Patents Examined by Yong-Suk (Philip) Ro
  • Patent number: 11906336
    Abstract: A fluid sensor, and associated monitoring and control system, employing a cylindrical venturi to eliminate stratification of fluid passing therethrough, and a capacitive sensor operatively coupled with the cylindrical venturi to facilitate the sensing of the fluid while in the venturi.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Hydroacoustics Inc.
    Inventors: Robert D. Valtierra, Mark J. Ozimek, Eugene Sisto, John H. Benton, Ricardo P. Quintanilla
  • Patent number: 11898437
    Abstract: A method includes creating a chamber within an annulus between a wellbore casing and a drillpipe. An upper boundary of the chamber includes a seal and a lower boundary of the chamber includes a liquid surface and determining a volume of the chamber at a first time. The method further includes determining the volume of the chamber includes measuring, using a pressure gauge, a first pressure within the chamber, changing an amount of a gas in the chamber, and measuring, using the pressure gauge, a second pressure within the chamber. The method further includes determining a first volume of gas within the chamber based on the first and second pressure measurements and the change in the amount of gas, and determining a first fluid level based on the first volume of the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Jianhui Xu, Bodong Li, Guodong Zhan, Chinthaka P. Gooneratne, Timothy Eric Moellendick, Graham Hitchcock
  • Patent number: 11885196
    Abstract: The retrievable packer system includes a packer mandrel, a lock ring, an upper cone, a lower cone, a slip device, a retrieval mandrel, and a slotted retrieval sleeve. The lock ring is attached to the packer mandrel, followed by the upper cone, the slip device, the lower cone, and the retrieval mandrel. The upper connection sleeve and the lower connection sleeve cover the packer mandrel so as to form a chamber in fluid connection with slip flow channels of the slip device. The packer system is run into the borehole with the slotted retrieval sleeve in the first position relative to the lower cone and the slip device in the run-in position. The packer system is set and can be locked at a location in the borehole. The slotted retrieval sleeve can push the upper cone to return the slip device to the run-in position for retrieval of the packer system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignees: CNPC USA Corporation, Beijing Huamei, Inc., China National Petroleum Corporation
    Inventors: Damon Nettles, Perry Batson, Kwami Roberts, Peng Cheng, Jianpeng Yue
  • Patent number: 11873687
    Abstract: A centralizer for a downhole probe disposed within a pipe, the centralizer having a two spaced apart primary tubular members, each with three or more centralizer strip assemblies spaced circumferentially about the wall of the primary tubular member to form seats at each end of each strip assembly. Each seat is disposed to engage a connecting rod assembly extending between the two spaced apart primary members. Each connecting rod assembly has an inner portion and an outer portion, wherein the inner portions of the connecting rod assemblies engage the outer diameter of a probe and the outer portions of the connecting rod assemblies engage the inner diameter of a pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Lizheng Zhang, Wei Zhang
  • Patent number: 11859465
    Abstract: A method for cementing a wellbore having a lost circulation zone includes installing a cement basket around a casing string having a casing diameter, and running and setting the casing string in the wellbore. The cement basket is set in proximity of and up hole from the lost circulation zone. The method includes pumping a cement slurry, through the casing string, to a first depth downhole from the cement basket, running a first tubing, having a tubing diameter, into an annulus between the casing string and the wellbore, and pumping the cement slurry, through the first tubing, to a second depth up hole from the cement basket. The tubing diameter is less than the casing diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Abdulwahab S. Al-Johar, Abdullah Saleh Al-Yami, Abdulla F. Dossary, Sara A. Alkhalaf
  • Patent number: 11851955
    Abstract: A device for use downhole in a drill string includes a body that is cylindrical. The body has a longitudinal axis and top and bottom threads that can couple the body to other elements of the drill string. A radial shock absorber is coupled to an exterior of the body. The radial shock absorber has a piston with a piston axis. A portion of the piston extends to an exterior of the body. The piston can move along the piston axis between a retracted position and an extended position. In addition, a spring is located between the body and the piston. The spring can bias the piston, along the piston axis, radially outward relative to the longitudinal axis of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: General Downhole Tools Ltd.
    Inventors: Michael Harvey, David Devlin
  • Patent number: 11851974
    Abstract: A resettable packer system for pumping operations includes an inflatable packer that expands between the resettable packer system and a tubing wall or a casing wall, thereby creating a seal in a well and a pump that inflates the inflatable packer at a desired depth within the well when activated. The resettable packer system further includes an inner sleeve that includes ports for a fluid to pass through, an outer sleeve that is connected to the pump and creates a sealed fluid chamber with the inflatable packer when ports of the outer sleeve and the ports of the inner sleeve are misaligned. In addition, the inner sleeve slides axially along an inner surface of the outer sleeve, thereby aligning or misaligning the ports of the outer sleeve with the ports of the inner sleeve. Further, the inflatable packer contracts when the pump is inactive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventor: Chidirim Enoch Ejim
  • Patent number: 11846138
    Abstract: A hydraulic oscillation tool with variable stage, small pressure drop and strong impact based on radio frequency identification is provided. It includes a conversion connector, a disc spring upper bracket, a disc spring housing, a disc spring group, a multi-stage piston shaft, an upper piston sleeve, a first radial sealing ring, a double-female-buckle piston sleeve, a double-male-buckle piston sleeve, a second radial sealing ring, a double-female-buckle lower piston sleeve, an end piston, an impacting connector, a power housing, a power shaft end cap, a high torque turbine, a power shaft, a lower connector, a rotating valve, a bearing supporting ring, and a turbine special bearing. The hydraulic oscillation tool realizes the low pressure drop and strong impact, and thus the problems that with the continuous increase of horizontal length, excessive pressure drop will make the annular pressure drop sharply, and drilling fluid circulation is difficult are solved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: Southwest Petroleum University
    Inventors: Xiaohua Zhu, Changshuai Shi, Feilong Cheng
  • Patent number: 11834932
    Abstract: A computerized method for management of a slurry injection well and the associated surface facility. The method utilizes real time and historical data of injection and slurry parameters in conjunction with computer simulations on a computer-modelled reservoir to predict well behavior during one or a series of injection events. The system determines optimized injection operation schedules, recommends and implements changes to an injection operation, including while in process such as through automated equipment control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Advantek International Corporation
    Inventors: Ahmed S. Abou-Sayed, Gareth Block, Omar Abou-Sayed
  • Patent number: 11834928
    Abstract: A drill string rotation controller includes an anti-torque balance module, a TC bearing retaining ring, an upper TC bearing, an upper thrust ball bearing, an upper Haval ring, a middle seal retaining ring, an upper mandrel, an upper shell, a rotary control cylinder, an upper spring, a spline shell, a spline sleeve, a spline mandrel, a lower shell, a spring push sleeve, a lower spring, a floating piston, a lower mandrel, a bulkhead, a lower thrust ball bearing, a lower Haval ring, a lower TC bearing, a conversion joint, an anti-drop joint, a lower joint, and a control pin. The rotary control cylinder causes the spline sleeve to switch the transmission relationship between the spline mandrel and shell. Therefore, the drill string rotation controller controls the conversion between the composite drilling mode and the directional drilling mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignees: Southwest Petroleum University, Sichuan Xieming Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jialin Tian, Haolin Song, Yinglin Yang, Yanniu Ren, Lin Yang, Zhe Zhang, Bo He, Jun Li, Yu Wei, Lei Cha
  • Patent number: 11828151
    Abstract: This application describes a device for stimulating a geologic formation using an electrically throttled liquid propellant. The device may be used for primary stimulation, changing the direction of a fracture in a wellbore during hydraulic fracturing, a re-frac of an existing interval to open new areas in an open interval, or reset fracture conductivity after extended shut in of the well. This comprises deploying the device on tubing or wireline and positioning it close to the selected wellbore interval where liquid propellant can be selectively ignited. The device's controls release and ignite an energetic material that produces expanding gas to increase pressure and stimulate the selected interval. The device is comprised of a reservoir to hold energetic material, a metering system to release propellant at a desired rate, an electrical ignition source to control output, a no backflow valve, and control module that operates the metering and electrical ignition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Inventor: Barry Kent Holder
  • Patent number: 11821293
    Abstract: An apparatus for generating acoustic waves in a medium to stimulate oil recovery within an oil reservoir, the apparatus being operable with a single moving part—a central rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Hydroacoustics. Inc.
    Inventors: Robert D. Valtierra, Mark J. Ozimek, Eugene Sisto, John H. Benton, Ricardo P. Quintanilla, Kenneth Wittlief
  • Patent number: 11821291
    Abstract: A tubular perforating apparatus includes a nozzle section comprising a nozzle head located therein and adjacent a combustible fuel material. The nozzle head includes an internal cavity and a nozzle portion including an opening on one side of the nozzle portion that directs the cutting fluids out the internal cavity in a first radial direction to produce a reaction force on the apparatus in an opposite second radial direction. The reaction force moves the apparatus in the second radial direction to be against an inner wall of the tubular and temporarily anchors the apparatus against the inner wall. The nozzle head is movable via the pressure and the cutting fluids from a closed position within the nozzle section to an open position in which the nozzle portion protrudes out of the nozzle section so that the opening is exposed to the tubular for directing the cutting fluids onto the tubular.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Robertson Intellectual Properties, LLC
    Inventor: Michael C. Robertson
  • Patent number: 11814903
    Abstract: A downhole assembly includes a bit and a cutting tool uphole of the bit. The cutting tool has one or more expandable cutter arms. The one or more expandable cutter arms include at least one stabilizer portion having a radial position that is about the same as a gauge of the bit when the one or more expandable cutter arms are in an expanded position. A spline on the cutter arms are used by a cutting tool to move the cutter arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Philip G. Trunk
  • Patent number: 11788368
    Abstract: A dual-open entry injector head positioning system installed on support structures, such as conventional lifting frames, utilized over wells on offshore vessels. The injector head positioning system is lighter and more compact than conventional equipment positioning systems, while permitting simultaneous deployment of multiple intervention systems (such as, for example, continuous tubing and wireline) from said lifting frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: PROFESSIONAL RENTAL TOOLS, LLC
    Inventors: Grant Fleming, Scott Dees
  • Patent number: 11788364
    Abstract: A system includes an upper sheave configured to orient a cable towards a well, a lower sheave, having a center, configured to orient the cable towards the upper sheave, and a sheave stand. The sheave stand includes a shaft, running through the center of the lower sheave, configured to enable rotation of the lower sheave about a central axis, a sheave holder, fixed to the shaft, configured to hold the lower sheave in a vertical position, a tool leg, fixed to the shaft, configured to elevate the shaft to a height above a surface, and a floor stand, fixed to the tool leg, configured to anchor the sheave stand to the surface. The sheave stand stabilizes the cable by maintaining the lower sheave in a fixed rotational position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Abdullah M. Al-Dhafeeri, Abdulmohsen N. Al-Enezi, Sultan A. Al-Aklubi, Bader M. Al-Enezi
  • Patent number: 11781403
    Abstract: A perforation assembly includes a perforation tool and a propulsion unit coupled to the perforation tool, the propulsion unit comprising an impeller and a protective structure disposed around the impeller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Andrew Prisbell, Atsushi Nakano, Hari Prakash Kalakonda
  • Patent number: 11773681
    Abstract: A tool with a deformable element that is configured to flex across an annulus based on a force being applied to an inner surface of the deformable element. The deformable element may be configured to be positioned within a chamber that is covered by a first rupture disc. The deformable element may include seals, flex joints, and a body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Vertice Oil Tools Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen Parks
  • Patent number: 11761311
    Abstract: A perforation cluster of a longitudinal section of a wellbore is provided. The wellbore is for hydraulic fracturing in a preferred direction of a subsurface surrounding the longitudinal section. The longitudinal section has a longitudinal axis in a longitudinal direction and defining a radial direction about the longitudinal axis. The perforation cluster includes all of the perforations of the wellbore within the longitudinal section. The perforations are separated in the longitudinal and radial directions. Two perforations are adjacent in the longitudinal direction and have a first diameter. They also have respective centers that are aligned in the preferred direction with respect to the longitudinal axis and 180° apart in the radial direction, for initiating fractures through hydraulic fracturing in the subsurface. The remaining perforations have a second diameter smaller than the first diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventor: Kaiming Xia
  • Patent number: 11761294
    Abstract: An expandable annular barrier includes a tubular metal part, an expandable metal sleeve surrounding the tubular metal part, and an expandable space therebetween. The metal sleeve has a first thickness, an expansion opening in the tubular metal part through which fluid enters in order to expand the metal sleeve, and a valve assembly having a first opening fluidly connected with the first zone in the expanded condition of the annular barrier, a second opening fluidly connected with the second zone through a fluid channel between the tubular metal part and the metal sleeve, and a third opening fluidly connected with the expandable space. The fluid channel has an extension along a circumference of the tubular metal part being at least 5% of the circumference of the tubular metal part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: WELLTEC OILFIELD SOLUTIONS AG
    Inventor: Ricardo Reves Vasques