Patents by Inventor James S. Sanchez

James S. Sanchez 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: 10487622
    Abstract: A lock ring fits into a housing recess defined by a sliding member such as a sleeve. The lock ring is loosely fitted in the recess when the sleeve is in an initial position. The lock ring is preferably smooth on an outer dimension and has a beveled end. The beveled end engages an internal taper in the housing if a force is placed on the sliding sleeve to return it toward the original position. Preferably the shifting of the sleeve to a ports open position places the ratchet on the sleeve in alignment with the lock ring to hold the sliding sleeve locked in the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES, A GE COMPANY, LLC
    Inventors: James T. Nickles, James S. Sanchez, Wara C. Bocangel
  • Patent number: 10378311
    Abstract: Ported sub openings are controlled by a sliding sleeve assembly. In one variation an external sleeve is pressure actuated with internal pressure to open the ports. After the treatment the ports are closed with a ball landed on an internal sleeve seat and pressure applied from above. In a different arrangement a single internal sleeve is provided that is responsive to tubing pressure to open after breaking a retaining member. After the downhole procedure a ball is landed on a seat on the sleeve and pressure is applied to close the ports with the shifted sleeve and ball moving in tandem. Multiple sliding sleeves can be sequentially operated with sliding sleeves held by retainers that break at sequentially higher pressure moving in an uphole direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES, A GE COMPANY, LLC
    Inventors: Wara Bocangel Calderon, Robert S. O'Brien, James S. Sanchez, James T. Nickles
  • Patent number: 10190390
    Abstract: A shifting sleeve has differential piston areas so that applied pressure displaces the sleeve against spring bias, which preferably is a series of Belleville washer stacks associated with modular mandrel components, to obtain the desired opposing force to the movement initiated with pressure applied to differential piston areas. An indexing feature is located between the sleeve and the mandrel passage wall and on a predetermined number of cycles disables the Belleville washer stacks from biasing the sleeve in an opposed direction as when pressure is applied. At this time the pressure in the mandrel acting on the differential piston area simply shifts the sleeve to open a lateral port so that fracturing through the cement that was earlier placed with the port closed can take place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Inventors: Jason C. Mailand, Justin C. Kellner, James S. Sanchez, Paul Madero, Charles C. Johnson, Robert W. Putch
  • Publication number: 20190024479
    Abstract: Ported sub openings are controlled by a sliding sleeve assembly. In one variation an external sleeve is pressure actuated with internal pressure to open the ports. After the treatment the ports are closed with a ball landed on an internal sleeve seat and pressure applied from above. In a different arrangement a single internal sleeve is provided that is responsive to tubing pressure to open after breaking a retaining member. After the downhole procedure a ball is landed on a seat on the sleeve and pressure is applied to close the ports with the shifted sleeve and ball moving in tandem. Multiple sliding sleeves can be sequentially operated with sliding sleeves held by retainers that break at sequentially higher pressure moving in an uphole direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2017
    Publication date: January 24, 2019
    Applicant: Baker Hughes, a GE company, LLC
    Inventors: Wara Bocangel Calderon, Robert S. O'Brien, James S. Sanchez, James T. Nickles
  • Patent number: 10184316
    Abstract: A first sleeve is shifted with a ball landed on a seat to open treating ports. At the conclusion of the treating such as fracturing, another ball is dropped on a seat in an adjacent sleeve. The adjacent sleeve shifts to contact the initial sleeve that was shifted earlier. When the sleeves abut the treating ports are closed by the second sleeve and the production ports that are preferably screened are also opened by the shifting of the second sleeve against the first sleeve. The first sleeve hits a travel stop in the housing to produce the full open position for the treating ports. The balls can be progressively larger in a bottom up direction for the procedure or the balls can all be the same size as the landing of a ball on the first sleeve reconfigures the sleeve above for the same sized ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Inventors: Juan Carlos Flores Perez, James S. Sanchez, Beau R. Wright, Steve Rosenblatt
  • Patent number: 10125573
    Abstract: An intelligent dart or ball or other shape is dropped or pumped into a borehole that has multiple valves for access to the formation through which fractures are initiated. The intelligent object engages with the valves as it passes with retractable engagement dogs that are outwardly biased but not to the degree needed to find support unless the valve in question is the one that needs to be operated. In that event the dogs become supported and pressure is applied to the object to shift the valve to the open position. The object can be released at a later time remotely or can be milled out. Subsequent objects can be landed in the same sleeve after the initial object is released to close it or to close the open port by moving a second sleeve against a first sleeve. Fracturing in any order is envisioned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Inventors: Juan Carlos Flores Perez, James S. Sanchez, Yingqing Xu, Steve Rosenblatt
  • Publication number: 20180313190
    Abstract: A lock ring fits into a housing recess defined by a sliding member such as a sleeve. The lock ring is loosely fitted in the recess when the sleeve is in an initial position. The lock ring is preferably smooth on an outer dimension and has a beveled end. The beveled end engages an internal taper in the housing if a force is placed on the sliding sleeve to return it toward the original position. Preferably the shifting of the sleeve to a ports open position places the ratchet on the sleeve in alignment with the lock ring to hold the sliding sleeve locked in the open position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2017
    Publication date: November 1, 2018
    Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventors: James T. Nickles, James S. Sanchez, Wara C. Bocangel
  • Patent number: 10077635
    Abstract: A debris catcher can include an anchor connected to the wellbore tubular and a filter fixed to the anchor. The filter is positioned in a bore of the wellbore tubular and has an disintegrable accelerator material located in a carrier body. The debris catcher formed at least partially of a disintegrable accelerator material located in a carrier body is conveyed in a wellbore tubular. The disintegrable accelerator material is exposed to a downhole material in a subterranean fluid flowing through the wellbore tubular. The debris catcher filters the downhole material. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract, which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the general subject matter of the technical disclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES, A GE COMPANY, LLC
    Inventors: Zhiyue Xu, Jason M. Harper, James S. Sanchez, James G. King, Edward O'Malley
  • Patent number: 9903196
    Abstract: A pressure test and actuation tool includes a housing; an insert disposed in operable communication with the housing. A metering head initially in sealed relation to both the housing and insert. A damper relief shoulder operably positioned relative to the metering head to initially support the metering head in sealed relationship with the housing and the insert and movable to unsupport the metering head defeating the sealed relationship with the housing and the insert. A method actuating a tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES, A GE COMPANY, LLC
    Inventors: James S. Sanchez, Jason M. Harper
  • Publication number: 20170342794
    Abstract: A borehole plug or packer for treating is designed to be milled out after use. The plug handles differential pressure from above using a lower slip assembly under a sealing element. A setting tool creates relative axial movement of a setting sleeve and a plug mandrel to compress the seal against the surrounding tubular and set the slips moving up a cone against the surrounding tubular to define the set position for the plug. The set position is held by a split lock ring having a wedge or triangular sectional shape and a surface treatment facing the mandrel that slides along the mandrel during setting movement but resists opposed reaction force from the compressed sealing element. The surface treatment can be a series of downhole oriented ridges such as a buttress thread that preferably penetrate the mandrel when holding the set position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2016
    Publication date: November 30, 2017
    Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Zachary S. Silva, James S. Sanchez, Ryan M. Allen, Steve Rosenblatt
  • Patent number: 9771767
    Abstract: A downhole tool for performing a wellbore operation includes a perforating gun, a detector module connected to the perforating gun, wherein the detector module transmits a command in response to a signal, a signal generator configured to transmit the signal to the detector module, and a plug dropping mechanism located adjacent to the detector module, the plug dropping mechanism releasing an object upon receiving the command from the detector module. The perforating gun is fired, and the downhole tool is activated. A plug-mate positioned adjacent to the plug dropping mechanism receives the object. The plug-mate has a profile complementary to the object, and the plug-mate and the object cooperating to block flow along the wellbore. In another mode of operation, an actuation member actuates the plug-mate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventors: James S. Sanchez, Edward J. O'Malley
  • Publication number: 20170218737
    Abstract: An assembly and method for hanging, cementing and sealing a liner to an existing tubular uses an inflatable to set the hanger. The running tool then releases the liner string and a cement job can take place. The Cement is pushed with darts out of the liner into the surrounding annulus to set up. Displaced fluids are pushed through the liner hanger as the cement advances. The running tool is picked up to land on a setting sleeve for a liner top packer so that set down weight can be applied to set the liner top packer. The running string then pulls out the running tool out of the hole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2016
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventors: James S. Sanchez, Robert A. Pena, Maurilio V. Solano
  • Publication number: 20170096876
    Abstract: An intelligent dart or ball or other shape is dropped or pumped into a borehole that has multiple valves for access to the formation through which fractures are initiated. The intelligent object engages with the valves as it passes with retractable engagement dogs that are outwardly biased but not to the degree needed to find support unless the valve in question is the one that needs to be operated. In that event the dogs become supported and pressure is applied to the object to shift the valve to the open position. The object can be released at a later time remotely or can be milled out. Subsequent objects can be landed in the same sleeve after the initial object is released to close it or to close the open port by moving a second sleeve against a first sleeve. Fracturing in any order is envisioned.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2015
    Publication date: April 6, 2017
    Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Juan Carlos Flores Perez, James S. Sanchez, Yingqing Xu, Steve Rosenblatt
  • Publication number: 20170067314
    Abstract: A first sleeve is shifted with a ball landed on a seat to open treating ports. At the conclusion of the treating such as fracturing, another ball is dropped on a seat in an adjacent sleeve. The adjacent sleeve shifts to contact the initial sleeve that was shifted earlier. When the sleeves abut the treating ports are closed by the second sleeve and the production ports that are preferably screened are also opened by the shifting of the second sleeve against the first sleeve. The first sleeve hits a travel stop in the housing to produce the full open position for the treating ports. The balls can be progressively larger in a bottom up direction for the procedure or the balls can all be the same size as the landing of a ball on the first sleeve reconfigures the sleeve above for the same sized ball.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2015
    Publication date: March 9, 2017
    Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Juan Carlos Flores Perez, James S. Sanchez, Beau R. Wright, Steve Rosenblatt
  • Publication number: 20160362974
    Abstract: A pressure test and actuation tool includes a housing; an insert disposed in operable communication with the housing. A metering head initially in sealed relation to both the housing and insert. A damper relief shoulder operably positioned relative to the metering head to initially support the metering head in sealed relationship with the housing and the insert and movable to unsupport the metering head defeating the sealed relationship with the housing and the insert. A method actuating a tool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2015
    Publication date: December 15, 2016
    Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventors: James S. Sanchez, Jason M. Harper
  • Patent number: 9518440
    Abstract: A bridge plug with a selectively blocked flow passage is delivered on wireline and pumped down to the desired location and set. A casing pressure test can be performed above the bridge plug while shielding the formation below from excess pressure from the pressure test. To the extent there are producing zones below the bridge plug or adjacent injection wells that could communicate with the borehole, the plug isolates those pressures from below. After the pressure test is completed, a rupture disc is blown in a passage through the bridge plug and flow is then used to deliver completion equipment to a horizontal portion of the borehole and preferably on wireline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: James S. Sanchez, Maria A. Avalos, Dennis M. Collins, Jeffrey D. Kitzman, Jason C. Mailand, Christopher K. Elliott
  • Publication number: 20160333668
    Abstract: A debris catcher can include an anchor connected to the wellbore tubular and a filter fixed to the anchor. The filter is positioned in a bore of the wellbore tubular and has an disintegrable accelerator material located in a carrier body. The debris catcher formed at least partially of a disintegrable accelerator material located in a carrier body is conveyed in a wellbore tubular. The disintegrable accelerator material is exposed to a downhole material in a subterranean fluid flowing through the wellbore tubular. The debris catcher filters the downhole material. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract, which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the general subject matter of the technical disclosure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2015
    Publication date: November 17, 2016
    Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Zhiyue Xu, Jason M. Harper, James S. Sanchez, James G. King, Edward O'Malley
  • Publication number: 20160333654
    Abstract: A debris catcher can include an anchor connected to the wellbore tubular and a filter fixed to the anchor. The filter is formed at least partially of a degradable material and positioned in a bore of the wellbore tubular. A subterranean fluid flowing through the wellbore tubular is filtered using the debris catcher. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract, which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the general subject matter of the technical disclosure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2015
    Publication date: November 17, 2016
    Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Jason M. Harper, James S. Sanchez, James G. King, Edward O'Malley
  • Patent number: 9359865
    Abstract: A shifting sleeve has differential piston areas so that applied pressure displaces the sleeve against spring bias, which preferably is a series of Belleville washer stacks associated with modular mandrel components, to obtain the desired opposing force to the movement initiated with pressure applied to differential piston areas. An indexing feature is located between the sleeve and the mandrel passage wall and on a predetermined number of cycles disables the Belleville washer stacks from biasing the sleeve in an opposed direction as when pressure is applied. At this time the pressure in the mandrel acting on the differential piston area simply shifts the sleeve to open a lateral port so that fracturing through the cement that was earlier placed with the port closed can take place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Jason C. Mailand, Justin C. Kellner, James S. Sanchez, Paul Madero, Charles C. Johnson, Robert W. Putch
  • Publication number: 20160138370
    Abstract: An apparatus for performing a wellbore operation includes a retrievable tubular defining an axial flowbore and having at least one opening providing fluid communication between the flowbore and a formation, and a degradable diverter disposed at least partially in an annulus between a wellbore and the retrievable tubular, and adjacent to the at least one opening. The degradable diverter comprises a material that structurally degrades over an engineered time interval in response to an applied stimulus. The degradable diverter also directs a stimulation fluid exiting through the at least one opening towards the formation. The degradable diverter is connected to the retrievable tubular, a stimulation fluid is pumped through the flowbore. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract, which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the general subject matter of the technical disclosure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2014
    Publication date: May 19, 2016
    Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Juan C. Flores, Jason M. Harper, James S. Sanchez