Patents by Inventor David Randolph Smith

David Randolph Smith 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: 9206664
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods and apparatus to construct subsea wells with redundant parallel fluid flow control systems to allow new methods to stop subsea blow outs. More specifically, this invention provides methods and apparatus to construct subsea wells with a plurality of redundant parallel paths allowing for the first time drill pipe and other intervention conduits, wire line, and fluids to be deployed below a damaged drilling riser and or a damaged blow out preventer through a separate blow out preventer and riser system presented in this invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Red Desert Enterprise, LLC
    Inventor: David Randolph Smith
  • Patent number: 9074469
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods and apparatuses for the enhanced recovery of fluids from subterranean reservoirs using cryogenic fluids. Using the Earth's geothermal energy to warm cryogenic flood fluids injected into subterranean reservoirs, the pressure within the subterranean reservoir is increased. Consequently, the reservoir conductivity is enhanced due to thermal cracking, and improved sweep efficiency of the reservoir by the flood fluids is provided. This rise in pressure due to the injection of the cryogenic fluid increases the reservoir conductivity enhancement and improves sweep efficiency of the flood fluids, which leads to the production of more fluids from to the subterranean reservoirs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Inventor: David Randolph Smith
  • Patent number: 8931549
    Abstract: The present invention is directed towards methods of oil and gas well logging, monitoring, and the field of electrically powering submersible devices like electrical motors in oil and gas wells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Inventor: David Randolph Smith
  • Publication number: 20140318802
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods and apparatus to construct subsea wells with redundant parallel fluid flow control systems to allow new methods to stop subsea blow outs. More specifically, this invention provides methods and apparatus to construct subsea wells with a plurality of redundant parallel paths allowing for the first time drill pipe and other intervention conduits, wire line, and fluids to be deployed below a damaged drilling riser and or a damaged blow out preventer through a separate blow out preventer and riser system presented in this invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2014
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Inventor: David Randolph Smith
  • Publication number: 20140251621
    Abstract: Methods for extracting more fluids from oil and gas wells reservoirs than is currently possible using the current art of drilling and hydraulic fracturing wells may be accomplished with methods and apparatuses to directionally control the construction of a plurality of substantially perpendicular boreholes from a common wellbore at a plurality of positions along said common wellbore. One method may include drilling a plurality of the substantially perpendicular boreholes off a previously constructed common wellbore using underbalanced methods and producing the reservoir fluids while drilling the substantially perpendicular boreholes. In some methods, injection of fluids from surface into subterranean reservoirs may be used for the purpose of sequestering fluids or recovering fluids to the surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2014
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: BOAZ ENERGY LLC
    Inventors: David Randolph Smith, Karan Elaine Eves
  • Patent number: 8789593
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods and apparatuses for the enhanced recovery of fluids from subterranean reservoirs using cryogenic fluids. Using the Earth's geothermal energy to warm cryogenic flood fluids injected into subterranean reservoirs, the pressure within the subterranean reservoir is increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Inventor: David Randolph Smith
  • Patent number: 8789609
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods for extracting fluids from oil and gas wells. More specifically, it is directed toward methods and apparatuses to power and control down hole hydraulic devices using subterranean centrifugal pumps. This invention represents a vast improvement over current hydraulic artificial lift systems. This invention provides for safe, efficient, and increased fluid recovery of oil and gas reserves from subterranean reservoirs in all types of wells, including deviated and horizontal wells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Inventors: David Randolph Smith, Mark Christopher Ventura
  • Publication number: 20140054339
    Abstract: A containment space body may form an enclosurement space of a motor vehicle and be articulated relative to the motor vehicle. The containment space may be used to store, isolate, and/or protect tools, batteries, food stuffs, pets, fuels, water, gases, welding machines, and many other useful devices or items from the ambient environment outside the containment space. An articulating containment space body for a motor vehicle may form an enclosurement space with a space on board a motor vehicle. The articulating containment space body may articulate such that it maintains a plane parallel to the earth's horizon throughout the articulation path. The articulation mechanism assembly and attachment means to the articulation mechanism assembly of the containment space bodies may allow for rapid and easy exchange of different containment space bodies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2013
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Inventor: David Randolph Smith
  • Patent number: 8651187
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for the management of injection and production of well fluids in a subterranean well is described to optimize the use of stimulation fluids to enhance their compatibility with subterranean reservoirs and the surface environment and thereby reducing the damage said fluids induce in subterranean reservoirs and upon flow back to the surface reduce their damage to the environment is described. More specifically, this method is directed to the subterranean treatment of injection fluids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Inventor: David Randolph Smith
  • Publication number: 20140014336
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods and apparatuses for the enhanced recovery of fluids from subterranean reservoirs using cryogenic fluids. Using the Earth's geothermal energy to warm cryogenic flood fluids injected into subterranean reservoirs, the pressure within the subterranean reservoir is increased. Consequently, the reservoir conductivity is enhanced due to thermal cracking, and improved sweep efficiency of the reservoir by the flood fluids is provided. This rise in pressure due to the injection of the cryogenic fluid increases the reservoir conductivity enhancement and improves sweep efficiency of the flood fluids, which leads to the production of more fluids from to the subterranean reservoirs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2013
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Inventor: David Randolph Smith
  • Patent number: 8490696
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for the enhanced recovery of hydrocarbon fluids from subterranean reservoirs using cryogenic fluids. Using the Earth's geothermal energy to warm cryogenic flood fluids injected into subterranean reservoirs, the pressure within the subterranean reservoir is increased. This rise in pressure due to the injection of the cryogenic fluid leads to the production of fluids from to the subterranean reservoirs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Inventor: David Randolph Smith
  • Publication number: 20130153217
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods and apparatuses for the enhanced recovery of fluids from subterranean reservoirs using cryogenic fluids. Using the Earth's geothermal energy to warm cryogenic flood fluids injected into subterranean reservoirs, the pressure within the subterranean reservoir is increased. Consequently, the reservoir conductivity is enhanced due to thermal cracking, and improved sweep efficiency of the reservoir by the flood fluids is provided. This rise in pressure due to the injection of the cryogenic fluid increases the reservoir conductivity enhancement and improves sweep efficiency of the flood fluids, which leads to the production of more fluids from to the subterranean reservoirs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2013
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Inventor: David Randolph Smith
  • Publication number: 20130146288
    Abstract: Methods for enhancing the extraction of fluids from subterranean formation through wells using hydrogen produced in-situ. Certain embodiments produce hydrogen in-situ through reactions of a hydride. In one embodiment, at least a portion of the produced hydrogen is retained in the well bore for a sufficient amount of time to allow hydrogen to migrate into the subterranean formation. In certain embodiments, in absorbing the hydrogen, the subterranean formation desorbs and releases certain organic material for production through a well bore. In other embodiments, the subterranean formation is placed under pressure to drive the hydrogen further into the formation and into the molecular structure of the formations and substances contained therein. When pressure is released, the hydrogen creates additional fractures or cracks in the formation through explosive compression, thereby increasing permeability of the formation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2012
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Inventors: David Randolph Smith, Eric J. Wernimont, Mark Christopher Ventura
  • Patent number: 8312924
    Abstract: The invention relates to methods and apparatuses for the subterranean injection of reactive substances like propellants into wellbores and subterranean reservoirs. These methods and apparatuses controls the temperature of a reactive substance for safe handling at surface and controls the decomposition rate of the substances in the subterranean environment. In addition, these methods and apparatuses provide a means for safe dilution of reactive fluids in the event of a leak or spillage of the reactive substance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Inventor: David Randolph Smith
  • Patent number: 8196660
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for the management of injection and production of well fluids in a subterranean well is described to optimize the use of stimulation fluids to enhance their compatibility with subterranean reservoirs and the surface environment and thereby reducing the damage said fluids induce in subterranean reservoirs and upon flow back to the surface reduce their damage to the environment is described. More specifically, this method is directed to the subterranean treatment of injection fluids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Inventor: David Randolph Smith
  • Patent number: 8167046
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods to communicate with a zone below a subsurface safety valve (104, 204) independent of the position of a closure member (106) of the safety valve are disclosed. The apparatuses and methods include deploying a subsurface safety valve (104, 204) to a profile located within a string of production tubing. The subsurface safety valve (104, 204) is in communication with a surface station through an injection conduit (150,152; 250,252) and includes a bypass pathway (144, 244) to inject various fluids to a zone below.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Thomas G. Hill, Jr., Jeffrey L. Bolding, David Randolph Smith
  • Patent number: 8047285
    Abstract: The subject matter relates to an apparatus for insertion of a conduit into a well system bore to introduce a reactant fluid over a subterranean catalyst to initiate decomposition of the reactant fluid which resultant energy release may be utilized to perform work or perform heating of the subterranean environment. The energy released from the catalytic reaction and subsequent combustion of fuels may also be used for cutting, welding, powering pumps, compressors, turbines, generators, or to heat well system fluids, pipes, subterranean reservoir fluids, subterranean solids, and completion devices in the well system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Inventor: David Randolph Smith
  • Publication number: 20110247831
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods for extracting fluids from oil and gas wells. More specifically, it is directed toward methods and apparatuses to power and control down hole hydraulic devices using subterranean centrifugal pumps. This invention represents a vast improvement over current hydraulic artificial lift systems. This invention provides for safe, efficient, and increased fluid recovery of oil and gas reserves from subterranean reservoirs in all types of wells, including deviated and horizontal wells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2011
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Inventors: David Randolph Smith, Mark Christopher Ventura
  • Publication number: 20110234421
    Abstract: The present invention is directed towards methods of oil and gas well logging, monitoring, and the field of electrically powering submersible devices like electrical motors in oil and gas wells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2011
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Inventor: David Randolph SMITH
  • Patent number: 7913769
    Abstract: The application discloses a safety valve including a flapper valve and a packer assembly to be installed in a bore to isolate a first zone from a second zone. Preferably, the safety valve includes a hydraulic conduit bypassing the flapper valve to allow communication therethrough when the valve is closed. Furthermore, the safety valve preferably allows unobstructed passage of tools and fluids therethrough when the flapper valve is open. The application discloses a method to install a safety valve in an existing string of tubing by deploying a packer assembly having an integral safety valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: BJ Services Company, U.S.A.
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Bolding, David Randolph Smith