Patents Examined by Nicholas D Wlodarski
  • Patent number: 11702887
    Abstract: A system, apparatus, and method for leveling a borehole or blasthole drilling machine, or portion thereof, provided over a drilling site can implement a ground contact detect phase or operation, a first coarse leveling phase or operation, a lowering phase or operation, and a fine leveling phase or operation. The phases or operations can be based on or responsive to signals from sensors of the drilling machine. The phases or operations can involve changing length of one or more of the jacks of the drilling machine when the drilling machine is positioned over the drilling site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: Peck Tech Consulting Ltd.
    Inventors: Sandy Pyke, Francois Gariepy
  • Patent number: 11692424
    Abstract: Methods and systems for performing injection treatments in subterranean formations stimulated by the ignition of propellants are provided. In some embodiments, the methods comprise: igniting a propellant in one or more secondary boreholes in a subterranean formation to at least partially rupture at least a region of the subterranean formation near the secondary boreholes; introducing a fracturing fluid into a first production well bore in the subterranean formation in or near the ruptured region of the subterranean formation at or above a pressure sufficient to create or enhance at least a primary fracture in the subterranean formation that extends into at least a portion of the ruptured region of the subterranean formation; and introducing a displacement fluid into one or more of the secondary boreholes or an injection well bore in the subterranean formation that comprises one or more fractures penetrating the ruptured region of the subterranean formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip D. Nguyen, Glenn A. Wilson, Golchehreh Salamat
  • Patent number: 11655685
    Abstract: A downhole welding tool includes a tool body and a welding device coupled to the tool body. The welding device includes a carrier arm reversibly pivotable between a collapsed configuration of the welding device in which the carrier arm is oriented parallel to the tool body and an extended configuration of the welding device in which the carrier arm projects outward from the tool body at an acute angle relative to the tool body, as well as a consumable welding tip secured to the carrier arm. The downhole welding tool also includes a rotatable actuator coupled to the tool body adjacent the welding device and configured to adjust the carrier arm between the collapsed configuration and the extended configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Ahmed Al-Mousa, Marius Neacsu, Qadir Looni, Omar M Alhamid
  • Patent number: 11624236
    Abstract: A ratcheting auger bracing device having a support frame with spaced-apart elongated side bars and first and second end bars connecting the side bars, and a pair of pivotable braces each having a proximal hinge end secured pivotally to and around the end bars of the support frame, a distal end bar, and a pair of opposed arms connecting the distal end bar to the proximal hinge end. The opposed arms are angled downwardly, acing the shaft of the auger section, to provide improved operation of the ratcheting auger bracing device in muddy operation conditions. An elevating frame provides an elevating base and legs that elevate the support frame and the hinged pair of pivotable braces at a distance above the ground level, and positions the hinged ends of the pivotable braces a distance above the ground level that avoids or prevents mud that may pool around the well hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Inventor: Terry Smart
  • Patent number: 11624264
    Abstract: A method for controlling corrosion is described. The method includes determining a concentration of a first gas in a first formation, determining a concentration of a second gas different than the first gas in a second formation, determining a ratio between the first gas and the second gas, comparing the determined ratio to a threshold ratio of the first gas to the second gas for the wellbore which reduces a corrosion rate within the wellbore, and based on a result of comparing the determined ratio to the threshold ratio, modifying a quantity of the first formation fluid or the second formation fluid flowed into the wellbore. The first gas and the second gas mix within the wellbore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventor: Hamad Al-Marri
  • Patent number: 11619130
    Abstract: A formation sampling tool including a plurality of ferrofluidic seals for sealing the formation sampling tool against a wellbore wall of a wellbore, each adjacent pair of the plurality of ferrofluidic seals defining a formation fluid inflow section through which formation fluid enters the formation sampling tool via fluid inflow lines, wherein a first ferrofluidic seal of the plurality of ferrofluidic seals is distal a drill bit, and wherein a last ferrofluidic seal of the plurality of ferrofluidic seals is proximate the drill bit; a formation fluid sampling line, wherein the formation fluid sampling line is in fluid communication with the one or more fluid inflow lines; one or more sensors in fluid communication with the one or more fluid inflow lines and/or the formation fluid sampling line; and a pump configured to pump formation fluid into the formation sampling tool via each of the formation fluid inflow sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Michael Jones, Darren George Gascooke, Mehdi Ali Pour Kallehbasti, Anthony Herman Van Zuilekom
  • Patent number: 11619104
    Abstract: An apparatus comprising a housing having a housing throughbore extending therethrough along a central axis; a motor drive shaft disposed in the housing throughbore; a component drive shaft disposed in the housing throughbore; and an alignment coupler mechanically coupling the motor drive shaft with the component drive shaft. The alignment coupler comprises: an alignment coupler body having an alignment coupler body throughbore extending therethrough; a spherical bolt comprising a spherical first end and an elongated section extending from the spherical first end to a second end; a thermally expandable material (TEM) section; a spring section comprising one or more springs; and one or more spherical spacers. The alignment coupler enables alignment of the motor drive shaft and the component drive shaft within the apparatus during assembly of the apparatus, and heating of the TEM provides rigidity to the assembled apparatus prior to use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander J. Schaeffer, Mukul M. Agnihotri, Daniel P. Carter
  • Patent number: 11608717
    Abstract: A variety of systems and methods are disclosed for cleaning a wellbore ahead of a well tool. The well tool is deployed on a tubular conveyance to a depth into a well. An interior surface of the well is wiped ahead of the well tool to dislodge debris from the interior surface of the well as the tubular conveyance advances downhole. The debris is filtered ahead of the well tool as the tubular conveyance advances downhole to keep the filtered debris away from the well tool. The well tool may then be used to perform a tool function when the tubular conveyance has reached the depth, without being affected by the filtered debris.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Gunnar Lehrling, Peter Reid Maher
  • Patent number: 11585178
    Abstract: A tool is provided for expanding the casing at one or more locations for arresting surface casing vent flow in an abandoned well. A setting tool is run into the bore having an expansion element supported thereon. The setting tool imparts a large axial force to radially expand the expansion element for plastically deforming the casing. A single use, pleated ring crushable expansion element can be actuated and left downhole. The pleated ring tool can be pre-charged with a highly viscous fluid, semi solid for transport, but plastic under load. A multi-use expansion element can be actuated, released, moved and actuated again at successive locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Winterhawk Well Abandonment Ltd.
    Inventor: Dale Kunz
  • Patent number: 11578541
    Abstract: A horizontal directional drilling machine having a modular pipe loader system. The system comprises a first and second pipe loader assembly supported on a drill frame. Each assembly supports a shuttle arm. The shuttle arms are configured to move independently of one another along a shuttle path that is traverse to a longitudinal axis of the drill frame. Movement of each shuttle arm is powered by an actuator supported on each pipe loader assembly. Each pipe loader assembly includes a sensor used to measure parameters related to the position of each shuttle arm relative to the drill frame. A controller analyzes the measured parameters and directs operation of each actuator in order to keep the shuttle arms moving in unison during operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: The Charles Machine Works, Inc.
    Inventors: Pete Ramos, Rick G. Porter, Aleksander S. Wolfe
  • Patent number: 11549321
    Abstract: A shaker assembly and method, of which the shaker assembly includes a shaker tank, a mixing tank in fluid communication with the shaker tank and positioned adjacent thereto, an overflow weir positioned between and separating the shaker tank and the mixing tank, a first shaker positioned over the shaker tank, and a second shaker. The first and second shakers are configured to operate in parallel to partially separate a solid from a liquid of a drilling waste fluid. During normal operation, at least some of the liquid flows from the first and second shakers to the shaker tank, and from the shaker tank over the overflow weir and into the mixing tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: MILESTONE ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, LLC
    Inventor: Jason Larchar
  • Patent number: 11542796
    Abstract: Provided herein, is magnetic catch assembly that may be utilized with and/or incorporated into lubricator of a wellhead. The magnetic catch assembly permits maintaining a plunger within the lubricator without requiring any moving mechanical components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: PCS FERGUSON, INC.
    Inventors: Paul T. Roberts, Christopher A. Velasquez
  • Patent number: 11542809
    Abstract: An apparatus for measuring strain in a polished rod of a beam pump unit includes a body having an upper wide section, a lower wide section, and a narrow section having a reduced width in comparison to each of the upper and lower wide sections. A bore is formed in the narrow section. The apparatus also includes at least two connectors configured to connect the body to the rod. The bore is positioned between the two connectors in a direction that is parallel to an axis of the rod. The apparatus further includes a strain gauge positioned in the bore, so as to measure strain in the rod between the two points of connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: NOVEN, INC.
    Inventors: Mahmut Sengul, Mario Ruscev
  • Patent number: 11530601
    Abstract: A fluid conduit system includes a trunk line and a manifold header coupled to the trunk line. The manifold header has a first bore in fluid communication with the trunk line and a second bore intersecting the first bore. A first manifold valve is coupled to the manifold header. A second manifold valve is coupled to the first manifold valve. A fracture header is coupled to the second manifold valve. A plurality of connection rods is coupled to the manifold header and to the fracture header. Each connection rod extends through a corresponding hole in the first manifold valve and a corresponding hole in the second manifold valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: SAFOCO, INC.
    Inventors: David Lymberopoulos, Andrew Allen Kadavy, Peter Lanh Ly
  • Patent number: 11454070
    Abstract: A rotational power slips system includes a static base comprising at least one circular opening; a rotating ring disposed within the static base and including a circular outer surface interfacing with the static base; at least one slips wedge disposed within the rotating ring and including a radially inner grip surface for gripping at least one component of a drilling string; and at least one wedge actuator disposed on the rotating ring and rotatably coupled to both the rotating ring and the slips wedge, thereby causing the slips wedge to move while the component of a drilling string is rotating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Amjad Alshaarawi, Haytham H. Alhamed, Meshari M. Alshalan, Abdulwahab Al-Johar, Mohammad Saud Al-Badran, Chinthaka P. Gooneratne
  • Patent number: 11441388
    Abstract: Systems and methods for a flow activated choke device that is activated by the choke device directly interacting with the flow of fluid in an upstream direction. More specifically, a choke device formed of chain like materials that is configured to be extended in a first mode and compacted in a second mode, wherein the choke device moves from the first mode to the second mode responsive to an upward fluid flow rate being greater than a flow rate threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Sharp-Rock Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Hong Wang