Patents by Inventor Jerry M. Speers

Jerry M. Speers 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: 4610161
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for establishing the rate at which fluid is transferred between an offshore well 16 and the formations 20 surrounding the well 16 in the course of drilling the well 16 from a floating drilling rig 14. A drilling fluid handling system 31 is used to inject drilling fluid into the well 16. A marine riser 22 extending from the sea bottom 18 to the rig 14 is provided to return the drilling fluid to the rig 14. The riser 22 is provided with a slip joint 26 to accommodate wave induced heave of the rig 14. Inflow and outflow flowmeters 42,44 are provided to monitor the rates at which drilling fluid is injected into the well 16 and returned to the rig 14. The return flow rate signal is filtered to mitigate the cyclical variations resulting from extension and contraction of the slip joint 26. A signal processing system 46 is provided to maintain the time constant applied in the filtering process at an optimum level as the rate and magnitude of rig heave varies with time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 9, 1986
    Assignee: Exxon Production Research Co.
    Inventors: George F. Gehrig, Jerry M. Speers
  • Patent number: 4553429
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for establishing the rate at which fluid is transferred between a borehole 14 and the surrounding formations 16 in the course of moving drill string 20 upward or downward in the borehole 14. A bell nipple 40 is situated at the upper portion of the borehole 14. While tripping, drilling fluid is circulated into the borehole 14 and exits through an outflow port 44 in the bell nipple 40. The level of drilling fluid is maintained constant at the outflow port 44. Meters 52, 52', 54 are provided to measure inflow and outflow rates. Circuitry 66 is provided to establish the volume rate at which the amount of drill string 20 within the borehole 14 changes. The outputs of the meters 52, 52', 54 and rate establishing means 66 are summed to establish the compensated rate at which fluid is transferred between the formations 16 and the borehole 14. This compensated rate is compared to an alarm limit. An alarm 76 is activated if the compensated rate exceeds the alarm limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1984
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1985
    Assignee: Exxon Production Research Co.
    Inventors: John L. Evans, George F. Gehrig, Jerry M. Speers
  • Patent number: 4375310
    Abstract: A self-locking cable connector especially useful in wireline data telemetry operations or wellbore logging comprises a plug and receptacle. A locking sleeve assembly acts to lock a key on the plug into a circumferential keyway on the receptacle, when the plug is inserted into the receptacle to form an electrical connection. Seals keep the connectors isolated from the drilling fluid which is circulated during rotary drilling. The cable connector may pass through rig sheaves and may be spooled with the cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1981
    Date of Patent: March 1, 1983
    Assignee: Exxon Production Research Co.
    Inventors: Leon H. Robinson, Jerry M. Speers, Adelber Barry
  • Patent number: 4282939
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for determining the flow rate of drilling fluid flowing from a subaqueous well. The invention may also be used to determine the presence of an abnormal drilling condition during heaving motion of an offshore vessel from which the drilling operation is conducted. The invention measures the volume of fluid passing predetermined locations in the drilling system at particular points in time so as to eliminate the influence that the expansion and contraction of a telescoping section has on the total volume of drilling fluid within the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1979
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1981
    Assignee: Exxon Production Research Company
    Inventors: L. Donald Maus, Jerry M. Speers, James D. Howell
  • Patent number: 4271908
    Abstract: An improved apparatus to store an insulated electrical conductor cable in a overlapped configuration within a drill pipe includes a track attached to the drill pipe to guide a lower cable guide so that the overlapped portions of conductor cable will not snarl or twist during rotary drilling operations. To insure against entanglement, further restriction of rotation may be gained by additionally tracking the lower cable guide on a tensioned portion of the conductor cable which extends from a subsurface instrument package upwardly to an upper cable guide. A method for installing this improved apparatus is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1980
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1981
    Assignee: Exxon Production Research Company
    Inventors: Leon H. Robinson, Jr., Adelbert Barry, Jerry M. Speers
  • Patent number: 4098342
    Abstract: An insulated electric conductor employed in a tubular drill string to transmit electric energy between subsurface and surface locations is arranged within the drill string in a convoluted configuration to provide an excess length of conductor. The convoluted conductor is prevented from entangling during drilling by rotation limiting assemblies mounted in the drill string over a selected interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 1977
    Date of Patent: July 4, 1978
    Assignee: Exxon Production Research Company
    Inventors: Leon H. Robinson, Jerry M. Speers, Adelbert Barry, Daniel J. Campbell
  • Patent number: 3957118
    Abstract: A cable system for wellbore telemetry includes a cable anchored at a subsurface location in a rotary drill string, guide assemblies for maintaining the cable in a looped configuration, and a cable gripping device for maintaining a portion of the cable in tension. Preferably the cable is provided with a novel releasable connector and latch assembly which (1) permits the cable to be electrically connected to a subsurface instrument and anchored to the drill string, (2) permits the cable to be maintained in tension, and (3) is releasable by manipulation of the cable at the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1974
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1976
    Assignee: Exxon Production Research Company
    Inventors: Adelbert Barry, Leon H. Robinson, Jerry M. Speers