Patents by Inventor Christopher J. Chalker
Christopher J. Chalker 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).
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Patent number: 9488029Abstract: A swellable packer with enhanced sealing capability. A packer assembly includes multiple seal elements, each seal element being swellable downhole, each seal element having at least one face inclined relative to a longitudinal axis of the assembly, and the inclined faces of adjacent seal elements contacting each other. A method of constructing a packer assembly having a desired differential pressure sealing capability includes: providing a base pipe and multiple seal elements, each seal element being swellable in a downhole environment, and each seal element having a predetermined differential pressure sealing capability less than the desired sealing capability; and after the desired sealing capability is determined, installing a selected number of the seal elements on the base pipe, so that the combined predetermined differential pressure sealing capabilities of the installed seal elements is at least as great as the desired sealing capability.Type: GrantFiled: November 23, 2011Date of Patent: November 8, 2016Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Christopher J. Chalker, Kristian Solhaug
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Patent number: 9303483Abstract: A swellable packer with enhanced sealing capability. A packer assembly includes multiple seal elements, each seal element being swellable downhole, each seal element having at least one face inclined relative to a longitudinal axis of the assembly, and the inclined faces of adjacent seal elements contacting each other. A method of constructing a packer assembly having a desired differential pressure sealing capability includes: providing a base pipe and multiple seal elements, each seal element being swellable in a downhole environment, and each seal element having a predetermined differential pressure sealing capability less than the desired sealing capability; and after the desired sealing capability is determined, installing a selected number of the seal elements on the base pipe, so that the combined predetermined differential pressure sealing capabilities of the installed seal elements is at least as great as the desired sealing capability.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2008Date of Patent: April 5, 2016Assignee: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.Inventors: Christopher J. Chalker, Kristian Solhaug
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Patent number: 9273533Abstract: A well tool including swellable material and integrated fluid for initiating swelling. A well tool includes a swellable material and a reservoir for containing a fluid of a type which causes the swellable material to swell. A method of swelling a swellable material included in a well tool includes the steps of: positioning the well tool in a well; and then activating a fluid to cause swelling of the swellable material. A method of swelling a swellable material includes the steps of: providing the swellable material which is capable of swelling when contacted by a fluid; positioning the swellable material in an environment in which the swellable material is contacted by another fluid which does not cause the material to swell; and swelling the swellable material by contacting the swellable material with the first fluid while the swellable material remains in contact with the other fluid.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2010Date of Patent: March 1, 2016Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: David B. Allison, Alan B. Webb, Steven G. Streich, Christopher J. Chalker, Kristian Solhaug
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Patent number: 9004155Abstract: Passive completion optimization with fluid loss control. A completion string includes a set of well tools interconnected as a portion of the completion string, the well tools including a well screen assembly, at least one valve which controls fluid communication between an interior and exterior of the string, and two packer assemblies, each of the packer assemblies including at least one swellable seal element, and the packer assemblies longitudinally straddling the valve and the screen assembly. Another completion string includes a set of well tools interconnected as a portion of the completion string, the well tools including two packer assemblies, a well screen assembly, and the screen assembly including an inflow control device which restricts fluid flow through the screen assembly, each of the packer assemblies including a swellable seal element, and the packer assemblies longitudinally straddling the screen assembly.Type: GrantFiled: September 6, 2007Date of Patent: April 14, 2015Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Christopher J. Chalker, Jody R. McGlothen, Robert K. Buckner, Tommy L. Stambaugh, Floyd R. Simonds
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Publication number: 20120067565Abstract: A swellable packer with enhanced sealing capability. A packer assembly includes multiple seal elements, each seal element being swellable downhole, each seal element having at least one face inclined relative to a longitudinal axis of the assembly, and the inclined faces of adjacent seal elements contacting each other. A method of constructing a packer assembly having a desired differential pressure sealing capability includes: providing a base pipe and multiple seal elements, each seal element being swellable in a downhole environment, and each seal element having a predetermined differential pressure sealing capability less than the desired sealing capability; and after the desired sealing capability is determined, installing a selected number of the seal elements on the base pipe, so that the combined predetermined differential pressure sealing capabilities of the installed seal elements is at least as great as the desired sealing capability.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 23, 2011Publication date: March 22, 2012Applicant: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.Inventors: Christopher J. CHALKER, Kristian SOLHAUG
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Publication number: 20110083861Abstract: A well tool including swellable material and integrated fluid for initiating swelling. A well tool includes a swellable material and a reservoir for containing a fluid of a type which causes the swellable material to swell. A method of swelling a swellable material included in a well tool includes the steps of: positioning the well tool in a well; and then activating a fluid to cause swelling of the swellable material. A method of swelling a swellable material includes the steps of: providing the swellable material which is capable of swelling when contacted by a fluid; positioning the swellable material in an environment in which the swellable material is contacted by another fluid which does not cause the material to swell; and swelling the swellable material by contacting the swellable material with the first fluid while the swellable material remains in contact with the other fluid.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 18, 2010Publication date: April 14, 2011Applicant: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.Inventors: David B. ALLISON, Alan B. WEBB, Steven G. STREICH, Christopher J. CHALKER, Kristian SOLHAUG
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Patent number: 7866408Abstract: A well tool including swellable material and integrated fluid for initiating swelling. A well tool includes a swellable material and a reservoir for containing a fluid of a type which causes the swellable material to swell. A method of swelling a swellable material included in a well tool includes the steps of: positioning the well tool in a well; and then activating a fluid to cause swelling of the swellable material. A method of swelling a swellable material includes the steps of: providing the swellable material which is capable of swelling when contacted by a fluid; positioning the swellable material in an environment in which the swellable material is contacted by another fluid which does not cause the material to swell; and swelling the swellable material by contacting the swellable material with the first fluid while the swellable material remains in contact with the other fluid.Type: GrantFiled: November 14, 2007Date of Patent: January 11, 2011Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: David B. Allison, Alan B. Webb, Steven G. Streich, Christopher J. Chalker, Kristian Solhaug
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Patent number: 7849930Abstract: A swellable packer construction. A method of forming an annular barrier in a well includes the steps of: embedding a reinforcement material within a swellable seal material to form a seal assembly; and swelling the seal material by contacting the seal material with well fluid. A method of constructing a well packer includes the steps of: embedding a reinforcement material in a swellable seal material to form a seal assembly; and then installing the seal assembly on a base pipe. A swellable packer construction comprises a seal assembly including a swellable seal material having a reinforcement material embedded therein, the seal material being cylindrical shaped and disposed both external and internal relative to the reinforcement material, and the seal material being swellable in response to contact with well fluid.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2007Date of Patent: December 14, 2010Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Christopher J. Chalker, Kristian Solhaug, Gerrard P. Kennedy, Alf Kolbjorn Sevre
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Patent number: 7624793Abstract: A method and apparatus for perforating and isolating perforations in a wellbore. A perforating and isolating apparatus includes at least one packer having a swellable seal material, and a perforating assembly attached to the packer. A method of perforating and isolating perforations in a subterranean wellbore includes the steps of: positioning an apparatus in the wellbore, the apparatus including at least one packer having a swellable seal material, and a perforating assembly attached to the packer; isolating at least one existing perforation by swelling the seal material; and forming at least one new perforation by actuating the perforating assembly.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2007Date of Patent: December 1, 2009Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Rune Freyer, Christopher J. Chalker
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Publication number: 20090065195Abstract: Passive completion optimization with fluid loss control. A completion string includes a set of well tools interconnected as a portion of the completion string, the well tools including a well screen assembly, at least one valve which controls fluid communication between an interior and exterior of the string, and two packer assemblies, each of the packer assemblies including at least one swellable seal element, and the packer assemblies longitudinally straddling the valve and the screen assembly. Another completion string includes a set of well tools interconnected as a portion of the completion string, the well tools including two packer assemblies, a well screen assembly, and the screen assembly including an inflow control device which restricts fluid flow through the screen assembly, each of the packer assemblies including a swellable seal element, and the packer assemblies longitudinally straddling the screen assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 6, 2007Publication date: March 12, 2009Inventors: Christopher J. Chalker, Jody R. McGlothen, Robert K. Buckner, Tommy L. Stambaugh, Floyd R. Simonds
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Publication number: 20080185158Abstract: A swellable packer with enhanced sealing capability. A packer assembly includes multiple seal elements, each seal element being swellable downhole, each seal element having at least one face inclined relative to a longitudinal axis of the assembly, and the inclined faces of adjacent seal elements contacting each other. A method of constructing a packer assembly having a desired differential pressure sealing capability includes: providing a base pipe and multiple seal elements, each seal element being swellable in a downhole environment, and each seal element having a predetermined differential pressure sealing capability less than the desired sealing capability; and after the desired sealing capability is determined, installing a selected number of the seal elements on the base pipe, so that the combined predetermined differential pressure sealing capabilities of the installed seal elements is at least as great as the desired sealing capability.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 18, 2008Publication date: August 7, 2008Applicant: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Christopher J. CHALKER, Kristian Solhaug
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Publication number: 20080110626Abstract: A well tool including swellable material and integrated fluid for initiating swelling. A well tool includes a swellable material and a reservoir for containing a fluid of a type which causes the swellable material to swell. A method of swelling a swellable material included in a well tool includes the steps of: positioning the well tool in a well; and then activating a fluid to cause swelling of the swellable material. A method of swelling a swellable material includes the steps of: providing the swellable material which is capable of swelling when contacted by a fluid; positioning the swellable material in an environment in which the swellable material is contacted by another fluid which does not cause the material to swell; and swelling the swellable material by contacting the swellable material with the first fluid while the swellable material remains in contact with the other fluid.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 14, 2007Publication date: May 15, 2008Applicant: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: David B. ALLISON, Alan B. Webb, Steven G. Streich, Christopher J. Chalker, Kristian Solhaug