Patents by Inventor Rick D. Watts
Rick D. Watts 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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Publication number: 20220290526Abstract: Method of plugging a hydrocarbon well by a through-tubing technique are described. The method allows the tubing to be left in place. Only a short (<2 m) section is cut, milled, perforated, ruptured and expanded, or combinations thereof. A blocking device is sent downhole to block a bottom of the plug section, and bismuth alloy pellets dropped onto the blocking device. A heater is deployed to melt the bismuth alloy pellets. Next, the alloy liquid is allowed to cool and solidify. During solidification, the alloy expands and fills the section of well to be plugged or a portion thereof. Once primary and secondary barriers are in place, the well can be closed and the Christmas tree removed. A rock-to-rock plug can be set by removing or partially removing the tubular and outer casing, or just inner casing/tubulars can be removed if the exterior cement and casing are of sufficient quality.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 1, 2022Publication date: September 15, 2022Inventors: Dan MUELLER, Geir Ove TITLESTAD, David D. HEARN, Curtis G. BLOUNT, Rick D. WATTS, Randall S. SHAFER, Dale R. DOHERTY
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Patent number: 11377925Abstract: Method of plugging a hydrocarbon well by a through-tubing technique are described. The method allows the tubing to be left in place. Only a short (<2 m) section is cut, milled, perforated, ruptured and expanded, or combinations thereof. A blocking device is sent downhole to block a bottom of the plug section, and bismuth alloy pellets dropped onto the blocking device. A heater is deployed to melt the bismuth alloy pellets. Next, the alloy liquid is allowed to cool and solidify. During solidification, the alloy expands and fills the section of well to be plugged or a portion thereof. Once primary and secondary barriers are in place, the well can be closed and the Christmas tree removed. A rock-to-rock plug can be set by removing or partially removing the tubular and outer casing, or just inner casing/tubulars can be removed if the exterior cement and casing are of sufficient quality.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2018Date of Patent: July 5, 2022Assignee: ConocoPhillips CompanyInventors: Dan Mueller, Geir Ove Titlestad, David D. Hearn, Curtis G. Blount, Rick D. Watts, Randall S. Shafer, Dale R. Doherty
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Patent number: 10975657Abstract: The invention relates to the decommissioning of hydrocarbon wells. It concerns the artificial promoting or inducing of creep in the overburden formation 3 surrounding an oil well 1, so that the formation rock 3 encroaches against the casing 5 to form a seal. This avoids the need to plug the annulus between the casing 5 and formation 3 with cement. The overburden may be caused to creep by reducing the pressure in the annulus, by applying heat to the overburden rock or by stressing the rock repeatedly to cause fatigue in the rock 3.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2019Date of Patent: April 13, 2021Assignee: CONOCOPHILLIPS COMPANYInventors: Rick D. Watts, Dianne Tompkins, Helen Haneferd, Lars Hovda, Edvard Omdal, Hardy Hartmann Nielsen, Lars Vedvik, Tove Husby
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Publication number: 20200063527Abstract: The invention relates to the decommissioning of hydrocarbon wells. It concerns the artificial promoting or inducing of creep in the overburden formation 3 surrounding an oil well 1, so that the formation rock 3 encroaches against the casing 5 to form a seal. This avoids the need to plug the annulus between the casing 5 and formation 3 with cement. The overburden may be caused to creep by reducing the pressure in the annulus, by applying heat to the overburden rock or by stressing the rock repeatedly to cause fatigue in the rock 3.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2019Publication date: February 27, 2020Inventors: Rick D. WATTS, Dianne TOMPKINS, Helen HANEFERD, Lars HOVDA, Edvard OMDAL, Hardy Hartmann NIELSEN, Lars VEDVIK
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Patent number: 10508515Abstract: The invention relates to the decommissioning of hydrocarbon wells. It concerns the artificial promoting or inducing of creep in the overburden formation 3 surrounding an oil well 1, so that the formation rock 3 encroaches against the casing 5 to form a seal. This avoids the need to plug the annulus between the casing 5 and formation 3 with cement. The overburden may be caused to creep by reducing the pressure in the annulus, by applying heat to the overburden rock or by stressing the rock repeatedly to cause fatigue in the rock 3.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 2018Date of Patent: December 17, 2019Assignee: CONOCOPHILLIPS COMPANYInventors: Rick D. Watts, Dianne Tompkins, Helen Haneferd, Lars Hovda, Edvard Omdal, Hardy Hartmann Nielsen, Lars Vedvik
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Publication number: 20190128092Abstract: Method of plugging a hydrocarbon well by a through-tubing technique are described. The method allows the tubing to be left in place. Only a short (<2 m) section is cut, milled, perforated, ruptured and expanded, or combinations thereof. A blocking device is sent downhole to block a bottom of the plug section, and bismuth alloy pellets dropped onto the blocking device. A heater is deployed to melt the bismuth alloy pellets. Next, the alloy liquid is allowed to cool and solidify. During solidification, the alloy expands and fills the section of well to be plugged or a portion thereof. Once primary and secondary barriers are in place, the well can be closed and the Christmas tree removed. A rock-to-rock plug can be set by removing or partially removing the tubular and outer casing, or just inner casing/tubulars can be removed if the exterior cement and casing are of sufficient quality.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2018Publication date: May 2, 2019Inventors: Dan MUELLER, Geir Ove TITLESTAD, David D. HEARN, Curtis G. BLOUNT, Rick D. WATTS, Randall S. SHAFER, Dale R. DOHERTY
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Patent number: 10087716Abstract: The invention relates to the decommissioning of hydrocarbon wells. It concerns the artificial promoting or inducing of creep in the overburden formation 3 surrounding an oil well 1, so that the formation rock 3 encroaches against the casing 5 to form a seal. This avoids the need to plug the annulus between the casing 5 and formation 3 with cement. The overburden may be caused to creep by reducing the pressure in the annulus, by applying heat to the overburden rock or by stressing the rock repeatedly to cause fatigue in the rock 3.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2016Date of Patent: October 2, 2018Assignee: CONOCOPHILLIPS COMPANYInventors: Tove Husby, Rick D. Watts, Dianne Tompkins, Helen Haneferd, Lars Hovda
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Publication number: 20180171754Abstract: The invention relates to the decommissioning of hydrocarbon wells. It concerns the artificial promoting or inducing of creep in the overburden formation 3 surrounding an oil well 1, so that the formation rock 3 encroaches against the casing 5 to form a seal. This avoids the need to plug the annulus between the casing 5 and formation 3 with cement. The overburden may be caused to creep by reducing the pressure in the annulus, by applying heat to the overburden rock or by stressing the rock repeatedly to cause fatigue in the rock 3.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 19, 2018Publication date: June 21, 2018Inventors: Tove HUSBY, Rick D. WATTS, Dianne TOMPKINS, Helen HANEFERD, Lars HOVDA
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Publication number: 20160237779Abstract: The invention relates to the decommissioning of hydrocarbon wells. It concerns the artificial promoting or inducing of creep in the overburden formation 3 surrounding an oil well 1, so that the formation rock 3 encroaches against the casing 5 to form a seal. This avoids the need to plug the annulus between the casing 5 and formation 3 with cement. The overburden may be caused to creep by reducing the pressure in the annulus, by applying heat to the overburden rock or by stressing the rock repeatedly to cause fatigue in the rock 3.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 12, 2016Publication date: August 18, 2016Inventors: Tove HUSBY, Rick D. WATTS, Dianne TOMPKINS, Helen HANEFERD, Lars HOVDA
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Publication number: 20140326511Abstract: This invention relates to drilling a well, particularly an oil or gas well, where casing or liner will be installed to stabilize the wellbore. The present invention is intended to permit more drilling and longer lengths of casing or liner to be installed at one time. The present invention includes a combination of a smear tool and specially sized granular lost circulation material solids in the drilling mud which work together to close and seal leaking formations and fractures whether pre-existing or induced by drilling. By the natural collection of the inventive solids along with the conventional particles in the drilling mud to form a filter cake at the problem areas along the wall of the wellbore and the smear tool arranged to compress the filter cake into the problem areas, lost circulation is minimized Maintaining circulation naturally allows for longer drilling cycles and potentially fewer liner joints in the well.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 15, 2014Publication date: November 6, 2014Inventors: David H. BEARDMORE, Paul D. SCOTT, Rick D. WATTS
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Patent number: 8813873Abstract: This invention relates to drilling a well, particularly an oil or gas well, where casing or liner will be installed to stabilize the wellbore. The present invention is intended to permit more drilling and longer lengths of casing or liner to be installed at one time. The present invention includes a combination of a smear tool and specially sized granular lost circulation material solids in the drilling mud which work together to close and seal leaking formations and fractures whether pre-existing or induced by drilling. By the natural collection of the inventive solids along with the conventional particles in the drilling mud to form a filter cake at the problem areas along the wall of the wellbore and the smear tool arranged to compress the filter cake into the problem areas, lost circulation is minimized. Maintaining circulation naturally allows for longer drilling cycles and potentially fewer liner joints in the well.Type: GrantFiled: May 28, 2010Date of Patent: August 26, 2014Assignee: ConocoPhillips CompanyInventors: David H. Beardmore, Paul D. Scott, Rick D. Watts
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Publication number: 20100300760Abstract: This invention relates to drilling a well, particularly an oil or gas well, where casing or liner will be installed to stabilize the wellbore. The present invention is intended to permit more drilling and longer lengths of casing or liner to be installed at one time. The present invention includes a combination of a smear tool and specially sized granular lost circulation material solids in the drilling mud which work together to close and seal leaking formations and fractures whether pre-existing or induced by drilling. By the natural collection of the inventive solids along with the conventional particles in the drilling mud to form a filter cake at the problem areas along the wall of the wellbore and the smear tool arranged to compress the filter cake into the problem areas, lost circulation is minimized. Maintaining circulation naturally allows for longer drilling cycles and potentially fewer liner joints in the well.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 28, 2010Publication date: December 2, 2010Applicant: CONOCOPHILLIPS COMPANYInventors: David H. Beardmore, Paul D. Scott, Rick D. Watts