Patents Examined by Steven A Macdonald
  • Patent number: 11021929
    Abstract: Cement slurry injected or delivered into a wellbore during cementing operations can be positively placed with a positive placement tool. The tool can be located along to a casing string and have a mandrel with a tubular centralizer sleeve rotatably fit thereabout, the centralizer sleeve having one or more radial guides extending longitudinally thereon. Reciprocal stroking of the casing string causes a helical drive arrangement, acting between the mandrel and the centralizer sleeve, to drive the centralizer sleeve longitudinally along a length of the mandrel while concurrently rotating the centralizer sleeve thereabout. The rotational movement of the centralizer sleeve provides positive impetus to force the injected cement slurry fully about the casing string.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: SLURRY SOLUTIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Randy Gosselin, Trevor James Montgomery
  • Patent number: 11021921
    Abstract: A method of anchoring a morphable tubular in a wellbore includes providing a first tubular member including an expandable portion having an anchoring system arranged around a circumference thereof, the anchoring system including a gripper element, two wedge elements having inclined surfaces oriented to engage two oppositely arranged inclined surfaces of the gripper element, wherein each wedge element includes a beam spring, which are oppositely arranged to act against the inclined surfaces of the gripper element, locating the expandable portion in an existing tubular in a wellbore, introducing fluid pressure to an inner surface of the expandable portion and morphing the expandable portion towards the existing tubing so that the gripper element engages an inner surface of the existing tubing, reducing the fluid pressure, and maintaining engagement of the gripper element on the inner surface by action of the at least one beam spring axially on the gripper element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Damien Gerard Patton
  • Patent number: 11015410
    Abstract: A method of selectively expanding a wall of a tubular includes assembling an expansion tool comprising a plurality of bi-directional boosters, arranging a predetermined number of explosive pellets on the guide tube to be in a serially-arranged column between the bi-directional boosters, positioning a duel end firing explosive column tool within the tubular, and detonating the bi-directional boosters to simultaneously ignite opposing ends of the serially-arranged column to form two shock waves. The shock waves collide to create an amplified shock wave that travels radially outward to impact the tubular and expand a portion of the tubular wall radially outward, without perforating or cutting through the portion of the wall, to form a protrusion of the tubular at the portion of the wall. The protrusion extends into an annulus between an outer surface of the wall of the tubular and an inner surface of a wall of another tubular.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Inventor: James G. Rairigh
  • Patent number: 11008838
    Abstract: Switchable cross-over systems, devices, and methods for cementing well walls are provided. A switchable cross-over device includes a tool body and a flow sleeve. The tool body includes a main tool path separable into uphole and downhole tool paths and an auxiliary chamber containing uphole and downhole annular ports. The flow sleeve is within the auxiliary chamber and movable between conventional and reverse circulation positions. In the conventional circulation position, the uphole and downhole tool paths are in fluid communication and the uphole annular port is in fluid communication with the downhole annular port through the auxiliary chamber. In the reverse circulation position, the flow sleeve forms first and second auxiliary flow paths in the auxiliary chamber, the uphole tool path and the downhole annular port are in fluid communication via the first auxiliary flow path, and the downhole tool path is in fluid communication with the uphole annular port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Bo Gao, Lonnie Carl Helms, Aniruddha Gadre, Yuzhu Hu, Gary Makowiecki
  • Patent number: 11002098
    Abstract: A downhole patch setting tool for expanding a patch over a distance of 10+ metres in a well, has a top and a tool body having a bore, an outer face, a first end and a second end, the second end being arranged closer to the top than the first end, the bore at least extending from a first bladder assembly to a second bladder assembly, an expandable metal patch, the first bladder assembly and the second bladder assembly creating an annular space therebetween, the expandable metal patch having an inner diameter in an unexpanded condition, the tool body having a first and second openings, providing fluid communication between the bore and the first bladder assembly and the second bladder assembly to allow pressurised fluid to expand the bladder assemblies, and a valve arrange to control passage of the pressurised fluid from the bore to the annular space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Welltec Oilfield Solutions AG
    Inventor: Tomas Sune Andersen
  • Patent number: 10995556
    Abstract: A drill bit includes a bit body and one or more cutters positioned on the bit body at select locations. At least one vibrational device is positioned on the bit body to impart vibration to the bit body and thereby mitigate stick-slip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Robello Samuel, Mark Evans Williams
  • Patent number: 10989016
    Abstract: A downhole tool includes an expandable sleeve having an outer surface. The expandable sleeve is configured to expand radially outwards without fracturing apart. The tool also includes a plurality of button inserts positioned at least partially in the expandable sleeve and extending outward past the outer surface by a first distance, so as to engage a surrounding tubular when the expandable sleeve is expanded. The tool further includes a first band of grit material on the outer surface, adjacent to at least one row of the plurality of button inserts. The first band of grit material extends outward from the outer surface by at least the first distance, to shield the plurality of button inserts during run-in of the downhole tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: INNOVEX DOWNHOLE SOLUTIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Nick Tonti, Justin Kellner, Carl Martin
  • Patent number: 10975661
    Abstract: A flow transported obturating tool for actuating a valve in a wellbore includes a housing including a radially translatable engagement assembly, and a core slidably disposed in the housing, wherein the engagement assembly is configured to shift the valve from a first closed position to an open position when the core is in a first position relative to the housing, and wherein the engagement assembly is configured to shift the valve from the open position to a second closed position in response to the core being displaced from the first position to a second position that is spaced from the first position in a first axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: ABD Technologies LLC
    Inventor: Neil H. Akkerman
  • Patent number: 10968729
    Abstract: A downhole heating apparatus includes a gas separator, a downhole heater, a thermal barrier and lower and upper perforated tubing joints being vents. The thermal barrier retards fluid and heat from flowing between a lower annulus of a wellbore and an upper annulus of a wellbore. The thermal barrier is formed from one or more thermal barrier subcomponents. The downhole heater is an electrical heater. The thermal barrier and lower and upper perforated tubing joints includes one or more vents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Inventor: Glenn Clay Sylvester
  • Patent number: 10968733
    Abstract: Temperature sensing devices and methods for determining downhole fluid temperature at a drill string in a borehole while drilling are disclosed. The device includes a temperature sensor capable of detecting and measuring rapid temperature changes and may be used to sense the temperature of fluid inside or outside the drill string. In addition, the device includes a thermal conductor that receives and secures the temperature sensor; the thermal conductor is in turn received and secured in a thermal insulator that provides a thermal barrier. In an embodiment, the device is disposed in a channel within an outer diameter of the drill string such that the device is protected from the side wall of the borehole and drilling fluid and cuttings can pass through the channel without becoming packed around the temperature sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: National Oilwell Vareo, L.P.
    Inventors: Gregory T. McGinnis, Alamzeb Hafeez Khan, Kevin W. Clark, Gregory E. Leuenberger, Brandon C. Epperson
  • Patent number: 10961807
    Abstract: Methods and systems for isolating a loss circulation zone of a subterranean formation includes lowering a drill string having a tubular member from a surface into a subterranean well and securing a packer assembly to the tubular member, the packer assembly having an inflatable packer unit and a protective sleeve. The protective sleeve is in an extended position and circumscribes the inflatable packer unit and the inflatable packer unit is in a deflated condition. A stabilizer body is secured to the tubular member downhole of the packer assembly. The stabilizer body is shaped to centralize the packer assembly and direct debris traveling uphole in a direction radially outward of the packer assembly. The protective sleeve is moved from the extended position to a retracted position. The inflatable packer unit is inflated to an inflated condition, forming a seal with an inner diameter surface of the subterranean uphole of the loss circulation zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Herschel Foster, Ossama R. Sehsah, Mahmoud Alqurashi
  • Patent number: 10953961
    Abstract: CO2 in the liquid or super-critical state is delivered by at least one carrier vessel from at least one CO2 storage site, which may be an onshore site, to an integrated offshore facility. The integrated offshore facility is provided with at least one on-site storage tank or vessel adapted to store CO2 in the liquid or super-critical state and with equipment for marine transfer of CO2 in the liquid or super-critical state. CO2 is utilised as required from said at least one on-site storage tank or vessel for EOR at said offshore site or for EGR at said offshore site by injection into a sub-sea oil or natural gas bearing reservoir and recovery of oil and/or natural gas from a resulting production stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Inventor: Timothy Robert Baker
  • Patent number: 10934810
    Abstract: A multilateral tool and methods and systems related thereto, the multilateral tool conveyable into a parent wellbore and a lateral wellbore and having a plurality of components operatively coupled together such that movement of a component correspondingly moves the adjacent component. The plurality of components comprise a whipstock having a latch anchor, a drill bit, a measurement while drilling (MWD) tool, a motor, at least one well screen, and a multilateral junction having a primary leg and a lateral leg.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventor: William Wallace Dancer
  • Patent number: 10927626
    Abstract: A system including a load shoulder system, including a shoulder setting tool, including a shoulder coupling system configured to couple to a load shoulder, and a shoulder energizing system configured to couple the load shoulder to a tubular of a mineral extraction system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Cameron International Corporation
    Inventor: Dennis P. Nguyen
  • Patent number: 10927635
    Abstract: An isolation plug including a support element having a first end, a second end, and an intermediate portion extending therebetween. At least one flexible wiper element is arranged at the first end. A frangible locator element is arranged at the first end spaced from the at least one flexible wiper element. A selectively deployable plug element is arranged at the second end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES, A GE COMPANY, LLC
    Inventors: Graeme Michael Kelbie, Kent S. Meyer
  • Patent number: 10927609
    Abstract: An earth-boring tool includes a cutting element comprising a hard material and at least one of a signal generator configured to provide an electromagnetic or acoustic signal to an interface between a surface of the hard material and a surface of a subterranean formation, and a sensor configured to receive an electromagnetic or acoustic signal from the interface. A method of forming a wellbore includes rotating the earth-boring tool within a wellbore and cutting formation material with a cutting element, transmitting a signal through the cutting element to an interface between the cutting element and the formation material, and measuring a response received at a sensor. A cutting element includes a transmitter oriented and configured to dispense a signal to an interface between the cutting surface and a surface of a formation and a sensor oriented and configured to measure a signal from the interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Baker Hughes, a GE company, LLC
    Inventor: Rocco DiFoggio
  • Patent number: 10927649
    Abstract: A system and method to control wellbore pressure during perforating. The system comprises a carrier, a sensor, a pressure-altering device, and a processor in communication with the sensor. The sensor is configured to detect a stress wave propagating through the carrier before the arrival of a related pressure wave in the wellbore and generate a signal indicative of the detected stress wave. The pressure-altering device is actuatable to change the pressure in the wellbore. The processor is operable to analyze the signal from the sensor and control the pressure-altering device based on the detected stress wave to change the magnitude of the related pressure wave in the wellbore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Service, Inc.
    Inventors: James Marshall Barker, James Harold Wight
  • Patent number: 10927655
    Abstract: Estimates of global total “liquid” hydrocarbon resources are dominated by structures known as oil sands or tar sands which represent approximately two-thirds of the total recoverable resources. This is despite that the Canadian Athabasca Oil Sands, which dominate these oil sand based recoverable oil reserves at 1.7 trillion barrels, are calculated at only a 10% recovery rate. However, irrespective of whether it is the 3.6 trillion barrels recoverable from the oil sands or the 1.75 trillion barrels from conventional oil reservoirs worldwide, it is evident that significant financial return and extension of the time oil as resource is available to the world arise from increasing the recoverable percentage of such resources. According to embodiments of the invention pressure differentials are exploited to advance production of wells, adjust the evolution of the depletion chambers formed laterally between laterally spaced wells to increase the oil recovery percentage, and provide recovery in deeper reservoirs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Inventor: Jason Swist
  • Patent number: 10927632
    Abstract: Downhole wire routing apparatus including a tubular body having an outer circumferential surface and a central bore extending along a longitudinal axis. The tubular body includes one or more channels, capable of receiving one or more wires, disposed within the tubular body between the central bore and outer circumferential surface. Method and system for routing wires to one or more downhole tools.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Shao Hwa Lee, Hong Jin Lau, Mark S. Holly
  • Patent number: 10920531
    Abstract: An internal completion string is anchored within a closed casing valve of a production liner in a wellbore. The internal completion string comprises a packer and a shifting tool. The production liner comprises a casing valve having a port and a moveable member. The annulus defined between the production liner and the internal completion string is sealed, and the shifting tool is remotely operated to move the moveable member away from the port, thereby opening the casing valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael Huh, Josh Belleville, Jessica Schulte