can be transmitted to the surface of the wellbore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: John Paul Bir Singh, John L. Maida, Mikko Jaaskelainen, Krishna Babu Yerubandi
  • Patent number: 11326440
    Abstract: An instrumented coupling for pipe joints is described herein. The instrumented coupling includes a first threaded end configured to thread to a first pipe joint and a second threaded end configured to thread to a second pipe joint. The instrumented coupling also includes a sensor configured to obtain a measurement of a parameter of a well and a communications device configured to communicate to a receiving device outside of the well. The instrumented coupling further includes a processor configured to execute instructions in a data store. The instructions direct the processor to read the measurement from the sensor, compare the measurement from the sensor to a preset limit, and generate a signal within the communications device based, at least in part, on the measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Benjamin J. Spivey, Kevin H. Searles, Eric R. Grueschow