Patents Examined by Waseem Moorad
  • Patent number: 11280142
    Abstract: A wellbore sealing system is disclosed. The wellbore sealing system includes a deflection assembly positioned in a main wellbore and a junction coupled to an uphole end of the completion deflector and extending into the lateral wellbore to form a fluid and pressure tight seal. The deflection assembly includes a degradable whipstock configured to laterally deflect a drill bit such that the drill bit drills through a sidewall of the main wellbore to form a lateral wellbore, a completion deflector coupled to and located downhole from the whipstock, and an anchoring device coupled to and located downhole from the completion deflector to prevent the deflection assembly from rotating and moving in an uphole direction and a downhole direction within the main wellbore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Borisa Lajesic
  • Patent number: 11261667
    Abstract: An apparatus for drilling curved and straight sections of a wellbore is disclosed that in one non-limiting embodiment includes a drilling assembly configured to include a drill bit at an end thereof that can be rotated by a drive in the drilling assembly and by the rotation of the drilling assembly, and wherein the drilling assembly includes: a deflection device that (i) tilts a section of the drilling assembly within a selected plane when the drilling assembly is substantially rotationally stationary to allow drilling of a curved section of the wellbore by rotating the drill bit by the drive; and (ii) straightens the section of the drilling assembly when the drilling assembly is rotated to allow drilling of a straight section of the wellbore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES, A GE COMPANY, LLC
    Inventor: Volker Peters
  • Patent number: 11242725
    Abstract: Magnetorheological fluids may regulate fluid flow downhole by forming a fluid seal using a bridge plug apparatus. Bridge plug apparatuses employing a magnetorheological fluid may be deployed in a wellbore in a retrievable configuration or in a substantially permanent configuration. Retrievable bridge plug apparatuses may comprise spaced apart magnets having a gap defined therebetween, and a reservoir of magnetorheological fluid housed within the gap. The magnets move laterally with respect to one another to expand or contract the gap and to displace the reservoir of magnetorheological fluid radially with respect to the magnets. Other bridge plug apparatuses may comprise a flow path extending between a reservoir of magnetorheological fluid and the exterior of a housing, where at least a portion of the flow path is located within a gap defined between spaced apart magnets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Linley Fripp, Jack Gammill Clemens, Zachary Ryan Murphree
  • Patent number: 11225848
    Abstract: An adapter assembly for use with a wellbore tool string may include a tandem seal adapter (TSA) comprising a TSA body extending along an axial direction and a collar comprising a collar body formed in a substantially annular shape and extending in the axial direction. The collar may be provided outward from the TSA in a radial direction substantially perpendicular to the axial direction. The TSA body and the collar body may overlap in the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: DynaEnergetics Europe GmbH
    Inventor: Christian Eitschberger
  • Patent number: 11193353
    Abstract: A sliding sleeve well device has a first sliding sleeve received in a second sliding sleeve. A polymer seal having a polymer sealing surface is between and in sealing contact with the sliding sleeves. A metal-to-metal seal is between the sliding sleeves and actuable into sealing contact with the first and second sliding sleeves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: James Dan Vick, Jr., Jimmie Robert Williamson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11193341
    Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for monitoring drilling fluids in real time. One method includes circulating a drilling fluid into and out of a borehole, generating a first output signal with a first optical computing device arranged near an outlet of the borehole, the first optical computing device having a first integrated computational element configured to optically interact with the drilling fluid, receiving the first output signal with a signal processor communicably coupled to the first optical computing device, determining the concentration of a gas present in the drilling fluid at the outlet of the borehole with the signal processor and generating a resulting output signal, conveying the resulting output signal to one or more peripheral devices, and adjusting one or more drilling or completion parameters in response to the concentration of the gas present in the drilling fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Ian David Campbell Mitchell
  • Patent number: 11162351
    Abstract: Disclosed are systems of positional tracking of a downhole projectile using a downhole monitoring tool. One downhole monitoring tool includes a body, at least one sensor arranged on the body and configured to detect a wellbore projectile, an indicator chamber defined in the body and configured to retain an indicator substance, and an actuation device operatively coupled to the indicator chamber and in communication with the at least one sensor, wherein, when the at least one sensor detects the wellbore projectile, a command signal is sent to the actuation device to actuate the indicator chamber and thereby release at least a portion of the indicator substance through an ejection port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher James Mericas, Nicholas Frederick Budler
  • Patent number: 11149536
    Abstract: In some examples, a downhole torque measurement tool comprises a first surface of a structure and a second surface of the structure. The second surface is facing the first surface, and a shear stress sensor is positioned on the first surface. A flexible coupling is positioned between the shear stress sensor and the second surface, and the flexible coupling is coupled to the first and second surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew D. Vos, Dale E. Jamison
  • Patent number: 11143014
    Abstract: Various embodiments include nuclear magnetic resonance (MR) sensor array systems and methods are disclosed. One such system includes a downhole casing having at least one MR sensor array peripherally coupled to an outside of the casing. At least one MR sensor array can include an MR sensor configured to monitor a cement/fluid mix composition while the cement is setting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Joseph Ganssle, Krishna M. Ravi, Songhua Chen, Peter James Boul
  • Patent number: 11125471
    Abstract: An embodiment in accordance with the present invention includes an EGS configured to allow the commercial production of electrical energy. One criteria of an EGS according to the present invention is that the temperature and volume of the fluids extracted are sufficiently high and large enough as to allow the commercial production of electrical energy. The system is able to operate for at least N years before the extracted fluid falls below the minimum temperature needed for energy production. Additionally, fractures are separated from each other by a sufficiently large volume of rock (Vcrit) relative to the fractures surface area such that the ratio of the rate of heat extraction to the rate of heat supply controlled by the thermal conductivity of the rock is such that the intervening rock is cooled at a rate that is sufficiently slow to be economic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: The Johns Hopkins University
    Inventors: Bruce D. Marsh, Markus Hilpert, Peter Anderson Geiser
  • Patent number: 11085265
    Abstract: A sealing tool for conveyance within a tubular member within a wellbore extending into a subterranean formation. The sealing tool includes a mandrel and a eutectic sealing material disposed about the mandrel. The eutectic sealing material has a eutectic temperature at which the eutectic sealing material melts. The sealing tool also includes means for heating the eutectic sealing material to at least the eutectic temperature. The eutectic sealing material is transferred onto an inner surface of the tubular member by activating the heating means to heat the eutectic sealing material to at least the eutectic temperature to melt the eutectic sealing material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Oscar Rivas Diaz
  • Patent number: 11028682
    Abstract: An eccentric pipe-in-pipe downhole gas separator apparatus for separation of gas from liquid in a downhole well. The separator apparatus includes an outer tube having an inner diameter and an inner tube having an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the outer tube. The inner tube is eccentric to the outer tube wherein a conduit having a crescent shaped cross-section is formed between the inner diameter of the outer tube and the outer diameter of the inner tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: The University of Tulsa
    Inventor: Hong-Quan Zhang
  • Patent number: 11015417
    Abstract: Methods including providing a hydrajetting tool comprising a housing having a top end and a bottom end and having a plurality of jetting nozzles disposed thereon, the top end of the housing fluidly coupled to a tool string; positioning the hydrajetting tool adjacent to a substantially solid target; perforating or cutting the substantially solid target using a cement slurry injected through at least one of the plurality of jetting nozzles, thereby forming at least one perforation or cut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Jim Basuki Surjaatmadja
  • Patent number: 10907445
    Abstract: A wellbore system comprising an autofill and circulation assembly comprising a housing defining a flowbore and comprising a first port and a second port, and a first sleeve slidable within the housing from a first position to a second position and from the second position to a third position, when the first sleeve is in the first position, the assembly allows fluid communication from an exterior of the housing to the flowbore via the first port and does not allow fluid communication from the flowbore to the exterior of the housing via the first port, when the first sleeve is in the second position, the assembly allows bidirectional fluid communication between the exterior of the housing and the flowbore via the second port, and, when the first sleeve is in the third position, the assembly disallows fluid communication between the exterior of the housing and the flowbore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Wythe Huggins, Adam Evan Beck, Joseph Steven Grieco
  • Patent number: 10858895
    Abstract: A downhole tool for dampening vibrational, lateral, compressive, and tensile forces within a drillstring is described. The downhole tool generally includes a bottom end shaft configurable to a drillstring and that is telescopically engaged within a compression housing and a torsional housing. The torsional housing enables the bottom end shaft to slide axially with respect to the torsional housing whilst preventing torsional movement of the bottom end shaft relative to the torsional housing. The compression housing is configurable to drillstring equipment and operatively contains a first spring between the compression housing and the bottom end shaft that absorbs compression forces between bottom end shaft and compression housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: QCD Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Cornel Dinica, Anthony Desmond Russell, Denice Monteil
  • Patent number: 10794144
    Abstract: A check valve is provided having a magnetic plug and a magnetic seat. The magnetic seat and magnetic plug operationally engage so as to have a magnetic resistivity such that there is a first position in which the magnetic plug does not sealingly engage the magnetic seat and a second position where the magnetic plug is sealingly engaged with the magnetic seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd Anthony Stair, Nicholas Frederick Budler, Patrick Lyle Cherney
  • Patent number: 10774602
    Abstract: An anchoring tool is presented having radially pivoting arms which are moved from a run-in position to a set position. In the run-in position the un-articulated arms are positioned radially inward to provide a small tool outer diameter. Upon setting, the arms are pivoted radially outward into gripping engagement with a downhole tubular, such as a liner or casing. The pivot arms define a cam surface for interaction with corresponding wedges, where the cam surface allows for greater radial expansion of the arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Matthew Craig Mlcak
  • Patent number: 10669812
    Abstract: A control valve assembly includes a body having a mud flow passage provided with a mud flow inlet and a mud flow outlet, a magnetic sleeve slidingly mounted to the body, and a solenoid mounted to the body adjacent the magnetic sleeve. The solenoid being selectively activated to shift the magnetic sleeve between a first position covering the mud flow outlet and a second position exposing the mud flow outlet allowing a pulse of mud to flow through the mud flow passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES, A GE COMPANY, LLC
    Inventors: Ryan Damont Green, Sebastian Tegeler, Andreas Peter
  • Patent number: 10472933
    Abstract: A completion system and method for intelligent control of multilateral wells. A wye-shaped junction fitting defines a hollow interior that is fluidly coupled with the uphole tubing string and both downhole main and lateral completion strings. Hydraulic, electric, and/or fiber-optic communication line segments extend between the uphole end and both downhole ends of the junction fitting for providing power, control or communications between the surface and all production zones. The communication line segments are located outside the junction fitting interior and may be located within longitudinal grooves formed along the exterior wall surface of the junction fitting. Stabable, wet-matable connectors may be provided at each end of the junction fitting, which connect the both interior flow paths and communication lines, and which may allow connection at any relative radial orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventor: David J. Steele
  • Patent number: 10408012
    Abstract: A downhole tool and a tool assembly, of which the downhole tool includes an expandable sleeve defining a bore extending axially therethrough, a first swage positioned at least partially within the bore and including a valve seat configured to receive an obstructing member, such that the obstructing member and the first swage substantially prevent fluid communication through the bore when the obstructing member is seated in the valve seat, and a second swage positioned at least partially within the bore. The first and second swages are configured to move toward one another in the bore, such that the first and second swages deform end portions of the expandable sleeve radially outwards and into engagement with a surrounding tubular, and the expandable sleeve, in an expanded configuration in which the end portions engage the surrounding tubular, defines an unexpanded portion between the expanded end portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: INNOVEX DOWNHOLE SOLUTIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Carl Martin, Justin Kellner, Stephen J. Chauffe