Patents by Inventor André J. Porter

André J. Porter 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: 10677005
    Abstract: A reverse circulation debris cleanup tool has a pressure control valve that closes up a passage through the body based on a sensed well condition to help pressure control the well when rams close around the tool to isolate the surrounding annulus. The sensor can hold the valve open for a predetermined time to allow debris removal operations and then close. The debris chamber below an eductor in a VACS tool can be thousands of feet long and the valve can provide protection during running in or removal of the tool from well pressure events so as to avoid using shear rams and losing the bottom hole assembly in the borehole and a fishing operation to get it out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES, A GE COMPANY, LLC
    Inventors: Joeri van Hove, Ammar A. Munshi, André J. Porter
  • Patent number: 10519737
    Abstract: A bottom hole assembly (BHA) and methods of using the BHA, the BHA having at least one tool configured to move between the interior and the exterior by fluid pumped down a string. The tool is configured to create a hole in a wellbore tubular, such as casing, tubing, or a liner. The BHA includes a ramp positioned adjacent to the tool to guide the tool to engage the tubular. The tool may be a mill configured to cut a hole in the tubular or a punch member configured to punch a hole in the tubular. A packing element of the BHA enables fluid to be pumped down the annulus and through the hole to treat and/or fracture the formation. The tool may be positioned between two packing elements and fluid may be pumped down the string and through a portion of the tool to treat and/or fracture the formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES, A GE COMPANY, LLC
    Inventors: Darin H. Duphorne, James Scott Sanchez, André J. Porter
  • Publication number: 20190162037
    Abstract: A bottom hole assembly (BHA) and methods of using the BHA, the BHA having at least one tool configured to move between the interior and the exterior by fluid pumped down a string. The tool is configured to create a hole in a wellbore tubular, such as casing, tubing, or a liner. The BHA includes a ramp positioned adjacent to the tool to guide the tool to engage the tubular. The tool may be a mill configured to cut a hole in the tubular or a punch member configured to punch a hole in the tubular. A packing element of the BHA enables fluid to be pumped down the annulus and through the hole to treat and/or fracture the formation. The tool may be positioned between two packing elements and fluid may be pumped down the string and through a portion of the tool to treat and/or fracture the formation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2017
    Publication date: May 30, 2019
    Inventors: Darin H. Duphorne, James Scott Sanchez, André J. Porter
  • Publication number: 20190153796
    Abstract: A reverse circulation debris cleanup tool has a pressure control valve that closes up a passage through the body based on a sensed well condition to help pressure control the well when rams close around the tool to isolate the surrounding annulus. The sensor can hold the valve open for a predetermined time to allow debris removal operations and then close. The debris chamber below an eductor in a VACS tool can be thousands of feet long and the valve can provide protection during running in or removal of the tool from well pressure events so as to avoid using shear rams and losing the bottom hole assembly in the borehole and a fishing operation to get it out.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2017
    Publication date: May 23, 2019
    Applicant: Baker Hughes, a GE company, LLC
    Inventors: Joeri van Hove, Ammar A. Munshi, André J. Porter
  • Patent number: 10184317
    Abstract: A check valve has a valve member flexibly attached to a seat with resilient members that fold in response to flow above a predetermined value to shut the valve. The flexibly extending members store potential energy that is released to separate the valve member from the seat when the pressure applied against the seated valve member declines to the point that the potential energy stored in the flexible members is able to move the valve member off the seat. The valve assembly including the valve member, the seat and the flexible members can be a common material, or can be all one or more nonmetallic materials or involve composites or other easily drilled materials that are compatible with the operating conditions of pressure differential, temperature and composition of the well fluid. The check valve assembly can be pushed with pressure when closed to operate a subterranean tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Inventors: Zachary S. Silva, Andre′ J. Porter
  • Patent number: 10119351
    Abstract: An apparatus can include a well treatment system that supplies a treatment fluid, a conveyance device and a well tool conveyed by the conveyance device. The well tool can include a perforator configured to form at least one hole in the wellbore tubular and a restrictor projecting from an outer surface of the well tool and adjacent to the perforator. A gap may separate the restrictor and the wellbore tubular. The well tool may also include a flow space that provides fluid communication between a location uphole of the restrictor and a location downhole of the restrictor. The flow space is sized to be restricted by particles in the treatment fluid. The restrictor at least restricts fluid flow through an annulus between the restrictor and the wellbore tubular, and the well tool diverts a substantial amount of the treatment fluid through an at least one hole formed by the perforator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES, A GE COMPANY, LLC
    Inventors: Juan C. Flores, Luis A. Castro, Sr., Andre J. Porter
  • Publication number: 20170101850
    Abstract: A check valve has a valve member flexibly attached to a seat with resilient members that fold in response to flow above a predetermined value to shut the valve. The flexibly extending members store potential energy that is released to separate the valve member from the seat when the pressure applied against the seated valve member declines to the point that the potential energy stored in the flexible members is able to move the valve member off the seat. The valve assembly including the valve member, the seat and the flexible members can be a common material, or can be all one or more nonmetallic materials or involve composites or other easily drilled materials that are compatible with the operating conditions of pressure differential, temperature and composition of the well fluid. The check valve assembly can be pushed with pressure when closed to operate a subterranean tool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2015
    Publication date: April 13, 2017
    Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Zachary S. Silva, Andre' J. Porter
  • Publication number: 20160305210
    Abstract: An apparatus can include a well treatment system that supplies a treatment fluid, a conveyance device and a well tool conveyed by the conveyance device. The well tool can include a perforator configured to form at least one hole in the wellbore tubular and a restrictor projecting from an outer surface of the well tool and adjacent to the perforator. A gap may separate the restrictor and the wellbore tubular. The well tool may also include a flow space that provides fluid communication between a location uphole of the restrictor and a location downhole of the restrictor. The flow space is sized to be restricted by particles in the treatment fluid. The restrictor at least restricts fluid flow through an annulus between the restrictor and the wellbore tubular, and the well tool diverts a substantial amount of the treatment fluid through an at least one hole formed by the perforator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2015
    Publication date: October 20, 2016
    Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Juan C. Flores, Luis A. Castro, SR., Andre J. Porter
  • Patent number: 9004091
    Abstract: Apparatuses for restricting fluid flow through a well conduit comprise a tubular member having a seat member disposed within the tubular member for receiving a plug element. One or both of the seat member or the plug element comprise at least one shape-memory material to facilitate the plug element being able to land on the seat and/or to facilitate the plug element to pass through a seat member or other restriction in the tubular member either before or after landing on a seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Basil J. Joseph, Clint Mickey, Andre J. Porter
  • Publication number: 20130146144
    Abstract: Apparatuses for restricting fluid flow through a well conduit comprise a tubular member having a seat member disposed within the tubular member for receiving a plug element. One or both of the seat member or the plug element comprise at least one shape-memory material to facilitate the plug element being able to land on the seat and/or to facilitate the plug element to pass through a seat member or other restriction in the tubular member either before or after landing on a seat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2011
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Inventors: Basil J. Joseph, Clint Mickey, Andre J. Porter
  • Publication number: 20120012771
    Abstract: Apparatuses for restricting fluid flow through a well conduit comprise a tubular member having a helically-shaped seat member disposed within the tubular member. The helically-shaped seat member comprises first and second ends, a first position in which the first and second ends relative to each other to provide a first diameter opening through the helically-shaped seat member for receiving a plug element, and a second position in which the second end is disposed axially below and radially outward relative to the first end to provide a second diameter opening through the helically seat member, the second diameter being greater than the first diameter thereby facilitating the plug element passing through the helically-shaped seat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2010
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Inventors: Lale Korkmaz, Michael H. Johnson, André J. Porter
  • Patent number: 7276071
    Abstract: A device and method for enhancing the surgical replacement of defective natural eye lenses with an intraocular lens. The device is an intraocular lens injector that prevents an intraocular lens from uncontrollably rotating or flipping as it is advanced towards a mammalian recipient's eye, while providing an ideal lens exit orientation to help reduce the occurrence of trauma. The lens injector comprises an insertion tube having a loading port and an ejection port, a plunger, a loading carriage, and a lens carrier. In one embodiment, the insertion tube allows for the controlled insertion of a lens by rolling one side of the lens onto itself as the lens is guided through the ejection port using a guide displaced in the insertion tube from a position near the loading port to the end of the ejection port. In an alternative embodiment, controlled insertion is achieved by rolling both sides of the lens at varying degrees so that one side eventually encircles the other side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Board of Supervisors of Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College
    Inventors: James Lin, Andre J. Porter