Patents by Inventor Gillies Alexander MacDonald

Gillies Alexander MacDonald 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: 11906395
    Abstract: A method includes performing a downhole operation in a borehole; capturing, during the downhole operation, downhole particles and drilling mud at the surface from the borehole into a screen of at least one shaker; shaking the screen to emit vibrations to separate the downhole particles from the drilling mud; defining a vibration limit for a normal operating condition of the at least one shaker; setting a vibration fault threshold based on the vibration limit for the normal operating condition; monitoring, using at least one sensor, the vibrations over time; and determining there is a fault condition for the shaker, in response to the vibrations exceeding the vibration fault threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Prashant Shekhar, Abhijit Kulkarni, Gillies Alexander MacDonald
  • Patent number: 11454072
    Abstract: A method includes performing a downhole operation in a borehole in a formation. Downhole particles and drilling mud are captured at a surface from the borehole into a screen of a shaker during the downhole operation. Input power that comprises at least one of voltage, current, and leakage current being supplied to the shaker is monitored during operation of the shaker, it is determined whether the input power exceeds a threshold as a result of change in a load on the shaker. In response to determining that the input power exceeds the threshold as the result of change in the load on the shaker, it is determined that there is a kick condition in the borehole, where the kick condition comprises a condition in which a pressure of the formation exceeds a pressure in the borehole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Abhijit Kulkarni, Gillies Alexander MacDonald, Prashant Shekhar, Brian Scott Cooper
  • Publication number: 20220275694
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a shaker screen onto which downhole materials and fluid from a borehole are to be placed, the downhole materials a product of a downhole operation and a shaker to vibrate the shaker screen to separate the downhole materials from the fluid. The apparatus includes a radar to emit an electromagnetic wave onto the downhole materials on at least one of the shaker screen and a transit and detect a reflection of the electromagnetic wave reflected off at least a portion of the downhole materials and a device to determine a velocity of the downhole materials advancing along at least one of the shaker screen toward a discharge end of the shaker screen and the transit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2022
    Publication date: September 1, 2022
    Inventors: Prashant Shekhar, Gillies Alexander MacDonald, Abhijit Kulkarni
  • Patent number: 11402741
    Abstract: A system for automated detection and removal of visual obstructions such as debris, fumes, or mist from the view zone of an imaging device. An autodetection algorithm runs on incoming visual data from a data acquisition (DAQ) system to determine if a visual obstruction is present. A controller initiates a dry-cleaning dual cycle (DCDC) run including a wet clean cycle and a dry clean cycle. During the wet clean cycle, a base fluid mist is distributed onto the view zone. Subsequently during the dry clean cycle, compressed air is distributed onto the view zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Gillies Alexander MacDonald, Prashant Shekhar, Abhijit Kulkarni
  • Patent number: 11339618
    Abstract: A method includes depositing, onto a shaker screen, downhole materials and fluids coming to a surface of the borehole as a result of a downhole operation. The downhole materials are separated from the fluids using the shaker screen. Using a radar, an electromagnetic wave is emitted toward a discharge end of the shaker screen or a transit downstream to the shaker. A reflection of the electromagnetic wave reflected off a portion of the downhole materials is detected. A velocity of the downhole materials advancing along the shaker screen toward the discharge end of the shaker screen or on a transit downstream to the shaker is determined. An approximate area occupied by the downhole materials on the shaker screen is determined. A volume of the downhole materials based on the velocity of the downhole materials and the approximate area occupied by the downhole materials on the shaker screen is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Prashant Shekhar, Gillies Alexander MacDonald, Abhijit Kulkarni
  • Publication number: 20210191252
    Abstract: A system for automated detection and removal of visual obstructions such as debris, fumes, or mist from the view zone of an imaging device. An autodetection algorithm runs on incoming visual data from a data acquisition (DAQ) system to determine if a visual obstruction is present. A controller initiates a dry-cleaning dual cycle (DCDC) run including a wet clean cycle and a dry clean cycle. During the wet clean cycle, a base fluid mist is distributed onto the view zone. Subsequently during the dry clean cycle, compressed air is distributed onto the view zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 24, 2019
    Publication date: June 24, 2021
    Inventors: Gillies Alexander MacDonald, Prashant Shekhar, Abhijit Kulkarni
  • Publication number: 20200363289
    Abstract: A method includes performing a downhole operation in a borehole; capturing, during the downhole operation, downhole particles and drilling mud at the surface from the borehole into a screen of at least one shaker; shaking the screen to emit vibrations to separate the downhole particles from the drilling mud; defining a vibration limit for a normal operating condition of the at least one shaker; setting a vibration fault threshold based on the vibration limit for the normal operating condition; monitoring, using at least one sensor, the vibrations over time; and determining there is a fault condition for the shaker, in response to the vibrations exceeding the vibration fault threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2019
    Publication date: November 19, 2020
    Inventors: Prashant Shekhar, Abhijit Kulkarni, Gillies Alexander MacDonald
  • Publication number: 20200332642
    Abstract: A method includes performing a downhole operation in a borehole in a formation. Downhole particles and drilling mud are captured at a surface from the borehole into a screen of a shaker during the downhole operation. Input power that comprises at least one of voltage, current, and leakage current being supplied to the shaker is monitored during operation of the shaker, it is determined whether the input power exceeds a threshold as a result of change in a load on the shaker. In response to determining that the input power exceeds the threshold as the result of change in the load on the shaker, it is determined that there is a kick condition in the borehole, where the kick condition comprises a condition in which a pressure of the formation exceeds a pressure in the borehole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2019
    Publication date: October 22, 2020
    Inventors: Abhijit Kulkarni, Gillies Alexander MacDonald, Prashant Shekhar, Brian Scott Cooper
  • Publication number: 20190368287
    Abstract: A method includes depositing, onto a shaker screen, downhole materials and fluids coming to a surface of the borehole as a result of a downhole operation. The downhole materials are separated from the fluids using the shaker screen. Using a radar, an electromagnetic wave is emitted toward a discharge end of the shaker screen or a transit downstream to the shaker. A reflection of the electromagnetic wave reflected off a portion of the downhole materials is detected. A velocity of the downhole materials advancing along the shaker screen toward the discharge end of the shaker screen or on a transit downstream to the shaker is determined. An approximate area occupied by the downhole materials on the shaker screen is determined. A volume of the downhole materials based on the velocity of the downhole materials and the approximate area occupied by the downhole materials on the shaker screen is determined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2019
    Publication date: December 5, 2019
    Inventors: Prashant Shekhar, Gillies Alexander MacDonald, Abhijit Kulkarni
  • Patent number: 10378295
    Abstract: A method of operating a gas extraction system includes receiving a drilling fluid sample at a flow meter via a flow meter inlet conduit and discharging the drilling fluid sample into a flow meter outlet conduit. A first inline mud valve positioned in the flow meter inlet conduit and a second inline mud valve positioned in the flow meter outlet conduit are each closed to transition the gas extraction system to a bypass flushing configuration. A bypass flow meter valve positioned in a flow meter bypass conduit is opened to divert the drilling fluid sample around the flow meter. The flow meter is then flushed with flushing fluid by opening first and second flow meter flushing valves and starting a pump to circulate the flushing fluid through the flow meter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Prashant Shekhar, Gillies Alexander MacDonald, Robert James Costo, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20180016857
    Abstract: A method of operating a gas extraction system includes receiving a drilling fluid sample at a flow meter via a flow meter inlet conduit and discharging the drilling fluid sample into a flow meter outlet conduit. A first inline mud valve positioned in the flow meter inlet conduit and a second inline mud valve positioned in the flow meter outlet conduit are each closed to transition the gas extraction system to a bypass flushing configuration. A bypass flow meter valve positioned in a flow meter bypass conduit is opened to divert the drilling fluid sample around the flow meter. The flow meter is then flushed with flushing fluid by opening first and second flow meter flushing valves and starting a pump to circulate the flushing fluid through the flow meter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2017
    Publication date: January 18, 2018
    Inventors: Prashant Shekhar, Gillies Alexander MacDonald, Robert James Costo, JR.
  • Patent number: 9816335
    Abstract: A method of operating a gas extraction system includes receiving a drilling fluid sample at a flow meter via a flow meter inlet conduit and discharging the drilling fluid sample into a flow meter outlet conduit. A first inline mud valve positioned in the flow meter inlet conduit and a second inline mud valve positioned in the flow meter outlet conduit are each closed to transition the gas extraction system to a bypass flushing configuration. A bypass flow meter valve positioned in a flow meter bypass conduit is opened to divert the drilling fluid sample around the flow meter. The flow meter is then flushed with flushing fluid by opening first and second flow meter flushing valves and starting a pump to circulate the flushing fluid through the flow meter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Prashant Shekhar, Gillies Alexander MacDonald, Robert James Costo, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20170107773
    Abstract: A method of operating a gas extraction system includes receiving a drilling fluid sample at a flow meter via a flow meter inlet conduit and discharging the drilling fluid sample into a flow meter outlet conduit. A first inline mud valve positioned in the flow meter inlet conduit and a second inline mud valve positioned in the flow meter outlet conduit are each closed to transition the gas extraction system to a bypass flushing configuration. A bypass flow meter valve positioned in a flow meter bypass conduit is opened to divert the drilling fluid sample around the flow meter. The flow meter is then flushed with flushing fluid by opening first and second flow meter flushing valves and starting a pump to circulate the flushing fluid through the flow meter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Publication date: April 20, 2017
    Applicant: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Prashant Shekhar, Gillies Alexander MacDonald, Robert James Costo