Patents Examined by Ronald Runyan
  • Patent number: 9127546
    Abstract: The invention includes systems and methods for operating, monitoring and controlling downhole fluid control system at a below ground location in a wellhole. The system may include a downhole fluid control system comprising at least one pump, a spoolable composite pipe comprising a fluid channel and at least one energy conductor, and a distal connection device adapted to couple a distal end of the fluid channel to the at least one pump and couple a distal end of the at least one energy conductor to the downhole fluid control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: FIBERSPAR COPROATION
    Inventors: Peter A. Quigley, Michael Feechan
  • Patent number: 9121272
    Abstract: A method of fracturing multiple zones within a wellbore formed in a subterranean formation is carried out by forming flow-through passages in two or more zones within the wellbore that are spaced apart from each other along the length of a portion of the wellbore. The flow-through passages within each zone have different characteristics provided by orienting the flow-through passages in directions in each of the two or more zones relative to a selected direction to provide differences in fracture initiation pressures within each of the two or more zones. A fracturing fluid is introduced into the wellbore in a fracturing treatment. The fracturing fluid in the fracturing treatment is provided at a pressure that is above the fracture initiation pressure of one of the two or more zones to facilitate fracturing of said one of two or more zones while remaining below the fracture initiation pressure of any other non-fractured zones of the two or more zones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Dmitry Ivanovich Potapenko, Bruno Lecerf, Olga Petrovna Alekseenko, Christopher N Fredd, Elena Nikolaevna Tarasova, Oleg Medvedev, Matthew Robert Gillard
  • Patent number: 9121269
    Abstract: A plunger assembly arranged to minimize uneven wear spots thereon during the plunger assembly's horizontal and vertical travel within a hydrocarbon producing well conduit. The plunger assembly comprises an elongated central mandrel having a bore extending longitudinally therethrough for transmitting gaseous fluids from a well, through the plunger assembly, a pair of longitudinally spaced-apart sets of arcuately shaped wear pads guidably supported on outer portions of the elongated central mandrel, and at least one tangentially directed nozzle arranged to direct gaseous fluids from the bore of the elongated central mandrel against an inner side of at least one of the arcuately shaped wear pads arranged on the outer portions of the elongated central mandrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: Well Master Corp
    Inventors: Neil W. Longfellow, David A. Green, Robert E. Bender
  • Patent number: 9115552
    Abstract: Downhole drilling tools designed and manufactured to minimize or reduce imbalance forces and wear by disposing cutting elements in cutter groups and cutter sets in a level of force balance and by placing impact and/or wear resistant cutters on blades subject to high impact forces and/or large loadings. Manufacturing costs may be reduced by placing inexpensive cutters on blades not subject to high impact forces and/or loadings. Some embodiments comprise designing downhole tools with combinations of thicker blades to receive high impact forces and/or loadings with thinner blades. Some embodiments comprise designing downhole drilling tools with optimized fluid-flow properties. Designing methods may comprise performing simulations on a designed tool, evaluating respective forces acting on cutters during simulated engagement with a downhole (uniform and transitional) and/or evaluating wear on cutters and bit, and/or CFD simulations to evaluate fluid-flow optimization on a tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Shilin Chen
  • Patent number: 9115550
    Abstract: An example robotic method for disassembling and removing a well string (e.g., a string of sucker rods or tubing within a wellbore) involves a computer controlled track and trolley system. Movement of multiple trolleys, carriages, shuttles, articulated arms and other hardware is orchestrated in a manner that minimizes cycle time and thus reduces the overall time for removing the entire well string. In some examples, upper and lower robots travel along and share a first set of tracks while an upper trolley mechanism and a main trolley travel along and share a second set of tracks. In some examples, the two sets of tracks are mounted vertically to a mast, wherein the mast is part of a workover vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Inventors: Kasia L. Robnett, Frederic M. Newman, Jonathan V. Huseman, Victor D. Trotter, James B. Story
  • Patent number: 9115546
    Abstract: An assembly and method for protecting a pipe string movable within a wellbore. A generally annular body (56) is internally dimensioned to fit around said pipe string, and an outer sleeve (62) formed from at least two part-annular sections (58,60) and rotatably located over the annular body (56). A pair of substantially annular clamping means are adapted to restrict longitudinal movement of the body (56) and outer sleeve (62) relative to the pipe string, each clamping means comprising a one-piece clamping ring (70) and a fastener (74) adapted to tighten the clamping ring (70) around the pipe string. The body (56), outer sleeve (62), and clamping rings (70) may be formed from one or more sacrificial materials that can break up and be circulated out of the wellbore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: Tercel IP Limited
    Inventor: Paul Howlett
  • Patent number: 9109431
    Abstract: A method includes lowering a downhole tool via a pipe into a wellbore drilled through a formation via the pipe and establishing a fluid communication between the downhole tool and the formation at a location in the wellbore. The method also includes extracting from the formation a first fluid stream through the fluid communication and passing the first fluid stream through the downhole tool for a first duration. The method further includes breaking the fluid communication between the downhole tool and the formation, moving the pipe in the wellbore, and reestablishing the fluid communication between the downhole tool and the formation essentially at the location in the wellbore subsequent to moving the pipe in the wellbore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Steven Villareal, Julian J. Pop
  • Patent number: 9097085
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for drilling a wellbore includes injecting drilling fluid through a drill string disposed in the wellbore and rotating a drill bit disposed on a bottom of the drill string. The drilling fluid includes a liquid and a gas. The drilling fluid is injected at the surface. The drilling fluid exits the drill bit and carries cuttings from the drill bit. The drilling fluid and cuttings (returns) flow to the surface via an annulus formed between the drill string and the wellbore. The liquid is injected at a rate so that a liquid velocity of the returns in the annulus is sufficient to transport the cuttings. The method further includes drilling through at least a portion of a non-productive formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: LUBRIZOL OILFIELD SOLUTIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Daniel Guy Pomerleau, Keith Kenneth Corb, Stuart Dwight Butler, Robert T. Staysko, Gregg MacKay Jollymore
  • Patent number: 9091150
    Abstract: A method according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure includes moving a piston of a displacement unit to pump a fluid through first and second flowlines hydraulically connected to the displacement unit through a valve network. The method also includes monitoring flowing pressure in the first flowline and monitoring pressure in a first chamber of the displacement unit. The method further includes opening a first active valve of the valve network in response to the monitored pressure in the first chamber being about equal to or less than the monitored flowing pressure in the first flowline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Simon Ross, Pierre Campanac
  • Patent number: 9085952
    Abstract: An apparatus for use in launching cement plugs in a well cementing operation, comprising: a cylinder (130); a piston (110) slideably received in the bore of the cylinder; and an actuator, operable by the piston, for launching a plug from the apparatus into the well; wherein the cylinder has a resiliently mounted latching member (132) positioned in the wall thereof and biased to project into the bore of the cylinder; and the piston has a profiled outer surface defining a recess (114) into which the latching member (132) can project to hold the piston in position in the cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Joel Rondeau, André Salvaire
  • Patent number: 9085050
    Abstract: There are provided using deuterium oxide as a media for transmitting high power lasers to perform laser operations, such as cutting, boring and drilling, a target material. High power laser beams are transmitted through a deuterium oxide beam path to a target material, including material in a pressure containment vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: Foro Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark S. Zediker, Robert R. Rice, William F. Krupke, Brian O. Faircloth
  • Patent number: 9080403
    Abstract: A tubular anchoring system includes a frustoconical member having a first frustoconical portion and a second frustoconical portion. The first frustoconical portion is tapered in a direction opposing a direction of taper of the second frustoconical portion and slips in operable communication with the first frustoconical portion are radially expandable in response to longitudinal movement of the first frustoconical portion relative to the slips. A seal in operable communication with the second frustoconical portion is radially expandable in response to longitudinal movement of the second frustoconical portion relative to the seal, and a seat having a surface configured to be sealingly engagable with a plug runnable thereagainst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: YingQing Xu, Gregory Lee Hern
  • Patent number: 9080414
    Abstract: This disclosure is directed to a method of using a packer having at least two areas of relative rotation. The disclosure is further directed toward a method of using a packer incorporating a jet port, a highly debossed mandrel and/or a J-pin rotatably disposed within a drag block assembly for continuously and redundantly engaging a J-slot area disposed in the mandrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Thru Tubing Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Brock Watson, Roger Schultz, Andy Ferguson, Mark Britton
  • Patent number: 9068406
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to an apparatus for positioning a tool at a well site. The apparatus includes a first arm rotationally connected to a guide on a column. The apparatus further includes a second arm rotationally connected to the first arm. The second arm is also connected to a tool attachment member at a pivot point, wherein the pivot point is offset from the centerline of the tool. Additionally, the apparatus includes a flexible tension member having one end operatively connected to the guide and another end connected to the tool attachment member at a location closer to the centerline of the tool than the pivot point, wherein the flexible tension member is configured to maintain the tool in a specific orientation around the pivot point during the positioning operation. In a further aspect, a method of positioning a tool at a wellsite is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Ditmar Clasen, Martin Liess, Martin Helms
  • Patent number: 9068436
    Abstract: A system and method for sampling fluid from a production wellsite are provided. The system includes an interface operatively connectable to the port and a separation circuit operatively connectable to the interface for establishing fluid communication therebetween. The separation circuit includes a pumping unit and at least one sample chamber. The pumping unit includes pumping chambers having a cylinder with a piston therein defining a fluid cavity and a buffer cavity. The fluid cavities define a separation chamber for receiving the fluid and allowing separation of the fluid therein into phases. The buffer cavities have a buffer fluid selectively movable therebetween whereby the fluid flows through the separation circuit at a controlled rate. The sample chamber is for collecting at least one sample of the phases of the fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: ONESUBSEA, LLC
    Inventors: Bernard Theron, John Nighswander, Robert Saunders, Andrea Sbordone, Paul Guieze, Gerald Smith
  • Patent number: 9068450
    Abstract: An adjustable fracturing system is provided. In one embodiment, the system includes a fracturing manifold and a fracturing tree. A fluid conduit is coupled between the fracturing manifold and the fracturing tree to enable receipt of fracturing fluid by the fracturing tree from the fracturing manifold. Further, the fluid conduit is an adjustable fluid conduit that allows an operator to vary a dimension of the fluid conduit to facilitate coupling of the fluid conduit between the fracturing manifold and the fracturing tree. Additional systems, devices, and methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: Cameron International Corporation
    Inventor: Kirk P. Guidry
  • Patent number: 9062516
    Abstract: An actuation device comprises a housing comprising one or more ports, a magnetic valve component, and a central flowbore. The central flowbore is configured to receive a disposable member configured to emit a magnetic field, and the magnetic valve component is configured to radially shift from a first position to a second position in response to interacting with the magnetic field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael L. Fripp, Luke William Holderman
  • Patent number: 9045953
    Abstract: A system for fracturing a formation includes a tubular positionable within a formation borehole having at least one port therethrough configured to provide fluidic communication from inside the tubular to the formation borehole. The system also includes a seal sealably attachable to both the tubular and walls of the formation borehole, a seat in operable communication with the tubular and a member in operable communication with the seat such that movement of the seat relative to the tubular causes the member to engage the walls and provide stress thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventor: Richard YingQing Xu
  • Patent number: 9045946
    Abstract: In an aspect, an apparatus for use in a wellbore includes a tubular and a drilling assembly configured to carry a drill bit at an end thereof, wherein the drilling assembly is configured to be positioned within the tubular, wherein the tubular and drilling assembly are configured to be run in the wellbore together. The apparatus also includes an actuation device in the tubular configured to selectively extend the drilling assembly from and retract the drilling assembly into the tubular.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventor: Sven Krueger
  • Patent number: 9046343
    Abstract: Systems and methods for well-drilling operations involving magnetic ranging with a rotating magnetic source are provided. In one embodiment, a system for determining a relative location of a magnetic source includes a three-axis magnetometer and data processing circuitry. The three-axis magnetometer may measure a time-dependent magnetic field caused by a magnetic source rotating about an axis, which may include two transverse components transverse to the axis and the data processing circuitry may determine a transverse angle of rotation of the measurements such that one of the two transverse components is ±?/2 radians out-of-phase with the other when the measurements are transformed by the transverse angle of rotation. The data processing circuitry may determine a spatial relationship between the magnetic source and the three-axis magnetometer based at least in part on the transverse angle of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Brian Clark