Patents by Inventor Mark F. Alley
Mark F. Alley 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: 11572738Abstract: A tunable wellbore pulsation valve reduces drillstring friction in a wellbore. An upper valve plate and a lower valve plate, and upper valve plate orifice and lower valve plate orifice enabling throughflow. A Moineau motor rotates the upper valve plate while the lower valve plate remains stationary. Fluid flow causes a first fluid state of fluid passing through both the upper valve plate and the lower valve plate when the fluid passing causes rotation of the upper valve plate to align the upper valve plate orifice with the lower valve plate orifice. Increased flow efficiency produces more powerful fluid pressure pulsations and axial vibrations without increasing pump pressure at the surface of the wellbore, yielding increased wellbore friction reduction while expending the same or less energy at the surface pump than would be expended in the absence of the reduced turbulent and shear conditions and increased laminar conditions.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2019Date of Patent: February 7, 2023Inventors: Jaime Espinoza, Mark F. Alley, Antonio Garza
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Publication number: 20220034165Abstract: A tunable wellbore pulsation valve reduces drillstring friction in a wellbore. An upper valve plate and a lower valve plate, and upper valve plate orifice and lower valve plate orifice enabling throughflow. A Moineau motor rotates the upper valve plate while the lower valve plate remains stationary. Fluid flow causes a first fluid state of fluid passing through both the upper valve plate and the lower valve plate when the fluid passing causes rotation of the upper valve plate to align the upper valve plate orifice with the lower valve plate orifice. Increased flow efficiency produces more powerful fluid pressure pulsations and axial vibrations without increasing pump pressure at the surface of the wellbore, yielding increased wellbore friction reduction while expending the same or less energy at the surface pump than would be expended in the absence of the reduced turbulent and shear conditions and increased laminar conditions.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2019Publication date: February 3, 2022Inventors: Jaime Espinoza, Mark F. Alley, Antonio Garza
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Patent number: 10920527Abstract: A triggering mechanism for downhole equipment includes a housing for inserting downhole in an oilfield wellbore and associating downhole with a computer processor, a clock, at least one sensor circuit, and an electrical power source. The computer processor includes computer processing circuitry and a computer readable memory circuit. The sensor circuit senses at least a pressure parameter associated with the pressure within the oilfield wellbore downhole environment. A valve control circuit controls a valve and controls flow of control fluid to a hydromechanical device operating in association with the downhole tool within the oilfield wellbore. The valve control commands derive from real-time sampling of the downhole physical parameters to form ratio-based derivative values relating to physical parameter differences over a predetermined time span.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2019Date of Patent: February 16, 2021Inventor: Mark F. Alley
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Publication number: 20200123875Abstract: A triggering mechanism for downhole equipment includes a housing for inserting downhole in an oilfield wellbore and associating downhole with a computer processor, a clock, at least one sensor circuit, and an electrical power source. The computer processor includes computer processing circuitry and a computer readable memory circuit. The sensor circuit senses at least a pressure parameter associated with the pressure within the oilfield wellbore downhole environment. A valve control circuit controls a valve and controls flow of control fluid to a hydromechanical device operating in association with the downhole tool within the oilfield wellbore. The valve control commands derive from real-time sampling of the downhole physical parameters to form ratio-based derivative values relating to physical parameter differences over a predetermined time span.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2019Publication date: April 23, 2020Inventor: Mark F. Alley
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Patent number: 10584560Abstract: A triggering mechanism for downhole equipment includes a housing for inserting downhole in an oilfield wellbore and associating downhole with a computer processor, a clock, at least one sensor circuit, and an electrical power source. The computer processor includes computer processing circuitry and a computer readable memory circuit. The sensor circuit senses at least a pressure parameter associated with the pressure within the oilfield wellbore downhole environment. A valve control circuit controls a valve and controls flow of control fluid to a hydromechanical device operating in association with the downhole tool within the oilfield wellbore. The valve control commands derive from real-time sampling of the downhole physical parameters to form ratio-based derivative values relating to physical parameter differences over a predetermined time span.Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 2019Date of Patent: March 10, 2020Inventor: Mark F. Alley
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Publication number: 20190360304Abstract: A triggering mechanism for downhole equipment includes a housing for inserting downhole in an oilfield wellbore and associating downhole with a computer processor, a clock, at least one sensor circuit, and an electrical power source. The computer processor includes computer processing circuitry and a computer readable memory circuit. The sensor circuit senses at least a pressure parameter associated with the pressure within the oilfield wellbore downhole environment. A valve control circuit controls a valve and controls flow of control fluid to a hydromechanical device operating in association with the downhole tool within the oilfield wellbore. The valve control commands derive from real-time sampling of the downhole physical parameters to form ratio-based derivative values relating to physical parameter differences over a predetermined time span.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 25, 2019Publication date: November 28, 2019Inventor: MARK F. ALLEY
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Publication number: 20190048675Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for removing debris from a wellbore, comprising providing a surface pump for supplying a fluid stream, a work string fluidly connected to the surface pump for passing the fluid stream from the surface pump, a tool body fluidly connected to the work string, including a plurality of tool body exit ports for passing the fluid stream from the work string into an annular space of the wellbore, and a collection chamber fluidly connected to and downhole from the tool body, for accepting uphole flow of the fluid stream including entrained wellbore debris. The fluid stream including entrained wellbore debris is drawn upward through the collection chamber, and the fluid stream from the work string and the fluid stream from the collection chamber are passed into the annular space of the wellbore. In addition, a cartridge may be inserted into the tool body.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 2, 2018Publication date: February 14, 2019Inventors: Mark F. Alley, Bobby Sam
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Patent number: 10012047Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing debris from a wellbore, comprising providing a surface pump for supplying a fluid stream, a work string fluidly connected to the surface pump for passing the fluid stream from the surface pump, a tool body fluidly connected to the work string, including a plurality of tool body exit ports for passing the fluid stream from the work string into an annular space of the wellbore, and a collection chamber fluidly connected to and downhole from the tool body, for accepting uphole flow of the fluid stream including entrained wellbore debris. The fluid stream including entrained wellbore debris is drawn upward through the collection chamber, and the fluid stream from the work string and the fluid stream from the collection chamber are passed into the annular space of the wellbore. In addition, a cartridge may be inserted into the tool body.Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 2017Date of Patent: July 3, 2018Inventors: Mark F. Alley, Bobby Sam
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Publication number: 20180106122Abstract: A methodology and apparatus for cutting shape(s) or profile(s) through well tubular(s), or for completely circumferentially severing through multiple tubulars, including all tubing, pipe, casing, liners, cement, other material encountered in tubular annuli. This rigless apparatus utilizes a computer-controlled, downhole robotic three-axis rotary mill to effectively generate a shape(s) or profile(s) through, or to completely sever in a 360 degree horizontal plane wells with multiple, nested strings of tubulars whether the tubulars are concentrically aligned or eccentrically aligned. This is useful for well abandonment and decommissioning where complete severance is necessitated and explosives are prohibited, or in situations requiring a precise window or other shape to be cut through a single tubular or plurality of tubulars.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 12, 2017Publication date: April 19, 2018Inventors: Wesley Mark McAfee, Mark F. Alley
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Patent number: 9938794Abstract: A ram block assembly enables a very high shearing, breaking, or parting force by utilizing guide rails and passageways within the ram block assembly to accept the rails and gird the rails against deviation from intended trajectory. The ram block rails and cavities enable application of extreme forces, opposing and concentrated within a small area, when actuating the ram block assemblies into the “open” or “close” positions. The ram block assemblies move in opposition, approaching each other and applying opposing forces against any material positioned between the ram block assemblies, and deforming, severing, breaking, shearing, parting, tearing and/or cutting, as the case may be, any said material positioned between the ram block assemblies. The severing of materials in the wellbore is known as “shearing,” and the apparatus performing this shearing operation as shear rams, shear ram blocks, shear blocks or shears.Type: GrantFiled: June 21, 2017Date of Patent: April 10, 2018Inventors: Herbert Jay Read, Mark F. Alley
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Publication number: 20170362911Abstract: A ram block assembly enables a very high shearing, breaking, or parting force by utilizing guide rails and passageways within the ram block assembly to accept the rails and gird the rails against deviation from intended trajectory. The ram block rails and cavities enable application of extreme forces, opposing and concentrated within a small area, when actuating the ram block assemblies into the “open” or “close” positions. The ram block assemblies move in opposition, approaching each other and applying opposing forces against any material positioned between the ram block assemblies, and deforming, severing, breaking, shearing, parting, tearing and/or cutting, as the case may be, any said material positioned between the ram block assemblies. The severing of materials in the wellbore is known as “shearing,” and the apparatus performing this shearing operation as shear rams, shear ram blocks, shear blocks or shears.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 21, 2017Publication date: December 21, 2017Inventors: Herbert Jay Read, Mark F. Alley
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Patent number: 9551200Abstract: An apparatus for containing pressure associated with a well includes a ram fluid chamber, a ram piston, and an intensifier piston within a housing. The ram piston has ends associated with a ram and with the ram fluid chamber. The intensifier piston has ends associated with the ram fluid chamber and a fluid source. The end of the intensifier piston associated with the fluid source has a larger surface area than the end associated with the ram fluid chamber. Fluid from the fluid source applies a first pressure to the second end of the intensifier piston to move the intensifier piston. Movement of the intensifier piston applies a second pressure greater than the first pressure to fluid in the ram fluid chamber to move the ram piston and associated ram toward a closed position.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2014Date of Patent: January 24, 2017Inventors: Herbert Jay Read, Mark F. Alley
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Publication number: 20160053559Abstract: An anchoring apparatus for engaging a borehole surface includes an anchoring member, an actuator, a fluid chamber, and an intensifier piston within a housing. The intensifier piston includes a first end having a surface area greater than a second, the second end being in communication with the fluid chamber, such that application of pressure to the first end applies a second pressure, greater than the first, to fluid in the chamber, which is in turn applied to the actuator to extend the anchoring member toward the borehole surface with intensified force. A second intensifier piston and fluid chamber can be included and used to apply intensified pressure to the actuator to retract the anchoring member. A movable mandrel within the housing can be used to physically apply a physical force to one or both intensifier pistons in place of or in addition to fluid pressure.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 21, 2014Publication date: February 25, 2016Applicant: VIKING FISHING & OIL TOOLS, LLCInventors: Mark F. Alley, Antonio Garza, Wesley Don Heiskell, Glen Robert Preas, Robert Lee Gonzales, III, Bevy Jay Gillis