Patents by Inventor Irvine C. Brown

Irvine C. Brown 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: 8522886
    Abstract: A downhole apparatus adapted to be run on a workstring in a well bore. The apparatus has a body including ports and a valve which is rotatable to open and close the ports to selectively allow fluid flow through the body between regions of a well bore above and below the apparatus. The valve is rotated via a gearbox and motor in the apparatus. A sealing arrangement between the valve and body is also described. A method of running the apparatus in a well bore and monitoring pressure above the apparatus in order to control opening and closing of the valve under predetermined conditions is presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Red Spider Technology Limited
    Inventors: Michael J. Christie, Stuart Gordon, Irvine C. Brown, Michael A. Reid
  • Patent number: 8316953
    Abstract: A well tubing valve including a substantially tubular body connected in a tubular string and a rotational valve member having at least one aperture. The valve member is a sleeve having a part spherical surface, is rotationally moveable relative to the body to align and misalign the at least one aperture in the valve member with a port in the body. The valve member is actuable to rotate relative to the body in a single direction, and moves from the open position to a closed position and back by rotation in the same sense. The valve also includes a sealing arrangement adapted to provide a metal seal that is biased to seal against the part spherical surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Red Spider Technology Limited
    Inventors: Michael A. Reid, Irvine C. Brown
  • Patent number: 8201622
    Abstract: A protection sleeve (12) for locking over a seal (72) in a wellbore is described. The sleeve (12) is adapted for releasable engagement to a running tool (14) and has a locking mechanism (28) comprising first and second tubula members and a collet (56) is provided. One tubular member includes a profile adapted to mate with a profile of the seal (72). The sleeve (12) may be located on a work string (14), including a rotary drill string, and the invention also relates to methods of running in, setting, carrying out an intervention operation and retrieving the sleeve in a single run. The invention has particular application in Through Tubing-Rotary Drilling (TTRD).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Red Spider Technology Limited
    Inventors: Michael A. Reid, Irvine C. Brown
  • Patent number: 8191629
    Abstract: An electronic actuation system for a pressure equalizing device in a downhole apparatus such as a wellbore plug is described. The system includes a pressure sensor for measuring pressure in the wellbore, and means for setting a reference pressure value using a measurement from the pressure sensor. In a method of use, an applied pressure value is determined using a measurement from the pressure sensor and the reference pressure value, and the device is actuated, or opened, when the applied pressure meets a pre-determined condition, such as falling within a pressure window for certain time period. The invention allows natural changes in wellbore pressure to be accounted for when detecting a pressure actuation event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Red Spider Technology Limited
    Inventors: Stuart Gordon, Irvine C. Brown, Michael A. Reid
  • Publication number: 20110203789
    Abstract: An electronic actuation system for a pressure equalising device in a downhole apparatus such as a wellbore plug is described. The system includes a pressure sensor for measuring pressure in the wellbore, and means for setting a reference pressure value using a measurement from the pressure sensor. In a method of use, an applied pressure value is determined using a measurement from the pressure sensor and the reference pressure value, and the device is actuated, or opened, when the applied pressure meets a pre-determined condition, such as falling within a pressure window for certain time period. The invention allows natural changes in wellbore pressure to be accounted for when detecting a pressure actuation event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2011
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Applicant: Red Spider Technology Limited
    Inventors: Stuart Gordon, Irvine C. Brown, Michael A. Reid
  • Patent number: 7967071
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for a providing a completion assembly for running at an end of a completion string which provides a remotely operable tubing mounted valve used to control the flow of fluids through the tubing in hostile well conditions. The tubing mounted completion assembly has a tubular body for connection in the string below a production packer with a through bore from a first inlet and a first outlet coaxially aligned with the string; a downhole electronic actuating mechanism, a downhole hydraulic pump and a hydraulically operated ball valve member. The actuating mechanism operates the hydraulic pump to provide a hydraulic control line to control movement the valve member from a first position, where the member is open and a through bore is created between the inlet and outlet of the assembly, to a second position, where the valve seals the throughbore and, finally, back to the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Red Spider Technology Limited
    Inventor: Irvine C. Brown
  • Publication number: 20100147531
    Abstract: A fluid operated apparatus in the form of a flow cap, is mounted on an end of a downhole tool or sub, which itself has a screw thread fitting to a further tool, sub or tubular. The cap provides a number of fluid flow channels arranged in a spiral pattern upon the outer surface. The handedness of the channels matches the handedness of the screw thread fitting so that fluid flow from ports in the tool or sub, acts to tighten the screw thread fitting. A water injection valve including a flow cap is described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2009
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Inventors: Michael A. Reid, Blair C. Duncan, Stuart Gordon, Steven F. Nicol, Irvine C. Brown
  • Publication number: 20090314492
    Abstract: A protection sleeve (12) for locking over a seal (72) in a wellbore is described. The sleeve (12) is adapted for releasable engagement to a running tool (14) and has a locking mechanism (28) comprising first and second tubula members and a collet (56) is provided. One tubular member includes a profile adapted to mate with a profile of the seal (72). The sleeve (12) may be located on a work string (14), including a rotary drill string, and the invention also relates to methods of running in, setting, carrying out an intervention operation and retrieving the sleeve in a single run. The invention has particular application in Through Tubing-Rotary Drilling (TTRD).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2006
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Inventors: Michael A. Reid, Irvine C. Brown
  • Publication number: 20090218095
    Abstract: An electronic actuation system for a pressure equalising device in a downhole apparatus such as a wellbore plug is described. The system includes a pressure sensor for measuring pressure in the wellbore, and means for setting a reference pressure value using a measurement from the pressure sensor. In a method of use, an applied pressure value is determined using a measurement from the pressure sensor and the reference pressure value, and the device is actuated, or opened, when the applied pressure meets a pre-determined condition, such as falling within a pressure window for certain time period. The invention allows natural changes in wellbore pressure to be accounted for when detecting a pressure actuation event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2006
    Publication date: September 3, 2009
    Inventors: Stuart Gordon, Irvine C. Brown, Michael A. Reid
  • Publication number: 20090218104
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for a providing a completion assembly for running at an end of a completion string which provides a remotely operable tubing mounted valve used to control the flow of fluids through the tubing in hostile well conditions. The tubing mounted completion assembly has a tubular body for connection in the string below a production packer with a through bore from a first inlet and a first outlet coaxially aligned with the string; a downhole electronic actuating mechanism, a downhole hydraulic pump and a hydraulically operated ball valve member. The actuating mechanism operates the hydraulic pump to provide a hydraulic control line to control movement the valve member from a first position, where the member is open and a through bore is created between the inlet and outlet of the assembly, to a second position, where the valve seals the throughbore and, finally, back to the first position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2009
    Publication date: September 3, 2009
    Applicant: Red Spider Technology Limited
    Inventor: Irvine C. Brown
  • Publication number: 20090071658
    Abstract: A well tubing valve is described, having a substantially tubular body connected in a tubular string and a rotational valve member having at least one aperture. The valve member, which may be a sleeve having a part spherical surface, is rotationally moveable relative to the body to align and misalign the aperture in the valve member with a port in the body. The valve member is actuable to rotate relative to the body in a single direction, and moves from the open position to a closed position and back by rotation in the same sense. In an alternative embodiment, two such valves members are provided and each valve member is actuable from a common control line to at least three operating positions, to. incrementally adjust flow through the ports. Methods of operation are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2006
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Applicant: RED SPIDER TECHNOLOGY LIMITED
    Inventors: Michael A. Reid, Irvine C. Brown