Patents by Inventor Damir S. Skerl
Damir S. Skerl 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: 10689927Abstract: Methods and apparatus are described to drill and complete wellbores. Such wellbores include extended reach horizontal wellbores, for example in shales, deep subsea extended reach wellbores, and multilateral wellbores. Specifically, the invention provides simple threaded subassemblies that are added to existing threaded tubular drilling and completion equipment which are used to dramatically increase the lateral reach using that existing on-site equipment. These subassemblies extract power from downward flowing clean mud, or other fluids, in an annulus to provide additional force or torque on tubular elements within the wellbore, while maintaining circulation, to extend the lateral reach of the drilling equipment and completion equipment. These added elements include combinations of The Leaky Seal™, a Cross-Over, The Force Sub™ and The Torque Sub™. The use of such additional simple elements allow lighter drilling equipment to be used to reach a given lateral distance, therefore reducing drilling costs.Type: GrantFiled: January 2, 2019Date of Patent: June 23, 2020Assignee: Smart Drilling and Completion, Inc.Inventors: William Banning Vail, III, Robert L. Dekle, Damir S. Skerl, James E. Chitwood
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Patent number: 10563459Abstract: A longer-lasting, lower cost, more powerful, all metal, mud motor than the presently available progressing cavity type mud motors for drilling boreholes into the earth. A mud motor apparatus possessing one single drive shaft that turns a rotary drill bit, which apparatus is attached to a drill pipe which provides high pressure mud to the mud motor, wherein the drive shaft receives at least a first portion of its rotational torque from any high pressure mud flowing through a first hydraulic chamber within the apparatus, and receives at least a second portion of its rotational torque from any high pressure mud flowing through a second hydraulic chamber within the apparatus. A typical mud motor apparatus possesses two or more hydraulic chambers, each having its own power stroke, and return stroke, which act together in a controlled fashion to provide continuous power to a rotary drill bit.Type: GrantFiled: January 12, 2017Date of Patent: February 18, 2020Assignee: Smart Drilling and Completion, Inc.Inventors: William Banning Vail, III, Tomislav Skerl, Damir S. Skerl
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Publication number: 20190136652Abstract: Methods and apparatus are described to drill and complete wellbores. Such wellbores include extended reach horizontal wellbores, for example in shales, deep subsea extended reach wellbores, and multilateral wellbores. Specifically, the invention provides simple threaded subassemblies that are added to existing threaded tubular drilling and completion equipment which are used to dramatically increase the lateral reach using that existing on-site equipment. These subassemblies extract power from downward flowing clean mud, or other fluids, in an annulus to provide additional force or torque on tubular elements within the wellbore, while maintaining circulation, to extend the lateral reach of the drilling equipment and completion equipment. These added elements include combinations of The Leaky Seal™, a Cross-Over, The Force Sub™ and The Torque Sub™. The use of such additional simple elements allow lighter drilling equipment to be used to reach a given lateral distance, therefore reducing drilling costs.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 2, 2019Publication date: May 9, 2019Applicant: Smart Drilling and Completion, Inc.Inventors: William Banning Vail, III, ROBERT L. DEKLE, DAMIR S. SKERL, JAMES E. CHITWOOD
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Patent number: 10174572Abstract: Methods and apparatus are described to drill and complete wellbores. Such wellbores include extended reach horizontal wellbores, for example in shales, deep subsea extended reach wellbores, and multilateral wellbores. Specifically, the invention provides simple threaded subassemblies that are added to existing threaded tubular drilling and completion equipment which are used to dramatically increase the lateral reach using that existing on-site equipment. These subassemblies extract power from downward flowing clean mud, or other fluids, in an annulus to provide additional force or torque on tubular elements within the wellbore, while maintaining circulation, to extend the lateral reach of the drilling equipment and completion equipment. These added elements include combinations of The Leaky Seal™, a Cross-Over, The Force Sub™ and The Torque Sub™. The use of such additional simple elements allow lighter drilling equipment to be used to reach a given lateral distance, therefore reducing drilling costs.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2017Date of Patent: January 8, 2019Assignee: Smart Drilling and Completion, Inc.Inventors: William Banning Vail, III, Robert L. Dekle, Damir S. Skerl, James E. Chitwood
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Patent number: 9803424Abstract: A longer-lasting, lower cost, more powerful, all metal, mud motor than the presently available progressing cavity type mud motors for drilling boreholes into the earth. A mud motor apparatus possessing one single drive shaft that turns a rotary drill bit, which apparatus is attached to a drill pipe which provides high pressure mud to the mud motor, wherein the drive shaft receives at least a first portion of its rotational torque from any high pressure mud flowing through a first hydraulic chamber within the apparatus, and receives at least a second portion of its rotational torque from any high pressure mud flowing through a second hydraulic chamber within the apparatus. A typical mud motor apparatus possesses two or more hydraulic chambers, each having its own power stroke, and return stroke, which act together in a controlled fashion to provide continuous power to a rotary drill bit.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2016Date of Patent: October 31, 2017Assignee: Smart Drilling and Completion, Inc.Inventors: William Banning Vail, III, Tomislav Skerl, Damir S. Skerl
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Publication number: 20170175468Abstract: Methods and apparatus are described to drill and complete wellbores. Such wellbores include extended reach horizontal wellbores, for example in shales, deep subsea extended reach wellbores, and multilateral wellbores. Specifically, the invention provides simple threaded subassemblies that are added to existing threaded tubular drilling and completion equipment which are used to dramatically increase the lateral reach using that existing on-site equipment. These subassemblies extract power from downward flowing clean mud, or other fluids, in an annulus to provide additional force or torque on tubular elements within the wellbore, while maintaining circulation, to extend the lateral reach of the drilling equipment and completion equipment. These added elements include combinations of The Leaky Seal™, a Cross-Over, The Force Sub™ and The Torque Sub™. The use of such additional simple elements allow lighter drilling equipment to be used to reach a given lateral distance, therefore reducing drilling costs.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 7, 2017Publication date: June 22, 2017Applicant: SMART DRILLING AND COMPLETION, INC.Inventors: WILLIAM BANNING VAIL III, ROBERT L. DEKLE, DAMIR S. SKERL, JAMES E. CHITWOOD
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Publication number: 20170122033Abstract: A longer-lasting, lower cost, more powerful, all metal, mud motor than the presently available progressing cavity type mud motors for drilling boreholes into the earth. A mud motor apparatus possessing one single drive shaft that turns a rotary drill bit, which apparatus is attached to a drill pipe which provides high pressure mud to the mud motor, wherein the drive shaft receives at least a first portion of its rotational torque from any high pressure mud flowing through a first hydraulic chamber within the apparatus, and receives at least a second portion of its rotational torque from any high pressure mud flowing through a second hydraulic chamber within the apparatus. A typical mud motor apparatus possesses two or more hydraulic chambers, each having its own power stroke, and return stroke, which act together in a controlled fashion to provide continuous power to a rotary drill bit.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 12, 2017Publication date: May 4, 2017Applicant: Smart Drilling and Completion, Inc.Inventors: WILLIAM BANNING VAIL III, TOMISLAV SKERL, DAMIR S. SKERL
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Patent number: 9611693Abstract: A longer-lasting, lower cost, more powerful, all metal, mud motor than the presently available progressing cavity type mud motors for drilling boreholes into the earth. A mud motor apparatus possessing one single drive shaft that turns a rotary drill bit, which apparatus is attached to a drill pipe which provides high pressure mud to the mud motor, wherein the drive shaft receives at least a first portion of its rotational torque from any high pressure mud flowing through a first hydraulic chamber within the apparatus, and receives at least a second portion of its rotational torque from any high pressure mud flowing through a second hydraulic chamber within the apparatus. The mud motor apparatus possesses two hydraulic chambers, each having its own power stroke, and return stroke, and acting together in a controlled fashion, provide continuous power to a rotary drill bit.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2016Date of Patent: April 4, 2017Assignee: Smart Drilling and Completion, Inc.Inventors: William Banning Vail, III, Tomislav Skerl, Damir S. Skerl
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Patent number: 9587435Abstract: Methods and apparatus are described to drill and complete wellbores. Such wellbores include extended reach horizontal wellbores, for example in shales, deep subsea extended reach wellbores, and multilateral wellbores. Specifically, the invention provides simple threaded subassemblies that are added to existing threaded tubular drilling and completion equipment which are used to dramatically increase the lateral reach using that existing on-site equipment. These subassemblies extract power from downward flowing clean mud, or other fluids, in an annulus to provide additional force or torque on tubular elements within the wellbore, while maintaining circulation, to extend the lateral reach of the drilling equipment and completion equipment. These added elements include combinations of The Leaky Seal™, a Cross-Over, The Force Sub™ and The Torque Sub™. The use of such additional simple elements allow lighter drilling equipment to be used to reach a given lateral distance, therefore reducing drilling costs.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2015Date of Patent: March 7, 2017Assignee: Smart Drilling and Completion, Inc.Inventors: William Banning Vail, III, Robert L. Dekle, Damir S. Skerl, James E. Chitwood
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Publication number: 20160177627Abstract: A longer-lasting, lower cost, more powerful, all metal, mud motor than the presently available progressing cavity type mud motors for drilling boreholes into the earth. A mud motor apparatus possessing one single drive shaft that turns a rotary drill bit, which apparatus is attached to a drill pipe which provides high pressure mud to the mud motor, wherein the drive shaft receives at least a first portion of its rotational torque from any high pressure mud flowing through a first hydraulic chamber within the apparatus, and receives at least a second portion of its rotational torque from any high pressure mud flowing through a second hydraulic chamber within the apparatus. A typical mud motor apparatus possesses two or more hydraulic chambers, each having its own power stroke, and return stroke, which act together in a controlled fashion to provide continuous power to a rotary drill bit.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 25, 2016Publication date: June 23, 2016Applicant: Smart Drilling and Completion, Inc.Inventors: WILLIAM BANNING VAIL III, TOMISLAV SKERL, DAMIR S. SKERL
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Publication number: 20160160564Abstract: A longer-lasting, lower cost, more powerful, all metal, mud motor than the presently available progressing cavity type mud motors for drilling boreholes into the earth. A mud motor apparatus possessing one single drive shaft that turns a rotary drill bit, which apparatus is attached to a drill pipe which provides high pressure mud to the mud motor, wherein the drive shaft receives at least a first portion of its rotational torque from any high pressure mud flowing through a first hydraulic chamber within the apparatus, and receives at least a second portion of its rotational torque from any high pressure mud flowing through a second hydraulic chamber within the apparatus. The mud motor apparatus possesses two hydraulic chambers, each having its own power stroke, and return stroke, and acting together in a controlled fashion, provide continuous power to a rotary drill bit.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 11, 2016Publication date: June 9, 2016Applicant: Smart Drilling and Completion, Inc.Inventors: WILLIAM BANNING VAIL III, TOMISLAV SKERL, DAMIR S. SKERL
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Patent number: 9284780Abstract: A drilling apparatus comprised of a multiplicity of subassemblies for drilling an open-hole extension from within an existing cased borehole located in a geological formation for the production of oil and gas. In one embodiment, one subassembly includes a motor located within a cased section of the borehole that rotates a drill pipe segment attached to a rotary drill bit in the open-hole to drill the open-hole extension of the well. In another embodiment, a shroud encloses the motor located within the cased portion of the well that is used to control the mud flow to and from the bit in the open-hole during the drilling process.Type: GrantFiled: January 15, 2013Date of Patent: March 15, 2016Assignee: Smart Drilling and Completion, Inc.Inventors: James E. Chitwood, William Banning Vail, III, Damir S. Skerl, Robert L. Dekle, William G. Crossland
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Publication number: 20160053540Abstract: A drilling apparatus comprised of a multiplicity of subassemblies for drilling an open-hole extension from within an existing cased borehole located in a geological formation for the production of oil and gas. In one embodiment, one subassembly includes a motor located within a cased section of the borehole that rotates a drill pipe segment attached to a rotary drill bit in the open-hole to drill the open-hole extension of the well. In another embodiment, a shroud encloses the motor located within the cased portion of the well that is used to control the mud flow to and from the bit in the open-hole during the drilling process.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 15, 2013Publication date: February 25, 2016Applicant: SMART DRILLING AND COMPLETION, INC.Inventors: James E. Chitwood, William Banning Vail, III, Damir S. Skerl, Robert L. Dekle, William G. Crossland
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Publication number: 20150315863Abstract: Methods and apparatus are described to drill and complete wellbores. Such wellbores include extended reach horizontal wellbores, for example in shales, deep subsea extended reach wellbores, and multilateral wellbores. Specifically, the invention provides simple threaded subassemblies that are added to existing threaded tubular drilling and completion equipment which are used to dramatically increase the lateral reach using that existing on-site equipment. These subassemblies extract power from downward flowing clean mud, or other fluids, in an annulus to provide additional force or torque on tubular elements within the wellbore, while maintaining circulation, to extend the lateral reach of the drilling equipment and completion equipment. These added elements include combinations of The Leaky Seal™, a Cross-Over, The Force Sub™ and The Torque Sub™. The use of such additional simple elements allow lighter drilling equipment to be used to reach a given lateral distance, therefore reducing drilling costs.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 8, 2015Publication date: November 5, 2015Applicant: SMART DRILLING AND COMPLETION, INC.Inventors: WILLIAM BANNING VAIL III, ROBERT L. DEKLE, DAMIR S. SKERL, JAMES E. CHITWOOD
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Patent number: 9027673Abstract: Methods and apparatus are described to drill and complete wellbores. Such wellbores include extended reach horizontal wellbores, for example in shales, deep subsea extended reach wellbores, and multilateral wellbores. Specifically, the invention provides simple threaded subassemblies that are added to existing threaded tubular drilling and completion equipment which are used to dramatically increase the lateral reach using that existing on-site equipment. These subassemblies extract power from downward flowing clean mud, or other fluids, in an annulus to provide additional force or torque on tubular elements within the wellbore, while maintaining circulation, to extend the lateral reach of the drilling equipment and completion equipment. These added elements include combinations of The Leaky Seal™, a Cross-Over, The Force Sub™ and The Torque Sub™. The use of such additional simple elements allow lighter drilling equipment to be used to reach a given lateral distance, therefore reducing drilling costs.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2011Date of Patent: May 12, 2015Assignee: Smart Drilling and Completion, Inc.Inventors: William Banning Vail, III, Robert L. Dekle, Damir S. Skerl, James E. Chitwood
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Publication number: 20150083500Abstract: A longer-lasting, lower cost, more powerful, all metal, mud motor than the presently available progressing cavity type mud motors for drilling boreholes into the earth. A mud motor apparatus possessing one single drive shaft that turns a rotary drill bit, which apparatus is attached to a drill pipe which provides high pressure mud to the mud motor, wherein the drive shaft receives at least a first portion of its rotational torque from any high pressure mud flowing through a first hydraulic chamber within the apparatus, and receives at least a second portion of its rotational torque from any high pressure mud flowing through a second hydraulic chamber within the apparatus. The mud motor apparatus possesses two hydraulic chambers, each having its own power stroke, and return stroke, and acting together in a controlled fashion, provide continuous power to a rotary drill bit.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 20, 2013Publication date: March 26, 2015Inventors: William Banning Vail, III, Tomislav Skerl, Damir S. Skerl
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Publication number: 20140196953Abstract: A drilling apparatus comprised of a multiplicity of subassemblies for drilling an open-hole extension from within an existing cased borehole located in a geological formation for the production of oil and gas. In one embodiment, one subassembly includes a motor located within a cased section of the borehole that rotates a drill pipe segment attached to a rotary drill bit in the open-hole to drill the open-hole extension of the well. In another embodiment, a shroud encloses the motor located within the cased portion of the well that is used to control the mud flow to and from the bit in the open-hole during the drilling process.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 15, 2013Publication date: July 17, 2014Inventors: James E. Chitwood, William Banning Vail, III, Damir S. Skerl, Robert L. Dekle, William G. Crossland
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Patent number: 8651177Abstract: A well conveyance apparatus for conveying equipment into a wellbore possessing long-lasting movable and slidable hydraulic seals against the interior of a borehole casing located within a wellbore in a geological formation in the earth that is caused to move by the application of pressurized wellbore fluids against the seals. The seals are allowed to rotate on bearings about the tool mandrel to prevent the build-up of torque on the seals to minimize wear and to extend the life of the seals. Vibratory means are attached to the tool mandrel to vibrate the sealing portion of the seals, so as the extend the life of the seals and to minimize wear of the seals. Sensor arrays provide information to a computer system that is used to control the vibratory means, pressure relief valves, and other parameters to minimize wear of the hydraulic seals.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2009Date of Patent: February 18, 2014Assignee: Smart Drilling and Completion, Inc.Inventors: William Banning Vail, III, Robert L. Dekle, James E. Chitwood, Damir S. Skerl
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Patent number: 8427900Abstract: A method of deploying a seismic recorder array on a seafloor is disclosed. The seismic recorder array comprises a plurality of removable seismic data recorders. The method comprises the step of forming the seismic recorder array by connecting a plurality of recorder housings in series, wherein adjacent recorder housings are connected by a connector cable. The recorder housings are configured to retain the removable seismic data recorders. The method comprises the step of loading the plurality of removable seismic data recorders in the recorder housings, and lowering the seismic recorder array into water until the seismic recorder array is positioned on the seafloor underlying the water. The method comprises the step of operating the seismic data recorders to detect seismic signal reflections and to record seismic data representing the reflections.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2010Date of Patent: April 23, 2013Inventors: Thomas J. Fleure, Craig Lindberg, Ralph B. Muse, Joe Davis, Damir S. Skerl, Justin N. Farrelly
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Patent number: 8353348Abstract: Method and required apparatus to provide the closed-loop feedback control of a remote electric motor that has specific required operating parameters which is used to turn a rotary drill bit to drill a borehole in the earth that receives electrical energy through a long umbilical possessing insulated electrical conduits that includes the steps of measuring a set of electrical parameters with a multiplicity of sensors located near the electric motor, sending that measured information to a computer on the surface of the earth, comparing the measured information with the required operating parameters within the computer, adjusting an uphole power generator system to adjust its electrical output parameters to provide electrical energy to a portion of the umbilical located on the surface of the earth, repeating the measurements and adjustments to provide the closed-loop feedback control of the electric motor having specific required operating parameters.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2009Date of Patent: January 15, 2013Assignee: Smart Drilling and Completion, Inc.Inventors: James E. Chitwood, William Banning Vail, III, Damir S. Skerl, Robert L. Dekle, William G. Crossland