Patents Examined by Robert E. Fuller
  • Patent number: 11674360
    Abstract: A tool for use in suspending operation of an oil or gas well driven by an artificial lift with a polished rod connected to a sucker rod in a tubing string. The tool includes a body having a lower narrow portion dimensioned to fit within the interior cavity of a tubing string inlet or an upper extension thereof, and an upper wide diameter portion defining a substantially horizontal landing surface dimensioned to rest upon the top edge of the tubing string inlet or the upper extension thereof. The tool includes one or more sucker rod-engaging structures and one or more longitudinal slots extending through the lower narrow portion and the upper wide diameter portion to allow passage of fluid or gas through the tool when the tool is supported on the top edge of the tubing string inlet or the upper extension thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: 1904296 ALBERTA LTD.
    Inventors: Kenneth Nicholas Gordey, Leslie Joan Kohnen, Dennis Francis Ranks, Jeffery Errol Dickie, William G. Groves
  • Patent number: 11668140
    Abstract: A roller tool 1 that can be connected into a string for deployment into an oil or gas well includes at least two rollers or wheels 10 located on each side of the roller tool 1, with axes of rotation that are perpendicular to the axis of the roller tool 1. The roller tool further includes at least two interconnecting tubular portions, where one tubular portion 41 comprises a mandrel 45 that connects to another tubular portion 42. An annular hub 20 is fitted over the mandrel 45 and the rollers 10 are connected onto the hub 20. The tubular portions 41, 42 comprise circumferential sleeve sections 56a, 56b that partially extend over the rollers 10 and resist detachment of the rollers 10 from the roller tool 1. The roller tool 1 can aid passage of a string through a well by holding the string away from the walls of the well and reducing frictional contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: IMPACT SELECTOR LIMITED
    Inventors: Paul Andrew Church, Peter Alan Joiner, Andrew John Elrick, Iain Morrison Macleod
  • Patent number: 11668164
    Abstract: Provided is a self-deflecting multilateral junction, a method, and a well system. The self-deflecting multilateral junction, in one aspect, includes a deflection device having an uphole end and a downhole end, the deflection device including a main tubular, a first flow path off the main tubular and operable to couple to a wellbore, a second flow path off the main tubular and operable to couple to a lateral wellbore, the second flow path having a lateral seal bore, and a deflecting ramp. The self-deflecting multilateral junction, according to this aspect, further includes a lateral stinger positioned within the main tubular and releasably coupled to the deflection device, the lateral stinger including a nose end configured to extend into the second flow path, a valve member, and a lateral seal for engaging the lateral seal bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Lars Petter Larsen
  • Patent number: 11661822
    Abstract: Systems and methods of the present disclosure relate to protecting a control line as it passes through a junction in a downhole environment. A retractable transition joint (RTJ) comprises at least two members. A first member is operable to retract into a second member. A tubular extends through the first and second members. The tubular comprises a distal end that is removably attached to a distal end of the second member. The first and second members are operable to receive the control line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Eulalio De Jesus Rosas Fermin, Justin Mark Roberts, David Joe Steele
  • Patent number: 11643888
    Abstract: A vertical dryer system and method for managing oil well solids and liquids includes a vertical dryer; a hopper for well drilling cuttings mixed with residual liquids; and an enclosed drag chain conveyor having an opening into the hopper for picking up drill cuttings and associated liquids. The enclosed drag chain conveyor extends from the hopper to a vertical dryer, there being an opening in said enclosed drag chain located at said vertical dryer, whereby drilling cuttings and associated fluids being conveyed by said drag chain are delivered to said vertical dryer for drying. The enclosed drag chain conveyor returns again to said hopper in a continuous enclosed loop except for the openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Innovative Solutions, Ltd.
    Inventor: Zachary E. T. Kelsey
  • Patent number: 11643878
    Abstract: Bottom hole assemblies with a combined roller-underreamer assembly can include: a body configured to be attached to a drill pipe; an uphole ring attached to the body; a downhole ring attached to the body between the uphole ring and the downhole end of the body; a sliding ring mounted around the body between the uphole ring and the downhole ring; a set tube slidably mounted around the body between the uphole ring and the sliding ring; a reamer assembly with at least one first articulated arm with extending between the uphole ring and the downhole end of the set tube; and a roller assembly with: at least one second articulated arm extending between the uphole end of the set tube and the sliding ring; and a rolling positioned at a joint of each second articulated arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Bodong Li, Chinthaka Pasan Gooneratne, Timothy E. Moellendick, Rami F. Saleh
  • Patent number: 11643916
    Abstract: A pumping system is configured to be deployed in a well that has a vertical portion and a lateral portion. The pumping system includes a pump positioned in the vertical portion, a velocity tube assembly that extends from the vertical portion into the lateral portion and a cyclonic solids separator connected between the pump and the velocity tube assembly. The cyclonic solids separator includes a housing, a discharge manifold extending through the housing, and a plurality of ejection ports that extend through the discharge manifold along arcuate, tangential paths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Oilfield Operations LLC
    Inventors: Jose Gonzales, Oscar Becerra Moreno, Reda El Mahbes, Partha Ganguly
  • Patent number: 11634981
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a gauge cutter, a lead impression block (LIB), a locking pin, and a locking device. The gauge cutter has a gauge cutter tubular body, a gauge cutter head, and an orifice. The LIB has an LIB body and an LIB head. The LIB is fixed in a first position within the orifice of the gauge cutter by being connected to an inner circumferential surface of the gauge cutter tubular body using a shear pin. The locking pin is disposed around the LIB body. The locking device is disposed around the inner circumferential surface of the gauge cutter tubular body and is configured to mate with the locking pin to hold the LIB in a second position within the gauge cutter. The second position includes a portion of the LIB body located within the orifice and the LIB head located outside of the orifice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Sanjiv Kumar, Muhammad Imran Javed
  • Patent number: 11629569
    Abstract: A thru-tubing recover string (10) and method of moving a stuck object (14) in tubing in a well (16). A bottom hole assembly (22) is connected to a work string and includes a first (32) and a second tool (34), each tool configured to apply a force to the object in order to move the object (14), the first force being an impulse force, the second force being a static force, and the tools being operable independently so that an operator can apply either force in the event that application of one type of force on the object fails to move the object. Embodiments are described for the first tool (32) being a hammer tool or a jar and the second tool being a pulling tool such as a jack. The invention finds application in removing stuck objects such as plugs or actuating elements on tools such as sliding sleeves in production tubing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: ARDYNE HOLDINGS LIMITED
    Inventor: Alan Fairweather
  • Patent number: 11629595
    Abstract: A method for expanding a mature brine well cavern includes determining the position and depth of an insoluble deposit and the volume and depth of a salt formation in the well. An outer drill casing is used to penetrate the soluble deposit and the salt underneath the insoluble deposit. The method further includes drilling continuously through the insoluble deposit and drilling into the salt formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Inventor: Lloyd Webre, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11629556
    Abstract: A drill head assembly may include a sonde housing and a drill bit. Two or more alignment posts protruding from the steering face of the sonde housing may mate with holes on the underside of a Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) drill bit and are used to align the drill bit and transfer much of the forces from the drill bit to the sonde housing. The alignment posts reduce the load on the drill bit mounting bolts and help prevent these bolts from breaking while drilling in difficult ground conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Melfred Borzall, Inc.
    Inventor: Eric Melsheimer
  • Patent number: 11624262
    Abstract: Provided is a multilateral junction (MLT), a well system, and a method for forming a well system. The MLT, in one aspect, includes a y-block having a housing with a single first bore and second and third bores extending therein, the second and third bores defining second and third centerlines. The MLT, in this aspect, further includes a mainbore leg having a first mainbore leg end coupled to the second bore and a second opposing mainbore leg end, and a lateral bore leg having a first lateral bore leg end coupled to the third bore and a second opposing lateral bore leg end. In this aspect, the mainbore leg and the lateral bore leg are twisted with respect to the second and third bore such that a first plane taken through centerlines of the second opposing mainbore leg end and the second opposing lateral bore leg end is angled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: David Joe Steele, Srinivasa Prasanna Vemuri, Stacey Blaine Donovan, Morten Falnes, Wesley Paul Dietz, Christian Alexander Ramirez
  • Patent number: 11624263
    Abstract: A method and a lateral entry guide tool for deploying a work string in a wellbore defining a window and a lateral wellbore extending from the window are described. The work string and the tool are run through the wellbore to a distance above the window. A locator subassembly is activated to detect the window. The tool is run through the wellbore in a downhole direction from the distance above the window past the window. After the locator subassembly indicates that the tool is past the window, a window entry depth is determined based a depth at which the window was detected. The work string is pulled back to position the tool at the window entry depth. A positioning subassembly is activated. The work string is run through the window while adjusting and calibrating the positioning subassembly as the work string pass through the window into the lateral wellbore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Mohammad A. Madan, Talal A. Shihabuddin, Omar M. Alhamid
  • Patent number: 11619094
    Abstract: A downhole drilling motor assembly includes a first motor, a second motor aligned coaxially with the first motor, and a clutch assembly aligned coaxially with the first and second motors. The clutch assembly independently and selectively actuates each of the first and second motors to rotationally drive a drill bit. A related method includes: mounting a drill bit at a distal end of a drill string at a well site; and providing a downhole drilling motor assembly which rotationally drives the drill bit. The clutch assembly is controlled to independently and selectively actuate the first and second motors, and the drill bit is rotationally driven via the independent and selective actuation of the first and second motors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Amjad Alshaarawi, Abdulwahab Aljohar, Jianhui Xu, Guodong Zhan
  • Patent number: 11613983
    Abstract: Analysis and control of drilling mud and additives is disclosed using a mud analysis system and a mud additive system that may automatically monitor and control the drilling mud during drilling of a well. The mud analysis system may acquire measurements on a sample of the drilling mud during drilling, and may send signals indicative of the drilling mud to a steering control system enabled to control the drilling. The steering control system may receive user input or may make decisions regarding additives to be added to the drilling mud and the timing thereof. The mud additive system may be enabled to receive commands from the steering control system and mix and add additives to the drilling mud.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: Motive Drilling Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd W. Benson, George Michalopulos, Richard Kulavik, Jarrod Shawn Deverse
  • Patent number: 11613956
    Abstract: A temporary seal within a wellbore. More specifically, a temporary seal within casing that limits the flow of fluid through the casing until the temporary seal is released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: Vertice Oil Tools Inc.
    Inventor: Mohamed Ibrahim Saraya
  • Patent number: 11603734
    Abstract: A support ring prevents an elastomer seal from extruding. The support ring is expanded and supports the expanded seal, preventing the elastomer seal failing due to extrusion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: CNPC USA Corporation
    Inventors: Jianpeng Yue, Matthew Patsy, Anthony Tran, Jianhui Xu, Peng Cheng
  • Patent number: 11603726
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus and system, and a method of using the same, comprising An apparatus comprising: a first outer pipe; a central housing attached to the first outer pipe, an annular piston that can impact a brittle barrier, the annular piston comprising an impact surface; a brittle barrier, wherein the brittle barrier is separated from the impact surface by a distance, and wherein the brittle barrier comprises a set of materials; and a second outer pipe attached to the central housing, wherein the central housing is positioned between the first outer pipe and the second outer pipe; wherein the brittle barrier is positioned within one or more of the central housing and the second outer pipe; wherein the annular piston is attached to one or more of the first outer pipe and the central housing via a releasable fastener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: RUBICON OILFIELD INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Michael Harris, Kenneth Anton, Brandon Goodman
  • Patent number: 11603717
    Abstract: An exemplary derrick assembly includes a frame, a hydraulic cylinder assembly, a drive assembly, and a hydraulic assembly. The hydraulic cylinder assembly is mounted to the frame, and includes a piston rod, a single-tube cylinder body, and a hydraulic chamber. The piston rod is secured to the frame, and the cylinder body is mounted to the piston rod for reciprocal movement between proximal and distal positions. The hydraulic chamber is defined in part by the piston rod and the cylinder body, and expands and contracts with movement of the cylinder body. The drive assembly is mounted to the cylinder body for movement with the cylinder body. The hydraulic assembly configured to charge hydraulic fluid into and out of the hydraulic chamber to cause the hydraulic chamber to expand and contract, thereby moving the cylinder body and the drive assembly between the proximal position and the distal position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: Laibe Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen Gessner, Calvin Moore
  • Patent number: 11603709
    Abstract: A reaming tool for use in a wellbore has an elongated tubular body with an outer surface. There are at least first and second reamer sections formed on the tubular body, with the first and second reamer sections (i) being positioned circumferentially opposite one another, and (ii) each having at least two blades. The first reamer section includes at least one rounded dome insert and a majority of cutting tooth inserts, while the second reamer section includes a majority of rounded dome inserts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: Stabil Drill Specialties, LLC
    Inventors: Sorin Gabriel Teodorescu, Donnie Williams, Lot William Short, Jr., Robert B. Beggs, Richard E. Beggs