Patents Examined by Yanick Akaragwe
  • Diverter tool and associated methods
    Patent number: 11021930
    Abstract: A diverter tool reduces surge pressure when running casing into a wellbore. The tool is kept open while running the casing so surge pressure can pass out a bypass port. The tool is then closed with a ball that lands in a seat disposed in an interposed condition in a sleeve of the tool's housing. Fluid pressure applied against the seat in the interposed condition engaged with the ball overcomes a first fixture temporarily holding the sleeve open. The fluid pressure shifts the freed sleeve closed. Additional fluid pressure applied against the seat with the captured ball then overcomes a second fixture temporarily holding the seat in the sleeve. Once freed, the seat with the captured ball pivots from the interposed condition to a stowed condition to expose the internal bore of the sleeve to the longitudinal bore of the tool so additional cementing operations can be performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Marcel Budde, Mark Baas, George E. Givens
  • Stabilizer with fin-mounted electrode for providing signals to drill string antenna
    Patent number: 11015440
    Abstract: A stabilizer apparatus for applying an electrical signal to a drill string antenna, comprising: an elongate member; and a fin extending radially from the elongate member, the fin having an angled leading face and an electrode face that opposes the elongate member, the electrode face including an electrode to apply electrical signals to a conductive member of the drill string antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Patrick Carter, Brian Allen Mohon
  • Sampling subterranean formation fluids in a wellbore
    Patent number: 11015447
    Abstract: A formation fluid sampling tool includes a housing, and at least one sampling probe proximate an external surface of the housing. The at least one sampling probe includes an opening sized and positioned to receive one or more heated formation fluids, and a plurality of heating elements arranged concentrically around the opening and configured to conductively heat a subterranean formation through an external surface of the sampling probe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Khalid A. Zainalabedin, Mark A. Proett, Shouxiang Mark Ma
  • Drill bit for percussive drilling, a drill bit assembly, and a method for manufacturing such a drill bit
    Patent number: 11008812
    Abstract: A drill bit, drill bit assembly and related methods of manufacture as disclosed involve a head portion having a circumference and a face surface, and a shank portion extending longitudinally from a side of the head portion opposite to the face surface. A central flushing channel extends longitudinally through the shank portion and a distance within the head portion, and a lateral flushing channel extends from the central flushing channel to the circumference of the head portion. A first portion of the lateral flushing channel is inclined, in a flushing fluid flowing direction, towards the face surface with respect to said second portion, and correspondingly, a second portion is inclined, in a flushing fluid flowing direction, towards the shank portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: ROBIT OYJ
    Inventors: Pasi Korte, Antti Leino
  • Active control method and control device for wellbore pressure in the open-cycle drilling of marine natural gas hydrates
    Patent number: 11002126
    Abstract: An active control method and system for wellbore pressure in open-cycle drilling in marine natural gas hydrates. The system comprises a drilling system, a drilling fluid injection system, and a data processing system for conducting the drilling operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: CHINA UNIVERSITY OF PETROLEUM (EAST CHINA)
    Inventors: Zhiyuan Wang, Jianbo Zhang, Baojiang Sun, Wenqiang Lou, Xiaohui Sun, Zheng Liu, Shikun Tong
  • Device for facilitating the transport of an apparatus along an upward or a downward directed conduit or borehole
    Patent number: 11002092
    Abstract: A device (10) for facilitating the transport of an apparatus A along an upward or downward directed conduit or bore hole including a drill string (12) is described. The device (10) has a body (13) having an upper body portion (20) and a lower body portion (22) which are coupled together and movable axially relative to each other. A fluid flow path (58) internal of the body (13) selectively enables fluid to flow through the body (13). A first valve system 60 located at a first end of the internal fluid flow path (58) is operable by a pressure differential between a region external of the body (13) and the internal fluid flow path (58). A second valve system (51) is located at second end of the internal fluid flow path. The second valve system (51) is operable by relative movement between the upper body portion (20) and lower body portion (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Australian Mud Company Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Gavin McLeod
  • Shaft deflector with a deflection adjusting mechanism
    Patent number: 10995553
    Abstract: An apparatus including a housing defining a housing bore and a shaft extending within the housing bore. The shaft is deflectable and tillable within the housing bore. The apparatus further includes a fulcrum for tiltably supporting the shaft within the housing bore, a shaft deflector contained within the housing for providing a deflection of the shaft within the housing bore so that the shaft tilts about the fulcrum, and a deflection adjusting mechanism. The deflection adjusting mechanism includes a biasing device which responds to an external force exerted on the shaft in order to adjust the deflection of the shaft provided by the shaft deflector and thereby provide an adjusted deflection of the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventor: Fraser A. Wheeler
  • Application of electro-rheology in measurements of drilling fluid composition
    Patent number: 10988996
    Abstract: Systems and methods for determining the composition of a drilling fluid using electro-rheology may be provided. A method for drilling a wellbore may include circulating a drilling fluid in a wellbore. The method may include extending the wellbore into one or more subterranean formations. The method may include measuring one or more rheological properties of at least a portion of the drilling fluid while applying an electric field to the drilling fluid to obtain an electro-rheological profile of the portion of the drilling fluid. The method may include determining an estimate of a concentration of at least one additive of the drilling fluid based on the electro-rheological profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Xiangnan Ye, Dale E. Jamison
  • Method and apparatus for preventing premature set of liner top packer
    Patent number: 10989000
    Abstract: A tool for use in a wellbore includes a first tubular having an outer surface and an inner surface defining a first conduit. The inner surface includes a dog engagement zone. A second tubular includes an outer surface portion and an inner surface portion defining a second conduit. The second tubular extends into the first conduit and including a dog opening having a dog support. A dog is arranged in the dog opening. The dog includes an outer surface contour that engages with the dog engagement zone and an inner surface including a recess that engages with the one or more dog supports. The dog is moveably retained between the first tubular and the second tubular.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES OILFIELD OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Chee Kong Yee
  • Drilling systems and hybrid drill bits for drilling in a subterranean formation and methods relating thereto
    Patent number: 10988988
    Abstract: Drill bits and methods relating thereto are disclosed. In an embodiment, the drill bit includes a body having a plurality of legs each having a lower section that has a leading surface and a trailing surface. A plurality of cone cutters are each rotatably mounted to the lower section of one of the legs, each having a cone axis, and including a first plurality of cutter elements arranged about the cone axis such that each is shear the formation when the body is rotated about the bit axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: NATIONAL OILWELL DHT, L.P.
    Inventor: Jeffery Ronald Clausen
  • Fixed-cutter drill bits with track-set primary cutters and backup cutters
    Patent number: 10982491
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to fixed-cutter drill bits with track-set primary cutters and backup cutters, methods of designing such bits, systems for implementing such methods, and systems for using such fixed-cutter drill bits to drill a wellbore in a geological formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Shilin Chen
  • Expansion tubing joint with extendable cable
    Patent number: 10975630
    Abstract: A downhole tubing joint assembly may have a first tubular and a second tubular axially movably disposed within the first tubular. The second tubular may have an initial position, a free-moving position, and a locked position. Additionally, at least one shear pin may be disposed between the first tubular and the second tubular. The shear pin may hold the second tubular in the initial position and is configured to shear upon application of a predetermined force. Further, a locking device may couple the first tubular and the second tubular together in the locked position. Furthermore, a cable may be connected to the first tubular. The cable may provide power to downhole tools. The cable is folded when the second tubular is in the initial position, and is extended when the second tubular is in the locked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventor: Ahmed Mohammed Al Haji
  • System and method for mitigating a mud motor stall
    Patent number: 10975680
    Abstract: A system and method for operating a mud motor in a wellbore. The method includes running the mud motor into the wellbore. A threshold rate of a pressure increase over time is selected. A rate of a pressure increase over time is measured across the mud motor in the wellbore. A flow rate of a fluid being pumped into the wellbore is varied when the measured rate is greater than or equal to the threshold rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Benjamin Peter Jeffryes, Samba Ba
  • Tubular wear volume determination using elasticity correction
    Patent number: 10968732
    Abstract: Tubular elasticity is applied to determine tubular wear volume. In general, a torque and drag model is applied to calculate the dynamic stretch of the inner tubular string (e.g., drill string). The dynamic stretch is then integrated into a casing wear model to improve the accuracy of the calculated wear and its corresponding position along the outer tubular string (e.g., casing string).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Landmark Graphics Corporation
    Inventor: Robello Samuel
  • In-situ laser generator cooling system for downhole application and stimulations
    Patent number: 10968704
    Abstract: Systems and methods for penetrating a subterranean formation with a downhole laser assembly include a laser generation unit located within a subterranean well. The downhole laser assembly further includes a vortex tube. The vortex tube has a compressed air supply port, a hot air outlet oriented to direct a hot air stream in a direction away from the laser generation unit, and a cold air outlet oriented to direct a cold air stream over the laser generation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Sameeh Issa Batarseh, Mohamed Nabil Noui-Mehidi
  • Apparatus and method for isolating flow through wellbore
    Patent number: 10961814
    Abstract: A method includes conveying a wellbore isolation device into a wellbore, the wellbore isolation device including a primary valve arranged within a central flow passage. A fluid is then circulated through the central flow passage and into a tubing attached to a downhole end of the wellbore isolation device and in fluid communication with the central flow passage. The primary valve is moved from a first position to a second position and thereby diverts the fluid into an annulus defined between the wellbore and the wellbore isolation device. The primary valve may then be moved to seal the central flow passage and thereby prevent the fluid from flowing into the annulus or into the tubing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Brian Roseman, Shawn Ray Webb
  • Casing coupling having communication unit for evaluating downhole conditions
    Patent number: 10961845
    Abstract: A communication unit is situated in or on a casing collar. The casing collar has two threaded ends for joining casing joints to construct a well casing, and a communication unit is disposed in or on a central region of the tube between the two threaded ends. In an example, the communication unit has a transmitter for transmitting sensor data uphole from a sensor sensing a well bore condition. For example, the communication unit has a receiver for receiving sensor data from Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) sensors, a transceiver for interrogating RFID tags, an acoustic transceiver for sensing wellbore conditions, a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, and batteries for powering the communication unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Mark W. Roberson, Scott Goodwin
  • Dual rod directional drilling system
    Patent number: 10961779
    Abstract: A coupler includes a main body that has an inner bore. The inner bore has a non-circular profile and a longitudinal axis. The coupler includes a cross aperture disposed in the main body. The cross aperture has an axis that is nonintersecting with the longitudinal axis of the main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Vermeer Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Michael D. Langenfeld, Jacob Richard Smith
  • Shaft enlargement arrangement for a boring system
    Patent number: 10947845
    Abstract: A shaft enlargement arrangement for a boring system comprises a hollow column proximate a lower end of the boring system. A reamer section comprising a downwardly tapering first cutter head arrangement is rotatably fitted to the hollow column, with a first drive being provided to rotate the first cutter head arrangement relative to the hollow column so as to bore downwardly a hole having a diameter corresponding substantially to the diameter of the first cutter head arrangement. A boring head arrangement is fitted to an operatively lower end, the boring head arrangement terminating in a downwardly tapering second cutter head arrangement to bore a leading or pilot hole, having a diameter that is less than the diameter of the first cutter head arrangement, as the boring system proceeds to bore downwardly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: MASTER SINKERS (PTY) LTD
    Inventors: Barend Jacobus Jordaan, Nicolaas Bodenstein Goodwin, Daniel Coenraad Pretorius, Louis Germishuys, Gerhard Pretorius
  • Motorized pump
    Patent number: 10941778
    Abstract: An electrical submersible pump (ESP) and method for pumping fluid from a wellbore. The ESP has a motorized pump with an external rotor motor topology. The motorized pump fits into casing in the wellbore. The motorized pump includes a motor having a motor stator and a motor rotor. The motor stator is at a radial center of the motorized pump. The motorized pump has a centrifugal pump radially surrounding the motor stator. The centrifugal pump includes an impeller and a diffuser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Jinjiang Xiao, Rafael Adolfo Lastra Melo, Chidirim Enoch Ejim