Patents by Inventor Nicholas S. Conner
Nicholas S. Conner 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: 12134945Abstract: A frangible disk sub including a housing, a break mechanism disposed in the housing a carrier movably disposed in the housing, a frangible disk supported by the carrier and movable with the carrier into contact with the break mechanism, and a release mechanism restraining movement of the carrier until a threshold load is exceeded. A method for rupturing a frangible disk including exceeding a threshold load with on the sub, releasing the release mechanism, moving the carrier and the frangible disk toward and into contact with the break mechanism, and rupturing the frangible disk with the break mechanism. A borehole system including a borehole in a subsurface formation, a string in the borehole, and a frangible disk sub disposed within or as a part of the string.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2023Date of Patent: November 5, 2024Assignee: BAKER HUGHES OILFIELD OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Brandon Decuir, Donavan Brown, Nicholas S. Conner, Edward J. Kossa, Frank Maenza
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Patent number: 12091924Abstract: A slip includes a slip body made up of a slip tail, a slip mid-section, and a slip head. A wicker segment is receivable in a recess of the slip head, the segment having a first condition where the segment is immovable relative to the head and a second condition where the segment is movable relative to the head. A method for retrieving a tool having slips, includes loading the slip in tension, releasing a wicker segment of the slip, allowing the segment to move from a first condition to a second condition and disengaging the segment from a radially outward structure. A borehole system includes a borehole in a subsurface formation, a string in the borehole, and a slip having a releasable wicker segment disposed within or as a part of the string.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2022Date of Patent: September 17, 2024Assignee: BAKER HUGHES OILFIELD OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Andrew John Vissotski, Nicholas S. Conner, Robert Schramm, Jose Eduardo Barragan
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Patent number: 12078027Abstract: A frangible disk arrangement including a frangible disk disposed in a groove of a housing, and a degradable material support disposed adjacent the disk. A method for managing a borehole operation including pressuring against the frangible disk arrangement, exceeding a pressure rating of the frangible disk, rupturing the frangible disk, and degrading the support. A borehole system including a borehole in a subsurface formation, a string in the borehole, and a frangible disk arrangement disposed within or as a part of the string.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2023Date of Patent: September 3, 2024Assignee: BAKER HUGHES OILFIELD OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Nicholas S. Conner, Donavan Holland Brown
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Publication number: 20240279994Abstract: A frangible disk sub including a housing, a break mechanism disposed in the housing a carrier movably disposed in the housing, a frangible disk supported by the carrier and movable with the carrier into contact with the break mechanism, and a release mechanism restraining movement of the carrier until a threshold load is exceeded. A method for rupturing a frangible disk including exceeding a threshold load with on the sub, releasing the release mechanism, moving the carrier and the frangible disk toward and into contact with the break mechanism, and rupturing the frangible disk with the break mechanism. A borehole system including a borehole in a subsurface formation, a string in the borehole, and a frangible disk sub disposed within or as a part of the string.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 21, 2023Publication date: August 22, 2024Inventors: Brandon Decuir, Donavan Brown, Nicholas S. Conner, Edward J. Kossa, Frank Maenza
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Publication number: 20240254859Abstract: A frangible disk arrangement including a frangible disk disposed in a groove of a housing, and a degradable material support disposed adjacent the disk. A method for managing a borehole operation including pressuring against the frangible disk arrangement, exceeding a pressure rating of the frangible disk, rupturing the frangible disk, and degrading the support. A borehole system including a borehole in a subsurface formation, a string in the borehole, and a frangible disk arrangement disposed within or as a part of the string.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 26, 2023Publication date: August 1, 2024Inventors: Nicholas S. Conner, Donavan Holland Brown
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Patent number: 11988067Abstract: A frangible disk sub includes a housing, a carrier movably disposed in the housing, and a frangible disk sealedly disposed in the carrier. The sub further includes a breaker concealed within a breaker housing and a breaker housing movement inhibitor. A method includes pressuring the disk to exceed a threshold pressure, moving the disk, carrier and breaker mechanism relative to the housing. The method further includes causing the breaker to contact the stop, exposing a hard point of the breaker, and driving the disk into the hard point.Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 2023Date of Patent: May 21, 2024Assignee: BAKER HUGHES OILFIELD OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Brandon Decuir, Donavan Holland Brown, Nicholas S. Conner, Edward J. Kossa, Frank Maenza
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Publication number: 20240141740Abstract: A slip includes a slip body made up of a slip tail, a slip mid-section, and a slip head. A wicker segment is receivable in a recess of the slip head, the segment having a first condition where the segment is immovable relative to the head and a second condition where the segment is movable relative to the head. A method for retrieving a tool having slips, includes loading the slip in tension, releasing a wicker segment of the slip, allowing the segment to move from a first condition to a second condition and disengaging the segment from a radially outward structure. A borehole system includes a borehole in a subsurface formation, a string in the borehole, and a slip having a releasable wicker segment disposed within or as a part of the string.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 28, 2022Publication date: May 2, 2024Inventors: Andrew John Vissotski, Nicholas S. Conner, Robert Schramm, Jose Eduardo Barragan
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Patent number: 11808109Abstract: A frangible disk configuration including a housing, a sleeve in the housing, a releaser, releaseably retaining the sleeve in a fixed position relative to the housing and a frangible disk mounted in the housing in a position contactable by the sleeve after release by the releaser. A method for rupturing a frangible disk, including applying pressure to a configuration, causing release of the releaser at a threshold pressure on the applied pressure and sliding the sleeve into contact with the frangible disk. A borehole system including a borehole in a subsurface formation, and a frangible disk configuration, disposed in the borehole.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2022Date of Patent: November 7, 2023Assignee: BAKER HUGHES OILFIELD OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Nicholas S. Conner, Edward J. Kossa
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Patent number: 10329868Abstract: An articulated debris barrier folds on itself to extend radially to span a surrounding annular gap when the tool associated with it is set. The debris barrier can be used with a packer or bridge plug. The set position of the packer or plug is locked and another lock holds the extended position of the debris barrier. The debris barrier lock can be a snap ring that extends into a groove brought into alignment with it during the setting. Alternatively the lock for the debris barrier can be a body lock ring. In either case, release and retrieval of the packer or plug involves undermining of the locking feature for the debris barrier so that the debris barrier can extend while retracting from the borehole wall so that the barrier and the associated packer or plug can be removed together.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2015Date of Patent: June 25, 2019Assignee: BAKER HUGHES, A GE COMPANY, LLCInventors: Christopher J. Limb, Frank J. Maenza, Nicholas S. Conner, Robert J. Taylor, Gary L. Anderson
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Patent number: 10087704Abstract: A packing element containment system includes a support member extending from a first end to a second end. One of the first and second ends includes a support ring engagement section. A support ring is carried by the support ring engagement section of the support member. The support ring is configured and disposed to shift relative to the support member converting an axial movement of one of the support ring and the support member to a radial expansion of the support ring to provide one of a support to an anti-extrusion ring and containment for a packing element.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2014Date of Patent: October 2, 2018Assignee: BAKER HUGHES, A GE COMPANY, LLCInventors: Nicholas S. Conner, Gary L. Anderson, Frank J. Maenza, Adrian R. Castro
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Patent number: 10077625Abstract: A mandrel and a packer outer assembly are formed to create spring compartments on opposed sides of a sealing element. The outer assembly is shear pinned to the mandrel to minimize spring travel during setting. Once set in the normal way the presence of the springs transfers load and sustained loads through the connected tubular string in either direction. A load coming from downhole and acting in an uphole direction first compresses the spring located uphole from the sealing assembly so that the loading goes behind the sealing assembly and into the upper spring and ultimately to the upper slips. The reverse happens when the force is coming from uphole of the sealing assembly and acting in a downhole direction. The springs can be a coil, a stack of Belleville washers, fluid pushed through an orifice, a resilient material or a contained compressible fluid, to name some examples.Type: GrantFiled: February 29, 2016Date of Patent: September 18, 2018Assignee: Baker Hughes, a GE company, LLCInventors: Frank J. Maenza, Nicholas S. Conner, Gary L. Anderson
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Patent number: 10060213Abstract: A pressure actuated module associated with a subterranean tool is set with pressure in the well annulus supplemented by added pressure. The addition of pressure to the hydrostatic opens access to a setting piston that is referenced to a low pressure chamber. The piston strokes to a travel stop reducing the volume of the atmospheric chamber while setting the tool. After the tool is set the annulus is communicated to the low pressure reference chamber for the actuating piston to remove a residual net force on the setting piston after the set. One way to do this is to sequentially break multiple rupture discs at different pressures. Another is to have a degradable member in the atmospheric chamber. A piston is fixed in place during setting, and shifts with the application of additional pressure allowing pressure to pass through a port between the annulus and the atmospheric chamber.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 2015Date of Patent: August 28, 2018Assignee: Baker Hughes, a GE company, LLCInventors: Frank J. Maenza, Nicholas S. Conner
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Publication number: 20170247974Abstract: A mandrel and a packer outer assembly are formed to create spring compartments on opposed sides of a sealing element. The outer assembly is shear pinned to the mandrel to minimize spring travel during setting. Once set in the normal way the presence of the springs transfers load and sustained loads through the connected tubular string in either direction. A load coming from downhole and acting in an uphole direction first compresses the spring located uphole from the sealing assembly so that the loading goes behind the sealing assembly and into the upper spring and ultimately to the upper slips. The reverse happens when the force is coming from uphole of the sealing assembly and acting in a downhole direction. The springs can be a coil, a stack of Belleville washers, fluid pushed through an orifice, a resilient material or a contained compressible fluid, to name some examples.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 29, 2016Publication date: August 31, 2017Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATEDInventors: Frank J. Maenza, Nicholas S. Conner, Gary L. Anderson
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Publication number: 20170107775Abstract: A pressure actuated module associated with a subterranean tool is set with pressure in the well annulus supplemented by added pressure. The addition of pressure to the hydrostatic opens access to a setting piston that is referenced to a low pressure chamber. The piston strokes to a travel stop reducing the volume of the atmospheric chamber while setting the tool. After the tool is set the annulus is communicated to the low pressure reference chamber for the actuating piston to remove a residual net force on the setting piston after the set. One way to do this is to sequentially break multiple rupture discs at different pressures. Another is to have a degradable member in the atmospheric chamber. A piston is fixed in place during setting, and shifts with the application of additional pressure allowing pressure to pass through a port between the annulus and the atmospheric chamber.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 14, 2015Publication date: April 20, 2017Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATEDInventors: Frank J. Maenza, NICHOLAS S. CONNER
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Publication number: 20170058630Abstract: An articulated debris barrier folds on itself to extend radially to span a surrounding annular gap when the tool associated with it is set. The debris barrier can be used with a packer or bridge plug. The set position of the packer or plug is locked and another lock holds the extended position of the debris barrier. The debris barrier lock can be a snap ring that extends into a groove brought into alignment with it during the setting. Alternatively the lock for the debris barrier can be a body lock ring. In either case, release and retrieval of the packer or plug involves undermining of the locking feature for the debris barrier so that the debris barrier can extend while retracting from the borehole wall so that the barrier and the associated packer or plug can be removed together.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 28, 2015Publication date: March 2, 2017Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATEDInventors: Christopher J. Limb, Frank J. Maenza, Nicholas S. Conner, Robert J. Taylor, Gary L. Anderson
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Publication number: 20160090813Abstract: A packing element containment system includes a support member extending from a first end to a second end. One of the first and second ends includes a support ring engagement section. A support ring is carried by the support ring engagement section of the support member. The support ring is configured and disposed to shift relative to the support member converting an axial movement of one of the support ring and the support member to a radial expansion of the support ring to provide one of a support to an anti-extrusion ring and containment for a packing element.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 25, 2014Publication date: March 31, 2016Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATEDInventors: Nicholas S. Conner, Gary L. Anderson, Frank J. Maenza, Adrian R. Castro
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Patent number: 8083001Abstract: A gage ring assembly to provide support to an anti-extrusion containment ring in a packer device including a compression ring and a plurality of interlocking arcuate segments which form a substantially unbroken support wall when in a set condition. A first set of segments each have a wedge-shaped body that is wider at a proximal axial end than it is at its distal axial end. A second set of segments preferably each have a wedge-shaped body wider at its distal axial end than it is at its proximal axial end.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 2009Date of Patent: December 27, 2011Assignee: Baker Hughes IncorporatedInventors: Nicholas S. Conner, Frank J. Maenza
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Publication number: 20110048744Abstract: A gage ring assembly to provide support to an anti-extrusion containment ring in a packer device including a compression ring and a plurality of interlocking arcuate segments which form a substantially unbroken support wall when in a set condition. A first set of segments each have a wedge-shaped body that is wider at a proximal axial end than it is at its distal axial end. A second set of segments preferably each have a wedge-shaped body wider at its distal axial end than it is at its proximal axial end.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 27, 2009Publication date: March 3, 2011Applicant: Baker Hughes IncorporatedInventors: Nicholas S. Conner, Frank J. Maenza
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Publication number: 20090255690Abstract: Methods and devices for retaining a packer element in a set condition within a wellbore and for preventing or minimizing extrusion of the packer element after setting. A packer device includes a plurality of deformable packer elements which radially surround a packer mandrel. One or more of the packer elements is contained against axial extrusion using a packer containment system. The packer containment system includes a flexible metal backup ring, which partially encases the packer element by substantially covering at least one axial side and a portion of the exterior radial surface of the packer element. The packer containment system also includes a plurality of annular support rings, or “petal rings” which have petal-shaped radial protuberances with slots between them.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 9, 2008Publication date: October 15, 2009Applicant: Baker Hughes IncorporatedInventors: Nicholas S. Conner, Gary L. Anderson
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Patent number: 7493945Abstract: A packer device includes a central packer mandrel and a radially surrounding expansion mandrel. At least one slip mandrel carrying wickers surrounds the expansion mandrel and is secured in place upon the expansion mandrel by an annular retaining ring. The slip mandrel is secured to the retaining ring by screw connectors that pass through the slip mandrel and into retainer segments. The retaining ring is clamped between the slip mandrel and segments. Additionally, the packer device carries a fluid seal that is made up of a thermoplastic material with elastomeric energizing elements.Type: GrantFiled: April 7, 2008Date of Patent: February 24, 2009Assignee: Baker Hughes IncorporatedInventors: James C. Doane, Jason M. Harper, Nicholas S. Conner