Patents by Inventor Bruce A. Tunget

Bruce A. Tunget 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: 10119368
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for cultivating a surface of a wall of a subterranean well bore, conduit or cable by scraping and furrowing the surface using a string hoistable shaft carrying a flexible arrangement of a laterally extendable and retractable arcuate engagement linkage dragging a cutter and scraper member, wherein said engagement linkage arcuately engages and aligns the cutter and scraper member during one or more scraping engagements: along said surface and longitudinal to a well axis to form and use said furrow, across said surface and transverse to said well axis using a filament linkage to form and use said furrow, or along and across said surface and longitudinal and transverse to said well axis to form and use a lattice of said furrows, separating a plane of the surface into a plurality of planes that comprise separate surface regions, usable by an ancillary apparatus or a spreadable substance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Inventor: Bruce A. Tunget
  • Patent number: 10081998
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for providing access to a lower end wellbore through an impasse using an circumferential adaptable apparatus and downhole devices to pilot a tool string through an existing obstructive frictional or restricted passageway with dissimilar well bore walls, wherein piloting a tool string may comprise displacing debris within and/or deforming its proximally circular and/or deformed bores or traversing an obstructive passageway therebetween, and whereby various downhole devices may be incorporated, deployed and oriented relative to a proximal axis or proximally contiguous wall, using the expandable and collapsible members of the present invention engaged about a plurality of shafts, usable to pilot the tool string through a conventional impasse or restriction of said walls of said dissimilar contiguous passageways.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Inventor: Bruce A. Tunget
  • Patent number: 9797240
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for deploying at least one repeatable signal to empirically measure cement bonding before and after operating a tool string assembly comprising a selectively arrangeable tool assembly of a downhole drive tool usable for operating a downhole placement tool with shaft and axial displacement member extendable and retractable therefrom to radially deploy and operate at least one conduit and downhole coupling tool for placing cement and at least one inner conduit proximally concentrically within a surrounding bore, wherein said drive coupling tool is further usable for transmitting or receiving, through a conductance well element into a memory tool, to measure cement bonding about said surrounding bore before and after concentrically cleaning and coupling cement to at least one conduit and surrounding bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Inventor: Bruce Tunget
  • Patent number: 9777554
    Abstract: Systems and methods usable to operate on a plurality of wells through a single main bore are disclosed herein. One or more chamber junctions are provided in fluid communication with one or more conduits within the single main bore. Each chamber junction includes a first orifice communicating with the surface through the main bore, and one or more additional orifices in fluid communication with individual wells of the plurality of wells. Through the chamber junctions, each of the wells can be individually or simultaneously accessed. A bore selection tool having an upper opening and at least one lower opening can be inserted into the chamber junction such that the one or more lower openings align with orifices in the chamber junction, enabling selected individual or multiple wells to be accessed through the bore selection tool while other wells are isolated from the chamber junction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Inventor: Bruce Tunget
  • Patent number: 9719311
    Abstract: A set of manifold string members usable to selectively control separate flowing fluid streams of varying velocities for operations of well construction, injection or production of fluid mixtures of liquids, gases and/or solids, that can be injected into, or taken from, one or more proximal regions of a subterranean passageway, underground cavern, hydrocarbon or geothermal reservoir. Fluid communicated through a manifold string radial passageway of a manifold crossover, between conduit strings and at least one other conduit, can be controlled with at least one flow controlling member, communicating with a passageway member from an innermost, concentric, and/or annular passageway. Fluid communication can be selectively controlled for various configurations of one or more substantially hydrocarbon and/or substantially water wells, below a single main bore and wellhead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Inventor: Bruce A. Tunget
  • Patent number: 9574404
    Abstract: Well conduit system and methods using a first outer conduit wall and at least one second inner conduit wall positioned through a wellhead to define an annulus with radial loading surfaces extending across the annulus and radially between at least two of the conduit walls to form passageways through subterranean strata concentrically, wherein an inner pipe body of greater outer diameter is inserted into an outer pipe body of lesser inner diameter by elastically expanding the circumference of the outer pipe body and elastically compressing the circumference of the inner pipe body, using a hoop force exerted therebetween. Releasing the hoop force after insertion will release the elastic expansion and compression of the pipe bodies to abut the radial loading surfaces within the annulus for sharing elastic hoop stress resistance and thereby forming a greater effective wall thickness, capable of containing higher pressures than the conduit walls could otherwise bear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Inventor: Bruce A. Tunget
  • Patent number: 9518426
    Abstract: An apparatus and method comprise a hydrodynamic bearing disposed about a shaft and within a bore of a wall with at least one periphery arced wall radially extending from and arranged about the circumference of an outer wall of a conduit shaft housing, which is disposed about at least one inner wall that is adjacent to at least one associated hydrodynamic profiled wall. The associated hydrodynamic profiled wall is rotatable by or about said shaft to displace fluid axially along said at least one inner wall, which is anchored by combined frictional engagements within the bore to force fluid between at least two of said walls and the rotating shaft to form a pressurized cushion. In use, this pressurized cushion lubricates and dampens rotational shocks and vibrations with the shearing of said frictional engagements when bearing said rotating shaft within said subterranean bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Inventor: Bruce A. Tunget
  • Patent number: 9518443
    Abstract: Methods and systems for providing or enabling cap rock restoration of at least a portion of a producible zone of a subterranean well include placing and supporting at least one cement equivalent well barrier member within an operable usable space. This cement equivalent well barrier is formed by at least one cable operable and rig-less string operable, annulus engagable member, comprising cable and rig-less string conveyable components that are conveyed through an innermost passageway and downward from a wellhead. Energy, conductible through said rig-less string or through movable fluid of a circulatable fluid column, is used to operate or access at least one annulus from said innermost passageway and displace at least one portion of a wall of at least one conduit about said innermost passageway, to provide at least one cement equivalent well barrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Inventor: Bruce A. Tunget
  • Patent number: 9366126
    Abstract: Apparatus for solution mining and gas storage in a salt cavern formed by solution mining comprises a flow diverting conduit string that is provided in fluid communication with two or more concentric conduits within the single main bore, with at least one lateral opening from an internal passageway with an outer annular passageway communicating with the surface under a single valve tree. Flow control devices, flow diverters and/or isolation conduits can be inserted into the flow diverting conduit string, enabling a dissolution zone in the salt cavern to be varied to control the shape of the cavern. Furthermore the flow diverting conduit string used to form the cavern can also be used for dewatering and gas storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Inventor: Bruce Tunget
  • Publication number: 20160138369
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for cultivating a surface of a wall of a subterranean well bore, conduit or cable by scraping and furrowing the surface using a string hoistable shaft carrying a flexible arrangement of a laterally extendable and retractable arcuate engagement linkage dragging a cutter and scraper member, wherein said engagement linkage arcuately engages and aligns the cutter and scraper member during one or more scraping engagements: along said surface and longitudinal to a well axis to form and use said furrow, across said surface and transverse to said well axis using a filament linkage to form and use said furrow, or along and across said surface and longitudinal and transverse to said well axis to form and use a lattice of said furrows, separating a plane of the surface into a plurality of planes that comprise separate surface regions, usable by an ancillary apparatus or a spreadable substance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2014
    Publication date: May 19, 2016
    Inventor: Bruce A. TUNGET
  • Patent number: 9200504
    Abstract: System and method of well space provision for forming a geologic testing space for proving an operation of an unproven downhole apparatus (78, 92), generally referred to as new technology, within an aged geology, during the rig-less abandonment of an aging well to, in use, reallocate operation of said unproven downhole apparatus from unproven to proven operation within a proximally similarly aged geology of said aging well, another aging well (79), a new well (80), or a field of said wells (79, 80) generally referred to as Brownfields and Greenfields, wherein said unproven downhole apparatus comprises a hydrodynamic bearing boring apparatus (1A, 1E, 1BM, 9AA, 92D) or a bore hole piston apparatus (1A, 1AF, 92A-92C, 92E-92G).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Inventor: Bruce Tunget
  • Patent number: 9181776
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for fluidly communicating between conduit strings and wells through crossovers forming a subterranean manifold string, usable for pressure contained underground hydrocarbon operations, storage and solution mining. Concentric conduits enable fluid communication with one or more subterranean regions through an innermost passageway usable for communicating fluids and devices engagable with a receptacle of the manifold. A wall of the manifold string and/or a selectively placed fluid control device diverts fluid mixture flow streams from one passageway to another radially disposed inward or outward passageway to selectively control pressurized fluid communication, thereby forming a plurality of pressure bathers. The pressure bathers can be used to selectively communicate fluid mixtures to and from a reservoir for hydrocarbon operations, solution mining, and/or control of a storage cushion space during such operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Inventor: Bruce A. Tunget
  • Publication number: 20150252621
    Abstract: Apparatus and method comprising a hydrodynamic bearing disposed about a shaft and within a bore's wall with at least one periphery arced wall radially extending from and arranged about the circumference of an outer wall of a conduit shaft housing about at least one inner wall adjacent to at least one associated hydrodynamic profiled wall rotatable by or about said shaft to displace fluid axially along said at least one inner wall anchored by combined frictional engagements within the bore to force fluid between at least two of said walls and the rotating shaft to form a pressurized cushion to, in use, lubricate and dampen rotational shocks and vibrations with the shearing of said frictional engagements when bearing said rotating shaft within said subterranean bore.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Publication date: September 10, 2015
    Inventor: Bruce A. TUNGET
  • Publication number: 20150152704
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for providing access to a lower end wellbore through an impasse using an circumferential adaptable apparatus and downhole devices to pilot a tool string through an existing obstructive frictional or restricted passageway with dissimilar well bore walls, wherein piloting a tool string may comprise displacing debris within and/or deforming its proximally circular and/or deformed bores or traversing an obstructive passageway therebetween, and whereby various downhole devices may be incorporated, deployed and oriented relative to a proximal axis or proximally contiguous wall, using the expandable and collapsible members of the present invention engaged about a plurality of shafts, usable to pilot the tool string through a conventional impasse or restriction of said walls of said dissimilar contiguous passageways.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2013
    Publication date: June 4, 2015
    Inventor: Bruce A. Tunget
  • Publication number: 20150021018
    Abstract: Well conduit system and methods using a first outer conduit wall and at least one second inner conduit wall positioned through a wellhead to define an annulus with radial loading surfaces extending across the annulus and radially between at least two of the conduit walls to form passageways through subterranean strata concentrically, wherein an inner pipe body of greater outer diameter is inserted into an outer pipe body of lesser inner diameter by elastically expanding the circumference of the outer pipe body and elastically compressing the circumference of the inner pipe body, using a hoop force exerted therebetween. Releasing the hoop force after insertion will release the elastic expansion and compression of the pipe bodies to abut the radial loading surfaces within the annulus for sharing elastic hoop stress resistance and thereby forming a greater effective wall thickness, capable of containing higher pressures than the conduit walls could otherwise bear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2013
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventor: Bruce A. TUNGET
  • Publication number: 20140311741
    Abstract: Method and system of providing or enabling cap rock restoration of at least a portion of a producible zone of a subterranean well by placing and supporting at least one cement equivalent well barrier member within an operable usable space, formed by at least one cable operable and rig-less string operable, annulus engagable member, comprising cable and rig-less string conveyable components that are conveyed through an innermost passageway and downward from a wellhead and using energy, conductible through said rig-less string or through movable fluid of a circulatable fluid column, to operate or access at least one annulus from said innermost passageway and displace at least one portion of a wall of at least one conduit about said innermost passageway, to provide at least one cement equivalent well barrier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2012
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Inventor: Bruce A. Tunget
  • Publication number: 20140241803
    Abstract: Apparatus for solution mining and gas storage in a salt cavern formed by solution mining comprises a flow diverting conduit string that is provided in fluid communication with two or more concentric conduits within the single main bore, with at least one lateral opening from an internal passageway with an outer annular passageway communicating with the surface under a single valve tree. Flow control devices, flow diverters and/or isolation conduits can be inserted into the flow diverting conduit string, enabling a dissolution zone in the salt cavern to be varied to control the shape of the cavern. Furthermore the flow diverting conduit string used to form the cavern can also be used for dewatering and gas storage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2014
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Inventor: Bruce Tunget
  • Patent number: 8807217
    Abstract: A method for using or removing unused rock debris from a bored passageway through subterranean strata using at least one rock breaking apparatus engaged with a conduit string and placed within the subterranean passageway proximal region, using a member adapted to increase the volume of reduced particle size rock debris generated by increasing the frequency of impact and associated breakage of the rock debris inventory, per revolution of the conduit string and/or per volume of fluid slurry circulated. The used volume of rock debris inventory coats the unlined strata wall of said passageway to inhibit strata fracture initiation or propagation, and the unused rock debris inventory is urged from the passageway at an increased rate by the associated reduction in fluid slurry suspension or velocities needed to urge the rock debris through the unlined strata passageway of improved pressure integrity from inhibiting said initiation or propagation of strata fractures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Inventor: Bruce A. Tunget
  • Publication number: 20140123779
    Abstract: System and method of well space provision for forming a geologic testing space for proving an operation of an unproven downhole apparatus (78, 92), generally referred to as new technology, within an aged geology, during the rig-less abandonment of an aging well to in use, reallocate operation of said unproven downhole apparatus from unproven to proven operation within a proximally similarly aged geology of said aging well, another aging well (79), a new well (80), or a field of said wells (79, 80) generally referred to as Brownfields and Greenfields, wherein said unproven downhole apparatus comprises a hydrodynamic bearing boring apparatus (1A, 1E, 1BM, 9AA, 92D) or a bore hole piston apparatus (1A, 1AF, 92A-92C, 92E-92G).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2012
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Inventor: Bruce Tunget
  • Patent number: 8714874
    Abstract: Apparatus for solution mining and gas storage in a salt cavern formed by solution mining comprises a flow diverting conduit string is provided in fluid communication with two or more concentric conduits within the single main bore, with at least one lateral opening from an internal passageway with an outer annular passageway communicating with the surface under a single valve tree. Flow control devices, flow diverters and/or isolation conduits can be inserted into the flow diverting conduit string, enabling a dissolution zone in the salt cavern to be varied to control the shape of the cavern. Furthermore the flow diverting conduit string used to form the cavern can also be used for dewatering and gas storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Inventor: Bruce A. Tunget