Patents Examined by William P. Neuder
  • Patent number: 9523255
    Abstract: A technique facilitates severing and sealing of a tubing, such as a tubing string located in a wellbore. The tubing is combined with a mechanism constructed to sever and seal the tubing. The mechanism comprises an internal explosive charge and an external explosive charge mounted inside and outside the tubing, respectively. The internal explosive charge is of sufficient size to sever the tubing upon detonation. Additionally, the external explosive charge is sized and oriented to collapse and seal at least one of the severed ends of the tubing once those severed ends are formed via detonation of the internal explosive charge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Timothy Andrzejak
  • Patent number: 9518434
    Abstract: A system and a method of ascertaining and managing the properties of a circulating wellbore fluid is utilized, among other things, to achieve greater well control, reduce drilling and work-over expense, prevent reservoir damage and prevent personnel injuries which may result from extremely hot wellbore fluids. The system utilizes a network of sensors which detect fluid properties at various locations in the system, inputs the detected properties into a digital processor, and utilizes the processor to generate solutions for adjusting system components to realize a desired temperature and pressure profile for the fluid system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: Drill Cool Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Al T Champness, Anthony Worthen
  • Patent number: 9512682
    Abstract: A wired pipe includes a tubular pipe body having a wall. The wall including an inner surface, a flow channel formed by the inner surface, an outer surface, and at least one channel integrally formed within a thickness of the wall and between the inner and outer surfaces of the wall. Also included is a method of forming a wired pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Stephan Mueller, Kai Schoenborn
  • Patent number: 9505151
    Abstract: A carbon composite contains expanded graphite; and at least one of a filler or a reinforcement; wherein the expanded graphite comprises a plurality of randomly oriented basal planes. Methods of making the carbon composite and articles comprising the carbon composite are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Zhiyue Xu, Lei Zhao
  • Patent number: 9506307
    Abstract: A wireline or drill pipe retrievable coring tool with an inner barrel to receive a core, a bottom coring tool valve operable to seal off a bottom of the inner barrel and at least one pressure canister operable to receive fluid from the core in the inner barrel. The pressure canister is operable to significantly reduce the pressure inside the inner barrel utilizing an expandable chamber to receive fluid from the core as the tool is removed from the wellbore. In one embodiment, a bottom valve mechanism moves the cored formation materials out of the way of the bottom valve before the bottom valve is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Corpro Technologies Canada Ltd.
    Inventor: Douglas Kinsella
  • Patent number: 9506304
    Abstract: A rotational driver for driving a connector through adjacent tubulars is provided. The adjacent tubulars are positionable in a wellbore of a wellsite for passing fluid therethrough. The rotational driver includes a gearbox housing positionable about the connector, a socket carried by the gearbox housing to receivingly engage the connector, and a plurality of gears driven by at least one motor. The gears are operatively connectable to the socket to transfer torque from the motor thereto, and have interlocking teeth defining a plurality of contacts therebetween whereby load on the gears is distributable therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: National Oilwell Varco, L.P.
    Inventor: Douglas Aaron Jahnke
  • Patent number: 9506313
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a Type U blowout preventer (BOP) that includes a body generally coupled with a set of bonnets. The bore of the body differs from conventional Type U BOPs. The bore of the body is formed with a contour that allows differential engagement with a ram having ram seals at different places along the bore. Further, the coupling between the bonnet and body can optionally be different from conventional Type U BOPs. In at least one embodiment, the bonnet is coupled to the body in conjunction with a tube holding an extraction shaft with a head held to the bonnet with a retainer. The tube and extraction shaft allows the bonnet to be removed from the body without hydraulic external force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: T-3 PROPERTY HOLDINGS, INC.
    Inventor: Douglas Jahnke
  • Patent number: 9500052
    Abstract: This application relates to an apparatus and method for cleaning drill cuttings recovered from a wellbore. Specifically, the apparatus includes an effective system for handling and washing drill cuttings at a well site to remove hydrocarbon contaminants. The system successively washes hydrocarbon contaminated drill cuttings in organic solvent and water to remove and recover the hydrocarbon contaminates, and produce cleaned drill cuttings that may enable disposal of clean drill cuttings without further treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: Recover Energy Services Inc.
    Inventors: Stanley Ross, Michael Biersteker
  • Patent number: 9500054
    Abstract: Apparatus facilitating successive installation of casing sections endwise in a well, that includes hanger structure sized for installation at a well head, the hanger structure having a vertical through opening via which successive casing sections are installable vertically in the well, the hanger structure having vertically spaced shoulders for landing casing sections, there being adjustable structure for enabling controllable adjustment of hanger length, whereby uncemented casing weight is applied on the hanger structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Inventor: David M. Miller
  • Patent number: 9500034
    Abstract: A wearable stabilizer pad and method of directionally drilling a wellbore is disclosed. The wearable stabilizer pad is mounted on a component of a bottom hole assembly. The component of the bottom hole assembly is rotated in the wellbore thereby wearing the stabilizer at a predetermined wear rate by contacting the wellbore wall. Wearing of the stabilizer at the predetermined wear rate as it rotates and contacts the wellbore wall steers the bottom hole assembly in a curve portion of the wellbore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Robert Holtz, Keith Holtzman
  • Patent number: 9494018
    Abstract: A completion tool for gravel packing screens incorporates an added position to allow redirection of flow to a signal transmission tool at the needed flow rates to optimize signal to noise ratios by creation of a discrete flow path that channels the desired flow directly to the device and using the production tubing and upper annulus as the balance of the flow circuit. The Smart Collet® has a landing location for this position which is preferably between the circulation and reverse positions of the crossover tool. The wash pipe assembly can have a shifting tool that closes the sleeve over the gravel exit ports for the information transmittal such ports can thereafter remain closed because the gravel packing is complete but for the reversing out of excess gravel which happens above the gravel exit ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Aaron C. Hammer, Marc N. Samuelson
  • Patent number: 9493986
    Abstract: Injection of gas into a managed pressure drilling system to provide for operation of the drilling system in a downhole pressure window defined by the pore pressure of a formation being drilled and a fracture pressure of the formation. Gas injection being controlled so as to produce the desired downhole pressure without causing large oscillations in borehole pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Benjamin P. Jeffryes, Ashley Bernard Johnson
  • Patent number: 9494006
    Abstract: Implementations described herein are directed to a pressure pulse well tool, which may include an upper valve assembly configured to move between a start position and a stop position in a housing. The pressure pulse well tool may also include an activation valve subassembly disposed within the upper valve assembly. The activation valve subassembly may be configured to restrict a fluid flow through the upper valve assembly and increase a fluid pressure across the upper valve assembly. The pressure pulse well tool may further include a lower valve assembly disposed inside the housing and configured to receive the fluid flow from the upper valve assembly. The lower valve assembly may be configured to separate from the upper valve assembly after the upper valve assembly reaches the stop position, causing the fluid flow to pass through the lower valve assembly and to decrease the fluid pressure across the upper valve assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: Smith International, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Mohon, Robert J. Costo, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9494010
    Abstract: A downhole tool having a first packing element and a second packing element configured to synchronically set to selectively hydraulically isolate a portion of the wellbore. The movement of a pin along a j-slot track on a second sleeve sets the second packer in compression and the movement of a pin along a j-slot track on a first sleeve the first packer in tension after the second packer has been set. The j-slot track on the first sleeve has six different pin positions and the j-slot track on the second sleeve has four different pin positions. The pin positions and direction of travel of the j-slot tracks are adapted to permit the synchronized setting of the two packing elements to hydraulically isolate a portion of the wellbore. The wellbore may then be treated by flowing fluid out of a ported sub positioned between the packing elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Juan Carlos Flores
  • Patent number: 9494001
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a downhole tool comprising a tool housing for accommodating components of the downhole tool, the tool housing comprising; a first tool housing part having a first end face and a second end face, and an activation unit removably connected with the first tool housing part, the activation unit comprising: a second tool housing part, and a closing member removably connected with the second tool housing part, wherein the second tool housing part and the closing member together constitute a fluid-tight chamber wherein a fluid is retained, the fluid-tight chamber housing mechanical and/or hydraulic and/or electrical components, and wherein the activation unit may be separated from the first tool housing part while the closing member is connected with the second tool housing part. The invention further relates to a downhole system and to a method of performing services of a downhole tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: WELLTEC A/S
    Inventor: Jørgen Hallundbæk
  • Patent number: 9482085
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for providing electromagnetic (EM) measurement-while-drilling (MWD) telemetry capabilities using an existing mud-pulse MWD tool. An EM tool intercepts the output from the mud-pulse tool and generates an EM signal that mimics a mud-pulse pressure signal. The EM signal is intercepted at the surface by a receiver module that conditions the signal and inputs the signal into the existing pulse tool receiver. Since the EM signal mimics a mud-pulse signal, the pulse tool receiver does not require software or hardware modifications in order to process an EM telemetry mode. The EM tool can be adapted to also provide dual telemetry by incorporating a conventional pressure pulser that would normally be used with the pulse tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Mostar Directionsl Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: John Petrovic, Victor Petrovic, Matthew R. White, Neal P. Beaulac
  • Patent number: 9482071
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for restricting fluid flow with a seat assembly. The seat is configured to go from a first position, in which it is adapted to engage a plug element, to a second position, in which the plug element passes through the seat. A second portion of the seat, and alternatively of a housing in which the seat is disposed, is formed of a disintegrable material. The second portion of the seat and housing comprising the disintegrable material are isolated from a fluid flow when engaged with the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Nicholas Carrejo, Omar R. Espinoza, Sean L. Gaudette
  • Patent number: 9476288
    Abstract: Disclosed is a tubular expansion tool which includes a plurality of stackable piston/slip/spring assemblies that are used to radially expand a liner against well casing along a longitudinal distance “L.” The pistons are repeatedly stroked a short distance “S” with the application of hydraulic pressure. As the pistons are stroked, they move a mandrel-expansion die sub assembly in successive steps a distance “S” to perform the tubular expansion over a longer distance “L.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventor: Gary Lynn Hazelip
  • Patent number: 9476289
    Abstract: A plug and shoot assembly including a perforating gun to perforate a subterranean wellbore, a setting tool to install a plug within the wellbore, and an adapter configured to connect to each of the perforating gun and the setting tool. The adapter includes a single outer housing, the outer housing further including a first end to directly connect to the perforating gun, a second end to directly connect to the setting tool, and an internal passage extending between the first and second ends of the outer housing. In addition, the adapter includes a diode housing disposed within the internal passage and configured to receive a diode member, and an internal contact assembly also disposed within the internal passage. The internal contact assembly is configured to route an electrical signal to cause the setting tool to install a plug within the wellbore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: G&H DIVERSIFIED MANUFACTURING LP
    Inventor: Joe Noel Wells
  • Patent number: 9476274
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for measuring data in a well extending below surface, said system comprising a body having a longitudinal axis and a front end and a rear end; locomotion means; control means adapted to control direction and/or speed of the locomotion means; said control means being controllable from the surface. Thereby is achieved that a body may be remotely controlled from the surface e.g. the entrance of an oil well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: MAERSK OLIE OG GAS A/S
    Inventors: Graham Edmonstone, Pieter Karel Anton Kapteijn