Patents Examined by MacDonald, A.
  • Patent number: 11828119
    Abstract: A wellbore tubular flotation device comprises a housing having a locking element disposed thereon. The housing is shaped to move through an interior of a wellbore tubular segment. The locking element is shaped to engage the interior of the wellbore tubular segment. The locking element comprises a locking mechanism configured to urge the locking element into contact with the interior of the wellbore tubular. A burst disk is engaged with the housing and is shaped to close the tubular segment to fluid flow. A release mechanism is configured to reverse the urging of the locking mechanism when a release tool is moved through the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Deep Casing Tools, Ltd.
    Inventors: David John Stephenson, Tomasz Jozef Walerianczyk
  • Patent number: 11828130
    Abstract: A release mechanism for a mechanically locked wiper plug system is provided. The release mechanism may utilize a shifting sleeve to rotate or pivot a release.sub, thus: disengaging a load shoulder and releasing the plug system, in some embodiments, the plug system may be mechanically locked to a running tool via corresponding slotted load shoulders in the running tool and on a release sub. The release sub may be connected: to an actuation sleeve via shear screws. Furthermore, the actuation sleeve may contain a guide consisting of one or more helical slotted guides which interact with the release sub shear screws.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Dril-Quip, Inc.
    Inventor: Jacob S. Warneke
  • Patent number: 11828120
    Abstract: A completion configuration and a method for an electrical submersible pump (ESP) are provided. An exemplary completion configuration includes a dual port packer, a tubing line mounted in a first port of the dual port packer, wherein the tubing line carries fluid from a reservoir to a surface, and a motor head mounted in a second port of the dual port packer, wherein the motor head couples to ESP power terminations that are disposed uphole of the dual port packer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Abdolrahman A. Alsaif, Francis E. Dominguez, Laurie S. Duthie, Cleavant Flippin
  • Patent number: 11821281
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes systems and methods for flow-activated plug assembly flow seat initiation, which in some aspects may comprise sealing a plug within a downhole bore, and may include a plug assembly comprising a frustoconical tube; a tubular mandrel positioned longitudinally through the frustoconical tube and having port(s) fluidly connecting a mandrel bore with the bore of the frustoconical tube, and having a shear ring extending from the mandrel; and a ball configured to fluidly seal the proximal end of the tubular mandrel; wherein the tubular mandrel is configured to move between a first position having a fluid passageway through the ports and a second position wherein the shear ring has been sheared away when a predetermined fluid pressure is applied to the plug assembly and the tubular mandrel is positioned relative to the frustoconical tube such that the port(s) are blocked, closing the fluid passageway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Paramount Design LLC
    Inventors: Loren Swor, Brian Wilkinson
  • Patent number: 11814923
    Abstract: A variable stiffness engineered degradable ball or seal having a degradable phase and a stiffener material. The variable stiffness engineered degradable ball or seal can optionally be in the form of a degradable diverter ball or sealing element which can be made neutrally buoyant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: TERVES LLC
    Inventors: Andrew Sherman, Nicholas Farkas, Raghu Meesala
  • Patent number: 11808107
    Abstract: An apparatus for deploying a circular device such as a frac ball into a wellbore, and systems and methods for using the same, is provided. In various embodiments, the apparatus can have a magazine that biases the circular device upward, and then an actuator and slidebar move the circular device from the magazine down a chute and into a wellbore. The apparatus can be operated remotely to reduce the risk of harm to a human operator. Other aspects and features of the apparatus are described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Inventors: Shane Triche, Heath Triche
  • Patent number: 11808122
    Abstract: A fluid end is coupled to and configured to be driven by an electric motor. A shear interconnect is at an uphole end of the electric submersible pump. The shear interconnect is configured to shear a cable line between the electric submersible pump and a topside facility. The shear interconnect is configured to shear the cable at the electric submersible pump. A safety valve is arranged to cease flow within a wellbore, in which the electric submersible pump is installed, when the safety valve is in a closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Upwing Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Herman Artinian, David Biddick, Cole Young
  • Patent number: 11802455
    Abstract: A technique facilitates use of a packer (34) in a borehole (32) or within other tubular structures. The packer (34) may be constructed for mounting about a generally tubular base pipe (36). The packer (34) generally comprises a metal sleeve (40) combined with extremities (44) located at each axial end of the metal sleeve. The metal sleeve maintains a seal once expanded to a surrounding wellbore wall, e.g. a casing wall. For example, the metal sleeve may be combined with an elastomer along its exterior so the elastomer may seal against the surrounding wellbore wall (42) when the metal sleeve is radially expanded. Additionally, an anchoring system (48) is disposed within one or both of the extremities and oriented for engagement with the tubular base pipe so as to act against rotation and sliding of the packer with respect to the tubular base pipe (42).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Romain Neveu, Samuel Roselier, Gwenael Tanguy
  • Patent number: 11802454
    Abstract: An anchoring apparatus for use in a wellbore, comprises at least one movable wall engaging member for engaging a wall of a wellbore, wherein the at least one movable wall engaging member is movable from a retracted position to an expanded position to engage the wall, and from the expanded position to a retracted position to disengage the wall. Provision of one or more wall engaging members being movable from an expanded position to a retracted position allows the anchoring apparatus to be retrieved from the wellbore, and in particular, from an open hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: WEATHERFORD U.K. LIMITED
    Inventors: Philip C G Egleton, Stephen Reid
  • Patent number: 11795780
    Abstract: A completion assembly to aid in gravel packing a wellbore which assembly includes a plurality of interconnected sand screen assemblies, each sand screen assembly having a wireless adjustable electronic flow control node disposed along the sand screen base pipe to control flow of a gravel packing slurry from the base pipe into the wellbore annulus. Each electronic flow control node includes a valve that can be adjusted by an electric actuator powered by a power harvesting mechanism disposed in a flow path of the completion assembly. A wireless transmitter receives a control signal to control the electric actuator. The control signal may be transmitted sequentially from a distal most sand screen assembly to a proximal sand screen assembly in order to sequentially build the gravel pack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Linley Fripp, Stephen Michael Greci
  • Patent number: 11788405
    Abstract: A downhole oil level detection device includes a mounting housing (1) and a balance cylinder (2) installed on the mounting housing (1). The balance cylinder (2) includes a cylinder body (25) and a moving piston (21), a piston tension spring (22), a moving rod (23), a moving rod compression spring (24) and a displacement sensor (3) installed in the cylinder body (25). One end of the piston tension spring (22) is fixed to one end of the cylinder body (25), the other end thereof is connected to one side of the moving piston (21); one side of the moving piston (21) is also connected to one end of the moving rod compression spring (24), the other end of the moving rod compression spring (24) is connected to one end of the moving rod (23), the other end of the moving rod (23) is provided with the displacement sensor (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: China Oilfield Services Limited
    Inventors: Zhibin Tian, Zanqing Wei, Lin Huang, Xiaoqiang Du, Yongren Feng, Bin Gao, Peng Sun, Yong Jiang, Minglue Fan, Shiwei Zong
  • Patent number: 11788366
    Abstract: A gravel pack system includes a liner assembly and a deployment assembly. The liner assembly includes a sand control screen. The deployment assembly facilitates rotation of the liner assembly and circulation through the liner assembly while running the liner assembly into a wellbore using a work string. The deployment assembly includes a crossover tool that is operated to facilitate gravel packing without manipulation of the work string. The deployment assembly also includes a setting tool for setting a packer and/or a sand barrier at the top of the liner assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC
    Inventor: Jeffrey D. Herndon
  • Patent number: 11773680
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to mechanical packer systems. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to devices, tools, and methods for controlling fluid flow with one or more mechanical packer assemblies. A mechanical packer system may be used in vertical, inclined, or horizontal casings, pipes, boreholes, cartridges, or similar conduits. The mechanical packer system may be applied in casings below a ground surface (e.g., groundwater contamination assessments, groundwater resource investigations, or oil and gas exploration) or used in casings above a ground surface (e.g., water or gas lines, drainage pipes, or horizontal borings in tunnels). The mechanical packers described in the present disclosure are generally considered retrievable and useful for other purposes; however, the systems could also be dedicated to a specific application and considered permanent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Alexander Innovations, LLC
    Inventor: W. Joseph Alexander
  • Patent number: 11767726
    Abstract: Apparatus can have a separable housing having a longitudinal length extending along a longitudinal axis with an upper portion and a lower portion. One or more tubular control conduits can be disposed within the separable housing and extend along the longitudinal axis. The one or more tubular control conduits can have an inner bore formed therein. One or more actuation elements can be coupled with the separable housing and be operable to separate the upper portion and the lower portion of the separable housing. The one or more actuation elements can also be operable to separate the one or more tubular control conduits, thereby interrupting the inner bore of the one or more tubular control conduits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Wee Kiang Jeremy Lau, Fangzhou Zhou, Zun Kai Chiam, Ravi Kumar Krishne Gowda
  • Patent number: 11761280
    Abstract: A downhole tool including a mandrel having a first surface, and opposing second surface defining a flow path, a lock support zone provided one of the first and second surfaces, and a passage extending between the flow path and the first surface. A tool is supported on one of the first and second surfaces. A sleeve is selectively shiftable on the one of the first and second surfaces into engagement with the tool. The sleeve includes a first surface portion and a second surface portion. The second surface portion includes a latch section. A lock system is arranged between the first surface and the second surface portion in the lock support zone. The lock system includes a lock member selectively supporting a lock element in the latch section. The lock element constrains movement of the sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES OILFIELD OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Gregory Hern, Christopher Hern
  • Patent number: 11746615
    Abstract: A well barrier can include an inner mandrel, a flow passage, and a releasably secured plug. The plug blocks fluid flow through the flow passage, and includes a shoulder that prevents the plug from displacing completely through the inner mandrel. A method of treating a subterranean well can include treating a deeper zone, setting a well barrier in the well between the deeper zone and a shallower zone, then treating the shallower zone, and then applying a pressure differential from the deeper to the shallower zone, thereby displacing a plug out of the well barrier. A well treatment system can include a well barrier with a plug releasably secured to an inner mandrel. The plug is released by application of a pressure differential in a longitudinal direction, and fluid communication is unblocked by application of a pressure differential in an opposite longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: WEATHERFORD TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, LLC
    Inventors: Nicholas W. McFarlin, Ryan R. Bacsik, Nauman H. Mhaskar
  • Patent number: 11746626
    Abstract: Methods and systems for controlling fluids in a wellbore are described. The methods and systems include running a production string into the wellbore, the production string includes production tubing and completion components with a first packer with a first control line and a backup packer with a second control line; setting the first packer in the wellbore in response to a signal on the first control line; producing hydrocarbons from the wellbore with the first packer set and the backup packer unset; and setting the backup packer in the wellbore in response to a signal on the second control line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Ibrahim A. Al-Obaidi, Suliman M. Azzouni, Abdullah A. Alothman, Ali S. Abu Alsaud
  • Patent number: 11746614
    Abstract: A plugging tool includes an elongated inner housing allowing a first fluid to flow through a hollow interior of the inner housing, a retractable plunger positioned within the inner housing and operable to obstruct the flow of the first fluid into a discharge chamber and resume the flow of the first fluid into the discharge chamber based on a pressure exerted by the first fluid on the retractable plunger, and at least one pressure release valve (PRV) operable to open and release at least a portion of the first fluid from the inner housing based on a pressure exerted by the first fluid on the at least one PRV, wherein operation of the retractable plunger and the at least one PRV generates pulses of the first fluid used to deposit a sealing plug at a target interval of a wellbore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Hadi Arabnejad Khanouki, Harley Wayne Jones, II, Koustubh Kumbhar
  • Patent number: 11746649
    Abstract: A method of determining a presence of a leak in a wall of a production tubing string includes positioning an electrical submersible pump is positioned at the string's downhole end. Based on measurements from a pressure sensor positioned at a downhole location at a discharge end of the electrical submersible pump, it is determined that a discharge pressure has decreased over a specified time period. Based on measurements from a pressure sensor within a wellhead of the well, it is determined that a pressure within the production tubing string at the surface has decreased over the specified time period. Based on measurements from a flow-rate sensor at an uphole end of the production tubing string, it is determined the flow rate has decreased relative to a calculated expected flow rate. Based on a pressure integrity test initiated in response to these determinations, the presence of the leak is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Abdullah M. Al-Dhafeeri, Saad Ahmed Al Sdeiri
  • Patent number: 11746617
    Abstract: A method of plugging a well includes lowering a solid body into a wellbore by wireline; and filling the space around the solid body with a liquid plugging material. The solid body and the liquid plugging material together form a plug after the liquid plugging material is set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: EQUINOR ENERGY AS
    Inventor: Bård Marius Johansen