Patents by Inventor Lev Ring

Lev Ring 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).

  • Publication number: 20090223680
    Abstract: Methods relate to tubulars that may be part of a tubular string for isolating one or more zones within a wellbore. In one embodiment, the tubular string includes a first expandable zone isolation unit disposed on a first side of a zone to be isolated, a second expandable zone isolation unit disposed on a second side of the zone to be isolated, and a perforated tubular disposed in fluid communication with a producing zone. The tubular string may be expanded using an expansion assembly having a first expander for expanding the first and second expandable zone isolation units and a second expander for expanding the at least one perforated tubular. Tags or markers along the tubular string may indicate locations where expansion is desired such that connections or connectors between joints are not expanded.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2009
    Publication date: September 10, 2009
    Inventors: Annabel Green, Lev Ring, Colin McHardy, Simon Harrall, Gary Johnston, Neil A.A. Simpson
  • Publication number: 20090205843
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus include tubing expanded to create a seal in an annulus surrounding the tubing. The tubing includes a sealing material selected to cause forming of undulations in a diameter of the tubing upon expansion of the tubing. Various factors of the sealing material such as deviations in its thickness influence sealing performance of the tubing with the sealing material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2009
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Inventors: Varadaraju Gandikota, Lev Ring
  • Publication number: 20090205839
    Abstract: An expandable tubular liner includes a first tube, a second tube, a mechanical coupling for coupling the first and second tubes, and an insert coupled to the mechanical coupling. The insert is capable of forming a metallurgical bond with at least one of the tubes when energy is injected into the insert.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2004
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Applicant: SHELL OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Robert Lance Cook, David Paul Brisco, R. Bruce Stewart, Robert Donald Mack, Lev Ring, Alan Duell, Andrei Filippov, Richard Carl Haut, Mark Shuster
  • Patent number: 7571774
    Abstract: A self-lubricating expansion mandrel includes a system for lubricating the interface between the self-lubricating expansion mandrel and a tubular member during the radial expansion of the tubular member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: Eventure Global Technology
    Inventors: Mark Shuster, Lev Ring
  • Patent number: 7556092
    Abstract: A flow control system for an apparatus for radially expanding tubular members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: Enventure Global Technology, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Lance Cook, David Paul Brisco, Lev Ring, Michael Bullock
  • Patent number: 7546881
    Abstract: An apparatus for radially expanding and plastically deforming a tubular member. In some embodiments, the apparatus includes a support member and an adjustable expansion device coupled thereto. The adjustable expansion device includes a tubular support member with a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart inclined surfaces, a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart expansion segments movably coupled to the tubular support member, and an actuator for displacing the expansion segments relative to the tubular support member to thereby displace each of the expansion segments onto corresponding inclined surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Assignee: Enventure Global Technology, LLC
    Inventors: Sam Sun Lloyd, Lev Ring, David Paul Brisco, Kevin K. Waddell, Robert Lance Cook, Brock Wayne Watson, Harold Otis Treece, Edwin Arnold Zwald, Jr., Akin Olufowoshe
  • Patent number: 7543637
    Abstract: Methods relate to tubulars that may be part of a tubular string for isolating one or more zones within a wellbore. In one embodiment, the tubular string includes a first expandable zone isolation unit disposed on a first side of a zone to be isolated, a second expandable zone isolation unit disposed on a second side of the zone to be isolated, and a perforated tubular disposed in fluid communication with a producing zone. The tubular string may be expanded using an expansion assembly having a first expander for expanding the first and second expandable zone isolation units and a second expander for expanding the at least one perforated tubular. Tags or markers along the tubular string may indicate locations where expansion is desired such that connections or connectors between joints are not expanded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: Weatherford/Lamb, Inc.
    Inventors: Annabel Green, Lev Ring, Colin McHardy, Simon Harrall, Gary Johnston, Neil A. A. Simpson
  • Patent number: 7516790
    Abstract: A mono-diameter wellbore casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Enventure Global Technology, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Lance Cook, Lev Ring, William J. Dean, Kevin Karl Waddell
  • Patent number: 7506687
    Abstract: A system for radially expanding a tubular member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: Enventure Global Technology, LLC
    Inventor: Lev Ring
  • Publication number: 20090071661
    Abstract: An apparatus for running a liner into a wellbore may comprise an inner string, a device coupled to the inner string that is operable to engage the interior of the liner and facilitates running of the liner into the wellbore, and a control mechanism operable to control fluid communication between the interior of the liner and the wellbore. A method of running a liner into a wellbore may comprise the steps of providing an inner string into the liner, wherein the inner string includes a device operable to engage the interior of the liner, engaging the interior of the liner, and supplying a fluid pressure to move the liner relative to the inner string to advance the liner into the wellbore.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2008
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Inventor: Lev Ring
  • Publication number: 20090013516
    Abstract: A method of repairing a damaged portion of an underground pipeline positioned within a subterranean formation below the surface of the earth and having a flowbore. In some embodiments, the method includes inserting one or more pipe sections into the flowbore, the one or more pipe sections coupled and forming a throughpassage, positioning the one or more pipe sections within a damaged portion of the pipeline, disposing an expansion device within the throughpassage, and displacing the expansion device along the throughpassage, wherein the one or more pipe sections are radially expanded into engagement with at least the damaged portion of the pipeline.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2008
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Applicant: SHELL OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Kevin Karl Waddell, Mark Shuster, Anthony Cole, Robert Lance Cook, R. Bruce Stewart, Richard Carl Haut, David Paul Brisco, Lev Ring, Robert Donald Mack, Serge Roggeband
  • Patent number: 7475723
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for performing an expedited shoe test using an expandable casing portion as an annular fluid barrier. Such an expandable annular fluid barrier may be used in conjunction with cement if so desired but cement is not required. Further provided are methods and apparatus for successfully recovering from a failed expansion so that a shoe test can be completed without replacement of the expandable casing portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2009
    Assignee: Weatherford/Lamb, Inc.
    Inventors: Lev Ring, Robert Lance Cook
  • Publication number: 20090001721
    Abstract: A tubular sleeve is coupled to and overlaps the threaded connection between a pair of adjacent tubular members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Applicant: ENVENTURE GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY, LLC
    Inventors: Scott Costa, Joel Hockaday, Kevin K. Waddell, Lev Ring, Michael Bullock, Robert Lance Cook, Larry Kendziora, David Paul Brisco, Tance Jackson
  • Patent number: 7438132
    Abstract: A method of forming a wellhead including: drilling a wellbore; positioning an outer casing at least partially within an upper portion of the wellbore; positioning a first tubular member within the outer casing; expanding at least a portion of the first tubular member into contact with an interior surface of the outer casing; positioning a second tubular member within the outer casing and the first tubular member; and expanding at least a portion of the second tubular member into contact with an interior portion of the outer casing; wherein, after expanding the portions of the first and second tubular members into contact with the interior portion of the outer casing, at least a portion of the second tubular member is positioned within the first tubular member; and wherein, after expanding the portions of the first and second tubular members into contact with the interior portion of the outer casing, the first tubular member and the second tubular member define a passage there between.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Robert Lance Cook, David Paul Brisco, R. Bruce Stewart, Lev Ring, Richard Carl Haut, Robert Donald Mack, Alan B. Duell
  • Patent number: 7434618
    Abstract: An apparatus for expanding a tubular member comprising a support member, an expansion device for radially expanding the tubular member movably coupled to the support member for longitudinal displacement relative to the support member, at least one pressure chamber defined by and positioned between the support member and expansion device, and one or more releasable supports coupled to the support member adapted to support the tubular member, wherein the releasable supports are positioned above the expansion device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Robert Lance Cook, David Paul Brisco, R. Bruce Stewart, Lev Ring, Richard Carl Haut, Robert Donald Mack, Alan B. Duell
  • Patent number: 7424918
    Abstract: A method of forming a wellbore casing within a borehole that traverses a subterranean formation, is provided by assembling a tubular liner by coupling a multi-layer tubular insert assembly to a threaded portion of a first tubular member, and coupling a threaded portion of a second tubular member to the threaded portion of the first tubular member and the multi-layer tubular insert. The tubular liner assembly is positioned within the borehole; and the tubular liner assembly within the borehole is radially expanded and plastically deformed. The multi-layer tubular insert includes a first tubular insert having a first modulus of elasticity; and a second tubular insert coupled to the first tubular insert having a second modulus of elasticity. The first modulus of elasticity is different from the second modulus of elasticity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2008
    Assignee: Enventure Global Technology, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Mark Shuster, Lev Ring, Scott Costa
  • Patent number: 7419009
    Abstract: An apparatus and method according to which a tubular member is radially expanded and plastically deformed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Robert Lance Cook, David Paul Brisco, R. Bruce Stewart, Lev Ring, Richard Carl Haut, Robert Donald Mack
  • Patent number: 7416027
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for radially expanding a tubular member. The apparatus includes a tubular support member, an adjustable expansion cone assembly coupled to the tubular support member and means for adjusting the expansion cone assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Assignee: Enventure Global Technology, LLC
    Inventors: Lev Ring, David Paul Brisco, Kevin Waddell, Robert Lance Cook
  • Patent number: 7410000
    Abstract: A mono-diameter wellbore casing. A tubular liner and an expansion cone are positioned within a new section of a wellbore with the tubular liner in an overlapping relationship with a pre-existing casing. A hardenable fluidic material is injected into the new section of the wellbore below the level of the expansion cone and into the annular region between the tubular liner and the new section of the wellbore. The inner and outer regions of the tubular liner are then fluidicly isolated. A non hardenable fluidic material is then injected into a portion of an interior region of the tubular liner to pressurize the portion of the interior region of the tubular liner below the expansion cone. The tubular liner is then extruded off of the expansion cone. The overlapping portion of the pre-existing casing and the tubular liner are then radially expanded using an expansion cone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: Enventure Global Technology, LLC.
    Inventors: Robert Lance Cook, Lev Ring
  • Patent number: 7404444
    Abstract: A protective sleeve for expandable tubulars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Enventure Global Technology
    Inventors: Scott Costa, Lev Ring, Jose Menchaca