Patents Examined by Robert E. Fuller
  • Sealing assembly for dissolvable bridge plug, a dissolvable bridge plug and a sealing method for gap
    Patent number: 11499390
    Abstract: A sealing assembly for a dissolvable bridge plug, a dissolvable bridge plug and a sealing method for a gap are disclosed. The sealing assembly for dissolvable bridge plug includes a seal ring and a support ring. The support ring includes at least two supporting parts capable of sliding in the radial direction relative to each other. An axial end face of the support ring is butted with an axial end face of the seal ring. Respective central holes of the support ring and the seal ring are capable of being sleeved outside a component of dissolvable bridge plug. The supporting parts of the support ring in an expansion state are capable of exerting an axial thrust on the seal ring to prevent the seal ring from deforming in the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Inventor: Aimin Chen
  • Micro frac plug
    Patent number: 11492868
    Abstract: A micro frac plug used to seal individual perforations formed in a casing installed within a subterranean wellbore. The plug comprises an insert element and a deformable sleeve. The insert element is received and retained within a medial section of the sleeve. The plug is sized to be lodged in or seated on a single perforation. The plug blocks fluid from flowing through the perforation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: MicroPlug, LLC
    Inventor: Kevin Dewayne Jones
  • Wellbore casing repair safety tool for low-pressure hydrocarbon wells
    Patent number: 11486221
    Abstract: A wellbore tool includes a rod with a plurality of rod sections. The rod is configured to be placed within a wellbore casing of a low-pressure hydrocarbon well. A plurality of sealing elements are positioned at a downhole end of the rod. Each sealing element is configured to provide a gas-tight seal between the sealing element and an inner wall of the wellbore casing. A handle positioned at an uphole end of the rod provides a hand grip for a user of the wellbore tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Inventor: David Hart
  • ESP gas slug avoidance system
    Patent number: 11486243
    Abstract: A gas mitigation system for controlling the amount of gas that reaches a submersible pumping system deployed in a wellbore includes a well zone isolation device disposed in the wellbore between the submersible pumping system and a gas collecting region. The gas mitigation system further includes a back pressure control module and a gas vent line extending from the gas collecting region through the well zone isolation device to the back pressure control module. A liquid intake line extends from the well zone isolation device to an area of the wellbore upstream from the gas collecting region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Baker Hughes ESP, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles Collins
  • Method and device for exploiting natural gas hydrate from marine rock
    Patent number: 11486232
    Abstract: An exploiting method and device of marine facies natural gas hydrate. The exploiting method comprises the following steps: (1) after the construction of a vertical well, a fixed pipe is constructed, the exploiting well is set in the center of the fixed pipe, and the mixture is filled between the inner wall of the fixed pipe and the outer wall of the exploiting well; (2) the self-excited oscillating jet nozzle enters the exploiting well along the vertical well to the designated position through an orifice on the exploiting well and sprays the mixture, so that the mixture is broken evenly to form artificial fractures; (3) under the corresponding temperature, the hydrate decomposes to produce gas by depressurized exploiting; (4) the gas-liquid mixture exploited by the exploiting well is separated into liquid and gas in the gas-liquid separation device to collect liquid and gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: GUANGZHOU INSTITUTE OF ENERGY CONVERSION, CHINESE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES
    Inventors: Xiaosen Li, Pengfei Shen, Gang Li, Zhaoyang Chen, Yu Zhang, Yi Wang, Jianwu Liu
  • Downhole water removal tool
    Patent number: 11486239
    Abstract: In some implementations, a method involves determining a level of accumulation of a hydrocarbon-water emulsion in an annulus of a wellbore. The method further involves based on the level of accumulation, determining an operating setting of a hydrocarbon-water separator and operating the hydrocarbon-water separator at the operating setting, where the hydrocarbon-water separator separates the hydrocarbon-water emulsion into water and a hydrocarbon fluid. Further, the method involves activating, in response to a first sensor detecting a first water level in the annulus, a pump that pumps the water from the annulus into a water zone below the wellbore. Yet further, the method involves deactivating the pump in response to a second sensor detecting a second water level in the annulus, where the second sensor is located below the first sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventor: Alwaleed Abdullah Al-Gouhi
  • Casing cleaning tool
    Patent number: 11473404
    Abstract: A well cleaning tool (100) comprising: an elongate body (102) having a longitudinal axis; a central fluid bore (120) aligned with the longitudinal axis; and a cleaning element (110) mounted on the elongate body (102) and being displaceable with respect to the elongate body (102) in a direction inclined to the longitudinal axis, wherein the cleaning element (102) comprises at least one fluid channel (150) in fluid communication with the central fluid bore (120) and extending through the cleaning element (110) in a direction inclined to the longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: BigMini Ltd
    Inventor: Anthony Allen
  • Method of drilling a wellbore to a target
    Patent number: 11473420
    Abstract: A method of drilling a wellbore to a target includes measuring attitudes at two adjacent survey stations along a wellbore using a downhole surveying tool. An actual change in wellbore position over a survey leg linking the two survey stations is determined. Corrections are applied to the measured attitude at one or both of the survey stations such that a modeled well path joining the survey stations reflects the determined actual change in wellbore positon between the two survey stations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: MAGNETIC VARIATION SERVICES, LLC
    Inventors: Stefan Maus, Marc Ernest Willerth, Jarrod Shawn Deverse
  • Wear-resistant annular seal assembly and straddle packer incorporating same
    Patent number: 11473393
    Abstract: A wear-resistant annular seal assembly has a plurality of interlocking one-piece seal segments interleaved with a plurality of two-piece seal segments. The seal segments are made using wear-resistant rigid material such as stainless steel. In one embodiment the seal segments are coated with a fluoropolymer. A straddle packer includes a first and second spaced apart ones of the wear-resistant seal assemblies and a linear force generator for urging the first and second seal assemblies to a seal-set condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: EXACTA-FRAC ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Lloyd Murray Dallas, Joze John Hrupp, Ahmed Mohamed Saeed
  • Lateral locating assembly for lateral intervention
    Patent number: 11466544
    Abstract: Provided, in one aspect, is a lateral locating assembly. The lateral locating assembly may include, in one aspect, a housing, as well as a piston positioned within the housing. The lateral locating assembly according to this aspect may further include a mandrel extending from a distal end of the housing, the mandrel configured to rotate and translate angularly in response to the piston moving from a first position to a second position, and a deflection tip coupled with a distal end of the mandrel, the deflection tip configured to rotate and angularly translate with the mandrel relative to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Franklin Charles Rodriguez, Neil Hepburn
  • Jarring device and method
    Patent number: 11466531
    Abstract: In a jarring device and method for applying an impact to a casing of a wellbore in a subterranean or subsea formation, the jarring device includes a hammer and a driving means for driving the hammer between a first position in which the hammer is spaced from the casing, and a second position in which the hammer contacts the casing, such that the driving means is operable during use to drive the hammer from the first position to the second position so as to impact the casing. The hammer is reciprocated by the driving means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: EQUINOR ENERGY AS
    Inventors: Ivar Kjøsnes, Håvard Nasvik
  • Systems and methods for measuring the positions of fluids in a well
    Patent number: 11466561
    Abstract: A method for cementing a borehole includes pumping a collection of fluids into the borehole through a tubular string in the borehole and flowing the collection of fluids up an annulus positioned between the tubular string and a sidewall of the borehole. The method additionally includes monitoring a volume of the fluids pumped into the borehole, and performing a first estimation of a position of the fluids based on the volume of the collection of fluids pumped into the borehole, and an initial estimate of an average diameter of the sidewall of at least a portion of the borehole. The method further includes calculating a corrected estimate of the average diameter based on the first estimation and a pressure of the fluids measured at an inlet of the tubular string, and performing a second estimation of the position of the fluids based on the corrected estimate of the average diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: BP Corporation North America Inc.
    Inventors: Paulo Jorge Da Cunha Gomes, Mark James, Emannuel Claude Therond, James Joseph David Vincent
  • Casing segment methods and systems with time control of degradable plugs
    Patent number: 11466535
    Abstract: A casing segment comprising a cylinder, a downhole tool, a first channel in the cylinder, a degradable plug wherein the plug degrades when exposed to a degrading fluid, said degrading fluid concurrently not degrading to the cylinder or the downhole tool, and a fluid reservoir that stores the degrading fluid, wherein the fluid reservoir is in fluid communication with the plug. A method comprising obtaining a casing segment having a cylinder, a downhole tool, and a fluid reservoir with degrading fluid, said degrading fluid concurrently not degrading to the cylinder or the downhole tool, wherein the cylinder includes a first channel, installing a degradable plug within the first channel, deploying the casing segment downhole, and exposing the degradable plug to the degrading fluid to cause the downhole tool to be in fluid communication with the interior surface of the cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Zac Suresh Arackakudiyil, Gregory Scott Cunningham
  • Propulsion unit for wellbore tractor tool
    Patent number: 11466525
    Abstract: A propulsion unit for a wellbore tool includes a tool body and at least one wheel section disposed along the tool body. The wheel section comprises a tractor pad movably coupled to a tractor housing coupled to the tool body. The tractor pad is movable only in a lateral direction with respect to the tool body. A wheel rotatably is supported in the tractor pad so as to contact a wall of a wellbore when the tractor pad is moved away from the tractor housing. An hydraulic motor is rotationally coupled to the wheel. The hydraulic motor comprises a displacement changing element operable to change displacement of the hydraulic motor. The unit comprises means for moving the tractor pad between an extended position and a retracted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Wireline Drilling Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Wessel, Michael Duckering
  • Measurement guided oscillation detection for motor protection
    Patent number: 11466547
    Abstract: Permanent magnet motors (PMMs) can develop oscillations during motor startup that can cause damage to electric submersible pump (ESP) components. A system and method are presented for identifying mechanical and/or electrical caused oscillations in a PMM through the analysis of oscillations in current and torque measurements. A control system within a surface motor controller receives current and/or torque measurements from downhole sensors. The control system employs one or more algorithms designed to detect oscillations in the measurements. Upon detecting oscillations that are consistent with oscillations in the motor from mechanical or electrical causes, the control system automatically initiates protective action to prevent damage to the ESP components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan Bridwell Ashbaugh, David C. Beck
  • Downhole energy harvesting
    Patent number: 11454093
    Abstract: Downhole electrical energy harvesting and communication in systems for well installations having metallic structure carrying electric current, for example CP current. In some instances there is a harvesting module (4) electrically connected to the metallic structure (2) at a first location and to a second location spaced from the first location, the first and second locations being chosen such that, in use, there is a potential difference therebetween due to the electric current flowing in the structure (2); and the harvesting module (4) being arranged to harvest electrical energy from the electric current. In addition or alternatively, there may be communication apparatus (4, 5, 6) for communication by modulation of the current, for example CP current, in the metallic structure (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: METROL TECHNOLOGY LTD.
    Inventors: Shaun Compton Ross, Leslie David Jarvis, Steven Martin Hudson
  • Generating drilling paths using a drill model
    Patent number: 11454106
    Abstract: A method of modeling a wellbore path in an earth model, including receiving, from an electronic drilling recorder coupled to a bottom hole assembly (BHA), a set of BHA data, and a set of operating parameters data and receiving, a set of rock formation data; generating, a representation of a wellbore path in a first section of the earth model, by assessing the set of BHA data, the set of operating parameters data, the set of rock formation data, and a first set of parameters quantifying bit steerability, walk, coefficient of friction, and overgauge borehole information. The method includes modifying, based on data received from a survey corresponding to the first section of the earth model, the first set of parameters to generate a second set of parameters, and generating a future wellbore path in a second section of the earth model by applying the second set of parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: DRILLSCAN FRANCE SAS
    Inventor: Stephane Menand
  • Removable plugging method and apparatus
    Patent number: 11448034
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for removably plugging a wellbore. The wellbore leads to a reservoir having a reservoir temperature. The method includes: selecting a melting point of a metal alloy based on the reservoir temperature; sealing the metal alloy against an interior wall of a tubing, while the tubing is above a ground in which the wellbore is drilled, such that the metal alloy defines a fluid barrier plug against flow of any portion of the reservoir through the tubing when the tubing is disposed within the wellbore; and heating the metal alloy above the melting point while the tubing is disposed within the wellbore such that the metal alloy flows from the tubing and the fluid barrier plug is eliminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Robert John Turner, Brett Bouldin
  • Screen break detector
    Patent number: 11448023
    Abstract: A method for determining a screen break may include obtaining a fluid stream after a screening system in a drilling process; placing the fluid stream into a screen break detector; obtaining a pressure within a well of the screen break detector when the screening system is in a first state; obtaining a pressure within the well of the screen break detector when the screening system is in a second state; determining a differential pressure within the well of the screen break detector obtained when the screening system is in the second state compared to the pressure when the screen break is in the first state; and transmitting a notification to an operator when the pressure within the screen break detector obtained when the screening system is in the second state is greater than the pressure within the screen break detector when the screening system is in the first state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Eric Cady
  • Apparatus for use in a tractor in a wellbore and methods
    Patent number: 11441370
    Abstract: This invention relates to a tractor for use in a wellbore, an apparatus for use in the tractor and related methods. In one embodiment the apparatus has a body, a drive wheel and a movable arm for supporting drive wheel. The arm may be rotatably movable using an actuator such that the drive wheel can be extracted from the body and brought into engagement with a wall of the wellbore, and may be arranged to be offset from a central region of the apparatus for providing accommodation space for the actuator in the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Qinterra Technologies AS
    Inventor: Gerald McInally