Patents by Inventor Joe Steele

Joe Steele 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: 10214998
    Abstract: An example whipstock assembly includes a whipstock providing a ramped surface and a longitudinal groove defined in the ramped surface. A lead mill is coupled to the whipstock with a shear fastener that provides resilience against premature shearing under torsional loads between the lead mill and the whipstock, while providing susceptibility to shearing under a predetermined axial load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael B. Hussey, David Joe Steele, Aihua Liang
  • Patent number: 10208569
    Abstract: An assembly configured to be disposed within a well at an intersection of a parent bore of the well and a lateral bore of the well is provided. The assembly includes a junction having a mainbore leg and a lateral leg, as well as a passage in the mainbore leg configured to receive a flowing fluid. A port in the mainbore leg is in fluid communication with the passage such that the flowing fluid in the passage creates a suction at the port to draw debris in the well through the port and into the passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventor: David Joe Steele
  • Patent number: 10196880
    Abstract: A wellbore isolation system includes a junction positioned at an intersection of a first wellbore and a second wellbore, and a deflector disposed in the junction such that a path into the first leg of the junction is obstructed and engaged with the first leg of the junction to form a fluid and pressure tight seal. The junction includes a first leg extending downhole into the first wellbore, and a second leg extending downhole into the second wellbore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: David Joe Steele, Neil Hepburn, Stuart Alexander Telfer
  • Patent number: 10167684
    Abstract: A high pressure multibore junction assembly and method for completion of a lateral wellbore using a high pressure multibore junction assembly, which comprises a tubular main leg and a tubular lateral leg. The tubular main leg is secured within a main wellbore and the tubular lateral leg is positioned through a lateral wellbore. The tubular main leg and the tubular lateral leg may be stabilized relative to each other as the multibore junction assembly is lowered into the main wellbore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventor: David Joe Steele
  • Publication number: 20180347613
    Abstract: Certain shear bolts described herein provide failure bending resistance when torque is applied to members being connected by the bolts, while maintaining shearability. Certain other shear bolts described herein provide a shear region having different shear limits dependent upon the direction of force being applied to the shear region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2016
    Publication date: December 6, 2018
    Inventors: Matthew Bradley Stokes, David Joe Steele
  • Publication number: 20180340564
    Abstract: Certain shear bolts described herein provide failure bending resistance when torque is applied to members being connected by the bolts, while maintaining shearability. Certain other shear bolts described herein provide a shear region having different shear limits dependent upon the direction of force being applied to the shear region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2016
    Publication date: November 29, 2018
    Inventors: Matthew Bradley Stokes, David Joe Steele
  • Publication number: 20180313156
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described for drilling a new secondary wellbore from a primary wellbore in which a production string is already deployed. The production string is severed below a desired kick-off location for the new secondary wellbore and the upstream portion of the production string is withdrawn from the primary wellbore, thereby exposing an end of the remaining production string. A lateral orientation device (LOD) is mounted on the exposed end of the production string. The LOD includes a shoulder for seating on the exposed end, anchoring mechanism(s) to secure the LOD to adjacent tubular(s), and seals to sealingly engage adjacent tubulars. The LOD may include a contoured surface for orientation of a tool, such as a whipstock, which may be utilized to drill a new wellbore. Alternatively, a work string may be coupled with the LOD to perform pumping operations in the wellbore below the LOD.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2016
    Publication date: November 1, 2018
    Inventors: David Joe Steele, Clifford Lynn Talley, Doug Durst, Mark C. Glaser
  • Publication number: 20180283140
    Abstract: Systems and methods for stimulating wells include a frac window system positioned in a first wellbore adjacent a secondary wellbore extending from the first wellbore so that an opening in the frac window system aligns with a window in the first wellbore casing. The frac window system includes an elongated tubular with annular seals along the outer surface above and below the opening in the elongated tubular, and further includes an orientation device carried within the tubular. A main bore isolation sleeve is positioned within the frac window system to seal the opening, isolating the secondary wellbore from pressurized fluid directed farther down the first wellbore. A whipstock seats on the orientation device so that a surface of the whipstock is aligned with the secondary wellbore window of the first wellbore casing. The whipstock guides a straddle stimulation tool into the secondary wellbore from the first wellbore.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2016
    Publication date: October 4, 2018
    Inventor: David Joe Steele
  • Patent number: 10087718
    Abstract: An example multi-bore junction assembly includes a connector body having an upper end and a lower end, the lower end providing a main bore leg receptacle and a lateral bore leg receptacle. A main bore leg is coupled to the main bore leg receptacle and extending longitudinally therefrom, and a lateral bore leg coupled to the lateral bore leg receptacle and extending longitudinally therefrom, wherein the main and lateral bore legs are round, tubular structures. At least one mechanical stiffener extends longitudinally between the connector body and a D-round connector arranged on one of the main and lateral bore legs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: David Joe Steele, Neil Hepburn
  • Patent number: 10036220
    Abstract: A deflector assembly includes an upper deflector arranged within a main bore of a wellbore, the upper deflector having a guide spring. The guide spring includes a ramped surface. A lower deflector is arranged within the main bore, the lower deflector defining a first conduit and a second conduit. One of the first and second conduits is in communication with a lower portion of the main bore and another of the first and second conduits is in communication with a lateral bore. The upper and lower deflectors are configured to direct a bullnose assembly into either the lateral bore or the lower portion of the main bore based on a size of a bullnose tip of the bullnose assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Borisa Lajesic, David Joe Steele
  • Patent number: 10018019
    Abstract: An example multi-bore junction assembly includes a connector body having an upper end and a lower end, the lower end providing a main bore leg receptacle and a lateral bore leg receptacle, a main bore leg coupled to the main bore leg receptacle and extending longitudinally therefrom, a lateral bore leg coupled to the lateral bore leg receptacle and extending longitudinally therefrom, wherein the main and lateral bore legs are round, tubular structures, and a first mechanical stiffener arranged on the main bore leg and a second mechanical stiffener arranged on the lateral bore leg, wherein the first and second mechanical stiffeners each exhibit a generally D-shaped cross-section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: David Joe Steele, Neil Hepburn
  • Patent number: 9896926
    Abstract: Disclosed are intelligent casing collars and cement wiper plugs used in wellbore cementing operations. A disclosed well system includes a casing string extending from a surface location within a wellbore, an annulus being defined between the casing string and the wellbore, a casing collar included in the casing string and having one or more sensors configured to measure at least one fluid property of a fluid present within the annulus, a cement wiper plug arranged within the casing string and communicably coupled to the casing collar such that measurement data obtained by the one or more sensors is conveyed to and received by the cement wiper plug, and a pulser associated with the cement wiper plug and configured to transmit pressure pulses to the surface location, wherein the pressure pulses correspond to the measurement data received from the one or more sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventor: David Joe Steele
  • Patent number: 9752390
    Abstract: A casing window assembly for completion of a lateral wellbore. The casing window assembly includes a tubular casing sleeve with a casing window and an inner sleeve releasably secured within the casing sleeve at a pre-released position adjacent the casing window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventor: David Joe Steele
  • Patent number: 9631457
    Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods of orienting wellbore tubulars using gravity. Some disclosed orientation indicating devices include a housing defining a first flow channel and being arrangeable within a wellbore tubular, an orientor movably arranged within the housing and defining a second flow channel in fluid communication with the first flow channel, and an eccentric weight arranged within the orientor and having a center of mass radially offset from a rotational axis of the orientor, the eccentric weight being configured to maintain the orientor pointing in one direction as the housing and the wellbore tubular are rotated, wherein, as the housing rotates, the first and second flow channels become progressively aligned or misaligned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventor: David Joe Steele
  • Publication number: 20160341010
    Abstract: A wellbore isolation system is disclosed. The wellbore isolation system includes a junction positioned at an intersection of a first wellbore and a second wellbore, and a deflector disposed in the junction such that a path into the first leg of the junction is obstructed and engaged with the first leg of the junction to form a fluid and pressure tight seal. The junction includes a first leg extending downhole into the first wellbore, and a second leg extending downhole into the second wellbore. The deflector includes a channel extending axially through the deflector, and a degradable plug disposed in the channel and engaged with the channel to prevent fluid flow through the channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2014
    Publication date: November 24, 2016
    Inventors: Neil Hepburn, Stuart Alexander Telfer, Ben Luke Butler, David Joe Steele
  • Publication number: 20160341009
    Abstract: An example whipstock assembly includes a whipstock providing a ramped surface and a longitudinal groove defined in the ramped surface. A lead mill is coupled to the whipstock with a shear fastener that provides resilience against premature shearing under torsional loads between the lead mill and the whipstock, while providing susceptibility to shearing under a predetermined axial load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2014
    Publication date: November 24, 2016
    Applicant: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Michael B. Hussey, David Joe Steele, Aihua Liang
  • Publication number: 20160341011
    Abstract: A wellbore isolation system is disclosed. The wellbore isolation system includes a junction positioned at an intersection of a first wellbore and a second wellbore, and a deflector disposed in the junction such that a path into the first leg of the junction is obstructed and engaged with the first leg of the junction to form a fluid and pressure tight seal. The junction includes a first leg extending downhole into the first wellbore, and a second leg extending downhole into the second wellbore.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2014
    Publication date: November 24, 2016
    Inventors: David Joe Steele, Neil Hepburn, Stuart Alexander Telfer
  • Patent number: 9476260
    Abstract: A casing window assembly and methods for installing the casing window assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventor: David Joe Steele
  • Publication number: 20160273312
    Abstract: An example multi-bore junction assembly includes a connector body having an upper end and a lower end, the lower end providing a main bore leg receptacle and a lateral bore leg receptacle, a main bore leg coupled to the main bore leg receptacle and extending longitudinally therefrom, a lateral bore leg coupled to the lateral bore leg receptacle and extending longitudinally therefrom, wherein the main and lateral bore legs are round, tubular structures, and a first mechanical stiffener arranged on the main bore leg and a second mechanical stiffener arranged on the lateral bore leg, wherein the first and second mechanical stiffeners each exhibit a generally D-shaped cross-section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2014
    Publication date: September 22, 2016
    Applicant: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: David Joe Steele, Neil Hepburn
  • Publication number: 20160251942
    Abstract: An example multi-bore junction assembly includes a connector body having an upper end and a lower end, the lower end providing a main bore leg receptacle and a lateral bore leg receptacle. A main bore leg is coupled to the main bore leg receptacle and extending longitudinally therefrom, and a lateral bore leg coupled to the lateral bore leg receptacle and extending longitudinally therefrom, wherein the main and lateral bore legs are round, tubular structures. At least one mechanical stiffener extends longitudinally between the connector body and a D-round connector arranged on one of the main and lateral bore legs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2014
    Publication date: September 1, 2016
    Applicant: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: David Joe Steele, Neil Hepburn