Patents by Inventor Ram K. Bansal

Ram K. Bansal 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: 11846150
    Abstract: A mill for use in a wellbore includes a tubular housing having a bore therethrough, a plurality of pockets formed in a wall thereof, and a blade disposed in each pocket. Each blade includes a body having a first side opposite a second side, wherein the first side faces in a direction of rotation of the mill. The blade also includes a blade portion disposed on the first side of the body, wherein the blade portion has a first cutting face stepped relative to a second cutting face. Each blade is movable between a retracted position and an extended position, wherein a portion of the first side and the second side protrude from the housing in the extended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Inventors: Richard J. Segura, Thomas F. Bailey, David J. Brunnert, Ram K. Bansal, Andrew Antoine
  • Publication number: 20220243547
    Abstract: A mill for use in a wellbore includes a tubular housing having a bore therethrough, a plurality of pockets formed in a wall thereof, and a blade disposed in each pocket. Each blade includes a body having a first side opposite a second side, wherein the first side faces in a direction of rotation of the mill. The blade also includes a blade portion disposed on the first side of the body, wherein the blade portion has a first cutting face stepped relative to a second cutting face. Each blade is movable between a retracted position and an extended position, wherein a portion of the first side and the second side protrude from the housing in the extended position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2022
    Publication date: August 4, 2022
    Inventors: Richard J. SEGURA, Thomas F. BAILEY, David J. BRUNNERT, Ram K. BANSAL, Andrew ANTOINE
  • Patent number: 11274514
    Abstract: A mill for use in a wellbore includes a tubular housing having a bore therethrough, a plurality of pockets formed in a wall thereof, and a blade disposed in each pocket. Each blade includes a body having a first side opposite a second side, wherein the first side faces in a direction of rotation of the mill. The blade also includes a blade portion disposed on the first side of the body, wherein the blade portion has a first cutting face stepped relative to a second cutting face. Each blade is movable between a retracted position and an extended position, wherein a portion of the first side and the second side protrude from the housing in the extended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Richard J. Segura, Thomas F. Bailey, David J. Brunnert, Ram K. Bansal, Andrew Antoine
  • Patent number: 11193340
    Abstract: A method of deploying a jointed tubular string into a subsea wellbore includes lowering the tubular string into the subsea wellbore from an offshore drilling unit. The tubular string has a slip joint. The method further includes, after lowering, anchoring a lower portion of the tubular string below the slip joint to a non-heaving structure. The method further includes, while the lower portion is anchored: supporting an upper portion of the tubular string above the slip joint from a rig floor of the offshore drilling unit; after supporting, adding one or more joints to the tubular string, thereby extending the tubular string; and releasing the upper portion of the extended tubular string from the rig floor. The method further includes: releasing the lower portion of the extended tubular string from the non-heaving structure; and lowering the extended tubular string into the subsea wellbore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Ram K. Bansal, Lev Ring, Don M. Hannegan
  • Publication number: 20210095538
    Abstract: A mill for use in a wellbore includes a tubular housing having a bore therethrough, a plurality of pockets formed in a wall thereof, and a blade disposed in each pocket. Each blade includes a body having a first side opposite a second side, wherein the first side faces in a direction of rotation of the mill. The blade also includes a blade portion disposed on the first side of the body, wherein the blade portion has a first cutting face stepped relative to a second cutting face. Each blade is movable between a retracted position and an extended position, wherein a portion of the first side and the second side protrude from the housing in the extended position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2020
    Publication date: April 1, 2021
    Inventors: Richard J. SEGURA, Thomas F. BAILEY, David J. BRUNNERT, Ram K. BANSAL, Andrew ANTOINE
  • Patent number: 10934787
    Abstract: A mill for use in a wellbore includes a tubular housing having a bore therethrough and a plurality of eccentrically arranged pockets formed in a wall thereof and an arm disposed in each pocket. Each arm has a body portion and a blade portion extending from an outer surface of the body portion and is movable between an extended position and a retracted position. The mill further includes cutters disposed along each blade portion and a block disposed in each pocket and connected to the housing. Each block has a guide engaged with a mating guide of the respective body portion and an inner passage for providing fluid communication between the housing bore and the respective pocket. The mill further includes an actuator for extending the arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Ram K. Bansal, Mohammed Aleemul Haq, Thomas F. Bailey, Richard J. Segura, Ian Smith
  • Patent number: 10890042
    Abstract: A mill for use in a wellbore includes a tubular housing having a bore therethrough, a plurality of pockets formed in a wall thereof, and a blade disposed in each pocket. Each blade includes a body having a first side opposite a second side, wherein the first side faces in a direction of rotation of the mill. The blade also includes a blade portion disposed on the first side of the body, wherein the blade portion has a first cutting face stepped relative to a second cutting face. Each blade is movable between a retracted position and an extended position, wherein a portion of the first side and the second side protrude from the housing in the extended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Richard J. Segura, Thomas F. Bailey, David J. Brunnert, Ram K. Bansal, Andrew Antoine
  • Publication number: 20200378197
    Abstract: A method of deploying a jointed tubular string into a subsea wellbore includes lowering the tubular string into the subsea wellbore from an offshore drilling unit. The tubular string has a slip joint. The method further includes, after lowering, anchoring a lower portion of the tubular string below the slip joint to a non-heaving structure. The method further includes, while the lower portion is anchored: supporting an upper portion of the tubular string above the slip joint from a rig floor of the offshore drilling unit; after supporting, adding one or more joints to the tubular string, thereby extending the tubular string; and releasing the upper portion of the extended tubular string from the rig floor. The method further includes: releasing the lower portion of the extended tubular string from the non-heaving structure; and lowering the extended tubular string into the subsea wellbore.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2020
    Publication date: December 3, 2020
    Inventors: Ram K. BANSAL, Lev RING, Don M. HANNEGAN
  • Patent number: 10774599
    Abstract: A method of deploying a jointed tubular string into a subsea wellbore includes lowering the tubular string into the subsea wellbore from an offshore drilling unit. The tubular string has a slip joint. The method further includes, after lowering, anchoring a lower portion of the tubular string below the slip joint to a non-heaving structure. The method further includes, while the lower portion is anchored: supporting an upper portion of the tubular string above the slip joint from a rig floor of the offshore drilling unit; after supporting, adding one or more joints to the tubular string, thereby extending the tubular string; and releasing the upper portion of the extended tubular string from the rig floor. The method further includes: releasing the lower portion of the extended tubular string from the non-heaving structure; and lowering the extended tubular string into the subsea wellbore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Ram K. Bansal, Lev Ring, Don M. Hannegan
  • Publication number: 20180320467
    Abstract: A mill for use in a wellbore includes a tubular housing having a bore therethrough, a plurality of pockets formed in a wall thereof, and a blade disposed in each pocket. Each blade includes a body having a first side opposite a second side, wherein the first side faces in a direction of rotation of the mill. The blade also includes a blade portion disposed on the first side of the body, wherein the blade portion has a first cutting face stepped relative to a second cutting face. Each blade is movable between a retracted position and an extended position, wherein a portion of the first side and the second side protrude from the housing in the extended position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2018
    Publication date: November 8, 2018
    Inventors: Richard J. SEGURA, Thomas F. BAILEY, David J. BRUNNERT, Ram K. BANSAL, Andrew ANTOINE
  • Patent number: 10107053
    Abstract: A method for drilling a wellbore includes disposing a tubular string in the wellbore, wherein the tubular string includes a drill bit disposed at a bottom and a flow sub disposed on a top; injecting drilling fluid through a bore valve in the flow sub to rotate the drill bit; moving a sleeve in the flow sub to engage and close the bore valve; moving the sleeve independently from the bore valve to expose a flow port formed through a wall of the flow sub; and injecting the drilling fluid into the flow port while adding a stand to the top of the tubular string, wherein injection of drilling fluid into the tubular string is continuously maintained between drilling and adding the stand to the tubular string.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Ram K. Bansal, Joe Noske, Miroslav Mihalj, Bill Menard, Thomas F. Bailey, David Pavel, Gerald Wes Don Buchanan, Geoff George, David Vieraitis
  • Publication number: 20180216419
    Abstract: A mill for use in a wellbore includes a tubular housing having a bore therethrough and a plurality of eccentrically arranged pockets formed in a wall thereof and an arm disposed in each pocket. Each arm has a body portion and a blade portion extending from an outer surface of the body portion and is movable between an extended position and a retracted position. The mill further includes cutters disposed along each blade portion and a block disposed in each pocket and connected to the housing. Each block has a guide engaged with a mating guide of the respective body portion and an inner passage for providing fluid communication between the housing bore and the respective pocket. The mill further includes an actuator for extending the arms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Publication date: August 2, 2018
    Inventors: Ram K. BANSAL, Mohammed Aleemul HAQ, Thomas F. BAILEY, Richard J. SEGURA, Ian SMITH
  • Patent number: 10012048
    Abstract: A method for milling a tubular cemented in a wellbore includes deploying a bottomhole assembly (BHA) into the wellbore through the tubular, the BHA comprising a window mill; and extending arms of the window mill and radially cutting through the tubular, thereby forming a window through the tubular, wherein a body portion of each window mill arm engages and stabilizes from an inner surface of the tubular after a blade portion of each window mill arm cuts through the tubular.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Richard Segura, Thomas Bailey, David J. Brunnert, Ram K. Bansal, Andrew Antoine
  • Patent number: 10006262
    Abstract: A flow sub for use with a drill string includes a tubular housing having a longitudinal bore therethrough and a flow port through a wall thereof and a ball. The ball is disposed in the housing above the flow port, has a bore therethrough, and is rotatable relative to the housing between an open position where the ball bore is aligned with the housing bore and a closed position where a wall of the ball blocks the housing bore. The flow sub further includes a seat disposed in the housing above the ball for sealing against the ball wall in the closed position and a sleeve disposed in the housing and movable between an open position where the flow port is exposed to the housing bore and a closed position where a wall of the sleeve is disposed between the flow port and the housing bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: WEATHERFORD TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, LLC
    Inventors: Ram K. Bansal, Geoff George, Gerald Wes Don Buchanan, Justin Cunningham, Eisenhower De Leon, Joe Noske, Lev Ring, Jerlib J. Leal
  • Patent number: 9938781
    Abstract: A mill for use in a wellbore includes a tubular housing having a bore therethrough and a plurality of eccentrically arranged pockets formed in a wall thereof and an arm disposed in each pocket. Each arm has a body portion and a blade portion extending from an outer surface of the body portion and is movable between an extended position and a retracted position. The mill further includes cutters disposed along each blade portion and a block disposed in each pocket and connected to the housing. Each block has a guide engaged with a mating guide of the respective body portion and an inner passage for providing fluid communication between the housing bore and the respective pocket. The mill further includes an actuator for extending the arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: WEATHERFORD TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, LLC
    Inventors: Ram K. Bansal, Mohammed Aleemul Haq, Thomas F. Bailey, Richard J. Segura, Ian Smith
  • Publication number: 20170183923
    Abstract: A method of deploying a jointed tubular string into a subsea wellbore includes lowering the tubular string into the subsea wellbore from an offshore drilling unit. The tubular string has a slip joint. The method further includes, after lowering, anchoring a lower portion of the tubular string below the slip joint to a non-heaving structure. The method further includes, while the lower portion is anchored: supporting an upper portion of the tubular string above the slip joint from a rig floor of the offshore drilling unit; after supporting, adding one or more joints to the tubular string, thereby extending the tubular string; and releasing the upper portion of the extended tubular string from the rig floor. The method further includes: releasing the lower portion of the extended tubular string from the non-heaving structure; and lowering the extended tubular string into the subsea wellbore.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2017
    Publication date: June 29, 2017
    Inventors: Ram K. BANSAL, Lev RING, Don M. HANNEGAN
  • Patent number: 9631442
    Abstract: A method of deploying a jointed tubular string into a subsea wellbore includes lowering the tubular string into the subsea wellbore from an offshore drilling unit. The tubular string has a slip joint. The method further includes, after lowering, anchoring a lower portion of the tubular string below the slip joint to a non-heaving structure. The method further includes, while the lower portion is anchored: supporting an upper portion of the tubular string above the slip joint from a rig floor of the offshore drilling unit; after supporting, adding one or more joints to the tubular string, thereby extending the tubular string; and releasing the upper portion of the extended tubular string from the rig floor. The method further includes: releasing the lower portion of the extended tubular string from the non-heaving structure; and lowering the extended tubular string into the subsea wellbore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Ram K. Bansal, Lev Ring, Don M. Hannegan
  • Publication number: 20160281448
    Abstract: A method for drilling a wellbore includes disposing a tubular string in the wellbore, wherein the tubular string includes a drill bit disposed at a bottom and a flow sub disposed on a top; injecting drilling fluid through a bore valve in the flow sub to rotate the drill bit; moving a sleeve in the flow sub to engage and close the bore valve; moving the sleeve independently from the bore valve to expose a flow port formed through a wall of the flow sub; and injecting the drilling fluid into the flow port while adding a stand to the top of the tubular string, wherein injection of drilling fluid into the tubular string is continuously maintained between drilling and adding the stand to the tubular string.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2016
    Publication date: September 29, 2016
    Inventors: Ram K. BANSAL, Joe NOSKE, Miroslav MIHALJ, Bill MENARD, Thomas F. BAILEY, David PAVEL, Gerald Wes Don BUCHANAN, Geoff GEORGE, David VIERAITIS
  • Patent number: 9435176
    Abstract: A wellbore cleaning tool for removing irregularities along the inner surface of a wellbore tubular may include a top sub, a cutting assembly, and a bottom sub. The tool is operable to remove irregularities, such as debris, burrs, and jagged edges, along the inside of the wellbore tubular, and thereby provide a clean, inner surface finish. The tool may be actuated into a retracted position, an extended position, and/or a deactivated position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Ram K. Bansal, Arthur Warren Meeks, Mohammed Aleemul Haq, Bin Xiao, Miroslav Mihalj, David Peter Kippie, Thomas F. Bailey
  • Patent number: 9416599
    Abstract: A method for drilling a wellbore includes drilling the wellbore by advancing the tubular string longitudinally into the wellbore; stopping drilling by holding the tubular string longitudinally stationary; adding a tubular joint or stand of joints to the tubular string while injecting drilling fluid into a side port of the tubular string, rotating the tubular string, and holding the tubular string longitudinally stationary; and resuming drilling of the wellbore after adding the joint or stand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas F. Bailey, Mark A. Mitchell, David Pavel, Lev Ring, Ram K. Bansal, David Iblings