Patents by Inventor Robert John Turner
Robert John Turner 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: 11448034Abstract: A method and apparatus for removably plugging a wellbore. The wellbore leads to a reservoir having a reservoir temperature. The method includes: selecting a melting point of a metal alloy based on the reservoir temperature; sealing the metal alloy against an interior wall of a tubing, while the tubing is above a ground in which the wellbore is drilled, such that the metal alloy defines a fluid barrier plug against flow of any portion of the reservoir through the tubing when the tubing is disposed within the wellbore; and heating the metal alloy above the melting point while the tubing is disposed within the wellbore such that the metal alloy flows from the tubing and the fluid barrier plug is eliminated.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2020Date of Patent: September 20, 2022Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil CompanyInventors: Robert John Turner, Brett Bouldin
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Patent number: 11346177Abstract: A repairable seal assembly for deployment at a wellbore includes an elongate body, a first seal carried by the elongate body and configured to seal against an adjacent surface, and a transitional component carried by the elongate body. The transitional component is adjustable from a first configuration in which the transitional component defines a gap between the transitional component and the adjacent surface to a second configuration in which the transitional component contacts the adjacent surface to form a second seal at the adjacent surface.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2019Date of Patent: May 31, 2022Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil CompanyInventors: Robert John Turner, Brett W. Bouldin
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Publication number: 20220018201Abstract: A method for repairing a leak in a cement sheath of a casing of a well. A portion of the inner casing and the cement sheath is removed to create an opening that extends through the inner casing and the cement sheath. A tool is inserted within the inner casing to a location adjacent to the opening and one or more segments of a heat-deforming material that are part of the tool is heated to cause melting of the heat-deforming material. The tool is configured to direct the melted heat-deforming material radially outward into the opening. Once cooled, the heat-deforming material plugs the opening, thereby repairing the leak within the cement sheath.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 14, 2020Publication date: January 20, 2022Inventors: Brett Bouldin, Robert John Turner
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Publication number: 20220010649Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for removably plugging a wellbore. The wellbore leads to a reservoir having a reservoir temperature. The method includes: selecting a melting point of a metal alloy based on the reservoir temperature; sealing the metal alloy against an interior wall of a tubing, while the tubing is above a ground in which the wellbore is drilled, such that the metal alloy defines a fluid barrier plug against flow of any portion of the reservoir through the tubing when the tubing is disposed within the wellbore; and heating the metal alloy above the melting point while the tubing is disposed within the wellbore such that the metal alloy flows from the tubing and the fluid barrier plug is eliminated.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 13, 2020Publication date: January 13, 2022Inventors: Robert John Turner, Brett Bouldin
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Publication number: 20210172279Abstract: A repairable seal assembly for deployment at a wellbore includes an elongate body, a first seal carried by the elongate body and configured to seal against an adjacent surface, and a transitional component carried by the elongate body. The transitional component is adjustable from a first configuration in which the transitional component defines a gap between the transitional component and the adjacent surface to a second configuration in which the transitional component contacts the adjacent surface to form a second seal at the adjacent surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 4, 2019Publication date: June 10, 2021Inventors: Robert John Turner, Brett W. Bouldin
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Patent number: 11002093Abstract: A semi-autonomous downhole taxi with fiber optic communication is described. The taxi includes a housing configured to travel within a horizontal section of a wellbore. A docking station is detachably attached to the housing. The docking station is configured to couple to a wireline to pass the taxi through a vertical section of the wellbore. The docking station is configured to be detached from and re-attached to the housing. A fiber optic cable spool is attached to and carried by the housing. A fiber optic cable is wound on the fiber optic cable spool. The fiber optic cable mechanically connects the docking station and the housing. The fiber optic cable is configured to unspool from the fiber optic cable spool as the housing, detached from the docking station, travels through the horizontal section of the wellbore. The fiber optic cable is configured to pass data between the docking station and the housing.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2019Date of Patent: May 11, 2021Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil CompanyInventors: Brett W. Bouldin, Robert John Turner, Ahmed Y. Bukhamseen
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Publication number: 20210055146Abstract: A method of measuring two or more fluid phases of in a downhole well bore that comprises measuring a flow of each of the two or more phases at respective offtake points at which the two or more phases are unmixed within the well bore. In certain implementations, the well bore is inclined at 20 degrees or less to a horizontal axis. Each of the two or more phases can flow at a rate to achieve low Reynolds numbers in a laminar flow regime.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 20, 2019Publication date: February 25, 2021Inventors: Ahmed Y. Bukhamseen, Brett W. Bouldin, Robert John Turner, Moataz Abu AlSaud
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Patent number: 10927673Abstract: A flow meter includes a cylindrical tubing configured to be positioned in a wellbore, the cylindrical tubing including a flow mixer configured to produce a turbulent fluid flow of a multiphase fluid in the wellbore. The flow meter includes a tuning fork disposed in the cylindrical tubing separate from the flow mixer, the tuning fork configured to contact the turbulent fluid flow of the multiphase fluid and vibrate at a vibration frequency in response to contact with the turbulent fluid flow, and a controller to determine a fluid density measurement of the multiphase fluid based at least in part on the vibration frequency of the tuning fork.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 2020Date of Patent: February 23, 2021Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil CompanyInventors: Brett W. Bouldin, Robert John Turner, Frode Hveding, Mohamed Nabil Noui-Mehidi
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Patent number: 10920521Abstract: A method for performing a well intervention operation includes the steps of: (a) sealingly coupling a lubricator onto an open top end of a well tree, the lubricator having a hollow interior in which a rotatable winch is contained, the winch having a cable wound thereabout; (b) attaching a tool to the cable; (c) lowering the tool within a well bore to which the well tree is attached; and (d) operating the winch from a location exterior to the lubricator to cause rotation of the winch and winding of the cable, whereby the tool is retrieved from the wellbore.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2019Date of Patent: February 16, 2021Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil CompanyInventors: Robert John Turner, Brett Bouldin
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Patent number: 10908007Abstract: A method of measuring two or more fluid phases in a downhole well bore that comprises measuring a flow of each of the two or more phases at respective ports at which the two or more phases are unmixed within the well bore. In certain implementations, the well bore is inclined at 20 degrees or less to a horizontal axis. Each of the two or more phases can flow at a rate to achieve low Reynolds numbers in a laminar flow regime.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 2019Date of Patent: February 2, 2021Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil CompanyInventors: Ahmed Y. Bukhamseen, Brett W. Bouldin, Robert John Turner, Moataz Abu AlSaud
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Publication number: 20210010342Abstract: A method for performing a well intervention operation includes the steps of: (a) sealingly coupling a lubricator onto an open top end of a well tree, the lubricator having a hollow interior in which a rotatable winch is contained, the winch having a cable wound thereabout; (b) attaching a tool to the cable; (c) lowering the tool within a well bore to which the well tree is attached; and (d) operating the winch from a location exterior to the lubricator to cause rotation of the winch and winding of the cable, whereby the tool is retrieved from the wellbore.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 12, 2019Publication date: January 14, 2021Inventors: Robert John Turner, Brett Bouldin
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Publication number: 20200248517Abstract: A semi-autonomous downhole taxi with fiber optic communication is described. The taxi includes a housing configured to travel within a horizontal section of a wellbore. A docking station is detachably attached to the housing. The docking station is configured to couple to a wireline to pass the taxi through a vertical section of the wellbore. The docking station is configured to be detached from and re-attached to the housing. A fiber optic cable spool is attached to and carried by the housing. A fiber optic cable is wound on the fiber optic cable spool. The fiber optic cable mechanically connects the docking station and the housing. The fiber optic cable is configured to unspool from the fiber optic cable spool as the housing, detached from the docking station, travels through the horizontal section of the wellbore. The fiber optic cable is configured to pass data between the docking station and the housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 4, 2019Publication date: August 6, 2020Applicant: Saudi Arabian Oil CompanyInventors: Brett W. Bouldin, Robert John Turner, Ahmed Y. Bukhamseen
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Publication number: 20200149395Abstract: A flow meter includes a cylindrical tubing configured to be positioned in a wellbore, the cylindrical tubing including a flow mixer configured to produce a turbulent fluid flow of a multiphase fluid in the wellbore. The flow meter includes a tuning fork disposed in the cylindrical tubing separate from the flow mixer, the tuning fork configured to contact the turbulent fluid flow of the multiphase fluid and vibrate at a vibration frequency in response to contact with the turbulent fluid flow, and a controller to determine a fluid density measurement of the multiphase fluid based at least in part on the vibration frequency of the tuning fork.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 13, 2020Publication date: May 14, 2020Inventors: Brett W. Bouldin, Robert John Turner, Frode Hveding, Mohamed Nabil Noui-Mehidi
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Patent number: 10612370Abstract: A system for subterranean well developments includes a downhole assembly having well completion components for permanent installation within the subterranean well and interchangeable retrievable hardware. A connection system adapts the retrievable hardware to the well completion components, the connection system operable to provide a connection between the well completion components and the retrievable hardware. A telemetry system is in communication with the retrievable hardware and operable to access data from the downhole assembly. A remote access interface is in communication with the retrievable hardware.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 2017Date of Patent: April 7, 2020Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil CompanyInventors: Brett W. Bouldin, Robert John Turner, Jonathan W. Brown
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Patent number: 10544674Abstract: A flow meter includes a cylindrical tubing configured to be positioned in a wellbore, the cylindrical tubing including a flow mixer configured to produce a turbulent fluid flow of a multiphase fluid in the wellbore. The flow meter includes a tuning fork disposed in the cylindrical tubing separate from the flow mixer, the tuning fork configured to contact the turbulent fluid flow of the multiphase fluid and vibrate at a vibration frequency in response to contact with the turbulent fluid flow, and a controller to determine a fluid density measurement of the multiphase fluid based at least in part on the vibration frequency of the tuning fork.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2017Date of Patent: January 28, 2020Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil CompanyInventors: Brett W. Bouldin, Robert John Turner, Frode Hveding, Mohamed Nabil Noui-Mehidi
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Patent number: 10465484Abstract: A gravel pack tool for use in a well including a base pipe selectively deployed in the well that defines an outer annulus between the base pipe and an inner wall of the well, a dissolvable plug in a side wall of the base pipe, and tubing positioned within the base pipe that is in selective communication with a source of a bead forming fluid. When the bead forming fluid flows through the tubular and into the well, compounds in the bead forming fluid react to form beads within the outer annulus. The beads collect along a screen that circumscribes the base pipe and define a gravel pack which through which formation fluid is directed prior to entering production tubing in the wellbore.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2017Date of Patent: November 5, 2019Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil CompanyInventors: Robert John Turner, Brian A. Roth
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Publication number: 20190063216Abstract: A flow meter includes a cylindrical tubing configured to be positioned in a wellbore, the cylindrical tubing including a flow mixer configured to produce a turbulent fluid flow of a multiphase fluid in the wellbore. The flow meter includes a tuning fork disposed in the cylindrical tubing separate from the flow mixer, the tuning fork configured to contact the turbulent fluid flow of the multiphase fluid and vibrate at a vibration frequency in response to contact with the turbulent fluid flow, and a controller to determine a fluid density measurement of the multiphase fluid based at least in part on the vibration frequency of the tuning fork.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 23, 2017Publication date: February 28, 2019Applicant: Saudi Arabian Oil CompanyInventors: Brett W. Bouldin, Robert John Turner, Frode Hveding, Mohamed Nabil Noui-Mehidi
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Publication number: 20190040736Abstract: A system for subterranean well developments includes a downhole assembly having well completion components for permanent installation within the subterranean well and interchangeable retrievable hardware. A connection system adapts the retrievable hardware to the well completion components, the connection system operable to provide a connection between the well completion components and the retrievable hardware. A telemetry system is in communication with the retrievable hardware and operable to access data from the downhole assembly. A remote access interface is in communication with the retrievable hardware.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 1, 2017Publication date: February 7, 2019Inventors: Brett W. Bouldin, Robert John Turner, Jonathan W. Brown
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Publication number: 20180371879Abstract: A gravel pack tool for use in a well including a base pipe selectively deployed in the well that defines an outer annulus between the base pipe and an inner wall of the well, a dissolvable plug in a side wall of the base pipe, and tubing positioned within the base pipe that is in selective communication with a source of a bead forming fluid. When the bead forming fluid flows through the tubular and into the well, compounds in the bead forming fluid react to form beads within the outer annulus. The beads collect along a screen that circumscribes the base pipe and define a gravel pack which through which formation fluid is directed prior to entering production tubing in the wellbore.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 23, 2017Publication date: December 27, 2018Applicant: Saudi Arabian Oil CompanyInventors: Robert John Turner, Brian A. Roth
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Patent number: 6883372Abstract: This invention concerns gravity gradiometers for airborne surveys for minerals. The gravity gradiometer comprises an inertially stabilized platform, a rotor that is between 0.4 and 1.5 m in diameter mounted in the stabilized platform, and between twelve and seventy two accelerometers arranged in complements of four each on the rotor; and a signal processor operative to: (i) subtract noise calculated from the mass distribution of the aircraft and the inertially stabilised platform, and by the angles of the gimbals of the stabilised platform; (ii) use measures of the accelerations experienced by the gravity gradiometer to estimate the sensitivities of the gravity gradiometer to the acceleration, and use this estimate to correct the gravity gradiometer output; and (iii), use measures of the rotations to which the gravity gradiometer is subjected to calculate the contribution of rotation to the gravity gradiometer noise, and to remove the contribution of rotation to said gravity gradiometer noise.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2002Date of Patent: April 26, 2005Assignee: BHP Billiton Innovation Pty LtdInventors: Edwin Hans van Leeuwen, Ken G. McCracken, James Beresford Lee, Robert John Turner