Patents by Inventor Mary L. Laird

Mary L. Laird 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: 9725977
    Abstract: Cutter blades extend and stay extended as long as pressure on a piston is continued. The blades either open fully in open hole or cut through the wall of a tubular and then mill in an uphole direction to take out a piece of the tubular. The piston that held out the blades when pressure was applied is acted on by a return bias when the pressure is removed so that the blades can retract and the tool removed through the cut tubular. As a backup a plug can be dropped to obstruct a through passage in the piston so that pressure from the surface can be used to force the piston back to retract the blades. Continued drilling operations or the cut and milled portion can be then blocked off such as with cement for a plug and abandonment of the well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Mary L. Laird, Robbie B. Colbert
  • Patent number: 9574417
    Abstract: A bottom hole assembly for engaging and removing an object within a wellbore comprises a cutting tool at a lower end. Continued engagement of the cutting tool with the object is facilitated by an axial compression device disposed within the bottom hole assembly below the anchor of the bottom hole assembly. The axial compression device comprises a compressed position and an expanded or extended position. As the object is being cut or abraded, the axial compression device moves from the compressed position toward the expanded position so that a continued downward force is transferred to the object by the bottom hole assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Mary L. Laird, Robbie B. Colbert, David W. Coleman
  • Patent number: 9366101
    Abstract: A cutting and pulling tool has a piston responsive to flow therethrough with an orifice to create backpressure to drive the piston uphole to rotate the blades outwardly such as in an expanded section of tubular below a transition from a smaller tubular dimension. The extended cutters are pulled to the transition and an overpull determines that the desired location has been reached. The overpull force is removed and fluid flow and rotation is commenced to cut. The blades extend to a position perpendicular to the tool axis so that they are supported off a radial housing surface as the weight of the cut string above is supported on the blades. The string is pulled up and supported with slips on a rig floor at which point weight is slacked off and a plug is landed in the top of the piston to push it down to remove the tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Robbie B. Colbert, Randall L. Hebert, Joshua C. Joerg, Mary L. Laird
  • Publication number: 20150129195
    Abstract: Cutter blades extend and stay extended as long as pressure on a piston is continued. The blades either open fully in open hole or cut through the wall of a tubular and then mill in an uphole direction to take out a piece of the tubular. The piston that held out the blades when pressure was applied is acted on by a return bias when the pressure is removed so that the blades can retract and the tool removed through the cut tubular. As a backup a plug can be dropped to obstruct a through passage in the piston so that pressure from the surface can be used to force the piston back to retract the blades. Continued drilling operations or the cut and milled portion can be then blocked off such as with cement for a plug and abandonment of the well.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2014
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Mary L. Laird, Robbie B. Colbert
  • Patent number: 8915298
    Abstract: A tool is run in with a bottom hole assembly that includes a seal and support within the tubing where a fish is to be milled. A ported sub allows pressurized fluid pumped from the surface to enter the bottom hole assembly above the sealed support location and to be directed to set an anchor and to a fluid driven motor such as a progressive cavity motor that is in turn connected milling tool at the rotor of the progressive cavity motor. The fluid exiting the stator goes through a debris removal device and can return to the surface through an annulus around the production tubing. A telescoping joint allows the mill to axially progress with a force applied to the fish generated by a tractor or a stack of Belleville washers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Mary L. Laird, Robbie B. Colbert, David W. Coleman
  • Publication number: 20140360724
    Abstract: A bottom hole assembly for engaging and removing an object within a wellbore comprises a cutting tool at a lower end. Continued engagement of the cutting tool with the object is facilitated by an axial compression device disposed within the bottom hole assembly below the anchor of the bottom hole assembly. The axial compression device comprises a compressed position and an expanded or extended position. As the object is being cut or abraded, the axial compression device moves from the compressed position toward the expanded position so that a continued downward force is transferred to the object by the bottom hole assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2013
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Inventors: Mary L. Laird, Robbie B. Colbert, David W. Coleman
  • Publication number: 20140096947
    Abstract: A cutting and pulling tool has a piston responsive to flow therethrough with an orifice to create backpressure to drive the piston uphole to rotate the blades outwardly such as in an expanded section of tubular below a transition from a smaller tubular dimension. The extended cutters are pulled to the transition and an overpull determines that the desired location has been reached. The overpull force is removed and fluid flow and rotation is commenced to cut. The blades extend to a position perpendicular to the tool axis so that they are supported off a radial housing surface as the weight of the cut string above is supported on the blades. The string is pulled up and supported with slips on a rig floor at which point weight is slacked off and a plug is landed in the top of the piston to push it down to remove the tool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2012
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Robbie B. Colbert, Randall L. Hebert, Joshua C. Joerg, Mary L. Laird
  • Publication number: 20130153227
    Abstract: A tool is run in with a bottom hole assembly that includes a seal and support within the tubing where a fish is to be milled. A ported sub allows pressurized fluid pumped from the surface to enter the bottom hole assembly above the sealed support location and to be directed to set an anchor and to a fluid driven motor such as a progressive cavity motor that is in turn connected milling tool at the rotor of the progressive cavity motor. The fluid exiting the stator goes through a debris removal device and can return to the surface through an annulus around the production tubing. A telescoping joint allows the mill to axially progress with a force applied to the fish generated by a tractor or a stack of Belleville washers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2012
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Mary L. Laird, Robbie B. Colbert, David W. Coleman
  • Patent number: 8403048
    Abstract: A tubing cutter is run in with a bottom hole assembly that includes a seal and support within the tubing to be cut. A ported sub allows pressurized fluid pumped from the surface to enter the bottom hole assembly above the sealed support location and to be directed to set an anchor and to a fluid driven motor such as a progressive cavity motor that is in turn connected to the tubing cutter at the rotor of the progressive cavity motor. The rotation of the cutter with its blades extended cuts the tubular as the fluid exiting the stator goes to the lower end of the tubing being cut and can return to the surface through an annulus around the tubing to be cut. Other configurations such as cutting casing or cutting casing through tubing are also envisioned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Mary L. Laird, Robbie B. Colbert
  • Patent number: 8347964
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for selectively releasing a first wellbore component to a second wellbore component using a disconnect device. The method includes coupling a disconnect device to a workstring and a downhole tool; performing a downhole operation using the downhole tool, and selectively releasing an upper portion of the disconnect device from a lower portion of the disconnect device, thereby releasing the downhole tool from the workstring. The method may also include reconnecting the upper portion of the disconnect device to the lower portion of the disconnect device. The disconnect device is capable of transferring torque to the wellbore component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Weatherford/Lamb, Inc.
    Inventors: Jerry W. Fisher, Thomas M. Redlinger, Carl J. Wilson, Mary L. Laird
  • Publication number: 20120145396
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for selectively releasing a first wellbore component to a second wellbore component using a disconnect device. The method includes coupling a disconnect device to a workstring and a downhole tool; performing a downhole operation using the downhole tool, and selectively releasing an upper portion of the disconnect device from a lower portion of the disconnect device, thereby releasing the downhole tool from the workstring. The method may also include reconnecting the upper portion of the disconnect device to the lower portion of the disconnect device. The disconnect device is capable of transferring torque to the wellbore component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2012
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Inventors: Jerry W. Fisher, Thomas M. Redlinger, Carl J. Wilson, Mary L. Laird
  • Patent number: 8141634
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for selectively releasing a first wellbore component to a second wellbore component using a disconnect device. The method includes coupling a disconnect device to a workstring and a downhole tool; performing a downhole operation using the downhole tool, and selectively releasing an upper portion of the disconnect device from a lower portion of the disconnect device, thereby releasing the downhole tool from the workstring. The method may also include reconnecting the upper portion of the disconnect device to the lower portion of the disconnect device. The disconnect device is capable of transferring torque to the wellbore component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Weatherford/Lamb, Inc.
    Inventors: Jerry W. Fisher, Thomas M. Redlinger, Carl J. Wilson, Mary L. Laird
  • Publication number: 20110297379
    Abstract: A tubing cutter is run in with a bottom hole assembly that includes a seal and support within the tubing to be cut. A ported sub allows pressurized fluid pumped from the surface to enter the bottom hole assembly above the sealed support location and to be directed to set an anchor and to a fluid driven motor such as a progressive cavity motor that is in turn connected to the tubing cutter at the rotor of the progressive cavity motor. The rotation of the cutter with its blades extended cuts the tubular as the fluid exiting the stator goes to the lower end of the tubing being cut and can return to the surface through an annulus around the tubing to be cut. Other configurations such as cutting casing or cutting casing through tubing are also envisioned.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2010
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Mary L. Laird, Robbie B. Colbert
  • Patent number: 7588101
    Abstract: Downhole fluid jet cutting tools having extendible and retractable arms with cutting heads on the ends are disclosed. The jet cutting tools permit casing and other downhole surfaces to be cut utilizing a cutting fluid forced through a jet nozzle assembly. Inflation of an inflatable member within the passageway of the tool moves the jet nozzle assembly when cutting fluid pressure inflates the inflatable member. As a result, a cutting head of the jet nozzle assembly is extended and cutting fluid is forced at high pressure from the passageway to the cutting head where it is expelled through nozzles for cutting casing and the like. The jet cutting tools permit the cutting head to be extended, retracted, and re-extended or redeployed multiple times without the need for being retrieved from the wellbore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Gerald D. Lynde, Mary L. Laird
  • Publication number: 20080271892
    Abstract: Downhole fluid jet cutting tools having extendible and retractable arms with cutting heads on the ends are disclosed. The jet cutting tools permit casing and other downhole surfaces to be cut utilizing a cutting fluid forced through a jet nozzle assembly. Inflation of an inflatable member within the passageway of the tool moves the jet nozzle assembly when cutting fluid pressure inflates the inflatable member. As a result, a cutting head of the jet nozzle assembly is extended and cutting fluid is forced at high pressure from the passageway to the cutting head where it is expelled through nozzles for cutting casing and the like. The jet cutting tools permit the cutting head to be extended, retracted, and re-extended or redeployed multiple times without the need for being retrieved from the wellbore.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2008
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Inventors: Gerald D. Lynde, Mary L. Laird
  • Patent number: 7434633
    Abstract: Downhole fluid jet cutting tools having extendible and retractable arms with cutting heads on the ends are disclosed. The jet cutting tools permit casing and other downhole surfaces to be cut utilizing a cutting fluid forced through a jet nozzle assembly. Movement of a piston slidingly engaged within the passageway of the tool actuates the arms when cutting fluid pressure acts on the piston. As a result, the arms are extended and cutting fluid is forced at high pressure from the passageway to the cutting head where it is expelled through nozzles for cutting casing and the like. The jet cutting tools permit the arms to be extended, retracted, and re-extended or redeployed multiple times without the need for being retrieved from the wellbore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Gerald D. Lynde, Mary L. Laird
  • Publication number: 20080066913
    Abstract: Downhole fluid jet cutting tools having extendible and retractable arms with cutting heads on the ends are disclosed. The jet cutting tools permit casing and other downhole surfaces to be cut utilizing a cutting fluid forced through a jet nozzle assembly. Movement of a piston slidingly engaged within the passageway of the tool actuates the arms when cutting fluid pressure acts on the piston. As a result, the arms are extended and cutting fluid is forced at high pressure from the passageway to the cutting head where it is expelled through nozzles for cutting casing and the like. The jet cutting tools permit the arms to be extended, retracted, and re-extended or redeployed multiple times without the need for being retrieved from the wellbore.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2006
    Publication date: March 20, 2008
    Inventors: Gerald D. Lynde, Mary L. Laird
  • Patent number: 6827148
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and an apparatus for use in a wellbore tool. The apparatus includes a body and a sliding member, wherein the sliding member and a mechanical portion moves between a first position and a second position. A valve assembly causes the sliding member and mechanical portion to shift to its second position at a predetermined flow rate of fluid through the body. The invention also provides an apparatus for a downhole tool that includes a mandrel and a sliding member disposed on the mandrel. The sliding member including a plurality of fingers and a plurality of heads, wherein the plurality of fingers are slideably recessed within a plurality of longitudinal grooves. The invention further provides a collet assembly that includes a body and at least two extendable members, whereby as the members extend outward, the members are rotated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2004
    Assignee: Weatherford/Lamb, Inc.
    Inventors: Joel D. Shaw, David W. Teale, Mary L. Laird
  • Publication number: 20040084191
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a connector for coiled tubing that resists torque developed by rotating downhole equipment. The connector couples to an inside diameter of the coiled tubing and can use a torque ring that rotationally locks the connector to the coiled tubing. Additionally, the connector can have a slot on an outside diameter thereof adapted to receive a weld bead on the inside diameter of the coiled tubing in order to rotationally lock the connector to the coiled tubing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2002
    Publication date: May 6, 2004
    Inventor: Mary L. Laird
  • Publication number: 20030217850
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and an apparatus for use in a wellbore tool. The apparatus includes a body and a sliding member, wherein the sliding member and a mechanical portion moves between a first position and a second position. A valve assembly causes the sliding member and mechanical portion to shift to its second position at a predetermined flow rate of fluid through the body. The invention also provides an apparatus for a downhole tool that includes a mandrel and a sliding member disposed on the mandrel. The sliding member including a plurality of fingers and a plurality of heads, wherein the plurality of fingers are slideably recessed within a plurality of longitudinal grooves. The invention further provides a collet assembly that includes a body and at least two extendable members, whereby as the members extend outward, the members are rotated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2002
    Publication date: November 27, 2003
    Inventors: Joel D. Shaw, David W. Teale, Mary L. Laird