Patents by Inventor Michael Werries
Michael Werries 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: 12624606Abstract: A high force stroker tool for integration within a wellbore string disposed along a wellbore defined within a subterranean reservoir is provided. The stroker tool includes a hydraulic anchor hydraulically operable to deploy slips securable to the wellbore and to define a mechanical brace, a shifting tool operatively coupled to the hydraulic anchor and comprising a mechanical anchor securable to a movable component, the shifting tool being mechanically operable to move the movable component; and an actuator coupled between the hydraulic anchor and the shifting tool, the actuator being hydraulically operable to brace against the mechanical brace and create a downhole mechanical force adapted to mechanically operate the shifting tool. A method of shifting downhole valve assemblies using the high force stroker tool is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2021Date of Patent: May 12, 2026Assignee: NCS Multistage Inc.Inventors: Michael Werries, Jonathan Raasch, Juan Montero, Brock Gillis
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Patent number: 12571285Abstract: A valve assembly for integration within a wellbore string has a valve housing with a housing port, a bottom sleeve mounted and slidable within the valve housing between closed and open positions, and a top sleeve mounted within the valve housing and defining an annular region therebetween. The top sleeve has a sleeve port and is slidable within the valve housing between a first position where the top sleeve engages the valve housing and defines an annular chamber within the annular region, and a production position where the sleeve port is in fluid communication with the housing port to define a fluid pathway along which fluids flow from the reservoir through the annular chamber. While in the first position, the annular chamber has an inlet allowing fluid to flow into and pressurize the annular chamber to prevent particulates from flowing into the annular region.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 2022Date of Patent: March 10, 2026Assignee: NCS Multistage Inc.Inventors: Michael Werries, Brock Gillis, Tim Johnson, Nick Getzlaf
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Publication number: 20260043309Abstract: There is provided a valve assembly suitable for use in a high temperature well, such as a geothermal well. The valve assembly comprises a tubular housing having ports to allow fluid communication between a fluid passageway in the valve assembly and the outside of the valve assembly, an outer sleeve longitudinally slidable in the tubular housing, and an inner sleeve longitudinally slidable in the outer sleeve. The outer and inner sleeves are slidable to various positions to prevent, allow or restrict flow through the ports. The valve assembly may include sealing assemblies that can withstand high temperatures, frangible plugs in the ports that can be sheared to open the ports, and/or a coupling member for coupling the inner and outer sleeve while the ports are being opened. The valve assembly may have ports configured in a manner that allows for sequential opening of the ports.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 22, 2025Publication date: February 12, 2026Inventors: Michael Werries, Jesse Parker POWELL, James Gambrell KING
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Publication number: 20250369318Abstract: A valve assembly for integration within a wellbore string is provided. The valve assembly includes a valve housing defining a fluid passage therethrough and having injection ports, and a flow restriction component extending between the fluid passage and the injection ports to establish fluid communication therebetween. The flow restriction component is configured to create a flowrate restriction along a flow path length thereof, with each injection port being aligned with respective portions of the flow restriction component to define respective flow path lengths defining respective degrees of flowrate restriction. The valve assembly also includes a flow adjuster connected to the valve housing and being fluid-pressure actuatable to align an outlet with one of the injection ports such that fluid flow between the fluid passage and the reservoir is restricted by a corresponding degree of flowrate restriction to maintain an injection rate substantially constant.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 26, 2023Publication date: December 4, 2025Inventors: Michael WERRIES, Brock GILLIS, Juan MONTERO, Doug BRUNSKILL
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Publication number: 20250361787Abstract: Disclosed is a rupture disc assembly for use in making a temporary seal in a vessel such as a casing string. The rupture disc assembly may generally include (A) a rupture disc having a side surface having a shallow taper inward towards a bottom surface of the rupture disc (B) an actuating mechanism including (i) an outer sled having an inner supporting surface forming a taper complimentary to the shallow taper of the side surface, (ii) an inner sled disposed within the outer sled and having a support shoulder to support the bottom surface of the rupture disc and (iii) a securing mechanism and (C) a housing to house the rupture disc and actuating mechanism.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 5, 2025Publication date: November 27, 2025Inventors: Michael WERRIES, Brock GILLIS, Daniel STANNUS, Timothy JOHNSON, Masoud KALANTARI
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Patent number: 12480381Abstract: A valve assembly for downhole completion operations and method for using the assembly is described. The valve assembly relies on non-polymeric interfaces between the valve components for sealing the valves without elastomeric materials, thereby making the valve assembly suitable for high temperature well operations, such as 320° C. to 600° C. which are typically encountered in geothermal well operations. The valve assembly includes a first seat which receives an actuating member to actuate the opening of ports in the housing, thereby allowing for fluid injection into the formation adjacent the valve assembly through the ports. A seal assembly suitable for use in high temperature well operations is also described.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2022Date of Patent: November 25, 2025Assignees: NCS MULTISTAGE INC., NCS MULTISTAGE, LLC.Inventors: Michael Werries, Jesse Powell, James King
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Patent number: 12473798Abstract: A valve assembly suitable for use in a high temperature well, such as a geothermal well. The valve assembly comprises a tubular housing having ports to allow fluid communication between a fluid passageway in the valve assembly and the outside of the valve assembly, an outer sleeve longitudinally slidable in the tubular housing, and an inner sleeve longitudinally slidable in the outer sleeve. The outer and inner sleeves are slidable to various positions to prevent, allow or restrict flow through the ports. The valve assembly may include sealing assemblies that can withstand high temperatures, frangible plugs in the ports that can be sheared to open the ports, and/or a coupling member for coupling the inner and outer sleeve while the ports are being opened. The valve assembly may have ports configured in a manner that allows for sequential opening of the ports.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2022Date of Patent: November 18, 2025Assignees: NCS Multistage Inc., NCS Multistage, LLCInventors: Michael Werries, Jesse Parker Powell, James Gambrell King
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Patent number: 12442280Abstract: Oil recovery can include providing a tubing string and isolation devices to define isolated intervals for an existing well previously operated using plug-and-perf and primary production. Valve assemblies are installed in respective isolated intervals, each valve assembly including at least two valves. The valve can be operated in open and closed configurations, and at least one open configuration provides choked flow via an elongated passage. The valves can have a housing and a shiftable sleeve. The valve assemblies can be operated to provide a desired openness based on the injectivity or other properties by shifting the sleeves of the valves. Different flow resistance levels can be provided to facilitate enhanced operations for water flooding and other oil recovery processes.Type: GrantFiled: July 5, 2023Date of Patent: October 14, 2025Assignee: NCS Multistage Inc.Inventors: Timothy Johnson, Michael Werries, Lyle Laun
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Patent number: 12410679Abstract: A well completion system for producing fluids from a wellbore provided in a subterranean reservoir is provided. The well completion system includes tubing segments connectable to one another along the wellbore. The tubing segments include injection segments provided along the wellbore in spaced-apart relation to each other, each injection segment has an injection valve toollessly operable between a closed configuration preventing fluid flow into the reservoir, and an open configuration allowing fluid flow into the reservoir. The tubing segments also include production segments provided along the wellbore in a staggered relation with respect to the injection segments and configured to allow fluids received from the reservoir to be produced from the reservoir.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2021Date of Patent: September 9, 2025Assignee: NCS MULTISTAGE INC.Inventors: Michael Werries, Jesse Powell, Ryan Redecopp, Juan Montero
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Patent number: 12404743Abstract: Disclosed is a rupture disc assembly for use in making a temporary seal in a vessel such as a casing string. The rupture disc assembly may generally include (A) a rupture disc having a side surface having a shallow taper inward towards a bottom surface of the rupture disc (B) an actuating mechanism including (i) an outer sled having an inner supporting surface forming a taper complimentary to the shallow taper of the side surface, (ii) an inner sled disposed within the outer sled and having a support shoulder to support the bottom surface of the rupture disc and (iii) a securing mechanism and (C) a housing to house the rupture disc and actuating mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2024Date of Patent: September 2, 2025Assignee: NCS MULTISTAGE INC.Inventors: Michael Werries, Brock Gillis, Daniel Stannus, Timothy Johnson, Masoud Kalantari
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Publication number: 20250067145Abstract: There is provided a valve assembly suitable for use in a high temperature well, such as a geothermal well. The valve assembly comprises a tubular housing having ports to allow fluid communication between a fluid passageway in the valve assembly and the outside of the valve assembly, an outer sleeve longitudinally slidable in the tubular housing, and an inner sleeve longitudinally slidable in the outer sleeve. The outer and inner sleeves are slidable to various positions to prevent, allow or restrict flow through the ports. The valve assembly may include sealing assemblies that can withstand high temperatures, frangible plugs in the ports that can be sheared to open the ports, and/or a coupling member for coupling the inner and outer sleeve while the ports are being opened. The valve assembly may have ports configured in a manner that allows for sequential opening of the ports.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 17, 2022Publication date: February 27, 2025Inventors: Michael Werries, Jesse Parker POWELL, James Gambrell KING
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Publication number: 20250059852Abstract: A valve assembly for downhole completion operations and method for using the assembly is described. The valve assembly relies on non-polymeric interfaces between the valve components for sealing the valves without elastomeric materials, thereby making the valve assembly suitable for high temperature well operations, such as 320° C. to 600° C. which are typically encountered in geothermal well operations. The valve assembly includes a first seat which receives an actuating member to actuate the opening of ports in the housing, thereby allowing for fluid injection into the formation adjacent the valve assembly through the ports. A seal assembly suitable for use in high temperature well operations is also described.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 20, 2022Publication date: February 20, 2025Inventors: Michael WERRIES, Jesse POWELL, James KING
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Publication number: 20250027381Abstract: Disclosed is a rupture disc assembly for use in making a temporary seal in a vessel such as a casing string. The rupture disc assembly may generally include (A) a rupture disc having a side surface having a shallow taper inward towards a bottom surface of the rupture disc (B) an actuating mechanism including (i) an outer sled having an inner supporting surface forming a taper complimentary to the shallow taper of the side surface, (ii) an inner sled disposed within the outer sled and having a support shoulder to support the bottom surface of the rupture disc and (iii) a securing mechanism and (C) a housing to house the rupture disc and actuating mechanism.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 31, 2024Publication date: January 23, 2025Inventors: Michael WERRIES, Brock GILLIS, Daniel STANNUS, Timothy JOHNSON, Masoud KALANTARI
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Patent number: 12104461Abstract: The present description relates to processes and systems for asynchronous frac-to-frac operations for recovering hydro-carbons. The processes can include the use of injection-only and production-only valves that include a housing and at least one sleeve as well as flow restriction components, check valves, or other features. The flow restriction component can be a tortuous path provided in the sleeve. The check valves can be integrated into the sleeve or into the housing of the valve. Various different types of valve assemblies can be used and integrated with flow restriction components and/or check valves.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2020Date of Patent: October 1, 2024Assignee: NCS MULTISTAGE, INC.Inventors: Warren Macphail, Jesse Powell, Michael Werries, Brock Gillis
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Publication number: 20240318530Abstract: An actuation dart for deployment down a tubing string installed within a wellbore and provided with one or more valve assemblies is provided. The actuation dart includes a dart body adapted to be carried down the tubing string to the valve assembly via fluid flow. The dart body has a shifting head provided at a first end of the dart body, the shifting head being configured to engage and shift the valve assembly in the open configuration to enable fluid injection in a reservoir surrounding the wellbore. A method for hydrocarbon recovery from a wellbore using the actuation dart is also provided, along with a wellbore system adapted to receive the actuation dart.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 14, 2022Publication date: September 26, 2024Inventors: Michael WERRIES, Jesse POWELL, Ryan REDECOPP
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Publication number: 20240295155Abstract: A high force stroker tool for integration within a wellbore string disposed along a wellbore defined within a subterranean reservoir is provided. The stroker tool includes a hydraulic anchor hydraulically operable to deploy slips securable to the wellbore and to define a mechanical brace, a shifting tool operatively coupled to the hydraulic anchor and comprising a mechanical anchor securable to a movable component, the shifting tool being mechanically operable to move the movable component; and an actuator coupled between the hydraulic anchor and the shifting tool, the actuator being hydraulically operable to brace against the mechanical brace and create a downhole mechanical force adapted to mechanically operate the shifting tool. A method of shifting downhole valve assemblies using the high force stroker tool is also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 16, 2021Publication date: September 5, 2024Inventors: Michael WERRIES, Jonathan RAASCH, Juan MONTERO, Brock GILLIS
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Publication number: 20240228868Abstract: A method is disclosed for improving heat exchange between a geothermal reservoir and a wellbore. The method comprises injecting a stimulating fluid into the reservoir at a plurality of locations along a wellbore to improve conduction of heat to the near wellbore region for circulation of a working fluid to collect reservoir heat and bring to surface for energy generation.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 20, 2022Publication date: July 11, 2024Inventors: Michael WERRIES, Jesse POWELL, James KING
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Publication number: 20240218759Abstract: A valve assembly for integration within a wellbore string is provided. The valve assembly has a valve housing with a housing port, a bottom sleeve mounted and slidable within the valve housing between closed and open positions, and a top sleeve mounted within the valve housing and defining an annular region therebetween. The top sleeve has a sleeve port and is slidable within the valve housing between a first position where the top sleeve engages the valve housing and defines an annular chamber within the annular region, and a production position where the sleeve port is in fluid communication with the housing port to define a fluid pathway along which fluids flow from the reservoir through the annular chamber. While in the first position, the annular chamber has an inlet allowing fluid to flow into and pressurize the annular chamber to prevent particulates from flowing into the annular region.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 17, 2022Publication date: July 4, 2024Inventors: Michael WERRIES, Brock GILLIS, Tim JOHNSON, Nick GETZLAF
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Publication number: 20240151118Abstract: A downhole component for integration in wellbore string is provided. The downhole component includes fluid conduits enabling fluid flow therethrough and a sealing element connected to the fluid conduits and operable between a disengaged configuration, where the sealing element is disengaged from an inner surface of the wellbore, and an engaged configuration. The downhole component also includes an actuation assembly having a blocking member releasably secured to the fluid conduits and a fluid-pressure operable actuation member slidably connected to the fluid conduits adapted to engage and operate the sealing element from the disengaged configuration to the engaged configuration.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 18, 2022Publication date: May 9, 2024Inventors: Michael WERRIES, Rio WHYTE, Brock GILLIS
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Publication number: 20230392473Abstract: A well completion system for producing fluids from a wellbore provided in a subterranean reservoir is provided. The well completion system includes tubing segments connectable to one another along the wellbore. The tubing segments include injection segments provided along the wellbore in spaced-apart relation to each other, each injection segment has an injection valve toollessly operable between a closed configuration preventing fluid flow into the reservoir, and an open configuration allowing fluid flow into the reservoir. The tubing segments also include production segments provided along the wellbore in a staggered relation with respect to the injection segments and configured to allow fluids received from the reservoir to be produced from the reservoir.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 13, 2021Publication date: December 7, 2023Inventors: Michael WERRIES, Jesse POWELL, Ryan REDECOPP, Juan MONTERO