Patents by Inventor Piro Shkurti
Piro Shkurti 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: 11933132Abstract: A ball-in-place plug configured to isolate formation zones within a wellbore includes an anchoring subassembly configured to secure the ball-in-place plug in the wellbore and a flow control subassembly configured to control the flow of fluid through the plug. The flow control subassembly is configured to allow bidirectional flow of fluid through the ball-in-place plug before the ball-in-place plug is activated, and wherein the flow control subassembly is configured to permit only unidirectional flow of fluid through the ball-in-place plug after the ball-in-place plug is activated.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 2021Date of Patent: March 19, 2024Assignee: Longbow Completion Services, LLCInventors: Piro Shkurti, Christopher Crews, Shawn Witt
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Patent number: 10435982Abstract: A downhole plug having a plug body which includes (i) a base cylinder with a first outward facing locking surface and a central bore formed there through, (ii) a single set of circumferentially spaced slip ramps formed on the base cylinder, and (iii) slip guides positioned between the slip ramps, the slip guides having a second inward facing locking surface. The plug includes a single set of slips which a plurality of slip wedges with each slip wedge engaging a slip ramp. A slip compression cap is configured to urge the slip wedges along the slip ramps and the slip compression cap includes a locking ring having a third outward facing locking surface. A compression shoulder is configured to move a ratchet ring into contact with the first locking surface on the base cylinder and the ratchet ring includes a fourth inward facing locking surface.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2017Date of Patent: October 8, 2019Assignee: Superior Energy Services, LLCInventors: Piro Shkurti, Gustavo Andrew Oliveira, Iain Greenan
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Publication number: 20170268310Abstract: A downhole plug having a plug body which includes (i) a base cylinder with a first outward facing locking surface and a central bore formed there through, (ii) a single set of circumferentially spaced slip ramps formed on the base cylinder, and (iii) slip guides positioned between the slip ramps, the slip guides having a second inward facing locking surface. The plug includes a single set of slips which a plurality of slip wedges with each slip wedge engaging a slip ramp. A slip compression cap is configured to urge the slip wedges along the slip ramps and the slip compression cap includes a locking ring having a third outward facing locking surface. A compression shoulder is configured to move a ratchet ring into contact with the first locking surface on the base cylinder and the ratchet ring includes a fourth inward facing locking surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2017Publication date: September 21, 2017Inventors: Piro Shkurti, Gustavo Andrew Oliveira, Iain Greenan
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Patent number: 9752412Abstract: A toe valve having an outer tubular member, including at least one outer flow port, and an inner tubular member positioned at least partially within the outer tubular member and including a central flow passage. An indexing mechanism is positioned within the outer tubular member and there is a flow path allowing fluid pressure from the central passage to act against a first side of the indexing mechanism. A biasing device acts on a second side of the indexing mechanism and the indexing mechanism is configured to allow communication between the central flow passage and the outer flow port after the indexing mechanism is subject to a plurality of pressure cycles within the central flow passage.Type: GrantFiled: October 5, 2015Date of Patent: September 5, 2017Assignee: Superior Energy Services, LLCInventors: Piro Shkurti, Gustavo Oliveira, Iain Greenan
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Publication number: 20160298420Abstract: A toe valve having an outer tubular member, including at least one outer flow port, and an inner tubular member positioned at least partially within the outer tubular member and including a central flow passage. An indexing mechanism is positioned within the outer tubular member and there is a flow path allowing fluid pressure from the central passage to act against a first side of the indexing mechanism. A biasing device acts on a second side of the indexing mechanism and the indexing mechanism is configured to allow communication between the central flow passage and the outer flow port after the indexing mechanism is subject to a plurality of pressure cycles within the central flow passage.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 5, 2015Publication date: October 13, 2016Inventors: Piro Shkurti, Gustavo Oliveira, Iain Greenan
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Patent number: 9404330Abstract: A system includes a tubular string and a hollow ball. The tubular string is adapted to be deployed downhole in a well and includes a seat. An activation ball adapted to be deployed in the well to lodge in the seat. The ball includes an outer shell that forms a spherical surface. The outer shell forms an enclosed volume therein, and the outer shell is formed from a metallic material.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2014Date of Patent: August 2, 2016Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Tracy Speer, Piro Shkurti, John Chrysostom Wolf
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Publication number: 20160032684Abstract: An object counting mechanism for a downhole tool which includes a tool housing having a central passage and a seat configured to selectively catch an object passing through the central passage. An activating mechanism is configured to move the seat from a first state allowing the object to pass through the seat into a second state for catching the object on the seat. A rotating sleeve causes the activating mechanism to move the seat into the second state after a given degree of rotation of the rotating sleeve. At least one contact surface is spaced apart from the seat and positioned to engage the object passing through the central passage, thereby effecting a limited rotation of the rotating sleeve at each passage of an object.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 30, 2015Publication date: February 4, 2016Inventors: Piro Shkurti, Gustavo Oliveira, Iain Greenan
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Patent number: 9045963Abstract: An isolation device for a frac plug, the isolation device including a ball seat having a seating surface and a ball configured to contact the seating surface, wherein a profile of the seating surface corresponds to a profile of the ball. A frac plug including a mandrel having an upper end and a lower end, a sealing element disposed around the mandrel, and a ball seat disposed within a central bore of the mandrel, wherein the ball seat includes a seating surface having a non-linear profile. A method of isolating zones of a production formation, the method including setting a frac plug between a first zone and a second zone, disposing a ball within the frac plug, and seating a ball in a ball seat of the frac plug, the ball seat including a seating surface having a profile that substantially corresponds to the profile of the ball.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 2011Date of Patent: June 2, 2015Assignee: Smith International, Inc.Inventors: Piro Shkurti, John C. Wolf
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Publication number: 20140174728Abstract: A system includes a tubular string and a hollow ball. The tubular string is adapted to be deployed downhole in a well and includes a seat. An activation ball adapted to be deployed in the well to lodge in the seat. The ball includes an outer shell that forms a spherical surface. The outer shell forms an enclosed volume therein, and the outer shell is formed from a metallic material.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 28, 2014Publication date: June 26, 2014Applicant: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Tracy Speer, Piro Shkurti, John Chrysostom Wolf
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Patent number: 8701787Abstract: An expandable backup ring includes an outer surface, an inner surface having a plurality of protrusions projecting radially inwardly, and a plurality of segments, the segments defined by a plurality of outer surface cuts. The plurality of outer surface cuts extends radially inwardly from the outer surface and partially into each of the plurality of protrusions.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2011Date of Patent: April 22, 2014Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Piro Shkurti, John C. Wolf
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Patent number: 8469088Abstract: A drillable bridge plug includes a mandrel having external splines disposed on an outer surface of the mandrel, a sealing element disposed around the mandrel, an upper cone disposed around the mandrel proximate an upper end of the sealing element, and a lower cone disposed around the mandrel proximate the lower end of the sealing element, wherein an inner surface of the lower cone comprises internal splines configured to engage the external splines. The drillable bridge plug also includes an upper and a lower slip assembly disposed around the mandrel, and an upper and lower ring assembly each including a first segmented barrier ring, a second segmented barrier ring, and a back-up ring disposed proximate sealing element. Methods include a method of setting the drillable bridge plug and a method of removing the drillable bridge plug.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2010Date of Patent: June 25, 2013Assignee: Smith International, Inc.Inventors: Piro Shkurti, John C. Wolf
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Publication number: 20120217025Abstract: An expandable backup ring includes an outer surface, an inner surface having a plurality of protrusions projecting radially inwardly, and a plurality of segments, the segments defined by a plurality of outer surface cuts. The plurality of outer surface cuts extends radially inwardly from the outer surface and partially into each of the plurality of protrusions.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 28, 2011Publication date: August 30, 2012Applicant: SMITH INTERNATIONAL, INC.Inventors: Piro SHKURTI, John C. WOLF
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Publication number: 20120006562Abstract: A system includes a tubular string and a hollow ball. The tubular string is adapted to be deployed downhole in a well and includes a seat. An activation ball adapted to be deployed in the well to lodge in the seat. The ball includes an outer shell that forms a spherical surface. The outer shell forms an enclosed volume therein, and the outer shell is formed from a metallic material.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 11, 2011Publication date: January 12, 2012Inventors: Tracy Speer, Piro Shkurti, John Chrysostom Wolf
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Patent number: 8047280Abstract: A downhole tool for isolating zones in a well, the tool including a mandrel, a sealing element disposed around the mandrel, and an upper cone disposed around the mandrel proximate an upper end of the sealing element. The tool further including an upper slip assembly disposed around the mandrel adjacent a sloped surface of the upper cone, a lower cone disposed around the mandrel proximate a lower end of the sealing element, a lower slip assembly disposed around the mandrel adjacent a sloped surface of the lower cone, and two element end rings. Further, the tool includes a first element end ring disposed adjacent the upper end of the sealing element and a second element end ring disposed adjacent the lower end of the sealing element, and two element barrier assemblies, each assembly disposed adjacent one of the two element end rings.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2010Date of Patent: November 1, 2011Assignee: Smith International, Inc.Inventors: Lap T. Tran, William M. Roberts, Piro Shkurti, George J. Melenyzer
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Publication number: 20110259610Abstract: An isolation device for a frac plug, the isolation device including a ball seat having a seating surface and a ball configured to contact the seating surface, wherein a profile of the seating surface corresponds to a profile of the ball. A frac plug including a mandrel having an upper end and a lower end, a sealing element disposed around the mandrel, and a ball seat disposed within a central bore of the mandrel, wherein the ball seat includes a seating surface having a non-linear profile. A method of isolating zones of a production formation, the method including setting a frac plug between a first zone and a second zone, disposing a ball within the frac plug, and seating a ball in a ball seat of the frac plug, the ball seat including a seating surface having a profile that substantially corresponds to the profile of the ball.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 21, 2011Publication date: October 27, 2011Applicant: SMITH INTERNATIONAL, INC.Inventors: Piro SHKURTI, John C. WOLF
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Publication number: 20100326650Abstract: A downhole tool for isolating zones in a well, the tool including a mandrel, a sealing element disposed around the mandrel, an upper cone disposed around the mandrel proximate an upper end of the sealing element, an upper slip assembly disposed around the mandrel adjacent a sloped surface of the upper cone, a lower cone disposed around the mandrel proximate a lower end of the sealing element, a lower slip assembly disposed around the mandrel adjacent a sloped surface of the lower cone, two element end rings, a first element end ring disposed adjacent the upper end of the sealing element and a second element end ring disposed adjacent the lower end of the sealing element, and two element barrier assemblies, each assembly disposed adjacent one of the two element end rings is disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 8, 2010Publication date: December 30, 2010Applicant: SMITH INTERNATIONAL, INC.Inventors: Lap T. Tran, William M. Roberts, Piro Shkurti, George J. Melenyzer
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Patent number: 7810558Abstract: A downhole tool for isolating zones in a well includes a mandrel, a sealing element disposed around the mandrel, an upper cone disposed around the mandrel proximate an upper end of the sealing element, an upper slip assembly disposed around the mandrel adjacent a sloped surface of the upper cone, a lower cone disposed around the mandrel proximate a lower end of the sealing element, a lower slip assembly disposed around the mandrel adjacent a sloped surface of the lower cone, and two element end rings. The two element end rings include a first element end ring disposed adjacent the upper end of the sealing element and a second element end ring disposed adjacent the lower end of the sealing element. The downhole tool includes two element barrier assemblies; each assembly disposed adjacent one of the two element end rings.Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 2007Date of Patent: October 12, 2010Assignee: Smith International, Inc.Inventors: Piro Shkurti, Lap T. Tran, William M. Roberts, George J. Melenyzer
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Publication number: 20100132960Abstract: A drillable bridge plug includes a mandrel having external splines disposed on an outer surface of the mandrel, a sealing element disposed around the mandrel, an upper cone disposed around the mandrel proximate an upper end of the sealing element, and a lower cone disposed around the mandrel proximate the lower end of the sealing element, wherein an inner surface of the lower cone comprises internal splines configured to engage the external splines. The drillable bridge plug also includes an upper and a lower slip assembly disposed around the mandrel, and an upper and lower ring assembly each including a first segmented barrier ring, a second segmented barrier ring, and a back-up ring disposed proximate sealing element. A method of setting the drillable bridge plug and a method of removing the drillable bridge plug are disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 8, 2010Publication date: June 3, 2010Applicant: SMITH INTERNATIONAL, INC.Inventors: Piro Shkurti, John C. Wolf
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Publication number: 20080190600Abstract: A downhole tool for isolating zones in a well, the tool including a mandrel, a sealing element disposed around the mandrel, an upper cone disposed around the mandrel proximate an upper end of the sealing element, an upper slip assembly disposed around the mandrel adjacent a sloped surface of the upper cone, a lower cone disposed around the mandrel proximate a lower end of the sealing element, a lower slip assembly disposed around the mandrel adjacent a sloped surface of the lower cone, two element end rings, a first element end ring disposed adjacent the upper end of the sealing element and a second element end ring disposed adjacent the lower end of the sealing element, and two element barrier assemblies, each assembly disposed adjacent one of the two element end rings is disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 31, 2007Publication date: August 14, 2008Applicant: SMITH INTERNATIONAL, INC.Inventors: Piro Shkurti, Lap T. Tran, William M. Roberts, George J. Melenyzer
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Patent number: 7401651Abstract: A method for performing a service operation within a wellbore extending into a formation comprises sealing a first length of the wellbore to define a first isolated formation zone, flowing a pressurized fluid through a tubular string into the first isolated formation zone, and unsealing the first length of the wellbore without venting the pressurized fluid from the tubular string or awaiting depressurization of the first isolated formation zone. An assembly connected to a tubular string for performing a service operation in a wellbore comprises a mandrel with a flowbore in fluid communication with the tubular string, an upper sealing device, a lower sealing device, a selectively operable valve that enables or prevents fluid communication between the flowbore and the wellbore, and a selectively closeable bypass flow path.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2005Date of Patent: July 22, 2008Assignee: Smith International, Inc.Inventor: Piro Shkurti