Patents Examined by Stephen J. Novosad
  • Patent number: 5842528
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for drilling and completing a bore hole is disclosed. Generally, the method comprises the steps of positioning a workstring in the well, with the workstring having attached thereto a bottom hole assembly. The bottom hole assembly may contain a bit for rotary drilling a bore hole; and, a drilling motor, operably associated with the bit, for effecting rotation to said drilling means. The method further includes the steps of circulating a fluid in the workstring so that the motor effects rotation of the bit means; and, drilling the bore hole through a target reservoir. In one embodiment, the workstring string is a production string, and the production string is attached to an isolation safety valve member for isolating the well and the bore hole from pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1998
    Inventors: Michael H. Johnson, Daniel J. Turick
  • Patent number: 5787980
    Abstract: A well screen is composed of a plurality of screen units connected in series. Each of said screen units has a cylindrical connecting section at least at one end thereof and includes a plurality of support rods extending in the axial direction of the screen disposed cylindrically about a section of the screen other than the connecting section at a predetermined interval in the circumferential direction of the screen, and a wire wound on the outer periphery of said support rods so as to form slits of a predetermined width. The well screen further includes outer diameter equalizing means provided about adjacent ones of the connecting sections of two of the screen units connected to each other for substantially equalizing the outer diameter of said connecting sections to the outer diameter of sections other than the connecting sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1998
    Assignee: Nagaoka International Corporation
    Inventors: Derry D. Sparlin, Tadayoshi Nagaoka
  • Patent number: 5651420
    Abstract: A drilling apparatus having cuttings removal structure to reduce balling thereof comprising an apparatus body having a connection thereon, and structure for contacting cut potions of the earth formation. The contacting structure may include chip breakers, flexible cables, rotating nozzle assemblies, rotating turbine wheel assemblies, rotating vane assemblies, flails or combinations of these. The apparatus may include elastomeric portions and/or movable potions. The drilling apparatus may comprise a drill bit, drilling stabilizer, drill collar, reamer, downhole motor, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 29, 1997
    Assignee: Baker Hughes, Inc.
    Inventors: Gordon A. Tibbitts, Craig H. Cooley
  • Patent number: 5640733
    Abstract: The loading bridge for ramps has a bridge plate having a forward and a rearward end. It is connected with the rearward end to the ramp so as to be pivotable about a horizontal axis. An extension connected to the forward end of the bridge plate is provided and is extendable from an initial position into an extended position for supporting the bridge plate on a vehicle to be loaded and unloaded and retractable from the extended position into the initial position. At least one support leg with an upper and a lower end for supporting the bridge plate in a rest position is provided. The support leg is pivotably connected with the upper end to the bridge plate such that the lower end swivels upwardly toward the rearward end of the bridge plate when the extension is extended. The support leg has a positioning lever. The extension has a downwardly projecting beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 24, 1997
    Assignee: Kurt Alten
    Inventors: Kurt Alten, Horst Borchardt
  • Patent number: 5632336
    Abstract: A method is provided for increasing the rate of injection of flooding fluids into injection wells. A slug of polar solvent or a mixture of polar solvent and non-aqueous flooding fluid is injected into the injection well to displace aqueous and hydrocarbon liquids in the rock surrounding the injection well. Thereafter, the solvent is removed from the vicinity of the injection well by flooding fluid. The process may be repeated following each time water is injected into the injection well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 27, 1997
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: Phillip K. Notz, John Prieditis, James F. Stevens
  • Patent number: 5630479
    Abstract: A cutting element which has a metal carbide stud having a conic tip formed with a reduced diameter hemispherical outer tip end portion of said metal carbide stud. A layer of polycrystalline material, resistant to corrosive and abrasive materials, is disposed over the outer end portion of the metal carbide stud to form a cap. An alternate conic form has a flat tip face. A chisel insert has a transecting edge and opposing flat faces. It is also covered with a PDC layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 20, 1997
    Inventor: Mahlon D. Dennis
  • Patent number: 5624203
    Abstract: A restraining barrier (30) is positionable across a roadway in a deployed position to define a restraining zone and may be moved vertically to a passive position by first and second transport members (13, 14) slideably mounted to first and second towers (3, 4) on either side of the roadway. The barrier may be a rectangular net. First and second cables (34, 35) each support an opposite end of the barrier to the said first and second transport means respectively and also couple the barrier to an energy absorber (known per se). The cable includes a support cable which also responds to the impact of a vehicle as by breaking. The cable is coupled to an operate indicator for producing a signal indicating the vehicle impact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 29, 1997
    Assignee: The Entwistle Company
    Inventors: Martin A. Jackson, Gerald L. Gorham, John M. Rhatigan
  • Patent number: 5611642
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for in-situ treatment of soil and groundwater contaminated with organic pollutants. The process involves defining the nature and extent of the contamination; determining the hydrology and geology of the contaminated area; determining the volume and concentration of a reactive solution required to effect treatment of the contaminated area; injecting the reactive solution into one or more injectors that are inserted into the ground, sealed and positioned so as to assure flow of the reactive solution through the contaminated area; allowing the reactive solution to flow through the contaminated area thereby reacting chemically with the contaminants contained within the contaminated area; and determining when the treatment is complete by monitoring by-products of the chemical reaction. Preferably, the reactive solution is an aqueous solution of hydrogen peroxide and metallic salts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 18, 1997
    Inventor: James T. Wilson
  • Patent number: 5611643
    Abstract: In the process for the construction of trenches in ground containing water and/or gas wherein a trench is due in said ground, support media is introduced in said trench to support the walls formed by the treching, vapor or water conduit means are placed in the trench and the trench with this support media is back-filled with particular material to dispose and remove the support media from the trench, the improvement comprising employing as said support media a hydrated cross linked acrylic polymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 18, 1997
    Assignee: Envirotrench
    Inventor: Gilbert R. Tallard
  • Patent number: 5609440
    Abstract: An underwater pipeline is disclosed that arrests the propagation of a collapse or buckle that may occur as the pipeline is being laid or after the pipeline is in service. The pipeline comprises a plurality of joints of pipe connected end-to-end by a threaded connection. Each connection includes external cylindrical threads of opposite hand on adjacent ends of the pipe joints. A coupling having right and left-hand threads for moving the ends of the pipe joints into abutting position in sealing engagement with a seal ring to seal the connection. The connection provides a physical discontinuity in the pipeline to stop the propagation of a buckle in the pipeline. Additionally, by virtue of the thread profile, the coupling may provide radial support to the pin members to resist collapse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 11, 1997
    Assignee: Hydril Company
    Inventor: Joseph R. Roche
  • Patent number: 5607257
    Abstract: A swivel device for coupling a back reamer to a plastic pipe to be drawn through a hole has a swivel shaft that extends into a tubular body and engages a bearing. At one side of the bearing an O-ring seals between the shaft and the body. A grease supply path extends past the bearing to a grease chamber on the bearing side of the O-ring and thence via a duct, to a grease chamber on the other side of the O-ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 4, 1997
    Inventor: Roderick C. Brewis
  • Patent number: 5607384
    Abstract: An apparatus for safely delivering a hazardous fluid substance to a receiving structure includes a supply cylinder containing the fluid substance and having a supply cylinder release port; a high pressure containment vessel having a vessel wall, for receiving and safely enclosing the supply cylinder; a high pressure first tube extending from, and in fluid communication with, the supply cylinder release port to a vessel port in the vessel wall; and a vessel valve in fluid communication with the first tube for controlling delivery of the fluid substance from the supply cylinder and from the vessel. The vessel valve preferably includes a fluid substance sensing valve assembly mounted in the vessel port, for automatically shutting off the flow of the fluid substance at the vessel port upon detection of the fluid substances outside the containment vessel. The vessel valve preferably includes a reduced orifice controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 4, 1997
    Inventor: Rudolph Caparros
  • Patent number: 5607017
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for selectively restricting fluid flow in a well or well conduit. A dissolvable core material is positioned in the well and is isolated from the well fluids with an inpermeable sheath. The sheath is punctured with a control mechanism or other device so that the sheath is breached. The fluid dissolves the core material and permits fluid flow through the well or well conduit. The sheath can be punctured by pressurizing the well fluid, or by controlling the fluid pressure to activate a pressure sensitive control mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 4, 1997
    Assignee: PES, Inc.
    Inventors: Steve Owens, Brett Bouldin, Napoleon Arizmendi
  • Patent number: 5599140
    Abstract: A reinforcing and support system and method of installation thereof including both a mechanical expansion anchor on the distal end of an elongated bolt and a resin grouting mix installed in a blind drill hole in a mine roof, or the like. A pair of elongated leg members, fixed with respect to the shell, extend into the annular space surrounding the bolt below the shell for a distance about as great as the axial length of the shell. Upon advance of the bolt, carrying the expansion anchor and leg members, into the drill hole to break a cartridge containing the initially flowable components of the grouting material, the bolt is rotated to effect expansion of the anchor and tensioning of the bolt. Mixing of the components in the annular space surrounding the bolt below the anchor as the bolt is rotated is enhanced by hydraulic turbulence produced by flow of the components about the leg members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1997
    Assignee: The Eastern Company
    Inventor: Raymond L. Wright
  • Patent number: 5598891
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for perforating and fracturing subterranean formations to enhance fluid production. At least one unlined punch charge is loaded into at least one punch charge carrier, and the void spaces in the punch charge carrier are filled with sand. The punch charge carrier is assembled with at least one perforating charge carrier, loaded with at least one perforating charge, and a means for detonation. The assembly is positioned in a well containing a pressurized fluid adjacent the interval to be perforated and/or fractured, and the charges are detonated. The one or more punch charges create one or more apertures in the punch charge carrier, allowing sand to enter the well and be carried by the fluid in the well into the perforations and/or fractures created by the perforating charges and the pressurized fluid. The sand scours and/or props the perforations and/or fractures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1997
    Assignee: Marathon Oil Company
    Inventors: Philip M. Snider, David S. Wesson
  • Patent number: 5598894
    Abstract: A system is provided for selectively perforating multiple zones in a well either simultaneously, or in series, having isolation barriers, or packers, located between the perforating multiple zones, without moving the system with respect to the well. The system includes a tubing string which carries at least a first and a second perforating gun. At least a first and a second pressure actuated firing head are associated with the first and second perforating guns, respectively. A first and second packer for isolating the perforating guns from each other. A source of actuating fluid pressure for the firing head is provided, which may be the bore of the tubing string. A first selective communication device is provided for isolating the second firing head from the source of actuating fluid pressure until after the first perforating gun has been fired, and for then communicating the second firing head with the source of actuating fluid pressure in response to firing of the first perforating gun.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1997
    Assignee: Halliburton Company
    Inventors: John D. Burleson, Flint R. George, Justin L. Mason
  • Patent number: 5599245
    Abstract: In a belt or chain tensioner a sliding bearing ring is arranged between an element rigidly connected to the housing and an element rigidly connected to the tension arm. In order to achieve an improved damping, the sliding bearing ring is provided at one place with a through-slot into which engages a projection on one of the two elements. In addition, the sliding bearing ring is preferably provided with at least two, and preferably more, axially oriented grooves which define narrow and flexible lamellae formed between them. The lamellae are inclined with respect to and bear against a facing peripheral surface of one of the two elements in order to obtain a direction-dependent damping, since the lamellae are easily pushed aside in one direction of rotation but are entrained and pushed up into an upright position in the opposite direction of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1997
    Assignee: INA Walzlager Schaeffler KG
    Inventor: Peter Giese
  • Patent number: 5599139
    Abstract: A method of constructing a liner system for a waste containment facility having substantially vertical sidewalls utilizing a plurality of vertical expansion boxes for holding a flexible membrane liner against a rock face or any other approximately vertical face without penetration of liner, liner "creep", slippage or impairment of the integrity of the liner A vertical expansion box provides lateral and vertical pressure onto portions of the flexible membrane liner to hold it firmly in place. The vertical expansion box is constructed such that when, filled with soil or other aggregate material, lateral pressure of the fill will flex the sidewalls of the box, which in turn applies pressure against the liner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1997
    Assignee: The Tensar Corporation
    Inventors: Raymond J. Chewning, Peter C. Brown, Jesse R. Whittemore
  • Patent number: 5595456
    Abstract: An underground storage tank provided with a manway is equipped with a riser extending from the storage tank, about the manway, to a point just below the access way provided in the ground level of the installation. The riser is provided with a water-tight cover which is released through operation of a cam. The water-tight riser excludes water from the interior of the riser and the manway, ensuring access to the manway, operation of the fittings provided in the manway, an additional containment of fluid passing through the manway and the area of the tank adjacent thereto. Because it is water-tight, an alarm sensitive to liquid may be placed in the interior of the riser to alert the operator to the possible loss of containment, or loss of water-tight sealing between the cover and the riser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 21, 1997
    Assignee: Xerxes Corporation
    Inventors: Robin Berg, Mark Baumgartner
  • Patent number: RE35454
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for separating solid particles from well fluids in the bore hole including a separator separation device (34) adjacent the lower end of a tubing string (14) positioned within a perforated casing (10). The separator device (34) includes concentric tubular members (44, 46) defining an annulus (60) therebetween. A spiral guide (62) is positioned in the annulus (60) about the inner tubular member (44) below perforations (54) in the outer tubular member (44) and extends about the inner tubular member (46) for around a complete turn or 360 degrees. A helical motion is imparted to the well fluids received through the perforations (54) and solid particles settle downwardly within the vortex or swirl chamber (79) below the inner tubular member (46). The liquid separated from the solid particles is pump by a downhole pump (18) upwardly through the inner tubular member (46).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 18, 1997
    Inventor: Delwin E. Cobb