Patents by Inventor Alfred Lara Hernandez

Alfred Lara Hernandez 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).

  • Patent number: 8167048
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for oil and gas well completions without conventional perforations or jet cutting. One or more frac gate tool(s) are included in the production casing string or liner which is cemented in the hole. The frac gates have a sleeve that is openable by a shifting tool to allow fluids inside the casing or liner to exit through ports and breakdown and treat the adjacent formation. Casing flapper valves are placeable above a lower frac gate to isolate the treated formation from a higher producing zone during treatment of the higher zone through a higher frac gate. A single hydraulically actuated shifting tool is usable to open the frac gates and close the casing flapper valves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Inventors: Alfred Lara Hernandez, Dudley Iles Klatt
  • Patent number: 7909102
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for oil and gas well completions without conventional perforations or jet cutting. One or more frac gate tool(s) are included in the production casing string or liner which is cemented in the hole. The frac gates have a sleeve that is openable by a shifting tool to allow fluids inside the casing or liner to exit through ports and breakdown and treat the adjacent formation. Casing flapper valves are placeable above a lower frac gate to isolate the treated formation from a higher producing zone during treatment of the higher zone through a higher frac gate. A single hydraulically actuated shifting tool is usable to open the frac gates and close the casing flapper valves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Inventors: Alfred Lara Hernandez, Dudley Iles Klatt
  • Publication number: 20100163241
    Abstract: A flapper valve assembly is provided, of the type preventing downward fluid flow when the flapper is closed, which is sized, shaped and configured to provide a smaller maximum outer diameter to minimum internal diameter ratio, thus allowing a larger minimum ID for a given maximum outside diameter, when compared to currently available flapper valve assemblies. An insert assembly is used in the modular saddle flapper valve assembly which has a flapper seat, flapper valve and sleeve. The insert assembly is secured within a tubular housing and enclosed by standard top and bottom subs, either sub being easily removed and replaced with a sub having a different thread size or type, the removal being easily accomplished without disassembly of the insert assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2008
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Inventors: Dudley Iles Klatt, Alfred Lara Hernandez
  • Patent number: 7637317
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for oil and gas well completions without conventional perforations or jet cutting. One or more frac gate tool(s) are included in the production casing string or liner which is cemented in the hole. The frac gates have a sleeve that is openable by a shifting tool to allow fluids inside the casing or liner to exit through ports and breakdown and treat the adjacent formation. Casing flapper valves are placeable above a lower frac gate to isolate the treated formation from a higher producing zone during treatment of the higher zone through a higher frac gate. A single hydraulically actuated shifting tool is usable to open the frac gates and close the casing flapper valves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Inventors: Alfred Lara Hernandez, Dudley Iles Klatt