Patents Examined by Steven A Macdonald
  • Patent number: 11136869
    Abstract: The positions of hydraulic fractures may be detected during multistage reservoir stimulation operations. Fracturing fluid is injected into a well at a pressure above the fracturing pressure to produce at least one hydraulic fracture. Then, a marker slug is injected into the well. Next, additional fracturing fluid is injected into the well. When the marker slug enters at least one of the hydraulic fractures, a detectable pressure response is observed, and the position of a hydraulic fracture may be detected from the volume of fracturing fluid injected after injection of the marker slug. The marker slug is a fluid that has a viscosity and/or density that is different from the fracturing fluids injected before and after the marker slug. This technique may be combined with other well operations, such as plugging at least one hydraulic fracture or creating at least one new hydraulic fracture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Sergey Vladimirovich Semenov, Anatoly Vladimirovich Medvedev, Fedor Nikolaevich Litvinets
  • Patent number: 11125038
    Abstract: A method and system of validating orientation of a core obtained by drilling the core from a subsurface body of material, the method including: a) determining that vibration from drilling is below a nominated level, b) recording data relating to orientation of the core to be retrieved, the data recorded using a downhole core orientation data recording device, c) separating the core from the subsurface body, and d) obtaining from the core orientation data recording device an indication of the orientation of the core based on the recorded data obtained when the vibration from drilling was below the nominated level and before the core was separated from the subsurface body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Globaltech Corporation Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Khaled Hejleh, Gordon Stewart, Brett James Wilkinson, Michael Alan Klass, Johan Anwar
  • Patent number: 11111752
    Abstract: A downhole tool including a body having a hydraulic fluid chamber, and a flexible multi-layer barrier impermeable to gas and water mounted at the body separating the hydraulic fluid chamber from fluids external to the body. The flexible multi-layer barrier including a first elastomeric layer, a second elastomeric layer, and a gas impermeable layer arranged between the first elastomeric layer and the second elastomeric layer, the gas impermeable layer being formed from a metal layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES, A GE COMPANY, LLC
    Inventors: Karsten Fuhst, Volker Peters, Christian Preiser, Nils Schneider, Ingo Roders, Natalja Wendt, Sebastian Jung, Thomas Kruspe
  • Patent number: 11111738
    Abstract: A releasable connection mechanism for use downhole with a tubular member includes a collet, a collet stop, and a ring housing. The collet is configured to engage the tubular member, the collet stop is axially movable with respect to the collet between a disengaged position to not engage the collet and an engaged position to engage the collet, and the ring housing is selectively axially movable with respect to the collet. In the disengaged position, the collet is configured to move with respect to the ring housing to engage the ring housing and prevent the collet from disengaging the tubular member when the collet is tensioned with respect to the tubular member. In the engaged position, the collet is configured to remain axially stationary with respect to the ring housing and disengage the tubular member when the collet is tensioned with respect to the tubular member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Ibrahim El Mallawany, Lorenzzo B. Minassa, Henry P. Lindner, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11091959
    Abstract: A downhole oscillation tool includes a Moineau-type positive displacement pulse motor and a valve assembly for use in a drill string. The pulse motor includes a rotor configured to nutate within the bore of a stator. The rotor has at least two helical lobes that extend the length of the rotor, and the stator bore defines at least three helical lobes that extend the length of the stator. The valve assembly includes a first valve plate connected to the bottom end of the rotor and abuts the second valve plate to form a sliding seal. The second valve plate is fixedly coupled to the stator and remains stationary. First valve ports extend axially through the first valve plate, and second valve ports extend axially through the second valve plate. The first valve ports and second valve ports intermittently overlap as the first valve plate slides across the second valve plate to create pulses in the drilling fluid which is pumped through the tool to power the motor and valve assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: REME TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Joshua Alan Sicilian, Faraz Ali, Avinash Cuddapah
  • Patent number: 11085278
    Abstract: A flow transported obturating tool for actuating a valve in a wellbore includes a housing including a first engagement member and a second engagement member, wherein the first and second engagement members each include an unlocked and a locked position, and a core disposed in the housing, wherein the core is configured to actuate both the first engagement member and the second engagement member between the unlocked and locked positions, wherein, when the first engagement member is in the locked position, the first engagement member is configured to locate the obturating tool at a predetermined axial position in the valve, wherein, when the second engagement member is in the locked position, the second engagement member is configured to shift the valve from an open position to a closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: ABD Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Neil H. Akkerman, John A. Barton
  • Patent number: 11078771
    Abstract: Methods are provided for determining the location and height of cement in a subterranean borehole region using pulsed neutron capture (PNC) logging tools. The methods include obtaining a pre-cementing data set, placing in the borehole region a cement slurry that includes a liquid a thermal neutron absorbing material, obtaining a post-cementing data set, comparing the pre-cementing data set and the post-cementing data set to determine the location of the cement, and correlating the location of the cement to a depth measurement of the borehole to determine the location and height of the cement placed in the borehole region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: CARBO CERAMICS, INC.
    Inventors: Xiaogang Han, Harry D. Smith, Jr., Robert Duenckel, Jeremy Zhang
  • Patent number: 11078745
    Abstract: There is provided a plurality of injection stations, wherein each one of the injection stations, independently, comprising: a housing; a port extending through the housing; a flow control member configured for displacement for effecting at least opening of the port such that, when the injection station is integrated within a wellbore string that is disposed within a wellbore of a subterranean formation, and treatment fluid is being supplied through a wellbore string passage of the wellbore string, injection of the supplied treatment fluid into the subterranean formation is effected through the port; and a deployable seat, mounted to the housing, and including an aperture, and configured such that, when the seat is deployed in a deployed position, the seat is configured for receiving a respective plug for seating of the respective plug over the aperture of the seat; such that a plurality of plugs are respective to the injection stations, wherein each one of the plugs is respective to a deployable seat of a one
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: NCS Multistage Inc.
    Inventors: Don Getzlaf, Tim Johnson, Brock Gillis
  • Patent number: 11066885
    Abstract: A fluid-actuated lock pin securing wellhead devices within a wellhead assembly comprising a radial cylindrical passage in a wellhead assembly accepting a movable lock pin having an internal retainer limiting the lock pin protrusion into a wellbore, an external retainer preventing the lock pin from externally exiting the passage, and a fluid cavity, the lock pin with a seal preventing fluid from escaping from the wellbore, a fluid, a fluid pump applying pressure directly to the lock pin, a pressure control retaining the fluid pressure to maintain the lock pin in position, and a pin retractor to disengage the lock pin from the wellbore whereby the apparatus is configured to apply pressure directly to the lock pin displacing the lock pin inside in the well head assembly and extending into the wellbore to engage internal wellhead devices and hold fixedly in place, until the pressure is removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Inventor: Michael D. Scott
  • Patent number: 11060385
    Abstract: An artificial lift system including a tubular extending into a wellbore. The tubular includes a first end arranged at a surface of a formation, a second end terminating in the wellbore, and an intermediate portion. The intermediate portion includes a plurality of gas lift valves. A jet pump is fluidically connected to the second end of the tubular. A liquid supply conduit includes a terminal end arranged at the first end of the tubular and a gas supply conduit includes a terminal end portion arranged at the first end of the tubular.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES OILFIELD OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Jeremy Daniel VanDam, Brian Reeves
  • Patent number: 11053773
    Abstract: A system (10) delivers of a flowable substance S to a remote location through a conduit (144). The system (10) has a body 12 with first and second portions (14,16) and at least two plugs (P1, P2) associated with the body (12) so that in a first configuration the plugs (P1, P2) are spaced apart and form a sealed region (20) for holding a volume of the substance S, and, in a second configuration at least the second plug (P2) is disposed in the second portion wherein the substance S can flow in a downstream direction past or through the second plug and out of the body (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Australian Mud Company Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Andrew Beach, Justin Bergh, Scott Sholer, Gavin McLeod
  • Patent number: 11053769
    Abstract: A plug tool is presented to selectively plug a back pressure valve (BPV) in a tubing hanger associated with a wellhead of a well. The plug tool and the BPV can seal bottom hole pressure from the well during removal of the Christmas tree, and can retain control of the well while the Christmas tree is removed. The plug tool and the BPV allow a blowout preventer (BOP) to nipple-up and be tested without removing the BPV and without replacing the BPV with a two-way check valve. The plug tool has lower threads to engage internal threads of the BPV, and upper threads to be engaged by a retrieval tool. The plug tool has a seal to seal with the BPV above the internal threads and below a notch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Northern Oil Solutions
    Inventor: James D. Craycraft
  • Patent number: 11053745
    Abstract: A drilling rig may include a right substructure, left substructure, and a drill floor. The drill floor may be pivotably coupled to lower boxes of the left and right substructure by struts. The substructures may include hydraulic cylinders positioned to raise the drill floor and a mast coupled to the drill floor into a raised position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: NABORS DRILLING TECHNOLOGIES USA, INC.
    Inventors: Padira Reddy, Ashish Gupta, Ryan Hause
  • Patent number: 11047194
    Abstract: There is provided a method of chemically removing iron-containing casing from a well bore comprising injecting an acidic solution into said well bore, wherein said solution contacts said iron-containing casing and thereby accelerates oxidation of iron to iron cations, allowing said iron cations to dissolve in said solution, and removing said solution from said well bore. There is further provided a batch method of removing iron-containing casing from a well bore comprising injecting an acidic solution into said well bore, wherein said acidic solution contacts said iron-containing casing and thereby accelerates oxidation of iron to iron cations, and allowing said iron cations to dissolve in said acidic solution, wherein said well bore is at least partially open to the atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: STATOIL PETROLEUM AS
    Inventors: Marcus Fathi, Siddhartha Francois Lunkad
  • Patent number: 11047180
    Abstract: A hole cleaning joint for a drill string is deployed into a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation. The hole cleaning joint includes a tubular body connectable to the drill string and a hole cleaning section positionable about the tubular body. The hole cleaning section has an outer surface engageable with a wall of the well bore. The outer surface has spiral grooves extending therein defining blades therebetween, and an uphole end and a downhole end with a spiral cavity therebetween. The spiral cavity has a width that decreases towards the uphole end of the spiral cavity to define a tapered flow channel to receive cuttings therethrough whereby uphole movement of cuttings is facilitated during drilling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: National Oilwell Varco, L.P.
    Inventors: Michael Joseph Jellison, Guillaume Plessis, Andrei Muradov, John Forester Price, Stephen C. Hain
  • Patent number: 11046881
    Abstract: Mapping propped fractures in a well can be performed using a mixture including a proppant and an encapsulated salt. The proppant can be positioned in a fracture in the well for propping open the fracture to form a propped fracture. The encapsulated salt can be positioned in the propped fracture proximate to the proppant and include a salt and a non-permeable coating. The salt can be dissolved in response to fracture closure, encapsulant degradation, or encapsulant dissolution to form an electrically conductive solution usable for mapping the propped fracture. The non-permeable coating can prevent a fluid from contacting the salt during pumping and placement operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Doug W. Walser, Ronald Glen Dusterhoft, Philip D. Nguyen
  • Patent number: 11041353
    Abstract: A method of cutting a tubular includes providing a rotatable cutting tool in the tubular, the cutting tool having a blade with a cutting structure thereon; extending the blade relative to the cutting tool; rotating the cutting tool relative to the tubular; guiding the cutting structure into contact with the tubular; cutting the tubular using the blade; and limiting extension of the blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: WEATHERFORD TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, LLC
    Inventors: James Robert Miller, Dan Hugh Blankenship, Jeremy Lee Stone, David W. Teale
  • Patent number: 11028653
    Abstract: A releasable connection mechanism for use downhole with a tubular member includes a collet, a collet stop, and a ring housing. The collet is configured to engage the tubular member, the collet stop is axially movable with respect to the collet between a disengaged position to not engage the collet and an engaged position to engage the collet, and the ring housing is selectively axially movable with respect to the collet. In the disengaged position, the collet is configured to move with respect to the ring housing to engage the ring housing and prevent the collet from disengaging the tubular member when the collet is tensioned with respect to the tubular member. In the engaged position, the collet is configured to remain axially stationary with respect to the ring housing and disengage the tubular member when the collet is tensioned with respect to the tubular member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Ibrahim El Mallawany, Lorenzzo B. Minassa, Henry P. Lindner, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11028648
    Abstract: A method for utilizing a millimeter wave drilling apparatus is provided. The method can include monitoring a permeability of a first portion of a borehole of a well while forming the borehole using a drilling apparatus including a drill bit for mechanical removal of material from within the borehole. The method can also include determining to utilize a millimeter wave drilling apparatus including a wave guide configured for insertion into the borehole based at least on the permeability of the borehole falling below a permeability threshold value. The method can further include forming a second portion of the borehole utilizing the millimeter wave drilling apparatus in response to the determining. A method for controlling the downhole pressure of a well is also provided. Related systems performing the methods are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: QUAISE, INC.
    Inventors: Carlos Araque, Justin Lamb, Franck Monmont, Hy Phan, Matthew Houde
  • Patent number: 11021948
    Abstract: The preferred embodiments are directed to the oil-producing industry and can be used in operating multi-reservoir wells. A method for the determination of hydrodynamic parameters for each flowing reservoir that includes reaching at least one well operating mode with fluid flow through both the wellbore and one or more reservoirs, measuring at least one parameter that characterises fluid flow, recording its acoustic noise logging data, calculating noise power using reservoir fluid flow noise logging data, and subsequent multi-phase hydrodynamic modelling to determine hydrodynamic parameters for each identified reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: TGT Oilfield Services Limited
    Inventors: Artur Mikhailovich Aslanian, Dmitry Aleksandrovich Davydov, Irina Yurievna Aslanian, Yulliya Sergeevna Maslennikova, Dmitry Sergeevich Voloskov