Patents Examined by Robert E. Fuller
  • Patent number: 11193367
    Abstract: A method of assessing cross-well interference and/or optimizing hydrocarbon production from a reservoir by obtaining low frequency DAS and DTS data and pressure data from a monitor well, when both the monitor and production well are shut-in, and then variably opening the production well for production, and detecting the temperature and pressure fluctuations that indication cross-well interference, and localizing the interference along the well length based on the low frequency DAS data. This information can be used to optimize well placement, completion plans, fracturing plans, and ultimately optimize production from a given reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: CONOCOPHILLIPS COMPANY
    Inventors: Ge Jin, Kyle R Krueger, Baishali Roy
  • Patent number: 11187074
    Abstract: A system and method to determine closure pressure in a wellbore that can include, flowing a fracturing fluid into the wellbore during a fracturing operation of at least one stage and forming a fracture, sensing fluid pressure and a flow rate of the fracturing fluid during the fracturing operation and communicating the sensed data to a controller, plotting data points of the sensed data to a visualization device which is configured to visually present the data points to an operator as a plot, fitting a curve to the data points which represent statistically-relevant minimum pressure data at various flow rates, determining an intercept of the first curve with a zero flow rate axis of the plot, determining the closure pressure based on a pressure value of the intercept, and determining an average fracture permeability based on the closure pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Vladimir Nikolayevich Martysevich, Joshua Lane Camp, Tyler Austen Anderson, Srinath Madasu
  • Patent number: 11187073
    Abstract: An apparatus for protecting an electronics module used in a borehole may include an enclosure disposed along a drill string. The electronics module may be attached to the enclosure by at least one joint. The at least one joint allows a predetermined bending between the electronics module and the enclosure that does not mechanically overload the electronics module. In some embodiments, the joint may be a ball joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES HOLDINGS LLC
    Inventors: Carsten Haubold, Joachim Treviranus, Tim Mueller, Andreas Peter
  • Patent number: 11185055
    Abstract: A bird feeder includes a pushbutton activated positioning mechanism in a hub of a hinged cover for fastening or unfastening a rope having a bottom end secured to a feeding pan. The cover is releasably secured to a seed container by a latch. Together they prevent the cover from being accidentally disengaged from the seed container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: Taizhou Huangyan Jingying Design Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Zhimin Ge
  • Patent number: 11187059
    Abstract: A downhole tool comprises a hollow body having a wall and a port in the wall, and a closing sleeve movable relative to the body to open and close the port. A seal is provided between the body and the sleeve and is configured to hold differential pressure. An isolation member may be deployed in the tool to isolate the seal from differential pressure and close the port. The isolation member may be deployed following initiation of a tool activation process, a successful outcome of the process being translating the closing sleeve and closing the port, and positioning the seal to hold a differential pressure. If it is detected that the outcome has not been achieved, the isolation member is deployed to isolate the seal from differential pressure and close the port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: Churchill Drilling Tools Limited
    Inventor: Andrew Philip Churchill
  • Patent number: 11180971
    Abstract: A flow restrictor for restricting flow in an annulus, the flow restrictor comprising a body and a restrictor assembly mounted on the body, wherein the restrictor assembly is actuatable between a run-in configuration and a set configuration in which at least a portion of the restrictor assembly is radially splayed to thereby substantially restrict flow in the annulus, and wherein the flow restrictor is actuatable by fluid flow over the restrictor assembly above a threshold flow rate to actuate the restrictor assembly from the run-in configuration to the set configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Alan Craigon, Philip C G Egleton, Stephen Reid, Andrew John Elrick, Santiago Galvez Porta
  • Patent number: 11174689
    Abstract: A well operation facility including a first pump for delivering mud and cement to a borehole, a second pump for delivering mud to the borehole; a third pump for delivering the mud to the borehole, an inlet manifold coupled to each of the pumps for delivering the mud and/or cement to the pumps, and a discharge manifold coupled to each of the pumps for delivering the mud and/or cement at a pressure. In some embodiments, the first pump, the second pump, and the third pump are configured to be isolated from each other and to be used in series, parallel or as backups to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Franz Aguirre, Andrew Marlatt, John Allen Ray, David Gerard Gerber, Jr., Jagan Mohan Reddy Thaduri, Seoyeon Hong
  • Patent number: 11168545
    Abstract: A system for providing information on production value and/or emissions of a hydrocarbon production system is disclosed. The system includes: a plurality of sensors configured to measure a respective plurality of measured parameters of the hydrocarbon production system; an input interface for inputting a plurality of specified parameters into the system; and a processor configured to determine the production value and/or the emissions of the hydrocarbon production system in real time based upon the measured parameters and the specified parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: EQUINOR ENERGY AS
    Inventors: Svend Tarald Kibsgaard, Lars Brenne, Astrid Heiland Tingstveit
  • Patent number: 11162335
    Abstract: A firing head for selectively activating an initiator of a downhole tool may include a housing, a pin, and a moveable stopper. The housing may have a bore and a radially enlarged chamber formed along the bore. The pin is disposed in the bore and has a circumferential groove formed on an outer surface of the shank. The moveable stopper is disposed in the radially enlarged chamber. The stopper is only partially disposed in the groove when the housing is in a vertical position. The stopper moves out of the groove when the housing has a predetermined minimum angular deviation from the vertical position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Owen Oil Tools LP
    Inventors: Jeffrey D. Gartz, Timothy E. Lagrange
  • Patent number: 11162343
    Abstract: Thermal energy delivery and oil production arrangements and methods thereof are disclosed which heat a subterranean formation, and which comprises positioning concentric tubing strings in a wellbore; heating a heat transfer fluid using a surface thermal fluid heater; flowing a liquid or feedwater downward through an extremely hot innermost tubing string that is inside and concentric to an outermost tubing string and a casing/annulus, which extends below a thermal packer positioned in the wellbore, and continually circulating the heat transfer fluid through the outermost tubing string and the casing/annulus above the thermal packer such that the liquid or feedwater flowing through the innermost tubing string is heated thereby and injected into the wellbore below the thermal packer and out of perforations to heat the subterranean formation to temperatures that allow for hydrocarbon production from the subterranean formation. Emissions may be injected into the subterranean formation with the liquid or feedwater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Future Energy, LLC
    Inventor: Kent B. Hytken
  • Patent number: 11162328
    Abstract: An injection method of use for treating a production fluid from a wellhead. An injection system comprising a chemical tanks, a skid assembly, a bacteria monitor, and a control panel. An actuated three-way valve selectively opens and closes to allow a portion of the production fluid into the bacteria monitor. The injection system adapted to selectively open the actuated three-way valve to receive a portion of the production fluid from the wellhead, receiving a portion of the production fluid from the wellhead, monitoring a chemical composition of the production fluid, selectively adding a mixture of chemicals from one or more chemical storage tanks into the production fluid, injecting the resulting mixture back into the wellhead, and monitoring the production fluid and modifying mixtures from the one or more chemical storage tanks and/or closing the actuated three-way valve according to a desired mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Inventors: Manuel Rodriguez, Armando Rodriguez Hernandez, John Clifford Sandlin
  • Patent number: 11156063
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for optimizing operations for a fracturing injection waste disposal well especially where the formation is damaged or tight such that pressure fall-off tests are impractical due to extended leak-off rate times. Formation closure pressure and formation stress are calculated using Instantaneous Shut-in Pressure rather than traditional methods requiring actual fracture closure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: Advantek Waste Management Services, LLC
    Inventors: Sherif M. El Kholy, Omar Abou-Sayed, Ibrahim M. Mohamed, Ahmed Abou-Sayed
  • Patent number: 11156064
    Abstract: A natural gas hydrate solid-state fluidization mining method and system under an underbalanced positive circulation condition, used for performing solid-state fluidization mining on a non-rock-forming weak-cementation natural gas hydrate layer in the ocean. Equipment includes a ground equipment system and an underwater equipment system. The construction procedure has an earlier-stage construction process, underbalanced hydrate solid-state fluidization mining construction process and silt backfilling process. Natural gas hydrates in the seafloor are mined through an underbalanced positive circulation method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: SOUTHWEST PETROLEUM UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Jinzhou Zhao, Na Wei, Haitao Li, Liehui Zhang, Shouwei Zhou, Qingping Li, Wantong Sun
  • Patent number: 11142956
    Abstract: An example system includes a laser tool configured for downhole movement. The laser tool includes an optical assembly configured to shape a laser beam for output. The laser beam may have an optical power of at least one kilowatt (1 kW). A housing contains the optical assembly. The housing is configured for movement to direct the output laser beam within a wellbore. The movement includes rotation of the laser tool around a longitudinal axis of the housing and tilting the housing relative to a longitudinal axis of the wellbore. A control system is configured to control at least one of the movement of the housing or an operation of the optical assembly to direct the output laser beam within the wellbore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventor: Sameeh Issa Batarseh
  • Patent number: 11142976
    Abstract: One downhole-type tool of a set of interchangeable downhole-type tools is interchangeably received by a pump-down adapter. The downhole-type tool is positioned by the pump-down adapter within a wellbore tubular. The downhole-type tool is released by the pump-down adapter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Ahmed Al-Mousa, Marius Neacsu, Ahmed A. Al-Ramadhan
  • Patent number: 11143017
    Abstract: A downhole device configured to be inserted into a borehole includes a device body having an outer surface and a recess formed in the outer surface, a cover covering the recess to form a first cavity, and a shock-absorber configured to support an electrical module within the first cavity, the shock-absorber disposed between a base of the first cavity and the cover opposite the base. The downhole device also includes a vibration-damping layer disposed between the base of the first cavity and the cover, the vibration-damping layer configured to dampen vibration of the electrical module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES, A GE COMPANY, LLC
    Inventors: Weiqiang Wang, Robert Reinertsen, Edward Glenn Burroughs, Bernd Dreyer, Cord Huber
  • Patent number: 11142977
    Abstract: Systems and methods using electrically controlled propellant to operate equipment in subterranean formations are provided. In some embodiments, the methods comprise: providing a tool assembly that comprises a tool body and an electrically controlled propellant; and placing the tool assembly in at least a portion of a subterranean formation. Electrical current may be applied to at least a portion of the electrically controlled propellant to ignite the portion of the propellant to operate a portion of the tool assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip D. Nguyen, Norman R. Warpinski, Vladimir Nikolayevich Martysevich, Ronald Glen Dusterhoft, Harold Grayson Walters
  • Patent number: 11136837
    Abstract: A mobile, coiled tubing drilling apparatus includes a non-rotating mast on a mobile platform. The mast has mounted thereon an injector, a coiled tubing reel having a tubing pay-off point associated therewith, and a tubing control system. The tubing control system is located between the reel and the injector, and includes a tubing abutment adjacent the tubing pay-off point for applying an opposite bend to the tubing during pay-out of the tubing. The reel is mounted for horizontal (x,y) movement such that, during pay-out of the tubing, the tubing pay-off point can be maintained generally above the injector, and can also be moved towards or away from the tubing abutment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: MINEX CRC LTD
    Inventors: Søren Pham Søe, Trevor James Zwar
  • Patent number: 11131148
    Abstract: An earth-boring rotary tool includes a body comprising a pin, a roller cone mounted on the pin, and a seal assembly disposed between the pin and the roller cone. The seal assembly includes a seal ring to form a seal between the seal ring and the roller cone. The seal assembly includes a first polymer ring, while compressed, applies a first force on the seal ring that biases the seal ring towards the roller cone. The seal assembly includes a second polymer ring proximate the first polymer ring. The second polymer ring, while compressed, applies a second force on the seal ring to further bias the seal ring towards the roller cone. The second force is greater than the first force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Oilfield Operations LLC
    Inventor: Gregory L. Ricks
  • Patent number: 11131178
    Abstract: A system and a method for seawater pre-treatment and injection are disclosed. The seawater pre-treatment and injection system comprises at least one subsea water well connectable to a seawater injection system comprising at least a water injection pump in flow communication with a water injection well, wherein the subsea water well is made as a hole into a groundwater holding strata under the mud-line with a water permeable or non-permeable completion using the seafloor soil for filtration, with an inner tubing connectable to the seawater injection system via a valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: VETCO GRAY SCANDINAVIA AS
    Inventors: Jose Luis Plasencia, Keith Birch