Patents by Inventor Michael Dale Ezell

Michael Dale Ezell 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: 10927638
    Abstract: A wellbore isolation is introduced into a wellbore and includes an elongate body defining an interior and comprising an upper sub, a lower sub, and a mandrel extending therebetween. A sealing element is disposed about the mandrel and upper and lower slip assemblies are positioned on opposing axial ends of the sealing element. A setting piston is positioned within a piston chamber defined by the lower sub and the mandrel, and a mandrel plugging device is positioned within the mandrel. The mandrel plugging device plugs the interior and transitions between occluding setting ports defined in the mandrel and exposed the setting ports to facilitate fluid communication between the interior and the piston chamber. The interior is pressurized to actuate the setting piston and set the lower slip assembly, and further pressurized to move the mandrel and set the upper slip assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Dale Ezell, Beauford Sean Mallory
  • Patent number: 10895123
    Abstract: A hydrostatically actuable downhole piston apparatus for use in a wellbore, comprising glide spacers disposed in the primary chamber, capable of mitigating the deflection of the piston and other hydrostatic components at elevated wellbore hydrostatic pressures. The disclosed apparatus is suited for, among other applications, the hydrostatic setting of a downhole tool, such as a packer, in a wellbore. A method and system for hydrostatically setting a downhole tool using glide spacers disposed in the primary chamber of the downhole tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventor: Michael Dale Ezell
  • Patent number: 10718179
    Abstract: A packer assembly includes an elongate body, at least one sealing element disposed about the elongate body, and a shoulder disposed about the elongate body and positioned axially adjacent the at least one sealing element. A cover sleeve is coupled to an outer surface of the shoulder. An annular support shoe has a jogged leg, a lever arm, and a fulcrum section that extends between and connects the jogged leg to the lever arm. The jogged leg is received within a gap defined between the cover sleeve and the shoulder, and the lever arm extends axially over a portion of the sealing element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd Anthony Stair, Gary Joe Makowiecki, Michael Dale Ezell
  • Patent number: 10689943
    Abstract: A wellbore isolation device includes an elongate body and a packer assembly disposed about the elongate body and including upper and lower sealing elements positioned axially between an upper shoulder and a lower shoulder, a spacer interposing the upper and lower sealing elements and having an annular body that provides an upper end, a lower end, and a recessed portion extending between the upper and lower ends. An upper cover sleeve is coupled to the upper shoulder, and a lower cover sleeve is coupled to the lower shoulder. An upper support shoe has a lever arm extending over the upper sealing element and a jogged leg received within a gap defined between the upper cover sleeve and shoulder. A lower support shoe has a lever arm extending over the lower sealing element and a jogged leg received within a gap defined between the lower cover sleeve and shoulder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd Anthony Stair, Gary Joe Makowiecki, Michael Dale Ezell
  • Publication number: 20190203559
    Abstract: A wellbore isolation is introduced into a wellbore and includes an elongate body defining an interior and comprising an upper sub, a lower sub, and a mandrel extending therebetween. A sealing element is disposed about the mandrel and upper and lower slip assemblies are positioned on opposing axial ends of the sealing element. A setting piston is positioned within a piston chamber defined by the lower sub and the mandrel, and a mandrel plugging device is positioned within the mandrel. The mandrel plugging device plugs the interior and transitions between occluding setting ports defined in the mandrel and exposed the setting ports to facilitate fluid communication between the interior and the piston chamber. The interior is pressurized to actuate the setting piston and set the lower slip assembly, and further pressurized to move the mandrel and set the upper slip assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2016
    Publication date: July 4, 2019
    Inventors: Michael Dale EZELL, Beauford Sean MALLORY
  • Patent number: 10260298
    Abstract: A packer assembly includes an elongate body, an upper shoulder and a lower shoulder each disposed about the elongate body, and an upper sealing element and a lower sealing element each disposed about the elongate body and positioned axially between the upper and lower shoulders. A spacer interposes the upper and lower sealing elements and has an annular body that provides an upper end, a lower end, and a recessed portion extending between the upper and lower ends. A diameter of the annular body at the upper and lower ends is greater than the diameter at the recessed portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd Anthony Stair, Gary Joe Makowiecki, Michael Dale Ezell
  • Patent number: 10196870
    Abstract: An external slip includes a slip body comprising a wall having internal and external surfaces. The internal surface includes a ramp portion, and a plurality of teeth is disposed on the external surface of the wall of the slip body. A plurality of expansion slots extends through a thickness of the wall, at least one extending from a first end of the wall toward a second end of the wall but not reaching the second end. At least another of the plurality of expansion slots extends from the second end toward the first end of the wall but does not reach the first end. An installation slot extends through a thickness of the wall along a length of the wall, and a retainer is coupled to first and second gap ends of the wall across a gap created by the installation slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Shanu Thottungal Eldho, Michael Dale Ezell
  • Publication number: 20180142526
    Abstract: A hydrostatically actuable downhole piston apparatus for use in a wellbore, comprising glide spacers disposed in the primary chamber, capable of mitigating the deflection of the piston and other hydrostatic components at elevated wellbore hydrostatic pressures. The disclosed apparatus is suited for, among other applications, the hydrostatic setting of a downhole tool, such as a packer, in a wellbore. A method and system for hydrostatically setting a downhole tool using glide spacers disposed in the primary chamber of the downhole tool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2015
    Publication date: May 24, 2018
    Applicant: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES INC.
    Inventor: Michael Dale EZELL
  • Publication number: 20180038192
    Abstract: A wellbore isolation device includes an elongate body and a packer assembly disposed about the elongate body and including upper and lower sealing elements positioned axially between an upper shoulder and a lower shoulder, a spacer interposing the upper and lower sealing elements and having an annular body that provides an upper end, a lower end, and a recessed portion extending between the upper and lower ends. An upper cover sleeve is coupled to the upper shoulder, and a lower cover sleeve is coupled to the lower shoulder. An upper support shoe has a lever arm extending over the upper sealing element and a jogged leg received within a gap defined between the upper cover sleeve and shoulder. A lower support shoe has a lever arm extending over the lower sealing element and a jogged leg received within a gap defined between the lower cover sleeve and shoulder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2015
    Publication date: February 8, 2018
    Inventors: Todd Anthony STAIR, Gary Joe MAKOWIECKI, Michael Dale EZELL
  • Publication number: 20180023367
    Abstract: A packer assembly includes an elongate body, at least one sealing element disposed about the elongate body, and a shoulder disposed about the elongate body and positioned axially adjacent the at least one sealing element. A cover sleeve is coupled to an outer surface of the shoulder. An annular support shoe has a jogged leg, a lever arm, and a fulcrum section that extends between and connects the jogged leg to the lever arm. The jogged leg is received within a gap defined between the cover sleeve and the shoulder, and the lever arm extends axially over a portion of the sealing element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2015
    Publication date: January 25, 2018
    Inventors: Todd Anthony STAIR, Gary Joe MAKOWIECKI, Michael Dale EZELL
  • Publication number: 20180016859
    Abstract: A packer assembly includes an elongate body, an upper shoulder and a lower shoulder each disposed about the elongate body, and an upper sealing element and a lower sealing element each disposed about the elongate body and positioned axially between the upper and lower shoulders. A spacer interposes the upper and lower sealing elements and has an annular body that provides an upper end, a lower end, and a recessed portion extending between the upper and lower ends. A diameter of the annular body at the upper and lower ends is greater than the diameter at the recessed portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2015
    Publication date: January 18, 2018
    Inventors: Todd Anthony STAIR, Gary Joe MAKOWIECKI, Michael Dale EZELL
  • Patent number: 9863210
    Abstract: A packer for use in a wellbore includes a packer mandrel. First and second pistons are slidably disposed about the packer mandrel defining first and second chambers therewith. An activation assembly initially prevents movement of the first piston. A release assembly initially prevents movement of the second piston. First and second seal assemblies are disposed about the packer mandrel such that actuation of the activation assembly allows a force generated by a pressure difference between the wellbore and the first chamber to shift the first piston in a first direction toward the first seal assembly to radially expand the first seal assembly and to actuate the release assembly and, actuation of the release assembly allows a force generated by a pressure difference between the wellbore and the second chamber to shift the second piston in the first direction toward the second seal assembly to radially expand the second seal assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Dale Ezell, Beauford Sean Mallory
  • Patent number: 9803440
    Abstract: A downhole tool setting system includes a tubular member that defines a bore therethrough; a downhole tool positioned to ride the tubular member between a partial set position and a final set position; and a locking system coupled to the downhole tool and configured to adjust the downhole tool from the partial set position based on at least a portion of the locking system moveable relative to the tubular member to the final set position based on at least a portion of the locking system affixed to the tubular member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Shanu Thottungal Eldho, Michael Dale Ezell, Shane Robert Burckhard
  • Patent number: 9790764
    Abstract: A packer for use in a wellbore includes a packer mandrel. First and second pistons are slidably disposed about the packer mandrel defining first and second chambers therewith. A first activation assembly initially prevents movement of the first piston. A second activation assembly initially prevents movement of the second piston. A seal assembly is disposed about the packer mandrel between the first and second pistons such that actuation of the first activation assembly allows a force generated by a pressure difference between the wellbore and the first chamber to shift the first piston in a first direction toward the seal assembly to radially expand the seal assembly and actuation of the second activation assembly allows a force generated by a pressure difference between the wellbore and the second chamber to shift the second piston in a second direction toward the seal assembly to radially expand the seal assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Dale Ezell
  • Publication number: 20170037692
    Abstract: A downhole tool setting system includes a tubular member that defines a bore therethrough; a downhole tool positioned to ride the tubular member between a partial set position and a final set position; and a locking system coupled to the downhole tool and configured to adjust the downhole tool from the partial set position based on at least a portion of the locking system moveable relative to the tubular member to the final set position based on at least a portion of the locking system affixed to the tubular member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2015
    Publication date: February 9, 2017
    Inventors: Shanu Thottungal Eldho, Michael Dale Ezell, Shane Robert Burckhard
  • Publication number: 20160251922
    Abstract: An external slip includes a slip body comprising a wall having internal and external surfaces. The internal surface includes a ramp portion, and a plurality of teeth is disposed on the external surface of the wall of the slip body. A plurality of expansion slots extends through a thickness of the wall, at least one extending from a first end of the wall toward a second end of the wall but not reaching the second end. At least another of the plurality of expansion slots extends from the second end toward the first end of the wall but does not reach the first end. An installation slot extends through a thickness of the wall along a length of the wall, and a retainer is coupled to first and second gap ends of the wall across a gap created by the installation slot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2013
    Publication date: September 1, 2016
    Applicant: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Shanu Thottungal ELDHO, Michael Dale EZELL
  • Publication number: 20150292296
    Abstract: A packer for use in a wellbore includes a packer mandrel. First and second pistons are slidably disposed about the packer mandrel defining first and second chambers therewith. An activation assembly initially prevents movement of the first piston. A release assembly initially prevents movement of the second piston. First and second seal assemblies are disposed about the packer mandrel such that actuation of the activation assembly allows a force generated by a pressure difference between the wellbore and the first chamber to shift the first piston in a first direction toward the first seal assembly to radially expand the first seal assembly and to actuate the release assembly and, actuation of the release assembly allows a force generated by a pressure difference between the wellbore and the second chamber to shift the second piston in the first direction toward the second seal assembly to radially expand the second seal assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2012
    Publication date: October 15, 2015
    Applicant: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Dale Ezell, Beauford Sean Mallory
  • Publication number: 20150191991
    Abstract: A packer for use in a wellbore includes a packer mandrel. First and second pistons are slidably disposed about the packer mandrel defining first and second chambers therewith. A first activation assembly initially prevents movement of the first piston. A second activation assembly initially prevents movement of the second piston. A seal assembly is disposed about the packer mandrel between the first and second pistons such that actuation of the first activation assembly allows a force generated by a pressure difference between the wellbore and the first chamber to shift the first piston in a first direction toward the seal assembly to radially expand the seal assembly and actuation of the second activation assembly allows a force generated by a pressure difference between the wellbore and the second chamber to shift the second piston in a second direction toward the seal assembly to radially expand the seal assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2012
    Publication date: July 9, 2015
    Inventor: Michael Dale Ezell
  • Patent number: 8505638
    Abstract: A tubular locking system comprises a first wellbore tubular, an internal locking feature disposed on an inner surface of the first wellbore tubular, a second wellbore tubular, where at least a portion of the second wellbore tubular is disposed within the first wellbore tubular, a compression sleeve coupled to the second wellbore tubular, a collet coupled to the second wellbore tubular below the compression sleeve, and a shifting sleeve disposed within the collet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Dale Ezell, Gary Dale Ellis
  • Publication number: 20120234560
    Abstract: A tubular locking system comprises a first wellbore tubular, an internal locking feature disposed on an inner surface of the first wellbore tubular, a second wellbore tubular, where at least a portion of the second wellbore tubular is disposed within the first wellbore tubular, a compression sleeve coupled to the second wellbore tubular, a collet coupled to the second wellbore tubular below the compression sleeve, and a shifting sleeve disposed within the collet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2011
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Michael Dale EZELL, Gary Dale ELLIS