Patents Examined by Steven MacDonald
  • Patent number: 9869146
    Abstract: Described herein is an inner tube for a core barrel which has a structure adapted to retain lubricant for lubricating a sampled core. The internal surface of the inner tube includes a plurality of structures to retain lubricant adjacent a core received in the inner tube. An example structure is multiple alveoli in which lubricant is retained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Olivier Mageren, Aurelien Chauviere, Khac Nguyen Che
  • Patent number: 9851852
    Abstract: A downhole apparatus including a tubular body, first and second ports in a wall of the body, and a fluid pressure-responsive valve arrangement having a locked first configuration associated with a first pressure in which the first port is open and the second port is closed, an unlocked second configuration associated with a second pressure higher than the first pressure in which the first port is open and the second port is closed, and a third configuration associated with a third pressure lower than the second pressure in which the second port is open and the first port is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: DARCY TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED
    Inventors: Stephen Edmund Bruce, Stephen Kent, Dominic Patrick Joseph McCann, David Allan Noblett, David Grant, Ewan Colin Smith
  • Patent number: 9845662
    Abstract: A downhole actuator typically for a downhole tool such as a valve, and typically for incorporation in a string of tubulars in an oil or gas well has a central axis with radially movable counterweights on opposite sides of the axis, which move radially outward to change the activation state of the actuator. The counterweights are supported by link arms which control the movement of the counterweights in response to centrifugal force created by rotation of the body, for example, during rotary drilling operations of the string. Radial outward movement of the counterweights typically transmits axial forces between sleeves at the upper and lower ends of the counterweights, so when the counterweights move radially outward, the upper and lower sleeves approach one another, which typically triggers the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: CFF Technologies Limited
    Inventors: Bruce Thornton Jepp, Keith Scott Gaskin, Rae Andrew Younger, Stuart Thomas Rothnie
  • Patent number: 9845660
    Abstract: A pressure responsive downhole tool comprises a power piston pressure relief valve that is selectively activated and deactivated to allow pressure-related operations to be conducted. The pressure relief valve will not open until the power piston is activated, which also requires the operating element (ball valve, for example) to be opened, thereby avoided situations in which the ball valve is inadvertently placed in the Lock Open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul David Ringgenberg
  • Patent number: 9828842
    Abstract: A system for removing methane from subterranean clathrates includes an oxidant source, a feed pipe, a recovery pipe, and an ignition source. The feed pipe includes an inlet end in fluid communication with the oxidant source and an outlet end configured to be disposed within a subterranean deposit that includes a stored methane gas disposed within a clathrate hydrate. The recovery pipe includes a first end disposed within the subterranean deposit and a second end opposite the first end configured to engage a storage device. The ignition source is configured to trigger a combustion reaction to melt the clathrate hydrate to produce a released methane gas. A first portion of the released methane gas travels along a recovery flow path through the recovery pipe and a second portion of the released methane gas combusts with the oxidant in-situ to perpetuate the combustion reaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Elwha LLC
    Inventors: Roderick A. Hyde, Lowell L. Wood, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9828828
    Abstract: A degradable seat arrangement consisting of a pusher; a cone having a tapered face; and a seal having a seal deformation face configured to contact the tapered face. A method for creating a seat in a borehole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES, a GE company, LLC
    Inventor: James Doane
  • Patent number: 9822610
    Abstract: A method of actuating a downhole component comprises positioning a magnetic positioning tool adjacent an actuable component within a wellbore, where the magnetic positioning tool comprises a plurality of magnets arranged in a first position, transitioning the plurality of magnets from the first position to a second position, detecting the plurality of magnets using a sensor associated with the actuable component, generating a signal indicative of the plurality of magnets being in the second position, and actuating the actuable component within the wellbore in response to the signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher R Delzell, William Mark Richards
  • Patent number: 9810036
    Abstract: In a fracking context the object that will ultimately block a passage in an isolation device is introduced into the zone with the bottom hole assembly. The object is not released until the guns fire to create a pressure spike in the borehole that triggers the object retaining device to release the object. The retaining device is placed in close proximity to the isolation device and its setting tool to allow a larger object and passage in the isolation device to be used. If the guns misfire, the object is not released and comes out with the guns. The replacement guns can be pumped in because the passage in the isolation device has stayed open during the misfire. Direct and indirect object release in response to pressure created from the firing of the guns is contemplated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Baker Hughes
    Inventors: Jason C. Mailand, Daniel S. Matthews, Steve Rosenblatt
  • Patent number: 9803441
    Abstract: A retrievable core sampling assembly for latching to or relative to a rotatable tubular housing of a core sampling apparatus to allow the capture and retrieval of a core from a subterranean formation, the assembly comprising or including: a core catcher barrel for a core, the barrel being rotationally isolated from the tubular housing and cooperable with a core taking bit coupled to the rotatable tubular housing to retain a core, and a hammer for providing impact to the core taking bit along a longitudinal impact path that is or is substantially decoupled from the core catcher barrel so that when latched, rotation and impact of the core taking bit captures and passes core material from the formation to the core catcher barrel in manner that isolates a core in the core catcher barrel from rotation and impact forces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: FLEXIDRILL LIMITED
    Inventor: Gregory Donald West
  • Patent number: 9803436
    Abstract: An integrated casing drive system combines a top drive having a rotary drive portion, a pipe handler having a casing gripper wherein the pipe handler is rotationally mounted to the top drive, and a selectively actuable casing drive lock for locking the rotary drive portion to the pipe handler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Warrior Rig Technologies Limited
    Inventor: Allan Stewart Richardson
  • Patent number: 9797244
    Abstract: In one aspect, an apparatus for use in a wellbore formed in a formation is disclosed that in one embodiment includes a probe for obtaining a formation fluid into a flow line, a pump for extracting formation fluid from a formation into the flow line, a chamber for receiving the formation fluid from the probe, and a flow control device that controls the formation fluid flow from the flow line into a chamber, wherein the flow control device includes a movable member that moves between a first seal position and a second seal position, wherein the flow control device is closed when the movable member is in the first seal position and the second seal position and is open when the movable member is between the first seal position and the second seal position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Kyle A. Gostkowski, James T. Cernosek
  • Patent number: 9777222
    Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) hydrocarbon resource upgrading device may include a first hydrocarbon resource upgrading path that may include a plurality of first RF power applicator stages coupled in series. Each first RF power stage is configured to apply RF power to upgrade a hydrocarbon resource passing therethrough. The RF hydrocarbon resource upgrading device may also include a second hydrocarbon resource upgrading path that may include at least one second RF power applicator stage coupled in parallel with at least one of the first RF power applicator stages. The second RF power applicator stage is configured to apply RF power to upgrade the hydrocarbon resource passing therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: HARRIS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mark Ernest Blue, Lisa Patton Zastrow, Ryan Matthew Whitney, Ronald Edward Jackson, Jr., John Anton Meyer
  • Patent number: 9777549
    Abstract: A wellbore isolation device comprising: a first material, wherein the first material: (A) is a metal or a metal alloy; and (B) partially dissolves when an electrically conductive path exists between the first material and a second material and at least a portion of the first and second materials are in contact with an electrolyte; and an electrolytic compound, wherein the electrolytic compound dissolves in a fluid located within the wellbore to form free ions that are electrically conductive. A method of removing the wellbore isolation device comprises: placing the wellbore isolation device into the wellbore; and allowing at least a portion of the first material to dissolve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael L. Fripp, Zachary W. Walton, Zachary R. Murphree
  • Patent number: 9771790
    Abstract: A downhole measurement assembly, tool, and method is provided. The downhole measurement assembly includes at least one drill collar 220 having at least one compensation portion and at least one force portion with a load path 239 therethrough. The compensation portion has a different dimension from the force portion. The assembly also includes a plurality of compensation sensors 230.1, 230.2 positionable about the compensation portion to measure downhole tool pressures applied thereto, and a plurality of force sensors 230.3, 230.4 positionable about the force portion to measure downhole forces applied thereto. The compensation sensors and the force sensors are positionable about the drill collar(s) 220 in a strain configuration along the load path 239 whereby the measured downhole tool pressure is isolatable from the measured downhole forces on the drill collar(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: NATIONAL OILWELL DHT, L.P.
    Inventors: Kevin Clark, Joshua Tutt
  • Patent number: 9771768
    Abstract: A slip release mechanism provides for undermining the slip cone in the set position of the slips so that the grip of the slips can be released subsequent to allowing the cone ramp to flex. The slips can be pulled back down the cone ramp as the completion of the same motion that undermines the support for the cone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventor: William C. Lemm
  • Patent number: 9771779
    Abstract: Well systems including a wellbore lined with a wellbore lining and a pressure booster extendable within the wellbore on a conveyance whereby an annulus is defined between the conveyance and the wellbore lining. The pressure booster includes a body having a first end coupled to the conveyance, a jetting chamber defined within the body, one or more flow ports defined in the body and providing fluid communication between the jetting chamber and the annulus, and a jet nozzle in fluid communication with the conveyance. The pressure booster receives a first fluid through the conveyance and a second fluid from the annulus and mixes the first and second fluids to discharge a fracturing fluid below the pressure booster at a pressure greater than a pressure within the annulus above the pressure booster.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICE, INC.
    Inventors: Jim Basuki Surjaatmadja, Stanley V. Stephenson
  • Patent number: 9759035
    Abstract: At least a portion of a wellbore isolation device consists essentially of: a metal alloy, wherein the metal alloy: (A) comprises magnesium at a concentration of at least 50% by volume of the metal alloy; and (B) at least partially dissolves in the presence of an electrolyte. A method of removing the wellbore isolation device comprises: contacting or allowing the wellbore isolation device to come in contact with an electrolyte; and allowing at least a portion of the metal alloy to dissolve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael L. Fripp, Zachary W. Walton, Zachary R. Murphree
  • Patent number: 9745815
    Abstract: Apparatus useful for providing a liquid-tight seal around a cellar formed around a hydrocarbon exploration or production well includes a clamp and at least one platform. The clamp is configured to engage a wall extending around the cellar and the platform is configured to extend outwardly from the clamp over the earth's surface adjacent to the cellar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Inventors: Aaron William Dugas, Kenneth Edward Durio, James Kerwin McDowell, Randy Paul Bordelon, Richard Lamar Edwards, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9732606
    Abstract: A gravel pack tool for interfacing with a gravel pack completion assembly includes a mandrel disposed to fit into a gravel pack completion assembly, the mandrel carrying a sensing mechanism disposed to detect a unique sensing feature positioned at known location within the gravel pack completion assembly. The downhole tool further includes a locating mechanism carried by the mandrel, the locating mechanism disposed to mechanically engage a locating feature within the gravel pack assembly in order to locate the tool relative thereto. The tool includes processing system to activate the locating mechanism in response to detection of a sensing feature by the sensing mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventor: Thomas J. Frosell
  • Patent number: 9708881
    Abstract: In a fracturing application a packer for a given zone to be fractured is reinforced during fracturing with an insert that is preferably a sleeve. During times of high collapse pressure loading, the sleeve provides the needed support. When fracking is over the liner sleeve is caused to disappear. The preferred material is controlled electrolytic materials but other materials that can disappear when the anticipated loading is diminished can also be used. The disappearing can be motivated chemically or thermally among other contemplated methods. As a result, there is a larger available bore when production is ready to start.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: YingQing Xu, Steve Rosenblatt