Patents Examined by Yanick Akaragwe
  • Patent number: 11852004
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for controlling the operation of an industrial machine (e.g., a drill) based on a determined attribute of a pipe. A sensor is configured to generate an output signal related to a characteristic of the pipe. The characteristic of the pipe can be the presence or absence of a pipe, a weight of the pipe, etc. A controller receives the output signal from the sensor and determines an attribute of the pipe based on the output signal from the sensor. In some embodiments, the attribute of the pipe is a wall thickness of the pipe. In some embodiments, the controller determines the wall thickness of the pipe based on a difference between an initial weight for the pipe and a current or present weight of the pipe. In some embodiments, the controller determines the wall thickness of the pipe based on a difference between an initial diameter of the pipe and a current or present diameter of the pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Joy Global Surface Mining Inc
    Inventor: Samuel Haworth
  • Patent number: 11846163
    Abstract: A perforating gun system includes an outer housing, a charge carrier assembly slidably receivable in the outer housing, wherein the charge carrier assembly includes a charge carrier having a central axis, a first endplate coupled to a first end of the charge carrier, and a second endplate coupled to a second end of the charge carrier, and an initiator assembly including an electrical switch, wherein the electrical switch has a maximum length extending in a direction parallel the central axis that is less than a maximum width of the electrical switch extending in an orthogonal direction relative to the central axis; wherein the electrical switch is configured to detonate a detonator of the perforating gun system in response to receiving a firing signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: G&H Diversified Manufacturing LP
    Inventors: James Edward Kash, Benjamin Vascal Knight, Ryan Ward, Timmothy Lee, Charles Levine
  • Patent number: 11834944
    Abstract: An electronics module or “puck” is positioned in a recess formed in the outer surface of a downhole tool. The puck body includes a flange segment having a first outer diameter, and an adjacent seal-engaging segment having an outer diameter that is less than the outer diameter of the flange segment. An annular seal is disposed about the seal-engaging segment and seals between the puck and the perimeter wall of the recess. A cover ring is disposed over an intermediate segment of the puck body, capturing the seal between the cover and the flange segment. A retainer ring is employed to selectively engage and disengage the perimeter wall of the recess, retaining the puck, seal and covering ring in the recess. A method for installation and removal of the puck is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: National Oilwell Varco, L.P.
    Inventors: Aaron Schen, Jacob Riddel
  • Patent number: 11828139
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing power to devices at a well site employ a linear alternator to generate power at a well site. The linear alternator is mounted on a pump at the well site and uses the up-and-down motion of the pump to generate power. The pump may be a nodding donkey head pump or other sucker rod pump mechanisms that operate based on linear vertical motion. The linear vertical motion drives a linear rotor back and forth through a linear stator to induce current in the linear alternator. This allows the linear alternator to convert a portion of the mechanical work performed by the pump into electrical energy that can be supplied to the devices. In some embodiments, the pump-mounted linear alternator can be equipped with a position sensor to directly measure a vertical position of the pump as the alternator travels up and down with the pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Schneider Electric Systems USA, Inc.
    Inventors: James Redmond, Zackery Sobin
  • Patent number: 11828154
    Abstract: A system includes a cyclonic separator that separates a first production fluid into a lighter phase and a heavier phase and a pipe that transports the lighter phase from a first exit of the cyclonic separator to an annulus. The pipe includes an inlet fluidly connected to the cyclonic separator, a first outlet fluidly connected to the annulus, and a second outlet fluidly connected to the annulus. The system also includes a low pressure recombination zone that reintroduces the lighter phase to the heavier phase, thereby forming a second production fluid. The low pressure recombination zone transports the second production fluid to a well exit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Rayan A. Alrabaei, Musa Alnafisah, Mohammed Noui-Mehidi, Mohammed H. Alkhaldi
  • Patent number: 11814935
    Abstract: Implementations described and claimed herein provide systems and methods for increasing accuracy of firing perforating charges in an oil well casing. In one implementation, a body of an orientation device has a first portion and a second portion. An opening extends through a center of the body from a first lateral surface to a second lateral surface, and the opening is configured to receive a perforating gun string. An outer perimeter surface extends about the center of the body from the first lateral surface to the second lateral surface. The outer perimeter surface has a first shape associated with the first portion and a second shape associated with the second portion. The second shape forms a base portion configured to maintain the perforating gun string in an orientation by preventing rotation of the perforating gun string. The orientation corresponds to a predetermined perforating charge direction of the perforating gun string.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: ConocoPhillips Company
    Inventors: Jesse J. Constantine, Robert Hand, Neal Adams
  • Patent number: 11814933
    Abstract: A method for actuation of a downhole device includes rotating a drill pipe relative to a cylindrical pipe disposed coaxially within the drill pipe. First segments including a first material are disposed on the inner surface of the drill pipe. Second segments including a degradable material are disposed on the outer surface of the cylindrical pipe, with each of the second segments aligned with a corresponding first segment. The first material and the degradable material are insoluble in the downhole fluid, and a solubility of the degradable material in a solvent is greater than a solubility of the first material in the solvent. The method includes generating a first electrical signal pattern during rotation of the drill pipe; introducing the solvent into the drill pipe, in which the degradable material degrades responsive to introduction of the solvent; and generating a second electrical signal pattern after introduction of the solvent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Jothibasu Ramasamy, Chinthaka Pasan Gooneratne, Jianhui Xu
  • Patent number: 11808113
    Abstract: A bell nipple assembly includes a tubular main body and a catcher assembly positioned above the tubular main body that includes an upper opening with a diameter greater than an inner diameter of the tubular main body and one or more inwardly sloping inner surfaces configured to catch fluids falling from the rig floor or from an exterior surface of the drill string and to direct the fluids to the tubular main body. The bell nipple assembly also includes one or more magnets configured to direct a magnetic field toward an interior of the catcher assembly and to attract a metallic object falling within the interior of the catcher assembly towards the inwardly sloping inner surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventor: Ahmed Al-Mousa
  • Patent number: 11808145
    Abstract: A fluid signal generator configured to produce fluid pulses in a fluid column of a wellbore are described. The fluid pulses represent data and/or other information to be transmitted from a downhole device, such as a fluid plug apparatus located within the borehole of the wellbore, to one or more other devices located away from the downhole device, including devices located above a surface of the wellbore. The fluid plug may be configured to provide a fluid seal between a first portion of the wellbore and a second portion of the wellbore prior to and during a fluid treatment procedure being performed on the wellbore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Linley Fripp, Sean Christopher Canning, Daniel Keith Moeller
  • Patent number: 11808151
    Abstract: A flow collar for use on a dual rod drill rod assembly includes an uphole end defined in part by a first interior portion having a first interior diameter and a downhole end defined in part by a second interior portion having a second interior diameter that is larger than the first interior diameter. The flow collar further includes a plurality of radially-extending peripheral fluid passages extending through the flow collar to the second interior portion. An outer rod interfacing surface defines a continuous annular surface with a constant outer diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Vermeer Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Michael D. Langenfeld, Jacob Richard Smith
  • Patent number: 11802478
    Abstract: A distributed acoustic system (DAS) may include an interrogator that includes two or more lasers, a pulser module disposed after and connected to each of the two or more lasers, a wavelength division multiplexer (WDM), wherein each of the pulser modules are connected to the WDM as inputs, and a downhole fiber attached to the WDM as an output and wherein the downhole fiber includes at least one sensing fiber. A method for increasing a sampling frequency may include identifying a length of a downhole fiber connected to an interrogator, generating and launching a light pulse from each of the two or more lasers the pulser module, and delaying an output from the pulser module into the downhole fiber by k N seconds, where k is a pulse repetition interval of the pulser module and N is equal to the two or more lasers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Andreas Ellmauthaler, John Laureto Maida, Jr., Glenn Andrew Wilson
  • Patent number: 11795783
    Abstract: A method of identifying hydrocarbon production information is disclosed. In in a first hydrocarbon management environment, a first audio signal is detected and a characteristic acoustic fingerprint is identified therefrom. The fingerprint is stored in a memory, along with identifying information associated with the first signal. A second audio signal is detected and a characteristic acoustic fingerprint is identified therefrom. The fingerprints are compared, and if the fingerprints match the identifying information of the first audio signal is assigned to the second audio signal. A notification regarding the matching of the characteristic acoustic fingerprints of the first and second audio signals is issued.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Technology and Engineering Company
    Inventors: David J. Schmidt, Krishnan Kumaran, Donald Allen Burnett
  • Patent number: 11761291
    Abstract: A wellhead arrangement includes a valve tree arranged on a wellhead and a seal carrier with at least one seal. The valve tree includes an isolation sleeve. The seal carrier is arranged between the wellhead and the isolation sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: AKER SOLUTIONS AS
    Inventors: Geir Ivar Holberg, Joakim Martens, Kristian Guttulsrud, Jan Herland, Jan Troensdal
  • Patent number: 11753930
    Abstract: A system for blast hole data collection for use in a mine site incorporates an instrument configured to acquire geological property data of a blast hole for processing in the system or remotely and a vehicle having a handling system configured to move the instrument into and out of the blast hole as an interchangeable element with a drill string or prior to explosives charging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: REFEX INSTRUMENTS ASIA PACIFIC
    Inventors: David Lawie, John Jackson
  • Patent number: 11746629
    Abstract: A gas lift system includes tubing configured to be a conduit for production fluids having a weight, an inflow control valve, installed within the tubing, configured to control gas from the gas reservoir into the well, a gas-separator compressor turbine device installed within the tubing, a gas lift valve configured to allow flow of the gas from the annulus into the tubing, and an injection pressure operated gas lift valve configured to allow flow of the gas from the annulus into the tubing. The gas and the production fluids, from the oil reservoir, mix to lower the weight of the production fluids and flow the production fluids through the tubing to be produced at a surface location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Ali Saleh Rabaa, Raul Leal Martinez, Abdullah M. Alhabah
  • Patent number: 11725466
    Abstract: Logging downhole exposes components of logging tools, for example, antennas to abrasive and erosive operating conditions. A protective sleeve may disposed about an antenna assembly to protect the antenna assembly for the downhole operating conditions. To permit transmission and receipt of signals by and too the antenna assembly, slots are formed or disposed in the protective sleeve. A non-conductive composite insert is formed in the slots to protect the internal components of the protective sleeve, for example, the antenna assembly, from the operation conditions. A non-conductive composite inner liner is formed in an annulus of the protective sleeve and adheres to the protective sleeve and the non-conductive composite insert. The non-conductive component insert and inner liner allow signals to be transmitted and received by the antenna assembly so that logging operations can be completed without undue delay and the expense of repairing or replacing worn or damaged components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: James Howell Cobb, Anand Prakash, Alexei Korovin
  • Patent number: 11725475
    Abstract: An integral permanent bridge plug assembly for a wellbore. The integral permanent bridge plug assembly includes a permanent bridge plug mounted to a cylindrical body, a setting sleeve, a bottom connection, an engagement assembly mounted to an outer diameter of the cylindrical body that is selectively extendible between a recessed position and an extended position, and a scraper including a plurality of blades and configured to engage the wellbore tubular in which the permanent bridge plug is to be set. The wellbore has a wellbore tubular having an internal diameter surface. When deployed, the integral permanent bridge plug assembly is configured to both scrape the internal diameter surface of the wellbore tubular and set an isolation barrier in a single trip into the wellbore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventor: Muhammad Ali Qureshi
  • Patent number: 11713667
    Abstract: A system for covering a sensitive component in a downhole string includes a sub section in the downhole string including a longitudinal axis and a reduced diameter portion along the longitudinal axis. The system also includes a guard element, arranged over the reduced diameter portion. The system further includes a mounting system adapted to axially couple the guard element to the sub section. The mounting system includes a pocket in one of the sub section and the guard element, the pocket including a shoulder. The mounting system also includes a threaded bore in the other of the sub section and the guard element, the threaded bore oriented at least partially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the sub section. The mounting system further includes a fastener engaging the threaded bore through the pocket and axially coupling the guard element to the sub section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Oilfield Operations LLC
    Inventors: Bastian Sauthoff, Alexander Malkov
  • Patent number: 11708749
    Abstract: A downhole device for installation in a petroleum well, comprising a sensor, a controller and a power source. The device further comprises an acoustic speaker configured to output a sound signal from the downhole device to a fiber optic cable in the well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: Petroleum Technology Company AS
    Inventor: Erling Kleppa
  • Patent number: 11692429
    Abstract: Systems and methods include a system for deploying and using a customized logging-while-drilling (LWD) tool. A command is provided by a tool control system to a mechanical drive of a LWD tool to cause pads and caliper fingers of the LWD tool to extend radially, lock in place using a locking mechanism, and begin to capture downhole measurements while the LWD tool is deployed in a borehole of a well. Pressure pulse cycles produced by a series of distinct high and low flow rates by the tool control system are provided to create pulses to be detected downhole by pressure transducers. A measurement sequence for caliper and resistivity images is triggered by the tool control system. The measurement sequence is terminated by the tool control system to conserve energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventor: Peter Ido Egbe