Patents by Inventor Alan B. Emerson

Alan B. Emerson has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20100212883
    Abstract: A swellable setting confirmation arrangement comprising: a mandrel; a swellable material supported by the mandrel; one or more sensory configurations at the swellable material and a method for confirming setting of a swellable material and for installing a swellable material having a setting confirmation function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2009
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Applicant: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Alan B. Emerson, Keith J. Murphy
  • Publication number: 20090200042
    Abstract: A seal includes a mandrel having a plurality of radially directed openings therethrough; a plurality of members disposed within the openings and radially displacable therein; and an element disposed about the mandrel and radially displacable by the plurality of members and method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2008
    Publication date: August 13, 2009
    Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Alan B. Emerson
  • Patent number: 7543639
    Abstract: A patch for placement in a wellbore and associated methods includes a longitudinal member and an anchor that is radially expanded to engage the wall of the borehole to secure the patch against axial and radial movement. The anchor is set using a running tool that radially expands the anchor and the longitudinal body. The anchor may include one or more elements that can be securely engaged within the wellbore. The longitudinal member and/or the anchor may include a sealing element to provide a seal between the wellbore inside and the earth formation surrounding the wellbore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorproated
    Inventor: Alan B. Emerson
  • Patent number: 5533573
    Abstract: A method for completing multi-lateral wells and maintaining selective re-entry into laterals is presented. In accordance with the present invention, a first lateral well is drilled from a primary well bore and a string of external casing packers and a packer bore receptacle are run therein. Once the orientation of the packer bore receptacle is determined, an orientation anchor of a retrievable whipstock assembly is mounted thereto. Thereafter, a second lateral well may be drilled. Once the second lateral well is drilled, the whipstock assembly may be retrieved and replaced with a scoophead diverter assembly which also includes an orientation anchor for mating with the packer bore receptacle. At this time, a string of external casing packers may be run into the second lateral well through the scoophead diverter assembly. Finally, a selective reentry tool is run into the scoophead assembly. The selective re-entry tool includes a diversion flapper for selecting either the first or second lateral well bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1996
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Henry J. Jordan, Jr., Robert J. McNair, Alan B. Emerson, Brian S. Kennedy, Patrick J. Zimmerman
  • Patent number: 5474131
    Abstract: A method for completing multi-lateral wells and maintaining selective re-entry into laterals is presented. In accordance with the present invention, a first lateral well is drilled from a primary well bore and a string of external casing packers and a packer bore receptacle are run therein. Once the orientation of the packer bore receptacle is determined, an orientation anchor of a retrievable whipstock assembly is mounted thereto. Thereafter, a second lateral well may be drilled. Once the second lateral well is drilled, the whipstock assembly may be retrieved and replaced with a scoophead diverter assembly which also includes an orientation anchor for mating with the packer bore receptacle. At this time, a string of external casing packers may be run into the second lateral well through the scoophead diverter assembly. Finally, a selective reentry tool is run into the scoophead assembly. The selective re-entry tool includes a diversion flapper for selecting either the first or second lateral well bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 12, 1995
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Henry J. Jordan, Jr., Robert J. McNair, Alan B. Emerson, Brian S. Kennedy, Patrick J. Zimmerman
  • Patent number: 5454430
    Abstract: A novel scoophead/diverter assembly is presented which is installed at the juncture between a primary wellbore and a lateral branch and which allows the production tubing of each to be oriented and anchored. This scoophead/diverter assembly further provides dual seal bores for tying back to the surface with either a dual packer completion or a single tubing string completion utilizing a selective re-entry tool. The scoophead/diverter assembly comprises a scoophead, a diverter sub, two struts as connecting members between the scoophead and diverter sub and a joint of tubing communicating from the scoophead, thru the diverter sub, and to the primary wellbore. The scoophead has a large and small bore. The large bore is a receptacle for a tie back sleeve run on top of the lateral wellbore string, and the small bore is a seal bore to tie the primary wellbore back to surface. Below the scoophead, a joint of tubing is threaded to the small bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 3, 1995
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Brian S. Kennedy, Henry J. Jordan, Jr., Robert J. McNair, Alan B. Emerson
  • Patent number: 5439051
    Abstract: A novel lateral connector receptacle or LCR is provided which functions to (1) provide means for running a lower completion into a well; (2) provide means for orienting a retrievable whipstock assembly and/or scoophead diverter; and (3) provides means for attaching an upper completion to a lower completion. The LCR includes an upper section having a latch thread and smooth seal bore which respectively threadably attaches to, and mates with seals from, an orientation anchor. A middle section of the LCR includes an orientation lug for mating with the orientation anchor and providing a fixed reference point to the retrievable whip stock and/or scoophead/diverter assembly; and a lower section includes an inner mating (e.g., profiled) surface for attachment to an appropriate run-in tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 8, 1995
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Brian S. Kennedy, Patrick Zimmerman, Alan B. Emerson
  • Patent number: 5427177
    Abstract: In a wellbore having at least one lateral or branch wellbore extending therefrom, a selective re-entry tool is presented for running on a completion string to enable an operator to select the branch desired so as to enter such desired branch with a coil tubing workstring (or the like) and perform an appropriate operation (e.g., stimulation, fracture, cleanout, shifting, etc.). In a preferred embodiment, the selective re-entry tool includes an outer stationary sub and an inner longitudinally shiftable mandrel or sleeve. Preferably, this sleeve is connected to a rectangular box which is spaced from an exit sub having a pair of exit openings. A flapper is pivotally connected at the intersection between the exit opening to the box by a pair of rails or pivot pins. Laterally extending ears on opposed sides of the flapper are received in a respective pair of elongated ramped guide slots formed on opposed lateral surfaces of the box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 27, 1995
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Henry J. Jordan, Jr., Alan B. Emerson