Patents by Inventor J. Terrell Williams

J. Terrell Williams 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: 6244362
    Abstract: A weir box disposed upstream from conventional solids control equipment of a mud system of a drilling rig contains a drilling mud separation unit having a continuous-loop scalper screen that is driven in a continuous loop to separate, convey and discharge large amounts of gumbo, heavy clays and drill solids at the end of the separation unit. The flow divider box is a box-like housing with a diverter plate, weir baffle plates and a sliding gate that allows drilling fluid or drilling mud to be selectively directed to the mud separation unit to be separated prior to passing to the conventional downstream solids control equipment or allows the fluid to bypass the separation unit and flow directly to the conventional solids control equipment. The sliding gate is adjustable to selectively control or meter the flow rate and to create a hydrostatic head upstream from the conventional solids control equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Inventor: J. Terrell Williams
  • Patent number: 6223906
    Abstract: A flow divider box disposed beneath a continuous-loop scalper screen mud separation unit that is driven in a continuous loop conveying and discharging large amounts of drill solids at the end of the separation units end overboard or into a reserve pit. The flow divider box has a box-like housing with an array of openings to redistribute or separate the fluid flow stream, drilling fluid, or drilling mud, in the flow path of the separation unit and selectively supply drilling fluid or drilling mud to a sundry of shale shakers in the process of separating the sediments obtained from a well bore. The flow divider box has a series of collection divider boxes disposed below the separator unit that separate and redistribute drilling fluid or drilling mud, upstream of the conventional solids control equipment of the mud system of a drilling rig. The individual collector boxes are rectangular, baffled, and have adjustable gates parallel to the flow divider box, capable of 2′ head capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Inventor: J. Terrell Williams
  • Patent number: 6220445
    Abstract: A continuous-belt drilling mud separation unit is removably mounted in a box-like housing disposed in the flow path of drilling mud or drilling fluids and is operated by a motor on the housing. The separation unit includes a generally rectangular frame, a tensioning system, and a wide continuous belt in the form of a mesh screen, chain, self-cleaning chain link belt, or combination chain link belt and wire mesh screen which extends around rollers or sprockets and is driven in a continuous loop moving along the longitudinal axis of the frame. As drilling mud or drilling fluids are conducted onto the moving belt, liquids and particles smaller than the openings in the belt pass through the openings and liquids and particles larger than the openings are transported on the moving belt and are discharged off of one end as the belt completes its path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Inventor: J. Terrell Williams
  • Patent number: 6116295
    Abstract: A wide endless-loop chain-link drilling mud separation belt formed of a plurality of laterally adjacent jointed links hinged together by transverse rods is pre-stretched prior to its installation and use on a drilling mud separation unit to prevent subsequent elongation, distortion, misalignment, chain tooth jumping, and side loading. The chain-link belt is installed on and driven in a continuous loop around a pair of parallel spaced cylindrical rollers adjustably mounted transversely in a rectangular frame of a hydraulic tensioning machine. The drive roller has a plurality of axially spaced circumferential rows of radially extending teeth that engage the openings in the links and the other roller has a smooth circumference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Inventor: J. Terrell Williams
  • Patent number: 6105785
    Abstract: A pair of cylindrical composite rollers formed of a metallic drum having a thick outer elastomeric layer are mounted transversely in a rectangular frame of a drilling mud separation unit over which a wide endless-loop chain-link belt is driven in a continuous loop moving along the longitudinal axis of the frame. The drive roller has a plurality of axially spaced circumferential rows of radially extending teeth that are machined in the surface of the elastomeric material. The endless belt is formed of a plurality of laterally adjacent jointed links hinged together by transverse rods. As drilling mud or drilling fluids are conducted onto the moving belt, liquids and particles smaller than the openings in the belt pass through the openings and liquids and particles larger than the openings are transported on the moving belt and are discharged off of one end as the belt completes its path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2000
    Inventor: J. Terrell Williams
  • Patent number: 6044690
    Abstract: A shearable multi-gage blowout preventer test tool for testing different size ram and annular BOP's in one trip has an inner tube and an outer test tube assembly connected in telescoping relation. The inner tube is connected to a bottom sub and a release sub connected to the bottom end of the outer test tube assembly is slidably mounted on the inner tube. The outer tube assembly has a plurality of pipe gage diameters corresponding to different drill pipe sizes. A top sub at the top end of the outer tube assembly connects to the drill string. The release sub and outer tube assembly is connected to the bottom sub in the collapsed position. The bottom sub is connected to a test plug and tail pipe assembly and the tool is lowered through the riser pipe and BOP stack to set the test plug in the well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Inventor: J. Terrell Williams
  • Patent number: 6032736
    Abstract: A multi-gage blowout preventer test tool for testing different size ram and annular BOP's in one trip has an outer test tube assembly and an inner tube assembly connected in telescoping relation. The exterior of the outer tube has a plurality of pipe gage diameters corresponding to different drill pipe sizes. A top sub at the top end of the outer tube assembly connects to the drill string and contains an upper seal assembly and stinger. The bottom end of the inner tube assembly is secured to a bottom sub and the bottom end of the outer tube assembly is releasably connected to the bottom sub in the collapsed position. The bottom sub is connected to a test plug and tail pipe assembly and the tool is lowered through the riser pipe and BOP stack to set the test plug in the wellhead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2000
    Inventor: J. Terrell Williams
  • Patent number: 6024228
    Abstract: A bypass diverter box disposed upstream from conventional solids control equipment of a mud system of a drilling rig contains a drilling mud separation unit having a continuous-loop scalper screen that is driven in a continuous loop to separate, convey and discharge large amounts of gumbo, heavy clays and drill solids at the end of the separation unit. The flow divider box is a box-like housing with a verter plate, upper and lower baffle plates and a grate that allows drilling fluid or drilling mud to be selectively directed to the mud separation unit to be separated prior to passing to the conventional downstream solids control equipment or allows the fluid to bypass the separation unit and flow directly to the conventional solids control equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2000
    Assignee: Tuboscope Nu-Tec/GNT
    Inventor: J. Terrell Williams
  • Patent number: 5996387
    Abstract: A wide endless-loop chain-link drilling mud separation belt formed of a plurality of laterally adjacent jointed links hinged together by transverse rods is pre-stretched prior to its installation and use on a drilling mud separation unit to prevent subsequent elongation, distortion, misalignment, chain tooth jumping, and side loading. The chain-link belt is installed on and driven in a continuous loop around a pair of parallel spaced cylindrical rollers adjustably mounted transversely in a rectangular frame of a hydraulic tensioning machine. The drive roller has a plurality of axially spaced circumferential rows of radially extending teeth that engage the openings in the links and the other roller has a smooth circumference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Inventor: J. Terrell Williams
  • Patent number: 5919358
    Abstract: A continuous-belt drilling mud separation unit is removably mounted in a box-like housing disposed in the flow path of drilling mud or drilling fluids and is operated by a motor on the housing. The separation unit includes a generally rectangular frame, a tensioning system, and a wide continuous belt in the form of a mesh screen, chain, self-cleaning chain link belt, or combination chain link belt and wire mesh screen which extends around rollers or sprockets and is driven in a continuous loop moving along the longitudinal axis of the frame. As drilling mud or drilling fluids are conducted onto the moving belt, liquids and particles smaller than the openings in the belt pass through the openings and liquids and particles larger than the openings are transported on the moving belt and are discharged off of one end as the belt completes its path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1999
    Inventor: J. Terrell Williams
  • Patent number: 5863430
    Abstract: A continuous-belt drilling mud separation unit is removably mounted in a box-like housing disposed in the flow path of drilling mud or drilling fluids and is operated by a motor on the housing. The separation unit includes a generally rectangular frame, a tensioning system, and a wide continuous belt in the form of a mesh screen, chain, self-cleaning chain link belt, or combination chain link belt and wire mesh screen which extends around rollers or sprockets and is driven in a continuous loop moving along the longitudinal axis of the frame. As drilling mud or drilling fluids are conducted onto the moving belt, liquids and particles smaller than the openings in the belt pass through the openings and liquids and particles larger than the openings are transported on the moving belt and are discharged off of one end as the belt completes its path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1999
    Inventor: J. Terrell Williams