Patents by Inventor Michael Smalley

Michael Smalley 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: 12091970
    Abstract: A bottom hole assembly (BHA) includes a whipstock having a latch release mechanism and a milling tool having a plurality of blades and a lock mechanism. The BHA also includes a collar coupled to the whipstock and disposed about a portion of the milling tool, wherein the blades of the milling tool abut the collar. The milling tool is releasably coupled to the whipstock by the interaction of the latch release mechanism and the lock mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffery Scott Pray, Michael Smalley, Joshua Matthew Korf
  • Patent number: 11613967
    Abstract: A method of positioning a bottom hole assembly in a wellbore includes lowering the bottom hole assembly into the wellbore. The bottom hole assembly has a whipstock, a downhole tool, and a cleaning tool having a cleaning element. The method also includes cleaning at least a portion of a wall of the wellbore using the cleaning tool, and activating the downhole tool to engage the cleaned portion of the wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: WEATHERFORD TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth D. Hora, Michael Smalley, David W. Teale, James H. Taylor, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11560757
    Abstract: A bottom hole assembly (BHA) includes a whipstock having a latch release mechanism and a milling tool having a plurality of blades and a lock mechanism. The BHA also includes a collar coupled to the whipstock and disposed about a portion of the milling tool, wherein the blades of the milling tool abut the collar. The milling tool is releasably coupled to the whipstock by the interaction of the latch release mechanism and the lock mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffery Scott Pray, Michael Smalley, Joshua Matthew Korf
  • Patent number: 11512548
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for removal of tools, tubulars, casing, or other components that become stuck in a well. An anchor includes a mandrel, a carrier disposed on the mandrel and movable relative to the mandrel between an extended position and a retracted position, and an insert configured to engage an internal surface of a tubular, the insert movably disposed in the carrier as the carrier moves between the extended position and the retracted position. A method for anchoring a tool in a wellbore includes deploying the tool into the wellbore through a tubular to a first position, the tool comprising an anchor having a carrier and an insert disposed in the carrier, extending the carrier towards the tubular, and moving the insert relative to the carrier while engaging the inserts with the tubular, thereby anchoring the tool in the wellbore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Ronald G. Schmidt, Michael Smalley
  • Patent number: 11047210
    Abstract: A bottom hole assembly for use in a wellbore includes a whipstock; a downhole tool coupled to the whipstock; and a cleaning tool coupled to the downhole tool for cleaning a portion of a wall of the wellbore, wherein the downhole tool is configured to engage the cleaned portion of the wall. In one example, the cleaning tool includes a body and a plurality of cleaning elements for cleaning the portion of the wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: WEATHERFORD TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth D. Hora, Michael Smalley, David W. Teale, James H. Taylor, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10954736
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for removal of tools, tubulars, casing, or other components that become stuck in a well. An anchor includes a mandrel, a carrier disposed on the mandrel and movable relative to the mandrel between an extended position and a retracted position, and an insert configured to engage an internal surface of a tubular, the insert movably disposed in the carrier as the carrier moves between the extended position and the retracted position. A method for anchoring a tool in a wellbore includes deploying the tool into the wellbore through a tubular to a first position, the tool comprising an anchor having a carrier and an insert disposed in the carrier, extending the carrier towards the tubular, and moving the insert relative to the carrier while engaging the inserts with the tubular, thereby anchoring the tool in the wellbore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Ronald G. Schmidt, Michael Smalley
  • Publication number: 20200131886
    Abstract: A bottom hole assembly for use in a wellbore includes a whipstock; a downhole tool coupled to the whipstock; and a cleaning tool coupled to the downhole tool for cleaning a portion of a wall of the wellbore, wherein the downhole tool is configured to engage the cleaned portion of the wall. In one example, the cleaning tool includes a body and a plurality of cleaning elements for cleaning the portion of the wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2018
    Publication date: April 30, 2020
    Inventors: Kenneth D. Hora, Michael Smalley, David W. TEALE
  • Publication number: 20060048972
    Abstract: An apparatus for use in a wellbore. The apparatus includes a body and a blade assembly. The blade assembly is movable between a collapsed position whereby the expandable apparatus has a smaller outer diameter and an expanded position whereby the expandable apparatus has a larger outer diameter. The apparatus further includes a pressure activated member for selectively allowing the blade assembly to move from the closed position to the open position. A method for using the apparatus, wherein a drill string with an expandable bit at the end thereof is lowered into the wellbore. Thereafter, the pressure activated member is activated to allow the cutting members to move from the collapsed position to the expanded position. Subsequently, the expandable bit is rotated to form a portion of the wellbore. Next, the expandable bit is deactivated and the cutting members are moved from the expanded position to the collapsed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2004
    Publication date: March 9, 2006
    Inventors: Albert Odell, Andrew Gledhill, Michael Smalley, Mark Fuller