Patents by Inventor Don S. Folds
Don S. Folds 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: 7195067Abstract: Apparatus for cutting openings in a wall of a well. The apparatus includes a mandrel with a jetting sleeve slidably disposed about the mandrel. The mandrel has a plurality of slots defined therein and the jetting sleeve has a plurality of jetting openings aligned with the slots so that fluid will pass through the mandrel, the slots in the mandrel, and the jetting openings. The jetting nozzles are received in the jetting openings and travel in the slots in the mandrel. The flow of jetting fluid through the mandrel causes the jetting sleeve to move on the mandrel so that slots may be cut in the wall of the well.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2004Date of Patent: March 27, 2007Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Kevin R. Manke, Matthew T. Howell, Don S. Folds
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Patent number: 7168494Abstract: A disposable downhole tool comprises a material that dissolves when exposed to a chemical solution, an ultraviolet light, a nuclear source, or a combination thereof. In an embodiment, the material comprises an epoxy resin, a fiberglass, or a combination thereof. In another embodiment, the material comprises a fiberglass and a binding agent. The material may also be customized to achieve a desired dissolution rate of the tool. In an embodiment, the disposable downhole tool further comprises an enclosure for storing the chemical solution. The tool may also comprise an activation mechanism for releasing the chemical solution from the enclosure. In an embodiment, the disposable downhole tool is a frac plug. In another embodiment, the tool is a bridge plug. In yet another embodiment, the tool is a packer.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2004Date of Patent: January 30, 2007Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Philip M. Starr, Loren C. Swor, Don S. Folds
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Patent number: 7048066Abstract: A downhole tool apparatus for insertion into and sealing engagement with a wellbore. The downhole tool includes upper and lower casing engaging members and an intervening sealing member. In one aspect the intervening sealing member may be a deformable material. In another aspect, the intervening sealing member may be a flowable material cured in the well bore.Type: GrantFiled: October 9, 2002Date of Patent: May 23, 2006Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Paul D. Ringgenberg, Gregory W. Vargus, Lee Wayne Stepp, Donald R. Smith, Ronald L. Hinkie, Don S. Folds
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Patent number: 6976534Abstract: A slip element and a method of manufacturing same according to which two or more inserts are placed in corresponding openings formed in a body member. The material forming the insert in one of the openings is stronger than the material forming the insert in another of the openings.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2003Date of Patent: December 20, 2005Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Mike H. Sutton, Donald W. Winslow, Donald R. Smith, Don S. Folds
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Patent number: 6966386Abstract: A downhole tool apparatus for insertion into and sealing engagement with a wellbore. The apparatus comprises a tube having an expandable diameter, and a gripping member joined to the tube adapted to engage a portion of the wellbore to limit movement of the tube within the wellbore. The tube may also include a sealing member adapted to mate with the wellbore to form a sealing engagement.Type: GrantFiled: October 9, 2002Date of Patent: November 22, 2005Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Paul D. Ringgenberg, Gregory W. Vargus, Lee Wayne Stepp, Donald R. Smith, Ronald L. Hinkie, Don S. Folds
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Patent number: 6896061Abstract: A device and a method are provided for the hydraulic fracturing of multiple zones in a well bore. A stinger carries a plurality of packers into a well bore. Each packer is separably connected to each adjacent packer. As each packer is sequentially secured in the well bore, the stinger is withdrawn from the secured packer and the process is repeated as the remaining packers are sequentially secured and separated.Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 2002Date of Patent: May 24, 2005Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Iosif J. Hriscu, Don S. Folds, Gregory W. Vargus, Thomas W. Hawkins, John T. Brandell
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Publication number: 20040069503Abstract: A downhole tool apparatus for insertion into and sealing engagement with a wellbore. The downhole tool includes upper and lower casing engaging members and an intervening sealing member. In one aspect the intervening sealing member may be a deformable material. In another aspect, the intervening sealing member may be a flowable material cured in the well bore.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 9, 2002Publication date: April 15, 2004Inventors: Paul D. Ringgenberg, Gregory W. Vargus, Lee Wayne Stepp, Donald R. Smith, Ronald L. Hinkie, Don S. Folds
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Publication number: 20040069485Abstract: A downhole tool apparatus for insertion into and sealing engagement with a wellbore. The apparatus comprises a tube having an expandable diameter, and a gripping member joined to the tube adapted to engage a portion of the wellbore to limit movement of the tube within the wellbore. The tube may also include a sealing member adapted to mate with the wellbore to form a sealing engagement.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 9, 2002Publication date: April 15, 2004Inventors: Paul D. Ringgengberg, Gregory W. Vargus, Lee Wayne Stepp, Donald R. Smith, Ronald L. Hinkie, Don S. Folds
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Patent number: 6666266Abstract: A wellhead isolation tool comprises a threaded drive rod coaxially aligned with a tubular mandrel having a smooth outer surface. A motor displaces the threaded drive rod vertically without rotating the drive rod to move the tubular mandrel through a wellhead into a tubular element in a well. The lower end of the tubular mandrel will sealingly engage the tubular element in the well so that treating fluids or other substances such as, but not limited to, chemicals and erosive flows, can be displaced therethrough at high pressures into the well to fracture or otherwise treat the well without damaging the wellhead.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 2002Date of Patent: December 23, 2003Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Phillip M. Starr, Don S. Folds, Lee Wayne Stepp
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Patent number: 6666275Abstract: A retrievable bridge plug assembly having an internal “pump through” bypass passage and a wedge assembly, slips and seals disposed thereon. A retrieving tool is provided for running, setting, releasing and retrieving the bridge plug assembly. A tubing sensor is included to prevent setting of the bridge plug assembly in improper size tubing. When the bridge plug is properly located, the wedge assembly can actuated by manipulation of the retrieving tool to force the slips radially outward into gripping engagement with the well tubular and to force the seals into sealing engagement with the well tubular. A ball valve on the bridge plug assembly is movable to selectively open and close the bypass passage. The retrieving tool can maintain the valve and passageway open to facilitate circulation during run in and setting and also open during retrieving for pressure equalization. A service packer can be connected to and run with the bridge plug assembly.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 2001Date of Patent: December 23, 2003Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Kenneth G. Neal, Kevin T. Berscheidt, Don S. Folds, Ronald L. Hinkie, Loren C. Swor, Brian K. Wilkinson
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Publication number: 20030205373Abstract: A wellhead isolation tool comprises a threaded drive rod coaxially aligned with a tubular mandrel having a smooth outer surface. A motor displaces the threaded drive rod vertically without rotating the drive rod to move the tubular mandrel through a wellhead into a tubular element in a well. The lower end of the tubular mandrel will sealingly engage the tubular element in the well so that treating fluids or other substances such as, but not limited to, chemicals and erosive flows, can be displaced therethrough at high pressures into the well to fracture or otherwise treat the well without damaging the wellhead.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 3, 2002Publication date: November 6, 2003Inventors: Phillip M. Starr, Don S. Folds, Lee Wayne Stepp
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Publication number: 20030183391Abstract: A device and a method are provided for the hydraulic fracturing of multiple zones in a well bore. A stinger carries a plurality of packers into a well bore. Each packer is separably connected to each adjacent packer. As each packer is sequentially secured in the well bore, the stinger is withdrawn from the secured packer and the process is repeated as the remaining packers are sequentially secured and separated.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 2, 2002Publication date: October 2, 2003Inventors: Iosif J. Hriscu, Don S. Folds, Gregory W. Vargus, Thomas W. Hawkins, John T. Brandell
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Publication number: 20030024712Abstract: A retrievable bridge plug assembly having an internal “pump through” bypass passage and a wedge assembly, slips and seals disposed thereon. A retrieving tool is provided for running, setting, releasing and retrieving the bridge plug assembly. A tubing sensor is included to prevent setting of the bridge plug assembly in improper size tubing. When the bridge plug is properly located, the wedge assembly can actuated by manipulation of the retrieving tool to force the slips radially outward into gripping engagement with the well tubular and to force the seals into sealing engagement with the well tubular. A ball valve on the bridge plug assembly is movable to selectively open and close the bypass passage. The retrieving tool can maintain the valve and passageway open to facilitate circulation during run in and setting and also open during retrieving for pressure equalization. A service packer can be connected to and run with the bridge plug assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 2, 2001Publication date: February 6, 2003Inventors: Kenneth G. Neal, Kevin T. Berscheidt, Don S. Folds, Ronald L. Hinkie, Loren C. Swor, Brian K. Wilkinson
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Patent number: 6491116Abstract: A downhole tool for sealing a wellbore. The downhole tool includes a packer with a ball seat defined therein. A sealing ball is carried with the packer into the well. The movement of the sealing ball away from the ball seat is limited by a ball cage which is attached to the upper end of the packer. The ball cage has a plurality of ports therethrough for allowing flow into the ball cage and through the packer at certain flow rates. A spring is disposed in a longitudinal opening of the packer and engages the sealing ball to prevent the sealing ball from engaging the ball seat until a predetermined flow rate is reached. When the packer is set in the hole, flow through the frac plug below a predetermined flow rate is permitted. Once a predetermined flow rate in the well is reached, a spring force of the spring will be overcome and the sealing ball will engage the ball seat so that no flow through the frac plug is permitted.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2002Date of Patent: December 10, 2002Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Kevin T. Berscheidt, Donald R. Smith, Lee Wayne Stepp, Don S. Folds, Gregory W. Vargus
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Publication number: 20020096365Abstract: A downhole tool for sealing a wellbore. The downhole tool includes a packer with a ball seat defined therein. A sealing ball is carried with the packer into the well. The movement of the sealing ball away from the ball seat is limited by a ball cage which is attached to the upper end of the packer. The ball cage has a plurality of ports therethrough for allowing flow into the ball cage and through the packer at certain flow rates. A spring is disposed in a longitudinal opening of the packer and engages the sealing ball to prevent the sealing ball from engaging the ball seat until a predetermined flow rate is reached. When the packer is set in the hole, flow through the frac plug below a predetermined flow rate is permitted. Once a predetermined flow rate in the well is reached, a spring force of the spring will be overcome and the sealing ball will engage the ball seat so that no flow through the frac plug is permitted.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 23, 2002Publication date: July 25, 2002Inventors: Kevin T. Berscheidt, Donald R. Smith, Lee Wayne Stepp, Don S. Folds, Gregory W. Vargus
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Patent number: 6394180Abstract: A downhole tool for sealing a wellbore. The downhole tool includes a packer with a ball seat defined therein. A sealing ball is carried with the packer into the well. The movement of the sealing ball away from the ball seat is limited by a ball cage which is attached to the upper end of the packer. The ball cage has a plurality of ports therethrough for allowing flow into the ball cage and through the packer at certain flow rates. A spring is disposed in a longitudinal opening of the packer and engages the sealing ball to prevent the sealing ball from engaging the ball seat until a predetermined flow rate is reached. When the packer is set in the hole, flow through the frac plug below a predetermined flow rate is permitted. Once a predetermined flow rate in the well is reached, a spring force of the spring will be overcome and the sealing ball will engage the ball seat so that no flow through the frac plug is permitted.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2000Date of Patent: May 28, 2002Assignee: Halliburton Energy Service,s Inc.Inventors: Kevin T. Berscheidt, Donald R. Smith, Lee Wayne Stepp, Don S. Folds, Gregory W. Vargus