Patents by Inventor James D. Estes
James D. Estes 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: 7784338Abstract: A free point tool comprises an elongated main shaft assembly and a low mass sensor assembly coaxially and slidingly disposed over the elongated main shaft. The low mass sensor assembly is adapted to be supported within the down hole casing by first and second drag spring centralizers coupled respectively to upper and lower ends of the low mass sensor assembly. The low mass sensor assembly comprises a magnetic amplifier sensor disposed in a sensor body and having a variable inductance proportionally responsive to longitudinal and rotational displacement of an adjacent sensor plate portion of a movable sensor sleeve concentric with and enclosing the sensor body, wherein the sensor sleeve is attached to the first drag spring centralizer and the sensor body is attached to the second drag spring centralizer.Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 2007Date of Patent: August 31, 2010Assignees: Titan Specialties, Ltd.Inventor: James D. Estes
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Publication number: 20100207711Abstract: An instrument assembly for a well casing inspection tool, comprising a main shaft having an extension shaft extending therefrom. An instrument head is supported on bearings proximate one end of the main shaft. The rotating instrument head, which includes sensors for measuring wall thickness and caliper of the well casing, provides continuous 360 degree scanning of the interior of the well casing to obtain detailed measurements of the well casing. A motor drives the rotating instrument head through a gear train. A mandrel supported by the main shaft includes exciter coils for wall thickness, caliper, and permeability measurements. A capacitive slip ring couples signals between the rotating instrument head and stationary circuits in the instrument assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 17, 2009Publication date: August 19, 2010Inventor: James D. Estes
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Publication number: 20100206064Abstract: An instrument assembly for a well casing inspection tool, comprising a main shaft having an extension shaft extending therefrom. An instrument head is supported on bearings proximate one end of the main shaft. The rotating instrument head, which includes sensors for measuring wall thickness and caliper of the well casing, provides continuous 360 degree scanning of the interior of the well casing to obtain detailed measurements of the well casing. A motor drives the rotating instrument head through a gear train. A mandrel supported by the main shaft includes exciter coils for wall thickness, caliper, and permeability measurements. A capacitive slip ring couples signals between the rotating instrument head and stationary circuits in the instrument assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 17, 2009Publication date: August 19, 2010Inventor: James D. Estes
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Patent number: 7383876Abstract: An apparatus and method of determining the point at which a tubular is stuck within another tubular or a wellbore by applying a tensile or torsional force to the stuck tubular and measuring the response of various locations within the tubular. In addition, the apparatus may be combined with a cutting tool to separate the free portion of the tubular from the stuck portion.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2005Date of Patent: June 10, 2008Assignee: Weatherford/Lamb, Inc.Inventors: Kevin L. Gray, James D. Estes
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Patent number: 7302841Abstract: A free point tool comprises an elongated main shaft assembly and a low mass sensor assembly coaxially and slidingly disposed over the elongated main shaft. The low mass sensor assembly is adapted to be supported within the down hole casing by first and second drag spring centralizers coupled respectively to upper and lower ends of the low mass sensor assembly. The low mass sensor assembly comprises a magnetic amplifier sensor disposed in a sensor body and having a variable inductance proportionally responsive to longitudinal and rotational displacement of an adjacent sensor plate portion of a movable sensor sleeve concentric with and enclosing the sensor body, wherein the sensor sleeve is attached to the first drag spring centralizer and the sensor body is attached to the second drag spring centralizer.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2005Date of Patent: December 4, 2007Inventor: James D. Estes
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Patent number: 6851476Abstract: An apparatus and method of determining the point at which a tubular is stuck within another tubular or a wellbore by applying a tensile or torsional force to the stuck tubular and measuring the response of various locations within the tubular. In addition, the apparatus may be combined with a cutting tool to separate the free portion of the tubular from the stuck portion.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 2002Date of Patent: February 8, 2005Assignee: Weather/Lamb, Inc.Inventors: Kevin L. Gray, James D. Estes
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Publication number: 20030024702Abstract: An apparatus and method of determining the point at which a tubular is stuck within another tubular or a wellbore by applying a tensile or torsional force to the stuck tubular and measuring the response of various locations within the tubular. In addition, the apparatus may be combined with a cutting tool to separate the free portion of the tubular from the stuck portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 2, 2002Publication date: February 6, 2003Inventors: Kevin L. Gray, James D. Estes
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Patent number: 5582248Abstract: An orienting device for a perforator or the like to permit directing the tool at a selected angle relative to a ferrous element such as an adjacent casing string, and further an orienting device which is resistant to signal reversal resulting from ferrous non-uniformities in the region of the wellbore, the orienting device comprising an electromagnetic field source producing an alternating electromagnetic field and a receiver array longitudinally spaced from the electromagnetic field source, the disposition of the receiver array being such that the voltages induced therein vary differentially with the angle presented by the proximate ferrous elements by reason of the distortion of the otherwise axially symmetrical field. Electronic circuitry is provided to convert the differential voltages to a signal which is received at the surface and caused to register the orientation angle. A motor section is provided to rotate the device.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 1995Date of Patent: December 10, 1996Assignee: Wedge Wireline, Inc.Inventor: James D. Estes
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Patent number: 5520245Abstract: The present invention relates to the free point tool and a sensor for assembly for use in the free point tool. The sensor assembly comprises a first housing having an axis in a transmitter coil mounted thereon as well as at least one receiver coil. The axis of each coil is substantially parallel to the axis of the first housing. The second housing is movably attached to the first housing such that it can move along the axis of the first housing and also rotate about the axis of the first housing. The second housing carries the sensor plate which is located operatively adjacent to the receiving coils. Movement of the plate relative to the receiving coils changes the output of the receiving coils.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 1994Date of Patent: May 28, 1996Inventor: James D. Estes
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Patent number: 5299359Abstract: A caliper logging sonde is provided having a plurality of sensing fingers each of which is pivotally mounted to the sonde and movable with respect to the sonde in response to variations in the internal dimensions of a wellbore tube through which the sonde passes. An electrical signal which is proportional to variations in the internal dimensions of a wellbore tube is determined at regular time intervals at a series of points around the circumference of the wellbore tube. A maximum and minimum dimension for each point around the circumference of the wellbore tube during a selected time interval is temporarily stored and thereafter transmitted to the surface at regular intervals. A high density array of sensors is provided by utilizing a transducer plate having a large number of cylindrical apertures disposed around the circumference thereof.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 1993Date of Patent: April 5, 1994Assignee: Computalog Research, Inc.Inventors: James D. Estes, Bruce E. Dennis
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Patent number: 4051907Abstract: Selective firing system for gun perforating comprising in combination a surface control, and a subsurface master sub together with a multiplicity of identical slave subs each operatively connected with a perforating charge and so interconnected that any of the slave subs may be armed and fired in any order under the control of the operator.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 1976Date of Patent: October 4, 1977Assignee: N L Industries, Inc.Inventor: James D. Estes