Patents Examined by Ronald Runyan
  • Patent number: 9033058
    Abstract: A stator for a progressive cavity pump comprises a stator housing having a central axis, a first end, and a second end opposite the first end. In addition, the stator comprises a stator liner disposed within the stator housing. The stator liner has a first end and a second end opposite the first end. The first end of the stator liner is axially spaced from the first end of the stator housing. Further, the stator comprises a tag insert positioned in the stator housing between the first end of the stator housing and the first end of the stator liner. The tag insert has a through passage defining a radially inner surface that includes a tag shoulder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: NATIONAL OILWELL VARCO, L.P.
    Inventors: Tariq Ahmed, Denis J. Blaquiere
  • Patent number: 9027654
    Abstract: A valve for use in a flow management system comprising a valve including a body, a shuttle, and a seat closure, a rotatable shaft passing through the body and the seat closure, the rotatable shaft for operating a mechanical pump, and, translation of the seat closure along the rotatable shaft operable to mate the seat closure with a seat of the shuttle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Inventor: Lawrence Osborne
  • Patent number: 9022118
    Abstract: A heater includes a conduit and three insulated electrical conductors located in the conduit. At least one of the three insulated conductors includes an electrical conductor at least partially surrounded by an insulation layer and an electrically conductive sheath at least partially surrounding the insulation layer. One or more layers of electrical insulation at least partially surround the three insulated electrical conductors in the conduit. The one or more layers of electrical insulation electrically isolate the insulated electrical conductors from the conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventor: David Booth Burns
  • Patent number: 9022119
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for enhanced and improved viscous oil recovery are disclosed. A horizontal well is drilled through the viscous oil formation. A specially designed tubing string includes outlets that deliver steam more uniformly into the entire horizontal extent of the well borehole. Heat from the steam mobilizes and lowers the viscosity of the heavy crude wherein the crude is then produced to the surface via conventional lift arrangements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventor: Jackie C. Sims
  • Patent number: 9022145
    Abstract: In some example embodiments, a system includes a drill string having a drill bit. The drill string extends through at least part of a well bore. The system also includes a first vibrational sensor, positioned on the drill bit to measure, at a first location on the drill string, an amplitude of one or more of an axial vibration and a lateral vibration. The system also includes a second vibrational sensor, positioned above the drill bit and on the drill string. The second vibration sensor is to measure, at a second location on the drill string, one or more of an axial vibration and a lateral vibration. The system includes a processor unit to determine a type of vibration based on a comparison of the amplitude at the first location to the amplitude at the second location, wherein the type of vibration is at least one of bit whirl of the drill bit and a while of a bottom hole assembly that is part of the drill string.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul F. Rodney, Chenkang David Chen, Carl A. Robbins
  • Patent number: 9016401
    Abstract: Modular actuators, steering tools, and rotary steerable drilling systems are presented herein. A modular actuator is disclosed for use in directing a drill string, which includes a housing proximate a drive shaft. The modular actuator includes a cartridge that is configured to couple to the outer periphery of the housing. A fluid reservoir is contained within the cartridge. A hydraulically actuated actuator piston, which is slidably disposed at least partially inside the cartridge, is movable between activated and deactivated positions. A hydraulic control system is also contained within the cartridge, fluidly coupling the fluid reservoir to the actuator piston. The hydraulic control system is configured to regulate movement of the actuator piston between the activated and deactivated positions such that the actuator piston selectively presses against and moves the drive shaft and thereby changes the direction of the drill string.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: John Keith Savage, Kennedy John Kirkhope
  • Patent number: 9010464
    Abstract: A roof-bolt drill bit may have a bit body rotatable about a central axis. At least one coupling pocket may be defined in the bit body. At least one cutting element may be at least partially disposed in the at least one coupling pocket. The at least one cutting element may include a cutting face, an element back surface, and an element side surface extending around an outer periphery of the cutting face. The element side surface may include a first element side surface abutting a first pocket side surface of the at least one coupling pocket and a second element side surface abutting a second pocket side surface of the at least one coupling pocket. At least one of the first element side surface and the second element side surface may have a substantially planar surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Dover BMCS Acquistion Corporation
    Inventor: E. Sean Cox
  • Patent number: 9010463
    Abstract: A method of prolonging the life of a PDC cutter having a substantially cylindrical shape centered about a rotational axis, and an apparatus for multi-axis modulation of a PDC cutter, the method including imparting linear modulation to the cutter in at least one direction and imparting rotary modulation to the cutter about the rotational axis, the rotary modulation being synchronized with, and facilitated by, the linear modulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Diamond Innovations, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven W. Webb, Abhijit Suryavanshi
  • Patent number: 8978763
    Abstract: An adjustable fracturing system is provided. In one embodiment, the system includes a fracturing manifold coupled to a fracturing tree to allow the fracturing tree to receive fracturing fluid from the fracturing manifold. The system also includes an adjustment joint configured to be varied in length to facilitate coupling of the fracturing manifold to the fracturing tree. Additional systems, devices, and methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Cameron International Corporation
    Inventor: Kirk P. Guidry
  • Patent number: 8973651
    Abstract: A cutting tool that inserts into a tubular for cutting the tubular from within. The cutting tool includes a motor, a cutting head, permanent anchor between the motor and cutting head, an electronics portion, and a modular anchoring sub that can be between the motor and electronics portion or on the upper end of the cutting tool. The modular anchoring sub provides flexibility in where anchoring elements are positioned so that depending on the application, the modular anchoring sub can be positioned so that it provides its maximum anchoring force for stabilizing the cutting tool during use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Karsten Fuhst, Sven Krueger, William J. Befeld
  • Patent number: 8973681
    Abstract: A pressurized fluid flow system for a reverse circulation down-the-hole hammer includes a cylinder and a cylindrical control tube that are respectively coaxially disposed in between the outer casing and the piston of the hammer and in between the piston and the sample tube. Two chambers help to respectively supply and discharge pressurized fluid into and out of the front and rear chambers that exert work on the piston: an internal chamber, defined by a central recess in the inner surfaces of the piston and permanently connected to the source of pressurized fluid, and a discharge chamber, defined by one or more recesses in the inner surface of the outer casing and permanently communicated with the bottom of the hole. A hammer provided with this system has one or more end discharge ports connected to respective longitudinal discharge channels formed on the outer surface of the outer casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Drillco Tools S.A.
    Inventor: Jaime Andrés Aros
  • Patent number: 8960271
    Abstract: Communications cable is provided for use in downhole wells wherein the cable will be exposed to a temperature of at least 280° C., the cable including as a component thereof a composition comprising melt-fabricable tetrafluoroethylene/perfluoro(alkyl vinyl ether) copolymer and melt flowable polytetrafluoroethylene, said polytetrafluoroethylene by itself having no tensile property and being present in said composition in an amount effective to enable the component to withstand this temperature, with the high temperature exposure of the cable component being effective to thermally transform the composition in the solid state, thereby obtaining epitaxial co-crystallization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: E I du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventor: Jacob Lahijani
  • Patent number: 8960294
    Abstract: In or near real-time monitoring of fluids can take place using an opticoanalytical device that is configured for monitoring the fluid. Fluids can be monitored prior to or during their introduction into a subterranean formation using the opticoanalytical devices. Produced fluids from a subterranean formation can be monitored in a like manner. The methods can comprise providing a fracturing fluid comprising a base fluid and at least one fracturing fluid component; introducing the fracturing fluid into a subterranean formation at a pressure sufficient to create or enhance at least one fracture therein, thereby performing a fracturing operation in the subterranean formation; and monitoring a characteristic of the fracturing fluid or a formation fluid using at least a first opticoanalytical device within the subterranean formation, during a flow back of the fracturing fluid produced from the subterranean formation, or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert P. Freese, Christopher M. Jones, Michael T. Pelletier, Rory D. Daussin, David M. Loveless, Johanna Haggstrom
  • Patent number: 8955620
    Abstract: Implementations of the present invention include a drill rod guide configured to align a first drill rod and a second drill rod. The drill rod guide includes a cylindrical section and a tapered or frusta-conical section. The cylindrical section is sized and configured to concentrically surround a first drill rod. The tapered or frusta-conical section is sized and configured to guide a second drill rod into the cylindrical section and into alignment with the first drill rod. The drill rod guide may include first and second guide members that form symmetrical halves of the drill rod guide. The first and second guide members may be connected to first and second jaws of the clamp. The guide may include a window configured to allow a user to visually confirm that the first and second drill rods are aligned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Longyear TM, Inc.
    Inventors: Keith William Littlely, Andrew Frank Hay, Mathew C. Everett
  • Patent number: 8955601
    Abstract: A method of implementing a substitute for a pump-off controller in a downhole production string, the method including locating a pump and a valve in the production string wherein capabilities include the pump pumping a reservoir product through the valve, the valve transitioning to a bypass mode, and the valve interrupting a reservoir product flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Inventor: Lawrence Osborne
  • Patent number: 8950510
    Abstract: Embodiments relate generally to drill cuttings conveyance systems comprising a collection tank, a port, and a pump. The collection tank comprises a chamber operable to accommodate drill cuttings and a screw conveyor. The screw conveyor extends along a longitudinal axis of the collection tank from a first end of the chamber to a second end of the chamber. The port comprises a channel operable to direct drill cuttings from the chamber of the collection tank to the pump. The pump comprises an inlet operable to receive drill cuttings from the port, an outlet, and a pumping mechanism operable to direct drill cuttings through the outlet of the pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Beitzel Corporation
    Inventor: Shawn Bender
  • Patent number: 8944186
    Abstract: Device for performing deep drillings, especially geothermal, may include a surface base, a borehole in a geological formation, filled with fluid, and a robotic multi-functional underground drilling platform, which contains especially a block (2) for crushing rock (1), a block for continuous formation of casing profile, a block of casing as transfer and transport infrastructure, a block (16) of transport container, a control and communication block (39), an energy block (4), a block of operating transport containers, and a block of removing and loading rock (1) from the place of crushing. The block (2) for rock crushing may be interconnected with block of removing and loading rock (1) from the place of crushing by means of water channels, ensuring removal of the crushed rock—107—. The block of removing and loading rock (1) from the place of crushing may be interconnected with block (16) of transport container by means of water channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: GA Drilling, A.S.
    Inventors: Igor Ko{hacek over (c)}i{hacek over (s)}, Ivan Ko{hacek over (c)}i{hacek over (s)}, Tomá{hacek over (s)} Kri{hacek over (s)}tofi{hacek over (c)}, Du{hacek over (s)}an Ko{hacek over (c)}i{hacek over (s)}
  • Patent number: 8939223
    Abstract: There are provided a carbon dioxide storage apparatus and a carbon dioxide storage method which, through direct injection of carbon dioxide into an underground brine aquifer, can store carbon dioxide efficiently in the brine aquifer. A filter formed of, for example, grindstone is provided at a tip portion of an injection well. A pumping apparatus pumps carbon dioxide stored in a carbon dioxide tank. The pumping apparatus feeds carbon dioxide from the carbon dioxide tank into the injection well by means of a pump. In the pumping apparatus, carbon dioxide is held within a predetermined pressure range and a predetermined temperature range. Carbon dioxide is fed through the injection well, and is injected into a brine aquifer. Carbon dioxide injected into the brine aquifer assumes the form of microbubbles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Tokyo Gas Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiromichi Kameyama, Susumu Nishio, Ziqiu Xue, Toshifumi Matsuoka
  • Patent number: 8939201
    Abstract: A space filler material is used to prevent accumulation of debris that could later foul the operation of adjacent moving parts. In one application a void space that is subsequently closed by actuated parts is initially filled with a material that is highly compressible and has voids that allow it to compress without undue resistance to part movement when the void volume is reduced. Ideally, the pores or voids in the material itself are small enough to keep most if not all the debris from entering and making the space filling material too rigid to collapse under part movement. In an alternative application, the material can be in an annular space such as a seal bore and it can keep debris from getting past the seal bore while allowing hydrostatic pressure across itself thereby helping it to maintain its position until moved such as by shifting of an inner string to which it is attached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventor: Edward J. O'Malley
  • Patent number: 8936109
    Abstract: Cutting elements for downhole cutting tools comprise a top surface having a cutting surface portion and a cutting profile disposed across the top surface. The cutting elements comprise first and second longitudinal side surfaces and first and second lateral side surfaces, each having a respective cross-section. The cutting profile can be disposed on the cutting surface either asymmetrically or symmetrically. Asymmetrical disposition permits two cutting elements to be arranged facing each other to cover a center point of a cutting tool. The cutting edge of asymmetrical or symmetrically disposed cutting profiles can have a shape that facilitates self-sharpening during cutting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Calvin J. Stowe, II, Andrew D. Ponder