Patents by Inventor David A. Stokes

David A. Stokes 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: 12000228
    Abstract: A casing removal system includes a flow diversion valve. The flow diversion valve includes a flow switch that engages an upper end of an inner casing. When the flow switch engages the upper end of the inner casing, the flow diversion valve opens and at least a portion of the fluid flow through the casing removal system exhausts to the annulus. The remaining fluid flow below the flow diversion valve is insufficient to operate a mud motor that drives a casing cutter. In other embodiments, when the flow switch is not engaged with the inner wall of casing, the flow diversion valve prevents fluid flow to components that are downhole of the valve and when the flow switch is engaged with the inner wall of casing, the flow diversion valve allows for fluid flow to components that are downhole of the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: Wellbore Integrity Solutions LLC
    Inventors: David A. Stokes, Gavin Ray Packard, Adam M. Bennett, Richard Caminari
  • Publication number: 20230068934
    Abstract: A casing removal system includes a flow diversion valve. The flow diversion valve includes a flow switch that engages an upper end of an inner casing. When the flow switch engages the upper end of the inner casing, the flow diversion valve opens and at least a portion of the fluid flow through the casing removal system exhausts to the annulus. The remaining fluid flow below the flow diversion valve is insufficient to operate a mud motor that drives a casing cutter. In other embodiments, when the flow switch is not engaged with the inner wall of casing, the flow diversion valve prevents fluid flow to components that are downhole of the valve and when the flow switch is engaged with the inner wall of casing, the flow diversion valve allows for fluid flow to components that are downhole of the valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2022
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Inventors: David A. Stokes, Gavin Ray Packard, Adam M. Bennett, Richard Caminari
  • Publication number: 20210115747
    Abstract: A casing removal system includes a flow diversion valve. The flow diversion valve includes a flow switch that engages an upper end of an inner casing. When the flow switch engages the upper end of the inner casing, the flow diversion valve opens and at least a portion of the fluid flow through the casing removal system exhausts to the annulus. The remaining fluid flow below the flow diversion valve is insufficient to operate a mud motor that drives a casing cutter. In other embodiments, when the flow switch is not engaged with the inner wall of casing, the flow diversion valve prevents fluid flow to components that are downhole of the valve and when the flow switch is engaged with the inner wall of casing, the flow diversion valve allows for fluid flow to components that are downhole of the valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2020
    Publication date: April 22, 2021
    Inventors: David A. Stokes, Gavin Ray Packard, Adam M. Bennett, Richard Caminari
  • Patent number: 10883359
    Abstract: Methods and tools for cutting a component in a wellbore are include use of a downhole tool that is tripped into a wellbore. The downhole tool includes at least one sensor that determines whether a quality of a cement around casing satisfies a predetermined standard. The casing is cut to remove an axial section of the casing and the at least one sensor determines whether at least a segment of the axial section of the casing remains adhered to the cement after the casing is cut. A casing removal tool can be activated to remove any remaining segments of casing in the axial section. A plug can be formed in the area where the axial segment of the casing was removed. The downhole tool may include a cutting tool with a laser, abrasive jet, or other cutting element shielded from wellbore debris by a fluid stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: Wellbore Integrity Solutions LLC
    Inventors: David A. Stokes, James Bain, Walter E. Friedl, Douglas A. Pipchuk
  • Publication number: 20190106957
    Abstract: A downhole tool includes a section mill, a bridge plug, and a connector releasably coupling the section mill to the bridge plug. A guide is coupled to the connector and maintains the section mill centered within a wellbore during sue of the section mill. A method for setting a bridge plug and cutting casing includes deploying a tool string downhole in a wellbore, with the tool string including a casing cutting tool releasably coupled to a bridge plug. The bridge plug is set within the wellbore and the casing cutting tool is released from the bridge plug. In the same trip during which the bride plug is set, the casing cutting tool is expanded and used to remove an axial section of casing while maintaining the casing cutting tool centered within the casing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2018
    Publication date: April 11, 2019
    Inventors: Adam M. Bennett, Ryan F. Strachan, David A. Stokes, Stephen J. Hekelaar
  • Patent number: 10151164
    Abstract: A downhole tool may include a bridge plug releasably coupled to a casing cutting tool. The bridge plug may be set within a wellbore and the casing cutting tool may be used in a milling or perforating operation during a single downhole trip of the downhole tool. A method for using a downhole tool may include setting the bridge plug in a wellbore and performing a casing cutting operation during a same downhole trip. The casing cutting tool may be a section mill and a section milling operation may be performed before or after uncoupling the bridge plug from the section mill while downhole. The section milling operation may remove an entire portion of casing within a region of the wellbore for receiving a cement plug. The casing cutting too may be a perforation tool and perforating may be used to remove portions of casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Adam M. Bennett, Stephen J. Hekelaar, Ryan F. Strachan, David A. Stokes
  • Publication number: 20180245450
    Abstract: Methods and tools for cutting a component in a wellbore are include use of a downhole tool that is tripped into a wellbore. The downhole tool includes at least one sensor that determines whether a quality of a cement around casing satisfies a predetermined standard. The casing is cut to remove an axial section of the casing and the at least one sensor determines whether at least a segment of the axial section of the casing remains adhered to the cement after the casing is cut. A casing removal tool can be activated to remove any remaining segments of casing in the axial section. A plug can be formed in the area where the axial segment of the casing was removed. The downhole tool may include a cutting tool with a laser, abrasive jet, or other cutting element shielded from wellbore debris by a fluid stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2016
    Publication date: August 30, 2018
    Inventors: David A. Stokes, James Bain, Walter E. Friedl, Douglas A. Pipchuk
  • Patent number: 10030459
    Abstract: A section milling device may include a plurality of rotatable arms that each include one or more cutting members. The rotatable arms may be rotated between a retracted position and an extended position. When rotated to the extended position, the rotatable arms may be locked or substantially limited in their movement by one or more hydraulic pistons. The rotatable arms may be held at a predetermined angle during milling operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: SMITH INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: David A. Stokes, Timothy M. O'Rourke, Nathan E. Fuller
  • Publication number: 20160069165
    Abstract: A wellhead latch assembly may include one or more latches for attaching to a wellhead and allowing removal of the wellhead during a well abandonment process. The wellhead latch assembly may include an inner core coupled to the latches, and an outer sleeve for selectively latching and unlatching the latches to the wellhead. The inner core may abut the wellhead and can include a groove having circumferential and/or longitudinal features. The outer sleeve may include a pin which travels within the groove and a set of cut-outs for alignment with the latches. When the cut-outs align with the latches, the latches may expand radially outward and disengage the wellhead. As the outer sleeve moves axially or rotationally relative to the inner core, the latches may fall out of alignment with the cut-outs and move radially inwardly to engage or capture the wellhead.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2015
    Publication date: March 10, 2016
    Inventors: David A. Stokes, James R. Ford, Stephen Hekelaar, Michael T. Wardley
  • Publication number: 20160010413
    Abstract: A section milling device may include a plurality of rotatable arms that each include one or more cutting members. The rotatable arms may be rotated between a retracted position and an extended position. When rotated to the extended position, the rotatable arms may be locked or substantially limited in their movement by one or more hydraulic pistons. The rotatable arms may be held at a predetermined angle during milling operations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2015
    Publication date: January 14, 2016
    Inventors: David A. Stokes, Timothy M. O'Rourke, Nathan E. Fuller
  • Patent number: 9222328
    Abstract: A wellhead latch assembly may include one or more latches for attaching to a wellhead and allowing removal of the wellhead during a well abandonment process. The wellhead latch assembly may include an inner core coupled to the latches, and an outer sleeve for selectively latching and unlatching the latches to the wellhead. The inner core may abut the wellhead and can include a groove having circumferential and/or longitudinal features. The outer sleeve may include a pin which travels within the groove and a set of cut-outs for alignment with the latches. When the cut-outs align with the latches, the latches may expand radially outward and disengage the wellhead. As the outer sleeve moves axially or rotationally relative to the inner core, the latches may fall out of alignment with the cut-outs and move radially inwardly to engage or capture the wellhead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: SMITH INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: David A. Stokes, James R. Ford, Stephen Hekelaar, Michael T. Wardley
  • Publication number: 20150275605
    Abstract: A downhole tool may include a bridge plug releasably coupled to a casing cutting tool. The bridge plug may be set within a wellbore and the casing cutting tool may be used in a milling or perforating operation during a single downhole trip of the downhole tool. A method for using a downhole tool may include setting the bridge plug in a wellbore and performing a casing cutting operation during a same downhole trip. The casing cutting tool may be a section mill and a section milling operation may be performed before or after uncoupling the bridge plug from the section mill while downhole. The section milling operation may remove an entire portion of casing within a region of the wellbore for receiving a cement plug. The casing cutting too may be a perforation tool and perforating may be used to remove portions of casing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2015
    Publication date: October 1, 2015
    Inventors: Adam M. Bennett, Stephen J. Hekelaar, Ryan F. Strachan, David A. Stokes
  • Publication number: 20140158367
    Abstract: A wellhead latch assembly may include one or more latches for attaching to a wellhead and allowing removal of the wellhead during a well abandonment process. The wellhead latch assembly may include an inner core coupled to the latches, and an outer sleeve for selectively latching and unlatching the latches to the wellhead. The inner core may abut the wellhead and can include a groove having circumferential and/or longitudinal features. The outer sleeve may include a pin which travels within the groove and a set of cut-outs for alignment with the latches. When the cut-outs align with the latches, the latches may expand radially outward and disengage the wellhead. As the outer sleeve moves axially or rotationally relative to the inner core, the latches may fall out of alignment with the cut-outs and move radially inwardly to engage or capture the wellhead.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2013
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: Smith International, Inc.
    Inventors: David A. Stokes, James R. Ford, Stephen Hekelaar, Michael T. Wardley